Lessons From Lydia’S Conversion

Lessons From Lydia'S Conversion
A SERMON DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 13, 1863, BY THE REV. C.
H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON.
"And on the Sabbath we went out of the citybya riverside, whereprayer
was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met
there. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city
of Thyatira, who worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,
that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." Acts
16:13,14.
PHILIPPI is famous in classic history as the spot where the world's
future trembled in the balance when Octavius met Brutus and Cassius in
terrible conflict. The two republican generals here ended their stormy
career and universal empire crouched at the feet of Caesar. As long as
time endures, or human slaughter is thought worthy of a record,
Phi-lippi will be remembered as one of the greatest names in martial
history. But when time shall have passed away and the records of human
guilt shall have been cast into oblivion, Philippi will still have a
name as the place where the first herald of the Cross cried, "Europe
for Jesus."
There was struck the first blow at the demon of evil and the first
victory won in that quarter of the world. More fraught with blessings
to the human race was that conquest of a woman's heart than all the
laurels which Octaves had reaped upon the bloody field. Angels looked
on while Paul threw down the gauntlet of defiance to all the powers of
darkness and invaded our fair continent in the name of Jesus of
Nazareth. We may well look back with admiration to the gallant advance
of the little band, the Apostle and his few companions, who were the
pioneers of the Lord's elect army in the western world. Philippi is
enrolled forever in the record of the battles of peace.
The introduction of Christianity into Europe is a very humble affair.
There is nothing very stately in the architecture of the house where
Jesus is first preached. In fact, we have no evidence that there was
any building at all–probably it was an open-air service by the
riverside. Happy omen of the results of open-air preaching in after
times! There were not enough Jews in the military city of Philippi to
admit of the erection of a synagogue and therefore a few women met in a
quiet spot by the river's bank. A stranger might walk through Philippi
a hundred times and never know of the existence of the Jews' meeting
place–it was a nook so retired and frequented by so few.
Heathendom might seem to the ordinary observer to be universal in its
reign. For who would care to notice the feeble company who met in
retirement to offer prayers unto the Most High God of Israel? We will
go to the meeting place this morning, and in spirit mingle with the few
women and listen to that strange man who in burning accents is
addressing them. And let us mark the result produced in the heart of
yonder seller of purple, who has come with her wares from the city of
Thyatira.
First, we shall consider Lydia's conversion in itself. Secondly, in
contrast with another which is recorded in the chapter. Thirdly, in
comparison with that other. And lastly, as a type and model of
multitudes of conversions in our own day.
I. First, in LYDIA'S CONVERSION there are many points of interest.
Observe that it was brought about by Providential circumstances. She
was a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira. That city was famous
for its dyeing trade which had flourished there ever since the days of
Homer. The mode of producing a peculiarly delicate and valuable purple
seems to have been known to the women of Thyatira. It may be that Lydia
had come to Philippi upon a journey, or that while her manufactures
were carried on at Thyatira, she resided during a part of the year at
Philippi to dispose of her goods.
The communication between the two places was very easy and she may have
frequently made the journey. At any rate, Providence brings her there
when the hour of her conversion is come. You will remember that
Thyatira was situated in that part of the country into which Paul was
forbidden by the Spirit to go and preach. Therefore, had Lydia been at
home, she could not have heard the Truth of God. And as "Faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," she must have remained
unconverted. But Providence brings her to Philippi at the right time.
Here is the first link of the chain.
But how is Paul to be brought there? He must, first of all, be kept out
of Bithynia. And he must be silenced in his journey through Mysia. He
must be brought to Troas, close by the margin of the sea. He must look
across the blue sea and muse upon Europe's needs. He must fall asleep
and in the visions of the night he must be prompted to cross to
Macedonia. He shall ask for a ship–that ship shall be bound for
Samothrace and for no other place. He must land at Neapolis and by the
same instinct, he must make his way to Philippi. He cannot go in any
other direction. He must be brought there at the very time when Lydia
is present. He must discover the little oratory by the river's brink,
for God ordains that Lydia shall be saved.
Now, how many different threads were all interwoven here to make up the
fabric of her providential conversion? In this case God rules and
overrules all things to bring that woman and that Apostle to the same
spot. And, Beloved, everything in God's Providence is working together
for the salvation of His elect. If there is an elect soul whom God
predestinates to be converted by my word, He may have fetched him home
from Australia today by some troublesome accident, as it seems to him.
Or He may have set sail for America and the ship may have been drifted
back. But this I know–God will shake Heaven and earth sooner than
suffer one elect soul to miss the predestined moment.
When the eternal counsel runs–"On such a day that man shall be
arrested by Sovereign Grace and shall be made willing in the day of
God's power"–happen what may, and occur whatever may, God's purpose
shall stand! He will do all His pleasure. We do not well if we forget
the expectant Providences which work before our conversion to bring us
unto that spot where God was pleased to manifest Himself unto us.
Observe next, that in Lydia's case there was not only preventing
Providence, but there was also Divine Grace in a certain manner
preparing the soul. The woman did not know the Savior. She did not
understand the things which make for her peace, yet she knew many
truths which were excellent steppingstones to a knowledge of Jesus. If
not a Jewess by birth, she was a proselyte of the gate, and therefore
well acquainted with the oracles of God. She was one who worshipped
God–no, she was one of the most devout of God's worshippers among the
Jews. Though she was far away from the synagogue–some forget the
Sunday when they travel in foreign lands–yet when the day came round,
she was found with that little handful at the riverside oratory.
I doubt not that she had read Isaiah the Prophet and that she could
carry in her heart and remember such words as these, "He is despised
and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . .
He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her
shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth." As in the case of the
Ethiopian eunuch, the Scriptures she had read, though they were not
understood for want of some man to guide her, had prepared her
mind–the ground had been plowed already for the good seed. It was not
a hard rock as in the jailer's case.
She worshipped God. She worshipped Him in sincerity. She worshipped Him
looking for the coming of the Messiah, Israel's Consolation. And so her
mind was prepared for the reception of the Gospel. Doubtless, dear
Friends, in many of us there was a preparation for Christ before Christ
came to us in quickening Grace. I know that in some of our cases the
pious example of a godly father, and the loving instruction of a tender
mother had softened us somewhat so that though still we were unsaved
and still out of Christ, yet we were like the man who laid at the pool
of Bethesda. We were close by the edge of the healing stream and there
was not in our case that sudden, that astounding change which we have
seen in others.
Still, dear Friends, we ought to ascribe all this preparatory work to
Sovereign Grace, for Grace–free favor–does much in which no Grace of
effectual salvation is perceptible. I mean that before Divine Grace
renews the heart, there is Grace preparing us for Grace–Grace may be
setting the mind in activity, clearing us from prejudice, ridding us of
a thousand infidel and skeptical thoughts. And so it is raising a
platform from which Divine Grace conducts us into the region of the new
life. Such was the case of Lydia. Such is the case of many. Providence
and Grace co-work before the effectual time is come.
Note concerning her conversion, in the third place, that it took place
in the use of the means. On Sunday she went to her gathering of her
people. Although God works great wonders and calls men when they are
not hearing the Word, yet usually we must expect that being in the way,
God will meet with them. It is somewhat extraordinary that the first
convert in Europe was converted at a very small Prayer Meeting.
There were only a few women there. We have no reason to think that
there were any more males than just Paul and his friend, Luke. And
these, you see, had called in, as we say, accidentally, and had been
moved to give an address at the Prayer Meeting. And that address it was
which was the means in God's hand of opening her heart. Beloved
Friends, let us never neglect the means of Divine Grace. Wherever we
are, let us not forget the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is. I say again, God may bless us when we are not in His
House, but we have the best reason to hope that He will when we are in
communion with His saints.
Oh, what a joy it is to see so many constantly thronging our House of
Prayer because we have good hope that the God of Salvation will meet
with them. No, it is not mere hope, but a confident expectation, for I
suppose there never is a sermon preached in this House which is not the
means of the conversion of some. We have, ourselves, abundant testimony
that so often as Christ is lifted up here, the wounded in the camp
forbear to die. May it ever be the case and may you ever have, even if
as yet you are unconverted, a love to the courts of the Lord's House
and to the place where His people meet together. Love the Prayer
Meeting–do not say of it–"Only a Prayer Meeting"!
God loves to put honor upon prayer, upon the assembly of His people
directly for His worship. And you may hope, dear Friends, that even if
the sermon shall not have been useful, and if the common Sunday service
may not have been blessed, yet, perhaps, on the Monday
evening–perhaps, too, in that little cottage, when there are only a
few women pre-sent–you may meet with God, who did not appear to you in
the greater assembly. Be diligent in the use of the means. Be
constantly in God's House, as often as the doors are open, and your
engagement will prevail, for Lydia's conversion takes place in the use
of the means.
Note again, for we will only hint at these things rather than dwell
upon them, that it was assuredly a work of Divine Grace, for we are
expressly told, "whose heart the Lord opened." She did not open her own
heart. Her prayers did not do it. Paul did not do it. The Lord Himself
must open the heart to receive the things which make for our peace. To
operate savingly upon human hearts belongs to God, alone. We can get at
human brains, but God alone can arouse human affections. We may reach
them, we grant you, in the natural and common way. But to reach them as
that the enemy of God shall become His friend, and that the stony heart
shall be turned into flesh, is the work of Divine Grace and nothing
short of Divine power can accomplish it.
We pray you, Brothers and Sisters, never forget this. We think it meet,
according to Scriptural warrant and example, to speak to you and exhort
you to arise from the dead, that Christ may give you life. But we
remind you and trust you never may forget it–that all the work must
always be of the Holy Spirit and of Him alone. I am told, in preaching
the Gospel, to command you to, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
you shall be saved." But well I am aware and may you be aware of it,
too, that faith is the gift of God. Though the Scripture bids us say,
"Wash you, make you clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before
My eyes; cease to do evil." Though it cries, "Let the wicked forsake
his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts. And let him return unto
the Lord and He will have mercy upon him."
Though our Savior, Himself, puts it, "Strive to enter in at the strait
gate. Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that which endures
unto eternal life," yet we know that salvation is neither by your
striving, nor by your laboring, nor by your reforming and amending, but
that all these are the fruit of an inward and mysterious work which the
Holy Spirit alone can perform. Give unto God the glory if you have been
converted, praise Him alone–"Not by might, not by power, but by My
Spirit says the Lord." He alone can cut the bands which fasten the
heart. He alone can put the key into the hole of the door and open it
and get admittance for Himself.
He is the heart's Master as He is the heart's Maker, and conversion in
every case is the Lord's work, alone. Yet– because one Truth of God
must always march arm in arm with another, and no man gets at correct
ideas by merely grasping one Truth–he has two eyes and two hands, so
let him be content to use them both. Although the Lord opened the
heart, Paul's words were the instrument of her conversion. The heart
may be opened and willing to receive, but then if the Truth of God
enters not, what would be the use of an open door? But God always takes
care to open the heart at a time when the messenger of mercy shall be
going by, that the heart may give him admittance.
There shall be the plowed field, but there shall be no cry, "Where is
the sower?" for when the plow has done its work, here comes the sower
and begins to scatter the seed. Paul speaks the Word as surely as God
opens the heart. Do not decry the ministry. It is a temptation of
modern times to be always talking as though the ministry were a
magnifying of man, as though to listen to the preacher were a
glorification of the creature at the expense of the Maker. Now I
believe there is nothing in the world which shows our humility of
spirit and tends more to glorify God than a cheerful willingness to
receive at His hands the golden treasure of His Grace out of an earthen
vessel.
The weakness of the preacher becomes a foil to set forth His Glory, and
by no means derogates from the honor due to the Lord Himself. God has
worked, and always will work, by means–by chosen men upon whom He puts
the anointing of His Spirit. And when the men are lacking to serve the
Lord, then is the Church always in a weak state. While she has her
Pauls to preach, she shall not be without her God to open hearts to
receive the Word.
Now only one more thought upon her conversion–it was distinctly
perceptible by the signs which followed. She was baptized. As soon as
she had believed in Jesus, she put on, together with her household, the
profession of her faith in Christ Jesus. Happy Lydia, to have a
household which believed in Jesus! Happy Lydia, to see them all
baptized with her! Now there is a danger in certain sections of the
Church to make too much of Baptism by linking it with regeneration, as
baptismal regeneration. But there is an equally great danger among us
who are called Baptists of making too little of Baptism. We cannot make
too much of it, because our belief that none ought to be baptized but
those who are regenerate already, will always be a healthy check for
our making too much of it.
But we may make too little of it. We ought to insist very strongly upon
the duty of all Believers who have found the Savior to obey the second
Gospel command. "He that believes and is baptized, shall be saved." We
do not doubt but that all who believe shall be saved, but still for our
part, when we see Baptism put in so close connection with believing, we
would not be disobedient to our Master's command. We think it to be a
sweet sign of an humble and broken heart when the child of God is
willing to obey a command which is not essential to his
salvation–which is not forced upon him by a selfish fear of damnation.
We say it is a great sign of Divine Grace, when, as a simple act of
obedience and of communion with his Master in his burial to the world
and resurrection to a new life, the young convert yields himself to be
baptized.
Lydia was baptized, but her good works did not end at the water. She
then would have the Apostles come to her house. She will bear the shame
of being thought to be a follower of the crucified Jew, a friend of the
despised Jewish Apostle, the renegade, the turncoat–she will have him
in her house. And though he says, "No," out of his bashfulness to
receive anything, yet she constrains him, for love is in her heart and
she has a generous spirit. And while she has a crust, it shall be
broken with the man who brought her to Christ. She will give not only
the cup of cold water in the Prophet's name, but her house shall
shelter him.
Brethren, I do not think much of a conversion where it does not touch a
man's substance–and those people who pretend to be Christ's people and
yet live only for themselves and do nothing for Him or for His Church
give sorry evidence of having been born again. A love to the people of
God has always been a distinguishing mark of the true convert. Look,
then, at Lydia, and remember that she is but a specimen of many. Let
her case rest before you and let the prayer go up, "Lord, bring in
Lydias this morning, according to Your mighty Grace."
II. We now look at the case again BY WAY OF CONTRAST. There is another
story in the chapter. Read it carefully, for there is a remarkable
contrast between the two. In the case of the jailer, we see nothing
like a previouspreparation for the reception of the Word. He seems to
be coarse, rough, brutal. It may be he did no more than his orders
required of him when he treated Paul so harshly, for it is written,
"Having received such a charge he thrust them into the inner prison."
But the probabilities are that he did this with a very hearty goodwill.
And, looking with a thorough contempt upon the two enthusiasts who had
plunged themselves into this trouble, he was not at all likely to
adjust the stocks in any comfortable manner, or see to their ease in
any way.
He was probably a rough, veteran soldier, who had been elevated to the
jailer's office. He had gone to sleep. No preparation, surely, in sleep
for the reception of the Word! The earthquake comes. The man springs
out of his bed in terror! He grasps his sword and would have killed
himself–he is in the very act of committing suicide, when a voice is
heard–"Do yourself no harm, we are all here." Now we cannot discover
the slightest atom of preparation for his conversion. He is as far off
from hope as a man can be, and is just upon the edge of perdition–near
to running before the bar of his Maker with hands red with his own
blood.
Beloved, there are conversions such as these. They may not be very
plentiful, but there are such and there have been such in this House of
Prayer. Men have come under the sound of the Word with an intention of
despising and laughing at it. They have come with their hearts full of
venom and enmity. They have despised the preacher and despised the
Truth of God. They have come fresh from the foulest haunts of sin and
they were proposing, yet further, to plunge into the depths of
iniquity. They were enemies to God by wicked works. They made their
hearts hard as a stone, and yet, all of a sudden, the ponderous hammer
of the Word has come upon them, and the flint was made to fly into a
thousand shivers! And, by God's Grace, the proud sinner became humble
as a little child.
Paul's case is somewhat similar to that of the jailer. You will
remember it, and there are cases of persons here today who can, as they
read the jailer's story say, "Such was I once–as great a stranger from
God as he and as little likely to be called by Divine Grace as he
was–and yet Grace came and made me a new creature in Christ Jesus."
Here was no preparation, while in Lydia's case there was much which
went to prepare the way for the Grace of God.
Another contrast is perceptible in the fact that she was in the way
where the Grace of God was likely to meet with her. She was in God's
House, at least in the spot which had been dedicated to His worship.
She was engaged in prayer, and though not a formal prayer, but as far
as her light went, it was acceptable to God and was, at any rate,
sincere, coming from her heart. But not so the jailer. He is not in a
place where the Gospel is at all likely to come. His office keeps him
in the midst of felons, of murderers, and criminals of all sorts. If
Divine Grace shall come to the jail, it will come to a graceless place,
indeed. His occupation was not that which would foster any religious
ideas. Superstitions, doubtless, were present, and there was no point
upon which a Roman was more superstitious than concerning an
earthquake.
It was one of the things which made the stout hearts of Roman soldiers
tremble in a moment. It was the earthquake which made the guards at the
tomb of our Savior become like dead men, swooning from fright. And this
earthquake had much the same effect upon the jailer. He was not seeking
after God. He had not a thought about God–his thoughts were hellish
and his course was towards the pit. But in a moment, at God's voice,
the current of his thoughts changes its direction and flows where it
had never gone before! So have I known men who have been going on with
all their might towards the realms of darkness with their free and
stout will, determining to inherit eternal damnation. But the hour has
struck, Sovereign Mercy has come forth–and they, wonders to all–but
greatest wonders to themselves, have suddenly become heirs of God and
children of the Most High! May such wonders still be worked.
Yet further, we do not find in Lydia's case that there was anything
like an earthquake. There were no great shakings and alarms. It was a
"still, small voice." The jailer sprang in and came trembling. We doubt
not that Lydia felt her need of a Savior and that her cry was, "What
must I do to be saved?" But still we find very little about her
trembling, or being overwhelmed with the terrors of conscience. She was
gently led by the finger of the eternal Father. The light dawned upon
her as the morning's dawn, a gradual enlightening of the darkness.
Grace came upon her as the shower which first begins as a mist, then
thickens into a heavy dew, and then becomes a gentle sprinkling and
afterward empties the clouds upon the soil.
To the jailer it was like an April storm beginning with big drops and
dashing into a torrent in a few moments–to the jailer it was as though
the sun should rise in an instant and turn the thickest night into full
blaze of noon. Not so, in Lydia's case. Now do note, dear Friends,
these differences, because they may help to solve many of your
difficulties. Do not expect all to be converted in the same way. Do not
suppose you are all to pass through the same terrors, nor all to be led
by the same gentle methods. Our God is the God of variety in creation
and in Providence. There are no two things exactly alike, and in the
works of Divine Grace we are not to have Christians run into a mold, or
dropped down like shot, all fashioned in the same shape.
There must be in every conversion a something distinct and separate
from every other–and every man must expect to perceive in the glass of
his experience some things about the features of his conversion
different from those of any other. Why, do you not see that the means
which converted Lydia would not have been of any use to the jailer? The
jailer would not go to the place by the riverside. He would have
laughed at the idea of sitting down with a parcel of women! You would
not find him listening to Paul. He would smile at the very thought–"I
go and listen to a renegade Jew, whom his own nation has cast off?
Nothing of the kind."
On the other hand, an earthquake would not have been appropriate to
Lydia's character. Good, gentle soul, it might have frightened her out
of her wits and instead of making her cry, "What must I do to be
saved?" it is very likely she would have been in a swoon, if not
altogether dead. The same quantity of alarm which will bring a stronger
man down into something like reason, will just drive a woman out of her
reason altogether. Gentle Lydia and the rough jailer are two very
different people. They were of different sexes to begin with, and the
woman is more easily moved by that which gently appeals to the
affections than is the man. She, again, had been a moral and excellent
woman. He has, probably, been tutored in sin. There must be different
methods with different temperaments.
Does the farmer use the same machines in threshing different kinds of
grain? Are all seeds sown after the same fashion? Do we not feel with
regard to our children that we can speak a sharp word to one and he
will scarcely feel it, but that the same expression will break another
boy's heart? One child needs the rod and there are others upon whom a
touch of the rod might work mischief. Certainly, then, it must be so in
the constitution of the soul. And therefore God deals with each of us
in different ways and we are not to question the sincerity of our
conversion because it is not precisely like our favorite model. We are
rather to see whether its fruits are the same, whether it comes of God,
whether it leads to Christ, and if it does all this it matters not in
what mold it is formed.
III. So much for that point. But here, as I generally like, if I can,
to place two Truths side by side, we have our third point, namely, THE
COMPARISON BETWEEN THE TWO, because they are essentially alike, though
circumstantially different.
In both cases, dear Friends, Providence co-worked with Divine Grace.
Providence brings Lydia to Philippi– Providence shakes the prison. God
makes the realm of nature subservient to His will in both cases. There
is a demand for purple at Philippi. I do not know how it came about. I
cannot tell whether there were new fashions among the ladies at
Philippi at that time, or what it was–but for some reason or other
Lydia gets to Philippi because there is a great market for her purple.
Well now, that is Providence which brings her there. The same
Providence by another revolution of its wheel has appointed that
particular jailer to keep the prison. Why was he jailer to that
particular prison? Why is Paul brought to Philippi at all?
And how is it that through the accidental circumstance of the demoniac
woman having been healed, Paul is beaten with rods and thrust into
prison? Then comes the earthquake! Link within link and wheel within
wheel, Providence works its way. So is it in every case–whether it is
conversion by thunder and lightning, or by the "still, small voice."
There was in both cases a distinct work of God. We see it in Lydia's
case, and have dwelt upon it. Even more distinctly we perceive it in
the jailer's case, for what but Irresistible Grace could have made him
cry, "What must I do to be saved?"
In both instances, too, the Word of God is essential, for we read
concerning the jailer, as we did before, concerning Lydia, "They spoke
unto him the Word of the Lord and to all who were in his house." The
earthquake cannot dispense with the minister. And though the mighty
power of God can take the natural bonds from every prisoner, yet he
does not choose to take away the spiritual bonds from any one soul
without the proclamation of the Word. It pleases God, "by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
And again, in both cases, the same signs followed. The jailer is
baptized with all his house, and we are told that they all believed. He
washes Paul and Luke's stripes. Just as Lydia had entertained them, so
he begins to wash their poor backs which were all black and blue and
probably bleeding with the hard blows of the lictor's elm rods. He sets
meat before them and entertains them with the best he has and glad
enough is he, in the morning, when he finds they are not to be kept in
durance any longer, but may go their way. Here is the same result, the
same love to the Brothers and Sisters, the same obedience to the Divine
command, "Arise and be baptized."
There is an unmistakable likeness among all the people of God. All the
children have the father's features, yet they are not any one of them
precisely like his fellow. They are all brought by Divine Grace and
Grace does its work in the same way. Yet, as to the minutiae of the
details of their conversion, they are as wide as the poles asunder.
IV. We take Lydia's conversion to be A MODEL OF MULTITUDES OF
CONVERSIONS WHICH ARE GOING ON IN OUR MIDST AT THE PRESENT TIME, AND IN
OTHER CHURCHES, WHERE GOD IS MAKING BARE HIS ARM. The expression used
is, "The Lord opened Lydia's heart, to attend to the things that were
spoken."
Now what is meant by this? I think we have a summary of the work of the
Holy Spirit here. There are several things meant. No doubt the Lord
removed prejudice. This prejudice is an evil which we have to fight
against in very many. In Lydia's case it would be Jewish
prejudice–perhaps the report had reached her, as it had most of the
Jews, concerning Jesus of Nazareth. She knew that her race had hounded
Him to the death, that her nation had even said, "His blood be on us
and on our children." Paul the Apostle was the subject of much of this
prejudice among the Jews. You will recall that when writing his Epistle
to the Hebrews he does not begin with his name, as he does in all the
other Epistles, because he felt that the very name, "Paul," from the
fact of his having been an eminent Pharisee and having become a
Christian, was distasteful to the Hebrew people.
But God removed all this prejudice from Lydia's mind–she sat down to
listen to Paul with a determination to give him a fair hearing and to
weigh the matter and see whether these things were so or not–somewhat
like the Bereans of old who also had their hearts in a measure opened,
for they searched the Scriptures to see whether things were so. The
devil often covers men from head to foot in a coat of mail so that when
they come where the arrows of God are flying, there is very little hope
of their being wounded because there is scarce a joint of the harness
which the devil has not protected by an iron rivet of prejudice.
You know how he tries in these days to do it. Some silly tales are set
afloat about the minister–some inventions of addled brains–or else
some old stories which were true of eccentric men whom the worms have
eaten one hundred years before–all these are appended to the preacher
that so he may be made to appear in a ridiculous light, in order, as
the devil thinks, that there may be a prejudice against the Word which
comes from his lips. Or else it is the denomination or the sect, as it
is called, to which the preacher belongs. "Of course, I can get no good
from him," says one, "I am a Churchman." Or, says another, "I could not
expect that I should be blessed under him–I am an Arminian."
So these things raise prejudices and many make up their minds
beforehand that they will not like the preaching– and they come into
the place, as it were, with their ears stuffed full of wool–and you
cannot get a word in. They have their hearts already so occupied with
certain set notions, that though an angel from Heaven should minister
the Truth, it would need to have the earthquake of the jailer before
the Truth could enter in. In Lydia's case there was nothing of the
sort. She was willing to hear and to give a candid attention to the
preacher. Much is gained when this is done.
In the next place, when her heart was opened her desires were awakened.
She felt now a wish to understand this matter and if there was anything
in what the Apostle was saying about eternal salvation–about complete
pardon by the blood of Him who was the "Lamb slain from before the
foundation of the world." She said to herself, "I should like to know
about it. I hope it may be true. I wish I may get an interest in these
things." So she listens, anxiously desiring to be impressed by the
Word. She has a hunger and a thirst–and these people have this
blessing–"They shall be filled." When we get our people, by God's
Grace, as far as hungering and thirsting, then we are very thankful to
say this is the opening of the heart. As the oyster when the tide comes
up opens its shell, so when the tide of Grace is coming, God often
makes men open their hearts, so that now they may get the spiritual
supply.
Well, there was a desire awakened, but this was not all. There came
another kind of opening–her understanding was now enlightened. "Yes,"
as the Apostle went from one point to the other point–"yes, I see that
God did promise a Prophet like unto Moses. This man Jesus is like
Moses, for He is a Prophet mighty in word and deed, which none of our
Prophets were, except Moses. Yes," she said, "yes, Isaiah does speak of
Him as being 'despised and rejected of men.' That is right and David
does say, 'They pierced My hands and My feet, they parted My garments
among them. For My vesture did they cast lots.' Yes," she said, "I see
it–in the Person of the Man Christ Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I
perceive the Messiah who is spoken of in the Law and in the Prophets."
And then he went on to say that faith in this Christ Jesus, who was
fastened to the tree, would take away all sin, because this same Christ
Jesus had carried upon His blessed shoulders the transgression of all
Believers. "Yes," she said," I see that this is a reasonable doctrine,
that of Substitution. I can see how God is just, for He does punish sin
in Christ. And I can see how He is gracious, too, for He is able now to
freely give out of the fullness of His heart, such Divine Grace as poor
sinners require." So her understanding was opened. She clearly viewed
the Gospel. She could see in its height and depth and length, just that
which her soul wanted.
Then came something else. Now her affections were excited. She felt
growing within her a love to Him who, though He was equal with God, yet
took upon Himself the form of a servant. As she heard Paul describe His
sufferings, as she pictured to herself the scene around the Cross, she
thought she could hear the death-shriek and mark the flowing blood and
she seemed to think, "Yes, I love that Man. I love that God. My heart
goes after Him. O that He were mine! Yes," she said, I love that
preaching. Sweet to my ears are those doctrines of mercy." She began,
already, to rejoice and, "Blessed are the people that know the joyful
sound," for if they do not yet walk in the light of God's countenance,
yet they shall, for so the promise runs.
All this, I think, is included in the term, "Her heart was opened." Her
affections were now kindling towards Divine things. And then came
faith. She believed the whole of the record. She took it to be
absolutely true, as Paul had stated, that there had been a Messiah.
That He, according to Scripture, was the Son of God and was also the
Son of Man. That He had suffered, the Just for the unjust, and that
she, believing in Him, had her sins forgiven. Faith came now through
hearing. She took God at His Word. She simply and humbly put her soul
at the feet of that Cross where the blood was dropping, believing that
as it fell from Heaven, it pleaded for her. And as it dropped on her it
gave her peace with God through Jesus Christ.
Faith being given, all the Graces followed. Now she hated her sins, she
repented. Now she loved righteousness, she sought after holiness. Now
she had a bright hope of the many mansions in the Father's house! Now
she began to run with holy and happy feeling in the ways of obedience
to Christ's commands and she became, not merely a Believer in the
elements of Christianity, but she went on towards perfection, adding to
her faith courage, and to her courage, experience, and to her
experience, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. Onward
she went in the way of her God. All this the Master did by opening her
heart to attend to the things that were spoken of by Paul.
And now, Beloved, the practical lesson is that we must pray for those
who are round about us, and the many hopeful ones, that God would make
them like Lydia. Let us put up this petition for our sons and
daughters, that the God who has put them in the way of the means and,
to a degree, has prepared their minds for the reception of the Truth of
God, would be pleased to work effectually and savingly and bring them
to accept the Savior.
As for those in whom God is thus working, O that the Word I speak this
morning might lead them to lay hold on Jesus! Remember, there is
nothing for you to do–you have but to trust Jesus and you are saved.
And to do this, as your warrant, there are no good works required, nor
good feelings, nor deep experiences, either. You have, just as you are,
to believe that Christ can save you and trust yourself to Him as the
Savior and He will save you! He will save you NOW with a great, present
and complete salvation. The Lord help you to trust in Him and He shall
have the praise. Amen.