(Read Acts 16:11-15)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” In yesterday’s message I told you of how Paul had a vision in Troas. Paul saw a man from Macedonia pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” The next morning he and Silas concluded that God was calling them to preach in Macedonia, so they took off in that direction. After arriving in Philippi, a major city in Macedonia, the two men stayed there several days, seeking to be led of God concerning what to do next.
On the Sabbath the two men went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer. Paul and Silas sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. She loved God, but she had not heard of Jesus. Paul and Silas shared the gospel message of eternal life in Christ Jesus by Grace. The Bible says, “As she listened, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.” Lydia was baptized, along with other members of her household, and she invited Paul and Silas into her home. Let’s stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Eternal life has been offered by Grace and the offer is accessed by expressing faith in Jesus. John said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” (John 5:24). In the next chapter, John 6, Jesus said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life” (v.40) and “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life” (v.47). Without question, the Bible teaches that God has freely offered us eternal life, by Grace, and we access that Grace when we exercise faith (believe) and accept Jesus as Lord.
2. God had to open Lydia’s heart in order for her to receive eternal life by Grace. In our text (Acts 16:11-15) we see the words, “the Lord opened her heart.” While Paul was sharing the gospel with Lydia, telling her that she could have eternal life if she believed on Jesus, the Lord opened her heart so that she would be open to access by faith, the eternal life that was offered to her by Grace. So not only was Grace involved in the offer, but Grace was involved in the acceptance of the offer, because God had to open her heart — by Grace, without Lydia doing anything to earn it or deserve it — in order for her to accept the offer of eternal life in Christ Jesus.
3. God was involved in opening your heart and He still opens hearts today. Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32). While we preach Jesus, and we offer the free gift of eternal life by Grace, God still has to move upon the hearts of people in order for them to receive the message. Jesus also said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me” (John 6:44). And if that is not plain enough, in the same chapter He later went on to say, “No one can come to me unless my Father puts it into his heart to come” (John 6:65).
4. Grace is two places. I have often said and I routinely hear other preachers say, “Your faith must be in two places: your heart and your mouth.” We get that from Romans 10:9,10. It is true that your faith needs to be in two places in order for you to make a declaration that will activate movement in the Spirit realm. But Grace also needs to be in two places in order for someone to get saved. Grace must be involved in the offer and in the person receiving the offer. The person making the offer should make it clear that eternal life is a free gift, offered by our Heavenly Father, by Grace, and it cannot be earned by man. Jesus earned it for us. Grace must also be involved in the person receiving the offer, because if God does not touch their heart by Grace (without them earning it or deserving it), then they will never make a decision for Christ. So when God uses me to lead someone to accept Jesus as Lord and get Born-Again, while it is true that both me and the person receiving the gospel had something to do with it, it is also true that God was involved in the entire process. God had to work through me, by Grace, in order for me to share the gospel effectively, and God had to work on the other person, by Grace, in order for them to receive it. When we understand this we don’t take much credit in what God blesses us to do, and we give ALL THE GLORY to Him!
Closing Confession: Father, the more I learn of You, the more Your Grace towards me and all men becomes more evident. You sent people to me, to share the gospel message with me, freely offering me eternal life by Grace. Your Grace was on the messengers, as they shared the gospel message with me. Your Grace was also in the message, as they told me eternal life was a free gift offered to me in Christ Jesus Your Son. And Your Grace was on me, touching my heart and helping me to be open to receive the gospel. While it is true that several people were involved in sharing the gospel with me, and I had to be involved in accepting it — believing in my heart and confessing with my mouth that Jesus the Christ is Lord — I also know that You were involved in the entire process. By Grace you sent people to me to share a Grace-filled message of eternal life in Christ, and by Grace I was able to receive it and be Born-Again. I now freely give myself over to You, to be used of You to become a messenger of Grace. I ask You to give me the Grace to share Your message with other people. As I do, the message I share will be a message of Grace, letting people know that they can have eternal life. Not because they are so good, and not by them earning it, but solely because You are so good and because Jesus earned it for us. And Father, as I share your Grace-filled message by the Grace that is on my life, I also trust You to touch the hearts of the people I am sharing the gospel with, by Grace, so they can receive it. Your Grace is simply amazing to me! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
