Lydia

Lydia: Willing Service (Acts 16:11-15, 40; Phil. 1:3-11) There is a very real, powerful and eternal partnership between fellow Christians. Koinonia (gk.) Partnership, fellowship, bond, sharing, communion, mutual encouragement, having intimate knowledge of each other (See Acts 2:41-47) To gain intimate knowledge of another requires that you spend time with them, preferable in some joint venture. Where there is Koinonia, God will cause an increase (Acts 2:47) God chooses/saves people for eternity and for service on the earth ((Acts 18:1-4, 24-26, Rom. 16:3-4, 1 Cor. 16:19, 2 Tim. 4:19) We can demonstrate an eternal, heavenly mindset by our service in this life. Willing service is evidence of Godly devotion. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to the truth being shared by Paul (Acts 16:14; see also Luke 24:45; John 6:44; 2 Cor. 4:6; Eph 1:17-18) Dianoigo {dee-an-oy'-go}Gk: to open eyes, ears, mind and soul. To arouse understanding and a desire for greater, deeper knowledge. (I believe that God has done this in me!) Lydia responded with acceptance, demonstrated by baptism, outreach to her family and service to her brothers in Christ. (Acts 16:15) She met real and practical needs. Her service glorified God and benefited others as well. Jesus came to serve and is our model for service.

Opening Your Home (Hospitality, Gen. 18:1-8, 1 Pe. 4:9, Rom. 12:13, Matt. 25:40) Refreshing/Supporting/Upbuilding (1 Cor. 2:3, Paul in a state of weakness & fear, Philemon 1:7) The word "hospitable" comes from the Greek word, "PHILO-ZENIA". Which is a combination of twos "PHILOS", which means “Loving”, and "XENOS" which means “a Stranger”. Karen Burton Mains, author of Open Heart/Open Home, - one morning decided to read a novel instead of doing the house work, of course a person from church stopped by - the place was a mess - dishes in the sink, toys every where, last night’s newspaper all over the floor. As she went to the door she could hear her father’s voice, "Hospitality comes before pride" easy enough to say when your place is tidy. She swallowed her pride and let the person from church in. After they came in and got sat down her friend says "I used to think you were perfect, now I think we can be friends!" Distinction between entertaining and hospitality, Entertaining people is showing off your house, and your cooking abilities to them, Hospitality is opening your house to them. Entertaining really centers on self and begs compliments, Hospitality centers on the other, and on God. Our purpose in life, as a part of the Kingdom of God, is found in our relationship to Christ and others. A person living a self-centered life will miss God’s purpose for them. Every believer/servant of God needs support and encouragement. The Greek word for "encourage" may be translated as comfort, console, inquire, beg, plead, counsel, urge or challenge. It involves the replacing or replenishment of courage that has somehow been lost. You may never know what a word of encouragement from you may mean to another person (God does! So follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit to encourage others!) Encouraging others costs you nothing but it can prove invaluable to others. An important part of process of encouraging others is seeing them not for who they are or for what they have done but for what they are capable of doing by the grace of God. We need to discern what really matters. Discern:

to perceive (be aware of and come to understand with the mind) to dissect (cut through many layers and examine closely) to comprehend with insight (to mentally grasp the inner/real nature or character)

Receiving God’s gift of discernment requires a humble and obedient heart Solomon’s request was that God give his servant a discerning/obedient/(literally ”hearing”) heart to govern/judge God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong/good and bad (1 Kings 3:9) (Note: 1 Chron. 1:10 describes the request as one for wisdom and knowledge) God granted Solomon a “wise and understanding heart” and much more besides (1 Kings 3:12-14) Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. (James 3:13-17) God Himself gives discernment “For Jehovah Himself gives wisdom, out of his mouth there is knowledge and discernment.”(Proverbs 2:6) (Contrast: Deut. 29:2-4, Isaiah 6:9-10, Matthew 13:10-17, God can also withhold discernment) Through Prayer “So if any one of you is lacking in wisdom, let him keep on asking God for he gives generously to all and without reproaching; and it will be given him.”(James 1:5, see also Colossians 1:910) "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:" (1 John 5:14) God delights in giving us things He wants us to have! Through God’s Word By giving “constant thought” to the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:7) and using it as a “sword” to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12-13) The very purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to give wisdom, understanding, discipline and discernment (Proverbs 1:1-4)

Through God’s Holy Spirit Jesus said to his disciples, "I will not leave you orphans; I will not leave you alone. If I go away I will send another Comforter to you and he will guide you into all the truth. He will take of the things of mine and show them unto you, and he will say to you the things that I have not been able to say," (John 14:16-18) God has revealed to us [these things] through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him. So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, interpreting (literally “fitting together”) spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit. (1 Cor 2:10-13) How do you focus on something? Be still (Ps. 37:7, 47:10), look intently, ignore distractions We should not be too busy to do what really matters. Anything that becomes the primary focus of our time and energy can become an idol, interfering with out relationship with God. Compulsive People: Highly, but wrongly motivated. Motivated by self interest, achievement, power, praise, fear/guilt. Have a religious appearance. Result oriented. Seek to use God. Committed People: Rightly motivated. Motivated by love, joy, grace. Care little about appearances. Service/faithfulness oriented. Seek to be used by God. Complacent People: Unmotivated. Motivated by self interest (or spiritually unmotivated), pleasure, the world. Self oriented. Seek to be indulged by God.