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The God Who Opened Lydia's Heart

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Bible verse : Acts 16:14절 (NIV)

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God.
The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.

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The apostle Paul was a man who devoted his whole life to preaching the gospel of Jesus. He went and preached the gospel wherever he could preach the gospel of God.

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Paul and his companions tried to go to another area for missionary work this time as well. But this time, the Holy Spirit prevented them from going the way they were trying to go. Wherever they tried to go, the Holy Spirit would not permit them, so they could not go.

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Then one night, Paul saw a vision. A person living in the Macedonian region appeared to Paul. He was begging Paul, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

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When Paul saw the vision, he took it as a sign that God was telling him to go to Macedonia and preach the gospel, so instead of going to the place Paul originally intended to go, he turned around and prepared to leave for Macedonia.

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Believing that God would lead them, Paul and his companions blindly went to Philippi, the center of Macedonia.

Like this, the apostle Paul was a man who thought of God's plan before his own plan.

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On the Sabbath, they went to the river outside the city gate to find a quiet place to pray to God.

they saw the women sitting by the riverside, they went and preached the gospel of Jesus to them.

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Lydia was a seller of purple cloth. She came to Philippi from a city called Thyatira. She met Paul by chance today and accepted Jesus.

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Lydia invited the apostle Paul to her house. Apostle Paul testified of Jesus to all those families. They all decided to believe in Jesus.

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Lydia invited the apostle Paul to her house. Apostle Paul testified of Jesus to all those families. They all decided to believe in Jesus.

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Lydia and all her family were baptized by Paul.

This was truly amazing.

Once again Paul realized that the vision he had seen was God's will for this very thing.

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Lydia decided to actively help the missionary Paul and his companions.
Lydia said to Paul:

“If you think I am a true believer in Jesus, please come and stay at my house.”

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So Paul's missionary team stayed at Lydia's house. And they were able to share the gospel with many people while staying in her house.

In Philippi, God provided everything they needed through Lydia.

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Lydia, who helped Paul today, was the first person in Europe to believe in Jesus.

God wanted to turn Paul's steps and do missionary work in Europe.

Apostle Paul, who obeyed this word, evangelized Lydia and her family.

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Through this Lydia, the church began in the Philippi area.
The name of that church is the Philippian Church. The Philippians we know well is Paul's letter to the Philippian church.

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The meeting between Apostle Paul, who considered the word of God more important than his own plans and obeyed and Lydia, who obeyed the voice of the Holy Spirit to help Paul in his missionary work by believing in Jesus, bore such beautiful fruits.

May our friends always listen to God's voice and become wonderful children of the Lord who bear beautiful fruits by obeying.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)