May 2-4, 2015 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Acts 16:11-15 “OPEN!”

EASTER 5

May 2-4, 2015

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Acts 16:11-15

“OPEN!”

1.     The Lord opens hearts to believe.

2.     Believers open hearts to serve.

Acts  16:11-15  (NIV 1984) “From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. ¹² From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.”

          “Open Sesame!” I sure hope kids today are still reading classics like Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, probably more likely, seeing an animated version or adaption of it. What a great story as a kid. I remember hearing how that secret magical phrase opened the cave filled with riches. I remember going with brothers and friends and trying it out on everything from make believe caves to actual locked doors. Open Sesame! Nothing really ever happened but the thought of having the power to open what was closed certainly was appealing. Today in God’s word we see some power to open what is closed put into play.

          It starts with what only God open. We are joining the Apostle Paul on what’s known as his second missionary journey. Starting from Jerusalem Paul and his companions made their way north  through modern day Turkey and Greece then back to Jerusalem. They arrive at the city of Philippi. Paul followed a familiar pattern. He looked for a gathering place to speak God’s word to any who might listen. Here it was outside the city gate at the river. Some women had gathered there. Paul and his companions began talking to them. What do you think they said? How’s the weather been? Do you know any good Greek restaurants? How do you think the Philippian Flyers will do this season? NO! They spoke the word of God to these women. They told the women about Jesus of Nazareth who was the Messiah. If there were Jewish ladies there they pointed to the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and connected the dots to Jesus’ fulfillment. And then? Open Sesame!

          The Lord opened hearts to believe. “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.”  Look closely at what this word of God says and learn to give glory to God. The Lord opened her heart. The Lord enabled her to respond. Without the Lord she would have stayed a closed book ever hearing but never understanding, ever seeing but never perceiving. Scripture is so clear on this truth. Give glory to God! The sinful mind is hostile to God it does not accept the things that come from God indeed it cannot do so. The man without the Spirit cannot understand the things that come from the Spirit they must be spiritually discerned. No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. Give glory to God. Only the Lord can open hearts to believe. Why then do some believers act like they did it? I accepted Christ into my heart. Foolishness! Give glory to God. Why do we find it so easy to look down on the unbelieving world? Do we not understand that if the Lord had not opened our hearts we would be just like them? It’s grace alone.     

          But it wasn’t just Lydia’s heart that got opened. “She and the members of her household were baptized.” There is no waiting period. She and her whole household are baptized. Paul no doubt had told her what Jesus said, “Go and make disciples by baptizing them in the name of the Father and  of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and so everyone she had influence over, her whole household was baptized. The Lord was opening hearts to believe. When is the last time you thought of your own Baptism? Were you awed to think of the fact that Lord Himself was working in you? When we see a Baptism use your eyes of faith and see God at work opening hearts to believe. God’s power is not limited to adults.  He works in babies and children just as well. The Lord opens hearts to believe.

          And then believers open their hearts to serve. Did you notice that connection in our Scripture readings today? Those whose hearts the Lord has opened respond. Believers are like the branches connected to the grapevine. As long as they stay connected they bear much fruit. They hear “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth,” and they say, “Yes. That is so. I will show love with actions and truth.”

          Listen and learn from Lydia who teaches us. “She invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.” Ah what a master she is! Do you see how she traps Paul? Clearly she understands that it is a privilege to be a believer. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” What is he going to say? No you are not! He’s stuck. But what was Lydia fighting for here? Come and stay at my house. She was bargaining for the privilege of supporting Paul and his companions in their work of spreading the Gospel. She was begging for the opportunity to spend of what God had given her so that Paul and his companions could proclaim the Gospel without worrying about where their next meal would come from or where they would lay their head at night. Lydia opened her heart to serve the Lord who had opened her heart to believe.

          That’s the way it works. To be clear there is nothing we can do to earn the right to be a believer in Jesus. We can’t turn our hearts to faith. That is the work of God and God alone. Give God the glory. But having been brought to faith, being born again of water and the Spirit we have new life. We are temples of the Holy Spirit. We have Christ living in us and now we can respond to God’s word and open our hearts to serve Him not because He can’t live without us or get His work done without us but because it is a privilege and an honor. If you consider us believers, Lord, let us…make sure your lambs are taught. Let us support the missionary in Japan. Let us.

          It’s a privilege. It doesn’t always feel that way does it? Sometimes the thought of giving what we have for others is hard to do. That’s because even though we are believers we still have a sinful nature. It is selfish. It is more concerned with things for me for right now than storing up treasures in heaven and using worldly wealth to gain heavenly friends. We need to rebuke that part of us. If giving your offerings isn’t fun, if volunteering at St Jacobi doesn’t give you joy, if living for Christ is a have to and not a want to, the wrong you is in the driver seat of your heart. It’s time to have Christ living in you trade places. Now what do you want to do? What would you go to the Lord and say, “If you consider me a believer let me…”

          We have been having what we would call a good spring here in Wisconsin. Yes it could be warmer but remember last year? God is sending the sunshine. God is sending the rain. There is a purpose and a plan. God is expecting and causing things to grow. God does that because He likes to hide behind nature to provide for His creation the food it needs to survive. Why does God give you and me the abilities He has? Why has he given us more time than we need to just survive, more money than we need? He likes to hide behind us to get His work done, His gospel of Jesus Christ spread. He’s got countless angels at His bidding but He reserves that privilege  for believers whose hearts He has opened to believe so that they open their hearts to serve. We don’t have to go looking for pretend caves filled with treasure. Opportunities to find treasures by serving Jesus will come to us in simple ways like the needs of a child, family member or a neighbor. They will come through appeals to carry out Christ’s work here or through missions. Because God has opened your heart to believe you can open yours to serve. Out of love for Christ, Open says me! Amen.