[0:00] Well, as I said, we're going to look at the conversion of Lydia. John Piper, in his devotional, The Gift of Conversion, says this. We will never fully appreciate what a deep and awesome thing conversion is until we own up to the fact that it is a miracle.
[0:20] It is a gift of God. And that is the case with all of us here, isn't it? The mystery of it all is if we've come to a knowledge of Christ, to a saving knowledge of Christ, our wonder is, why me?
[0:40] And that's the case with you here today, this morning. If you are in Christ Jesus, the wonder of it all is how he came into your heart.
[0:52] And when you think of what your heart is, Piper goes on to say, we not only sin, but we are also sinful, blind, dead, hard, unable to submit to the law of God.
[1:07] We can never positively respond to the gospel unless God performs this miracle of opening our hearts. Oh, friends, we are dependent entirely upon the Holy Spirit to come in this morning.
[1:25] And would that he would, as he did in Philippi that day, into Lydia's heart. We'll look at four things in connection with this conversion.
[1:40] First of all, we will look at providence. Then we will look at Lydia herself. Then look at Paul himself. And then we will look at the work of the Holy Spirit.
[1:54] First of all, let's look at providence. How did providence, now if we mean by providence, God's working. God's work of providence is just holy, wise, and powerful, governing all his people and all their actions.
[2:09] God is in control. God is in control of everything. You know, some people today reckon that God is in, there's no God out there. He is in absolute control.
[2:19] He's in control of Brexit, folks. Even the mess that we're seeing in our country at the moment, for some reason, he is in control. And he will be in control.
[2:32] He will be in control of everything in time until the end of time. Never, ever think that God is outside. He is in total control. Sometimes I think he is leaving men and women to their foolishness.
[2:47] And that's what he's doing so often. But he's in control. How did, why, how, how did providence bring Paul to Philippi? Well, notice, in, at the end of, of, of chapter 15, and that's why we read it.
[3:00] The missionary journey that Paul took up north into Asia began with an argument. An argument, we read that in chapter 15 at verse 30, 30, 36, 39.
[3:17] And there arose a sharp disagreement. That's between, between Paul and Barnabas. They disagreed. They disagreed over taking John Mark with them.
[3:29] Paul did not want John Mark to come with them. But Barnabas did. So they fell out. But, friends, they didn't fall out the way some of us fall out today. You'll find later on, in one of the epistles, Paul is talking about, telling Timothy, I think it is, to bring John Mark with him.
[3:48] But they fell out. And what they did was, they decided Paul would go north, and Barnabas would go west. Barnabas went to Cyprus. And Paul went north up to Antioch.
[3:59] He went to Antioch, and he went up to Lysthra and Derb. And that was it. They decided, just, we'll go different ways. And, but they still spoke. They still, they did it in love.
[4:11] And that was happening. That is a message for us today. So, it didn't begin very well. And then, when he went into, he went into Antioch. And I'm trying to picture, that's in Loa, south, south Turkey today.
[4:23] And he went a wee bit into central Turkey. He went to Derb and Lystra. And there, he decided that he was going to preach the gospel in Asia. That's where Asia was, Turkey and Asia. And he was forbidden.
[4:35] So, what he decided to do, himself and Silas, this time, they picked up Timothy in Antioch. There was three of them. So, they went, they decided to go up a wee bit up north, turn a wee bit, and decided to go into Bithynia.
[4:50] But for some reason or other, the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to Bithynia. Now, it's interesting to note that nothing is said about Paul disagreeing with God.
[5:01] Sometimes we can, we can get a bit angry. Sometimes in our providences, we can get a little bit angry with God. Just as an aside, I remember, my mother was terminally ill a number of years ago.
[5:19] And just before she died, she passed away. About a year or so before she passed away, she was crippled. She was in pain. She was in distress often.
[5:31] She couldn't walk. And she says to me one time when the doctor came, she says, pray. She says that God would take me away. And when she came back, she went, now, how do you pray that?
[5:45] That God would take your mother away? You can't pray, but you would ask the Lord's will would be done. And anyway, she was a godly woman. And she came back afterwards, and I could tell on her.
[5:57] She was angry with God in one sense. That God hadn't taken her to be with him. And, you know, but there was no anger with Paul here. He decided just to go along with it.
[6:09] There's no mention of him arguing at all with him. But so he went to Mysia. That is northwest of Turkey.
[6:22] And there he was intended to go to Bithynia. But he was told, no, don't go there. So he went down to throw us on the coast, right down by the coast. And there, that night, I think it was the very night, he had landed in throw us.
[6:35] He went to sleep. And he had a dream. And there was a man of Macedonia telling him, come over to Macedonia. Macedonia is up in Greece, to Europe, in other words.
[6:46] Come over to Macedonia and help us. And you notice that the word says here, the Bible is so true in everything. He says, immediately, immediately. Now, I believe that once he got up, I don't even know if he could cook his breakfast.
[7:01] He went out and he was going to go down to throw us, down to the harbor. What was there? A ship. What was in the ship? The ship had a berth for him.
[7:12] He, the three of them, could go along. So they could get the berth in there. As a matter of fact, there was four then. They picked up Luke and throw us. So there was four of them there.
[7:22] So they got the berth was there. The boat was waiting. The boat was going that very day. Heading, heading over, over towards Philippi. It was there for him.
[7:34] Providence. My, could you ever think of providence that Paul had there. Everything was there for him. And he was there. Not only that. But he made his way up to Neapolis.
[7:46] A southern part of Greece. And there was hardly a ripple on the sea. Now you remember another time he went on the sea. Same sea. He was almost shipwrecked.
[7:57] So the providence was guiding him. Was pushing him to go to Philippi. To Philippi, he was going. And that's where he was having to go. He was guided there. Now what about the providence with Lydia?
[8:10] What about her? Well we noticed that she was, she wasn't from. She was from Thyatira. Now Thyatira is right in the middle part of Asia.
[8:22] It's probably where Paul would have skirted north going to Bithynia. He would have gone a wee bit past it. He would have bypassed Thyatira. Isn't it amazing? Isn't it amazing?
[8:32] He'll miss Lydia in Thyatira. Skirt right around her and then find Lydia in Philippi. Providence. Anyway, she wasn't, she wasn't, she wasn't from that area.
[8:45] She was from Thyatira in Asia. And she was a, she was a successful business woman. Now, to be honest, it doesn't seem as if she was married. I don't, that doesn't seem to be in the context here.
[8:57] She was a success. Had she been married before? We don't know. But anyway, she was a successful business woman. She was going to, up to Philippi. Now the question is, she was going to sell her goods.
[9:09] Why did she not go to Athens? Why did she not go to Corinth? There was far more money to be made in Athens than Corinth. It was far, far bigger place than Philippi.
[9:22] Philippi was a Roman garrison, it says. It hadn't extended yet to the big city it was going to be. It wasn't a huge city. It was more like a town. Because there wasn't even a synagogue there.
[9:33] It was synagogues. There wasn't even a building of a synagogue. There wasn't a church there. She had left. She went to Philippi to sell her bales of purple.
[9:43] That's bales of, you can call it wool, or some sort of linen that she was making. It was actually a very pricey bit of garment. But she was selling it there. And there she was.
[9:55] She landed up with her bales of purple. She landed up in Philippi. She had to go to Philippi. Because she had to find the Lord Jesus in Philippi.
[10:06] That's where she went. She went. So, we find it there. Neither Paul, who was there, nor Lydia, had any indication that they were going to meet.
[10:20] But yet, meet they had to meet. Because providence, God's providence, had brought them there. There's a hymn written by Thomas Lynch.
[10:31] He's got one of his verses. He talks about God's providence. His wisdom is sublime. His heart profoundly kind. God never is before his time and never is behind.
[10:47] You remember that, folks. God is always on time. Here he was. The providence of God had brought Paul to Philippi and brought Lydia.
[10:57] What about yourself, friend? You've been converted many years. And I'm sure if you look over your conversion, those of you who are converted, you find that the providence of God was active.
[11:12] You were there at the time you should have been. You were under the word of God. Or you were listening to the word of God. Or you met somebody there. And your providence had got you. Never, ever think that providence is outside.
[11:25] It's part of. It is part of, I believe, of conversion. It is there. You had to be. Or maybe you're here today. You've come here this morning. Maybe you're interested in the gospel.
[11:37] And, you know, I believe that most, if not all, people who come to the church on a regular basis are interested in some way in the gospel.
[11:50] Oh, yes, it's the way we brought up and that. But there are those who are actually, and I meet them, coming down here. They're going with their dogs down the braille and they're not bothered about coming to church.
[12:01] You've got some interest in the gospel. God has brought you here. He's put that interest into your heart. You're here because somehow or other you've seen some conversions.
[12:16] You've seen maybe a brother, a sister, a father, a mother. Somebody you know has been converted. You see somebody and maybe you say, oh, I wish.
[12:30] Oh, I wish I was like them. But something is holding you back. And that's why you're in the house of God this morning. I believe you're here. And you're in here because you've got some interest in the gospel.
[12:45] You're interested in the gospel. And providence has brought you here. But there is something. Something is keeping you back. You think about it.
[12:56] And think about it to every one of us here today. Not just because I'm here. But you're here most Sundays. Every Sunday you'll be here on a Sunday morning. Think of this.
[13:07] The argument that brought Paul to Antioch. The refusal of the Holy Spirit to allow him to go this way or that way. Allow him to stay in Asia or go north.
[13:20] He wasn't allowed to preach there. The availability of the boat. The availability of the birth in the boat. The sea being calm and him landing up at Neapolis and then walking that wee bit to Philippi.
[13:37] Everything here. These providences. My friend, these providences are directly linked to you. Will I tell you why? This was the first conversion in Europe.
[13:49] It was the means of the gospel starting in Greece. Moving north. Going to Italy. Moving to Spain. From Spain then to France. From France to England.
[14:00] From England to here. And you are here. This day. In Garibos Church this day. Because of that providence there. And you're here.
[14:11] Listening to this story again. And all friends would you listen to it. And our hearts would. Would. That the Holy Spirit would do. As he did to Lydia that day.
[14:23] And open our hearts to him. Every one of us. Every one of us today needs our hearts opened. Some need their hearts opened. Regarding reach or conversion.
[14:35] And some of us need our hearts opened. Because we need our hearts opened. Because we're so dead in our practice. And I'm not speaking to anybody here. I'm speaking to myself. Friends. I feel myself so dead spiritually.
[14:47] Dead spiritually. That I need my heart to be open to the gospel. Every time I read it. Wouldn't it be good for us? That is the case. Well that's providence. Let's look at Lydia.
[14:59] Well. He said that God's providence had brought her. Worked her. So that Lydia would be saved. You know. But. Lydia had to be made something. She had to be made willing.
[15:09] You know. If you are to be saved. And I are to be saved. We are to be made willing. You see. We can have an interest folks.
[15:20] In the gospel. And that interest. Maybe it's there. But we may need to be. Our hearts need to be made willing. That's the course. You need. You see.
[15:30] Nobody. Nobody. I don't believe. Will ever come to Christ. Being dragged to Christ. Kicking and screaming. We are made willing.
[15:41] In a day of his power. It's what the gospel. The word of God says. So as I'm willing to be drawn to him. We are seeing something. In Christ. We need to see something. In Jesus Christ.
[15:53] As. And we will see. We will see in a wee while. What. What. I believe Lydia. Was made willing. Well anyway. God. You see. Draws. Sinners. Let's look at.
[16:05] What Lydia did. Let's look at. The case of Lydia. First of all. She kept. The Sabbath. Ah. People are saying. Sabbath today.
[16:15] What's the Sabbath today? The Sabbath. She kept it in her day. And you know that. Her day. Was as bad as our day. This was the day. Of the Roman Greek Empire.
[16:26] It was a terrible time. In history. It was as bad. Today. If you think today. Is as bad a day. This day. That Paul is talking about. See what he says. When he goes to Athens.
[16:38] It was a terrible day. Yet. We have Lydia. And she was. She. She was a proselyte. She was a convert. She was a convert. To Judaism. Somewhere or other. She had come into contact.
[16:49] With Judaism. In. She had heard of the God of Israel. When she was in Thyatira. And here she is. She kept the Sabbath. You know. And the other thing about it is.
[17:00] She kept the Sabbath. When she was away from home. Ah. That's something. Isn't it? Isn't it? See it's easy to keep Sabbath.
[17:11] To keep the Lord's Day. When we're here. In Lewis. When we're here. See when we go away on holiday. See when people go away on holiday. Is it so easy to keep the Lord's Day? Not so easy friends. Is it?
[17:22] Not so easy for us to go to a church on the Lord's Day. Sometimes there isn't any. But sometimes to keep the Lord's Day. It is sometimes. It's so easy in one sense to do it in Lewis.
[17:34] But to go away from Lewis. And keep the Lord's Day. It's not so easy. You see. The Lord's Day is still the Lord's Day. Whether we're here. Whether we're in deepest Africa. It's still the Lord's Day.
[17:46] No matter where we are. And there's something about Lydia as well. She put apart her business. She didn't sell her purple on the Lord's Day.
[17:57] You don't see her selling do you? She goes. What does she do? And this is the next thing she does. She goes to the place of worship. She goes to church. That's where she goes.
[18:11] You know. The ESV has it. And on the Sabbath day. We went outside the gate. To this riverside. We suppose there was a place of prayer. I love myself.
[18:22] The Elizabethan AV rendering of that verse. It says there. We went to the riverside. And on the Sabbath. We went out of the city by a riverside.
[18:33] Where prayer was want to be made. I love that verse. It's not just where prayer. It's just the place where there was a place of prayer. It's where prayer was want to be made.
[18:45] Difference. I think. There is a difference. Fair enough we're in prayer. But where prayer was. It was the desire. Where prayer was. It was the desire where prayer was to be made.
[18:57] That was the centrality of the meeting. It was prayer. All friends of prayer is in the centrality of any meeting. It's not a meeting really is it? We need prayer.
[19:07] That's why it's wonderful to come to the prayer meeting. Oh never. Never. I know there are times you can't come to the prayer meeting. But come. Oh come friend.
[19:18] If you're a sinner and you've never come before. Lydia came. She wasn't saved. But she got salvation that day in the prayer meeting. She was saved. This is where Lydia wanted to be.
[19:32] That's where she wanted to be. And that's why she came. And that's what you want. And I believe there are some people here. That would like to go to the prayer meeting. I know there is.
[19:44] I know they've got a prayer meeting. Is it Wednesday or Thursday? You've got the. Wednesday. You have a prayer meeting here on Wednesday night. And you would like to be there. But you know you don't feel like you want to go there.
[19:55] Because people tell you. Oh hang on. He's getting religious. And you don't like that to be on. Friend have we gone through it? I'm sure many of us here have gone through it.
[20:06] We don't like to be seen. Going to the prayer meeting. But what if somebody sees? Just go to the prayer meeting. Be there. Be there on Wednesday night. Be there on any other night that you can be.
[20:17] It's a place where prayer is to be made. That's where Lydia went. It's a place where God blesses. He promised to bless us. And he will bless. And that's what he'll do.
[20:28] He'll carry on blessing. Lydia. That's what she did. She went. She kept the Sabbath. She went to church. And there's this in it. She listened. She listened. Look at verse 14.
[20:40] It says there. It says there. One who heard was Lydia. Much with. Now that's. That. The Bible is clear. One who heard was Lydia.
[20:51] That means the emphasis is on heard. She was listening. She was listening intently. Her interest was engaged. To. Now friends.
[21:02] I know how easily. It is. When you come to God's house. For you to sit there. And your mind going to say. What am I going to do tomorrow? What am I going to do? What did I do yesterday? What.
[21:14] And you've got something on your mind. And you're going to say to. And. You know. You'll find it. When you're inside God's house. And I know. It happens to me. And it happens to the elders in front of me. I'm sure. And. It happens to every one of us.
[21:25] We slip away. Our mind slips away. To something. Possibly legitimate. Well. I'm here on Tuesday night. I'm here on Wednesday night. I'm going to do this. Or that. It's the easiest thing.
[21:37] It's the time. I believe. When Satan. Is most. Active. It's when there is a. A meeting in church. I believe. He's most active. In getting you.
[21:48] Sowing seeds into your mind. And sowing seeds into my mind. Taking us away from. The gospel message. Taking us away from Christ. That is his. That is his aim. That is his desire.
[21:59] Is to keep you away from Christ. And that's where he goes. He goes in. So that. You still you up some. So that the good news of the gospel. Will not be heard. She listened.
[22:10] And she listened. Intently. Well. What about thirdly Paul. Paul. What about Paul himself. Well. We know. That.
[22:23] The saving of any sinner. Is God's. Is God's. Free grace. It's God's work. But he uses instruments. He uses means. We call them means. And he called.
[22:33] He uses. In this case. He uses Paul. And he's sovereign in that. He. He uses it as he will. So. What did Paul do? What did Paul do? Well.
[22:45] Look what he did. Look at. At verse 12 again. He went to Philippi. Leading the city of the colony. We remained in the city some days. Now. There's a key to that.
[22:56] They remained in the city some days. It doesn't say that he preached the gospel. It doesn't say that he did anything new. He looked round the city. And he thought to himself. What will I do?
[23:06] And himself and his companions. Would have been talking to each other. They would have. I can't really say it. Almost. Almost like an army. You trace out the ground. First of all. You look through. And he would have found out.
[23:18] Where there was going to be. A church meeting. He had found out that. That would be. That would have been his first thing to do. Where is the church meeting? So we find there that he does. The first thing he does is.
[23:29] He seeks. A place to worship. That's what he does. That's the first thing he does. He seeks a place to worship. The next thing. I mean. Sought out a place of worship.
[23:41] He speaks to them. In the place of worship. Seeking. And then speaking. He attended to the place of worship. And notice what he does there. He says that he was supposed.
[23:53] It's a place where he sat down. And spoke to them. He spoke to them. He didn't preach. He didn't stand up. And I think he started preaching to them. He spoke to them.
[24:04] He went into. A wee conversation with them. There was only a few of them. And he spoke to them. He spoke to them about. Maybe about his own conversion. More than likely.
[24:16] He talked to them about who he was. What he was. His conversion. How he had met Christ. He talked to them. About the gospel. He gossiped the gospel. That was his subject.
[24:27] That's what he did. And his subject. Would be one person. Jesus Christ. You see. They were Jews. They were stuck up. They were looking for the Messiah.
[24:38] So he would have talked to them about Jews. He would have talked to them about how he was changed. His own heart was changed on the road. On the Damascus road. He would have talked to them about that the only salvation was in Jesus Christ.
[24:50] The one who died on the cross near Jerusalem. He came to save to the uttermost. That's words of Paul. To the uttermost. Those who turned to. He can save.
[25:01] Friends. This is what he would have spoken to them. He would have told them about the cross. The fact that he died on the cross for sinners like themselves. There. There. And he was the one that would bring sinners to God.
[25:15] He was the only one that would bring sinners to God. And he was the only one that could cleanse them. In his own blood. This is what he would do. Christ. The now in heaven.
[25:26] He would have made that emphasis to. That he's risen. He is our risen savior. He's alive at God's right hand. And he is ready to receive sinners. Friends. That's the same gospel we have today. That's it today.
[25:37] In a nutshell. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Of whom Paul could say. I am chief. That's our. That's the. That's the. That's the gospel. The heart. The number of the gospel.
[25:48] By Christ Jesus. This Christ. Putting your trust in Jesus. Loving him for all he's done for you. And friends. That's it for us. Charles Wellesley. You know. Some of you be aware of Charles Wellesley.
[26:00] The hymn writer. But 1740. He. He. He. He. He. Penned the hymn. Depth of mercy. And some of you may know. Depth of mercy.
[26:11] Can there be. Mercy still received from me. Can my God his wrath forbear. Me the chief of sinners spare. You know that. That verse. And he goes on. To the. To say. Therefore me the sinner.
[26:21] The savior stands. Shows his wounds. And spreads his hands. God is love. I know. I feel. Jesus weeps. But loves me still. That was a wonderful. A lovely hymn. By Charles Wellesley. Charles Wellesley.
[26:33] In 1740. He had done that. Two years. Two years. Earlier. In his diary. In 1738. He writes this. I preached. He says. Preached in Newgate prison.
[26:44] For the condemned felons. That's what he called. That was the words then. Condemned. Prisoners. And visited one of them. In his cell. He was sick of fever. A poor black.
[26:57] He says. That had robbed his master. Probably. Out of hunger. And he was waiting. In Newgate prison. To be hung. I told him. Of one.
[27:07] This is Wesley's words. I told him. Of one. Who came down from heaven. To save lost sinners. And him. In particular. I described. The sufferings. Of the son of God. His sorrows.
[27:20] His agony. And his death. He listened. He says. This is. With all the signs. Of eager astonishment. Then he says. Tears.
[27:31] Trickled down. The black man's face. And he said. What? What? Was it for me? Was it for me?
[27:42] Did God suffer all this? For so poor. Wretched creature. Such as me. I left him. Said Wesley. Waiting for the salvation.
[27:54] Of God. Later on. If I remember rightly. Himself and another man. Visited. Went into the prison. John Wesley.
[28:05] Went into the prison. And he stayed. The night. Just before they were to be hung. And he stayed the night. He went in. And he asked. If he could stay with them.
[28:15] Stay with the prisoner. And he stayed with them. And he went from cell to cell. Preaching the gospel. This gospel. And you know that when they went to the gallows.
[28:26] He went to the gallows with them. He took them. When the car came. And he took them to the gallows. There was five or six of them there. He says. And he says.
[28:37] They went to be hung. And they were singing God's praises. They had been converted. That night. In Newgate prison. By John Wesley. By Charles Wesley.
[28:49] All friends. The effect. Of the gospel. Just as these men. You talk about. Too late. They weren't too late. He had gone in. He had gone in. And stayed.
[29:00] With the prisoners. And this was the same. This would be. Just like John Wesley. This would be Paul's. Message. To these women. In Philippi.
[29:11] Jesus Christ. The centrality. Of Jesus Christ. And now finally. Time is running. The Holy Spirit. It. Well. Paul. Paul. Paul. Providence brings Paul and Lydia together.
[29:24] Lydia comes. Because. She. Comes to that place of worship. Because. She observes the Sabbath. And. She loves the place of worship. Paul comes.
[29:35] Because of his love to Christ. And his eagerness. To win souls. However. Friends. These two were good. As they were. Wonderful. Meeting. And they were coming together.
[29:48] It would not have been. Nothing. Would have been achieved. Apart from the work. Of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. Must be there. Because we have it. In verse 14. And that's the centrality.
[29:59] Of it all. At the end of verse 14. The last. The last part. The last verse. In verse 4. The Lord. Opened. Her heart. To pay attention. To what was said by Paul.
[30:10] That's what it is. So it is today. Friends. In Garibas. So it is with you. With me. We can come together. The word of God. And ourselves. Can come together.
[30:21] But we need. The working. We need to be made willing. Oh. That the Holy Spirit. Would come. Even today. Oh. That he would come. And that be our prayer. Friends.
[30:31] Holy Spirit. Come. Even come. Lord Jesus. Into our midst. Convert sinners. Here. Who are not. I don't know. I don't know you. Some of you. I don't know your hearts. I don't know. Nobody knows your heart.
[30:42] But God. That you know. You know. If you are converted. Won't it be good for you. If you were made willing. Look at what he did. Look what the Holy Spirit did. He did three things. Was it four.
[30:52] Three things. Four things he did. He opened her heart. What does it mean? Well her desires were changed. Oh she decided to go to the Lord's house.
[31:04] This time she. Her chiefest. What was the chiefest desire of her heart? It was. Chiefest. The chiefest. Among ten thousand. As the song says.
[31:15] The altogether lovely one. That's who. That's who her desire was to. Her chiefest desire was to this one. That's first of all. He opened her heart. He opened her hearing.
[31:26] That's what he did. She understood. That's what it means. When you open your heart. You open your hearing. She understood. It was made clear to her. Oh this is him. This is the Messiah.
[31:37] This is the way. This is the way. The truth. This is the life. This is the one. I cannot come. He is the one. And she heard his voice. The voice. Of her beloved.
[31:49] None so sweet. None so sweet friend. As the voice of Jesus. And then he opened her home. Look at what she did. Wonderful isn't it?
[32:00] After she was baptized. We find. If you have judged me to be faithful. Verse 15. Come to my house and stay. And they did. She prevailed upon them. She was like the two on the mayor's road.
[32:13] Abide with us for this toward the evening. And the bay is first. Abide. That was her. She wanted fellowship. And finally. I believe the Holy Spirit opened her mouth.
[32:27] How do I know that? Well. She would make it her business. To tell others. About Jesus. Oh friends. Do you tell anybody about Jesus? Tell them.
[32:38] Don't be afraid. I know it's. I know at times it's difficult to tell people about Jesus. But don't be afraid. To tell them. That he's your friend. This is my friend.
[32:51] Come. Come. This is my friend. Friends. Oh friend. There is no friend like Jesus. We'll be let down. And. Our friends. Our companions.
[33:01] Let us down. But this friend will never let you down. There's no friend like him. You can come. With all your anxieties. With all your problems. With all your heartache.
[33:13] And there are many here today. Who have heartache. Come to him. And he's able. Come to him. Tell him. Tell her. That's what you would have done. Come see a man. Isn't that what the woman of Samaria said?
[33:24] Would you. Come see a man that told me all things that ever I did. Is not this the Christ. If you go to. Paul's letter to the Philippines. Do it yourself. When you get home.
[33:35] And say look. Read. Read the whole letter of the Philippines. It's a wonderful. Paul has got an affection to the Philippines. You'll notice.
[33:45] He is more personal with the Philippines. In his letter. Than he is to the rest. And you find in his letter to the Philippines. You find him. There in. In. In. In chapter 1.
[33:55] At verse 3. I thank my God. In all my remembrance of you. Always in every prayer of mine. For you all making my prayer with joy. Because of your partnership in the gospel. That's what he goes. And. But he finally.
[34:05] And I think this is good. This is why I think that. That. That. That she was amongst those of the women. And. As he's closing. As he's closing his letter. In chapter 4.
[34:17] In chapter 4. Of Philippines. He says. Therefore my brothers whom I love and long for. My joy and crown stand firm. Thus in the Lord. And then he goes on.
[34:28] Verse 3. Yes. I ask you also through companions. Help those women. Who have labored side by side. With me in the gospel. These women. Lydia. That'd be one of them. And she was there.
[34:39] And later on. You find. John writing to. In Revelation. There's a church in Thyatira. You look at it. In. I think it's in Revelation chapter 2 or 3. To the church in Thyatira.
[34:50] Right. There was a church established in Thyatira. More than likely after this. And I'm just wondering. If. If Lydia went back to Thyatira. And was part of that.
[35:01] Opening up of the. Of the gospel. In Thyatira. She spoke. The gospel. All friends. That's what we have. We have Lydia here. What are we going to go? Away with it.
[35:13] And say. You're here. You've been coming. You're like Lydia. Who can tell. Who could tell. If the Holy Spirit.
[35:23] Would not deal with you. As he dealt with Lydia. And if you're willing. If you're willing. He is able to come. And take you with him. All friends. May be.
[35:34] May be. May be willing. You yourself. What about you yourself. Have you found him? Is he yours? Is he the one. That you can say. He is my. He is my friend. He is my. He is my.
[35:44] My chiefest friend. Well. If he is. Well with your soul. But if not. Come. What's keeping you? Come. Oh come. Come to Jesus.
[35:56] He is willing. To have you. May the Lord bless. His. Our words. We love short prayer. Lord.