GOD IS IN CHARGE
When God is in charge there are some things what will happen?
YOUR ROUTE MIGHT CHANGE
When God has a plan for you it might very well touch or involve other people. Here we read that Paul and Timothy were on their mission trip, but that the Spirit of God prevented, them to continue on their planned route. God changed their route to suit His purposes because He planned to touch several people's lives.
I often wondered how this worked. Then I realized that so many times I planed to do something but just can't see to get to it. Or you plan to say something to somebody and when you see that person those words are stuck, you just can't seem to get it out....
That was when the Lord prevented you from doing or saying what you wanted to.
Paul was on his way to preach the Gospel in Asia. But the Holy Spirit prevented them to go there, by calling them in a dream to Macedonia. It might have been that the people, who needed that message from God, were not there or that the timing was not right. Maybe those people were not ready for the Word from God. We must always remember that God is a gentleman and He will never put you in a situation that you cannot handle or that you are not ready for.
It's like a farmer, getting ready to sow the seasons seeds. He does not run into the field and start sowing left right and center. No he will make sure the soil has been treated and that the levels of moist is exactly what it should be. Then he also look at the season, to make sure that he sow the right season's seeds. God uses the same principles when dealing with people.
During that time there was a lady, of the town called Thyatira in the province of Lydia in Asia, that either moved to Macedonia or went there on a business trip. She was a manufacturer and seller of purple (materials and dyes).
OBEDIENCE BRINGS YOU IN GODS PLAN
God managed it that Paul and his followers went to Macedonia, Paul had a dream where a man called him to Macedonia (v 9-10). This made Paul very anxious to get to the place where God wanted him to be. When God calls us to do a certain thing for Him, how exited or anxious are we to do it?
The initial calling for my ministry came to me about 8 years ago. I never knew how to get it started, I always thought that life will flow in that direction. Sometimes that might be the case, but not in my situation. This might have been because I was not completely ready for it. I always thought that I would be invited to do what I have to do, I had the dream and the unction to spread the Gospel amongst women, but no one ever invited me.
In Philippe, Paul and his followers, had to spend a few days waiting on direction from God. Acts 16:12 "From there we went inland to Philippe, a city of the first district of Macedonia; it is also a Roman colony. We spent several days there". Whenever God called you to do something it is not necessarily that you know how, where and when to do what you were called to do.
On the Sabbath day Paul went to the place outside the town where the women gathered to pray Verse 13 "On the Sabbath we went out of the city to the riverside, where we thought there would be a place where Jews gathered for prayer. We sat down and talked to the women who gathered there." There were only a few Jewish women, we know this because Philippe were a Roman Military city, and the Romans were not Jews. The women gathered on their own, there we no men at these meetings, because normally the Jewish men gathered at the gates of the City. (see Ruth 4:1-2)
GOD'S APPOINTMENT WITH YOU
Lydia was in the town Philippe as we have seen earlier on, and she was ready for the good news about Jesus death and resurrection. As Paul explained the Gospel to them, she got converted and gave her heart to Jesus. In our words, she was saved.
Sometimes God takes us out of our normal environment, we sometimes have to meet with Jesus when we are alone. Where we can concentrate our attention on Him only. This is the place where you can lay down you burdens and hand it over to God. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and when He has an appointment with you, He'll make sure that the stage is set for it.
We had a conference that I didn't even knew about, but God planned to meet with me at that conference. A friend of mine gave me a ticket for this conference, of another lady that couldn't go anymore. During that conference the Lord told me to pick myself up, and to start my Ministry that He has given me. The time for waiting was over, no one was going to ask me to get it started. I had to do the work and He would give me the knowledge in what I had to do.
The waiting was over, I had to start do what God laid on my heart to do.
BE A SPECIALIST IN WHAT YOU DO
Lydia was a manufacturer of the purple colour, with which they died materials. This was the type of work the women from Lydia did. They produced the purple colorant from a special shellfish, that was only available in Springtime. They had to grind the shell into a powder and then extract the blood from a specific vain in the shellfishes neck. This veins' blood had a black colour. The intensity of the purple that was produced depended on the amount of blood that was mixed with the powder.
It was a difficult process, and took a lot of time. This resulted in long working hours for the women. They still had their chores to do in and around their homes (see Prov 31). They did not have the technology that we have today, which means to me that they had to work very hard at everything they did.
A FAMILY WOMAN
When you read further you see that Lydia was probably a married woman with a family. In verse 15 we see "After she and the people of her house had been baptized," She must have been very exited about what had happened to her, that she had to tell everybody around her. She did it in such a convincing manner that her household also got converted.
Every one of us has that influence over other people. As a wife and mother, we normally know where and when there is need in our home. The family doesn't have to tell you when something is the matter. During these times we have the opportunity to explain the Word of God to them, but very often they are not receptive to God's word. In times like this we have to go to God ourselves. We can pray about the situation and ask God to help this person in their time of need. You might ask how and when to pray? Why not when you do their washing or tidy their rooms. When you sensed that someone needs that special help that you can't give them, you can start to pray about it, and your Father that sees all things will know how to help in every situation.
IN CONCLUSION
Every woman is a Lydia, and our Mission field is there, where we are, whether it be you work, house, church, amongst your circle of friends...
You can gather a group of women, that can come together at certain times, to pray together.
Witnessing is very easy, you just have to tell people around you, what the Lord has done for you. It is not always possible to talk to people, then you can live your life in such a way that they will see Jesus in you. In other word, proclaim the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words.
Don't ever give up. Lydia invited Paul and his companions to come to her house, and she just didn't take not for an answer, likewise we can persist and continue praying without getting tired of it.
Always be honest and open. It that way people will trust you, and start talking to you about their problems. Remember when someone trust you with their hurt and secrets that you must be responsible and trustworthy about it, you cannot discuss it with anybody else.
LETS PRAY
Help me Lord to be available when You want to use me, and please forgive me for those times when You did call me and I didn't listen.
Thank you for other chances Lord.
I pray that in Jesus' Name.
AMEN
Scriptures were taken out of the Good New Bible
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