Opening Your Heart to God
Practical Steps to Deepen Your Spiritual Life.
Have you ever body-slammed someone? I bet you’ve at least heard the term. I remember the first time I was body-slammed, on purpose. It hurt! A body-slam is when one person scopes up another like a sack of stiff potatoes and basically flips them over, onto their back, on the ground. My first time professionally receiving a body slam was of course in a wrestling ring, but so was my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time. And sometime within my first 50 times, I was being body-slammed in a ring in Cleveland, OH. The ring had just broken in the previous match. To fix this, they used car jacks to lift those big grey cement blocks under the ring to hold it up. Those body slams hurt more.
But, in a pro-wrestling match, for someone to receive a body-slam, cooperation on their part is needed. Unless you have the strength of ten gorillas, the other person must go with it for it to work. If you don’t, you’re going to get hurt, a lot more. Like my experience in the wrestling ring, where cooperation is key, Paul and his companions embarked on a journey to Macedonia, in obedience to God’s call.
Paul's Vision
We join Apostle Paul in Acts, chapter 16 when he has a vision. “… a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:9-10). … The “we” there is from Luke, who wrote Acts, and is now joining Paul, Silas, and Timothy in this missionary journey to “preach the gospel”.
From there, “setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Sama-thrace (Samothrace), and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days” (v. 11-12). … This record from Luke shows Paul’s spreading the Gospel, going from Asia, all the way to Europe. All because God opened a guy named Saul’s heart to Jesus, along with those accompanying him.
“And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together” (v. 13). In these times, a minimum of 10 Jewish heads of households, which were all men at the time, were required to form a synagogue. Apparently, this area lacked the required men, so this “place of prayer” was out in the open air rather than a synagogue. So, the “women had come together”. It was the women here who met to pray, worship, and recite from the OT Scriptures. … Sounds a lot like my house—it’s my wife that does everything.
Lydia's Conversion
The last of our passages today focus on another woman. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of thigh-a-tear-a (Thyatira), a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us” (v. 14-15). … “Lydia” came from the province of Asia in the district of Lydia, which may account for her name. It’s like if I was called Stuts-man.
As a “seller of purple goods”, Lydia would have some wealth. Purple was a luxury at the time. And she gets baptized, as does her household, and they all go to her place…they have cake in the fellowship hall. Another detailed explanation of the growth of the church, from Luke, who was known for his meticulous work. Now…what about you and me.
Our passages tell of this Lydia coming to know Jesus. … If you know someone in your world, or perhaps it is you yourself, who needs Jesus in their life, then naturally we want to know how this is possible. Much of the world is by now at least, familiar with Jesus. Not the referee back when I was getting body-slammed named Jesus. We here today are at least familiar with thee Jesus. Yet…do we really allow Jesus in our heart? … Maybe we’ve wanted to, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Let’s look again at Lydia because perhaps God has more intention here than just detailing this journey for all time. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (v. 14). … This tells us how Jesus happened for Lydia. “The Lord opened her heart.” … This is telling us the how-to when it comes to having Jesus in our hearts. … “The Lord opened her heart.”
Our God is sovereign. Like the way a GPS navigates you on the best route. It knows the roads and adjusts your path when necessary, just like God directs our lives toward His purpose while respecting our choices. Our God has that power of ten gorillas. … If God chose to body slam us, God would have no trouble. … And it’s God who must open one’s heart. … God is sovereign. … What else do we know of God?
God loves us. … God loves you—God loves me. And God wants a relationship with each of us. So much so, that God sent Jesus to die for us to ensure that relationship is possible. … What do we know about relationships? … It takes at least two.
To have a healthy relationship, you need both parties putting in the work. … If a relationship is one-sided, it isn’t a relationship at all. … Have you ever had a crush on someone, but the feeling wasn’t mutual? … That wasn’t a relationship, was it?
If we want Jesus in our heart, then our hearts must be open to Him. … And the keeper of that key is God. Jesus said, “…that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (Jn 6:65).
Think of a healthy relationship. … In that relationship, should one want or need something from the other, what would they do? … Would they put effort towards the other sometimes, all the time, or never? … Would they work on that relationship for a bit, then stop for a bit, and continue like that, off and on? … If they did that, the off and on method, how would that turn out? … How about if one only goes to the other when they’re at the end of their rope, or when they’re at rock bottom, or only when they get bad news, as if the other one in the relationship is a Genie. Ok Genie, I’m broke and need some money.
If our relationship with God is one-sided—and Jesus is not a part of us—when our number is called, and we hope to reach those pearly gates, Jesus says he’ll say, “I never knew you” (Mat 7:23).
Who here today likes a door closed in their face? The Bible is a big book, a living book, but the last book in the Bible is Revelation. And Revelation talks about what those with Jesus in their hearts can look forward to saying, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,” and it goes on to explain this wonderful place, full of all the best you can imagine, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:10, 22). God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit—that is what those with Jesus can look forward to, but like Lydia, our hearts must be open to Him by God. And for God to open our hearts, for us to have that relationship with God, our association with God must in fact be an actual relationship. The love needs to go both ways.
Practical Steps
I spoke on body-slams. To be a receiver of body slam, in a professional sense, you must be willing partner. Otherwise, it’ll look like a sloppy bag of potatoes being thrown around. You must be willing. You use your hips, and you post and go with the move. As we reflect on how God opens our hearts, just like He did for Lydia, I want to leave you with a few practical things to leave here with today. Practical moves we can make as willing participants in a relationship with God. For God to have our hearts opened and filled with Jesus.
These aren't magical formulas, but they are ways we can intentionally position ourselves, not to receive a body slam, but to be more receptive to God's work in our lives.
The opening of our hearts is ultimately God's gracious work. But let's be people who are actively preparing the way. … Create space for God to move in us. … Step out this week with a desire to truly hear and understand what God is saying to you. … Trust that God will meet us—exactly where you are—and open our hearts.
Have you ever body-slammed someone? I bet you’ve at least heard the term. I remember the first time I was body-slammed, on purpose. It hurt! A body-slam is when one person scopes up another like a sack of stiff potatoes and basically flips them over, onto their back, on the ground. My first time professionally receiving a body slam was of course in a wrestling ring, but so was my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th time. And sometime within my first 50 times, I was being body-slammed in a ring in Cleveland, OH. The ring had just broken in the previous match. To fix this, they used car jacks to lift those big grey cement blocks under the ring to hold it up. Those body slams hurt more.
But, in a pro-wrestling match, for someone to receive a body-slam, cooperation on their part is needed. Unless you have the strength of ten gorillas, the other person must go with it for it to work. If you don’t, you’re going to get hurt, a lot more. Like my experience in the wrestling ring, where cooperation is key, Paul and his companions embarked on a journey to Macedonia, in obedience to God’s call.
Paul's Vision
We join Apostle Paul in Acts, chapter 16 when he has a vision. “… a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” (Acts 16:9-10). … The “we” there is from Luke, who wrote Acts, and is now joining Paul, Silas, and Timothy in this missionary journey to “preach the gospel”.
From there, “setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Sama-thrace (Samothrace), and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days” (v. 11-12). … This record from Luke shows Paul’s spreading the Gospel, going from Asia, all the way to Europe. All because God opened a guy named Saul’s heart to Jesus, along with those accompanying him.
“And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together” (v. 13). In these times, a minimum of 10 Jewish heads of households, which were all men at the time, were required to form a synagogue. Apparently, this area lacked the required men, so this “place of prayer” was out in the open air rather than a synagogue. So, the “women had come together”. It was the women here who met to pray, worship, and recite from the OT Scriptures. … Sounds a lot like my house—it’s my wife that does everything.
Lydia's Conversion
The last of our passages today focus on another woman. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of thigh-a-tear-a (Thyatira), a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us” (v. 14-15). … “Lydia” came from the province of Asia in the district of Lydia, which may account for her name. It’s like if I was called Stuts-man.
As a “seller of purple goods”, Lydia would have some wealth. Purple was a luxury at the time. And she gets baptized, as does her household, and they all go to her place…they have cake in the fellowship hall. Another detailed explanation of the growth of the church, from Luke, who was known for his meticulous work. Now…what about you and me.
Our passages tell of this Lydia coming to know Jesus. … If you know someone in your world, or perhaps it is you yourself, who needs Jesus in their life, then naturally we want to know how this is possible. Much of the world is by now at least, familiar with Jesus. Not the referee back when I was getting body-slammed named Jesus. We here today are at least familiar with thee Jesus. Yet…do we really allow Jesus in our heart? … Maybe we’ve wanted to, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Let’s look again at Lydia because perhaps God has more intention here than just detailing this journey for all time. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (v. 14). … This tells us how Jesus happened for Lydia. “The Lord opened her heart.” … This is telling us the how-to when it comes to having Jesus in our hearts. … “The Lord opened her heart.”
Our God is sovereign. Like the way a GPS navigates you on the best route. It knows the roads and adjusts your path when necessary, just like God directs our lives toward His purpose while respecting our choices. Our God has that power of ten gorillas. … If God chose to body slam us, God would have no trouble. … And it’s God who must open one’s heart. … God is sovereign. … What else do we know of God?
God loves us. … God loves you—God loves me. And God wants a relationship with each of us. So much so, that God sent Jesus to die for us to ensure that relationship is possible. … What do we know about relationships? … It takes at least two.
To have a healthy relationship, you need both parties putting in the work. … If a relationship is one-sided, it isn’t a relationship at all. … Have you ever had a crush on someone, but the feeling wasn’t mutual? … That wasn’t a relationship, was it?
If we want Jesus in our heart, then our hearts must be open to Him. … And the keeper of that key is God. Jesus said, “…that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father” (Jn 6:65).
Think of a healthy relationship. … In that relationship, should one want or need something from the other, what would they do? … Would they put effort towards the other sometimes, all the time, or never? … Would they work on that relationship for a bit, then stop for a bit, and continue like that, off and on? … If they did that, the off and on method, how would that turn out? … How about if one only goes to the other when they’re at the end of their rope, or when they’re at rock bottom, or only when they get bad news, as if the other one in the relationship is a Genie. Ok Genie, I’m broke and need some money.
If our relationship with God is one-sided—and Jesus is not a part of us—when our number is called, and we hope to reach those pearly gates, Jesus says he’ll say, “I never knew you” (Mat 7:23).
Who here today likes a door closed in their face? The Bible is a big book, a living book, but the last book in the Bible is Revelation. And Revelation talks about what those with Jesus in their hearts can look forward to saying, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,” and it goes on to explain this wonderful place, full of all the best you can imagine, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:10, 22). God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit—that is what those with Jesus can look forward to, but like Lydia, our hearts must be open to Him by God. And for God to open our hearts, for us to have that relationship with God, our association with God must in fact be an actual relationship. The love needs to go both ways.
Practical Steps
I spoke on body-slams. To be a receiver of body slam, in a professional sense, you must be willing partner. Otherwise, it’ll look like a sloppy bag of potatoes being thrown around. You must be willing. You use your hips, and you post and go with the move. As we reflect on how God opens our hearts, just like He did for Lydia, I want to leave you with a few practical things to leave here with today. Practical moves we can make as willing participants in a relationship with God. For God to have our hearts opened and filled with Jesus.
These aren't magical formulas, but they are ways we can intentionally position ourselves, not to receive a body slam, but to be more receptive to God's work in our lives.
- Be Present in the Word: When you open your Bible this week, or when you're listening to a devotional, fight the distractions. Give God your focused attention, like you would in any other relationship you want to succeed. What’s one way you can minimize distractions during your Bible study time this week?
- Make Prayer a Conversation: Don't just list your requests as though you’re talking to your Genie. Talk to God about your desire for an open heart. … What change can you make this week to deepen your prayer life?
- Live the Rhythms: Make time for those spiritual habits that draw you closer to God – prayer, scripture reading, connecting with your church family. … What steps can you take this week to cultivate a more active relationship with God? … Imagine how your day might look different if you start with prayer. How might that change your interactions and mindset?
- Reflect on What You Hear: Don't let the words just wash over you. Take a few moments to ponder what you've read or heard. How does what you’ve read or heard in the scriptures speak to your life right now?
- Share your Journey: How has God been working in your life recently? … Who can you share this with?
- Watch Expectantly: Be aware that God might speak in unexpected ways throughout your week and often does. What everyday moments have you noticed God prompting you? … What’s one thing you can do to stay more alert to God’s presence in your life?
The opening of our hearts is ultimately God's gracious work. But let's be people who are actively preparing the way. … Create space for God to move in us. … Step out this week with a desire to truly hear and understand what God is saying to you. … Trust that God will meet us—exactly where you are—and open our hearts.
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