Hi, I am Claude and welcome to Acts.net.

This topics "Lydia" has 6 chapters that we will be walking through together.

Acts 9:36-42, Acts 16:14-15, Acts 16:40, Acts 18:26, Romans 16:1-2, Galatians 3:28, Luke 10:38-42

What does God do best? He opens our hearts to listen and to put into action.

Lydia was one of them, and she had only a few things to do for our Lord. That was to help the disciples. How many times did we get the feeling of going across the street or talk to someone we do not know? Without knowing, you go, and something awesome happens. This is what we are going to talk about. We are in Acts 16:14-15, where Lydia is listening to the disciples, and they are having some issues. During that conversation, through the Holy Spirit, God talks to Lydia and tells her what to say to the disciples. We are surprised and yet blessed by what she said. They also understood that the information came from above. Yet, she decided to give the information, and without complaint, she followed the instructions.

When was the last time that you actually did something like that? It is hard to get out of our daily routine. All has been planned to the second, and then you need to change one thing and the remainder of the day seemed to be in confusion. We are blessed by what God is doing through the Holy Spirit, and He asks nothing in return, nor does He think less of you if you turn Him down. Will that affect our rewards when we get in Heaven? Since God is the Master and we are His slaves, why would he reward us for something we did not do?

God keeps a record of everything that we did in our life. And He does that for everyone. So how are you not going to get your rewards? Of course, you are going to get your reward. That reward comes from what you did for God and how obedient you were and did you do it from your heart or just for the rewards? Also, did you do it to help someone with the feeling of compassion or again just for the rewards? God and you, one on one on the judgement day. Now, this judgement has nothing to do with Hades or Heaven. It has to do with you and taking your responsibility seriously. The more you do for God,the bigger your reward will be. God does not, and He will never compensate. Like we do on Earth, you do something for me, and therefore I own you. God does not do I-owe-you.

When God asks you to do something, you need to pray about that invitation. The reason is that you can be fooled by the devil and do something that God did not intend. The devil likes people who have an ego. The devil also likes to flare up the ego in all humans. We are proud, and that is another the devil likes to play with. So pray so you are not deceived by the evil one. Keep your Armour of God on. Pray and never stop praying. Talk to God frequently so you will know His voice. When you get a message He his asking to carry, you will know where it is coming from. God will use you if you're a person who loves to help. God will use you even if you are not comfortable with the mission, but He will also strengthen you.

If you feel uncomfortable putting yourself in front of many people, don't be. God knows what you can do, and He will never put you in a bad situation. What God does is slow and very minuscule. In the long run, you will become more coincident that you will handle many types of missions from God.

Phoebe, in Romans 16:1-2, had a calling in Christ. Her calling was to be a deaconess. In other words, she was a leader in a church. Even in those days, they allowed women to be in the leadership of a church. Whether she was the primary leader or not doesn't matter. What matters is that they called her a Deaconess. A high rank in the church. So what happened to all the women who had more responsibility?

This started with Paul in Romans 16. He speaks to a great many people, men and women. Then in Galatians 3:28, "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law and do them. " So now you can see that we are all in the right place. The place that God wants us to be in. Whether women or man, there is no difference in the eyes of God. Both can do each other's works for the glory of God. That is our goal, the glory of God. The glory of our Master. Nothing else matters. Remember, when you see men or women in a leadership position, give either one the same respect that God has given them.

Tabitha was very ill (Acts 9:36-42), and that illness resulted in her death. Then two men went to get Peter. At once, Peter came to help Tabitha. When he looked at her, she was already dead. There were a lot of people grieving her. Peter asked everyone to leave the upper room. Then he started to pray. After some time her turned to her and said: "Tabitha arise." Well, she opened her eyes and Peter helped her to stand up. Right after that, more people came to our Lord. So you see, God helps those who do not fear death because God has the key to death. We, Christians, will not die. We might go to sleep until God comes back and calls us home, but we do not die. There is death in this world, but for Christian, we go to sleep. Our soul is with God. We belong to God.

There are so many great encounters with the early church, from men or women. Both working together for the Glory of God. Would you like to be part of this awesome family? Would you love to know God intimately? You have come so far. Why wait any longer? Come, the invitation is completely free, and God is waiting for you.