by Mary Elizabeth Baxter
adapted by Vanessa White
A place of prayer, great things come from little beginnings. This first Church formed in Europe began with a women’s prayer‐meeting.
READ: Acts 16:12-15, 16:40.
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. 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.
Acts 16:13-14 (emphasis mine)
The Apostle Paul was too faithful and useful a servant of God to be left without trial, and his trials were of almost every imaginable kind. His own mention of them in 2Cr 11 is witness of this. In his second missionary journey, his special trial was the lack of distinct guidance as to whither he should go. He and his companions “were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia.” They “assayed to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit suffered them not,” and time passed by before they knew exactly what the mind of God was as to their movements.
But the Apostle Paul was too true to his Master to take an unguided step, and although he understood, as few others can understand, that souls were perishing, he would not take upon himself to run before the Lord in anything.
Like his Master, he waited until his hour was come. In our early spiritual life guidance is often as distinct as the father’s command to a little child; but as we learn to know more of God, He calls for a closer attention, a more real and constant waiting upon Him. This seems to have been the case with Paul.
At last, an indication of the mind of God was given him in a vision. “There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying: Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” Once knowing the direction in which God pointed, he lost no time after he had seen the vision. “Immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them.” (Act 16:10.)
The account of lydia
The first city in Macedonia where Paul made any attempt to preach the Gospel was Philippi, which was a colony. How should he now set about evangelising the people? His ordinary way of entering into the synagogue would not answer here, for there is no mention of the synagogue. But, guided undoubtedly by God, he and his companions went on the Sabbath day “by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made.”
Only women were gathered at this prayer meeting, but Paul found in it the clue to the thoughts of God, and, instead of disturbing or despising the women, he sat down in the midst of them, and spoke to them of the great subject with which God had charged him as his life’s mission.
They found a group of women praying, one named Lydia not only was her ear open to the Gospel; her heart was open as well.
Biblical Womanhood
A group of women gather to worship
Great things come from little beginnings. This first Church formed in Europe began with a women’s prayer‐meeting. No doubt some of these women had heard of the true God through Jewish merchants who would bring their wares to Philippi, and their faith in their old idolatry was shaken. The eternal destiny of their husbands and children was a matter of moment to these women, and, in their darkness, and yet their earnestness, they prayed as best they could, to God for light; and in answer to these heathen enquirers, the great Apostle to the Gentiles was forbidden to preach the Word in Asia, because these seeking women needed his testimony in Europe!
One of these women, perhaps the leader of the prayer‐meeting, “Lydia, a seller of purple,” who had come from the city of Thyatira, probably to establish a business in Philippi, and who had made such progress in spiritual things that she had begun to worship the true God, was one of Paul and Silas’ hearers. There and then, the Spirit of God broke into her heart, and opened it, “so that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.”
She was the first European convert, and the first member of a European Church! “Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (1Cr 1:26-27.)
Lydia was willing to make profession of her faith by baptism, probably on the very same day. When the Holy Ghost is not resisted, He can work quickly. She was not alone in her faith, she had sought her household, and there, by the river side, husband, children, servants had heard for themselves, and learnt for themselves, the precious, inestimable truth of God; and having thus received more than any price on earth could buy, she made a petition to Paul and Silas:
“If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there.”
So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
Act 16:40
Fearless woman! She was God’s witness for His truth concerning Jesus, and not afraid of her heathen neighbours. She might lose caste, might injure her business, compromise her position and her reputation, but Lydia was true to her newly‐found Saviour. Woman as she was, she could not but think of the temporal needs of these messengers of the Gospel, and she was the first of the company of women who communicated with Paul “concerning giving and receiving,” and who did well to communicate with his affliction, for they “sent once and again unto my necessity” (Phl 4:14-16), while the rich Corinthians seem never to have thought of helping him.
Of course, persecution broke out. The casting out of a demon aroused the enmity of those who profited by the ravings of Satan’s victim. God’s witnesses were imprisoned. And after the wonderful miracle which delivered Paul and Silas from the Philippian prison, they paid their last visit in that house of Lydia, which had become the Christian Church of the place. “And when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.” (Act 16:40.)
How many a woman has been really the first living stone of a Church or of a mission in the town in which she lived? God has many Lydias. May they be greatly multiplied-not preachers, so much as hearers; not talkers, so much as listeners, and yet they are those who facilitate the building up of the Church of Christ more than, perhaps, can ever be known by those around them.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO CULTIVATE BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD AND SHOWCASE THE BEAUTY OF CHRIST
I love these beautiful biblical accounts of the women of scripture who are worthy to emulate. Lydia is one whom I would want to aspire to be like: my best friend, a God-fearing woman who worshiped the Lord.
Lydia was a businesswoman, a dealer of purple cloth and goods (v. 14). The purple dye was made from a shellfish called a murex and a madder plant’s root. Therefore, it was extremely expensive and worn only by royalty and the wealthy.
Lydia’s business, plus her ability to house the group of missionaries, demonstrated that she possessed great wealth.
Despite her wealth, Lydia’s life was not defined by her riches. She made a conscious choice to be a worshiper of God, a woman of prayer, a woman who listened, she had an open heart.
- She was a woman of prayer
- She gathered with other women to worship and pray
- She listened to the Gospel
- Worshiped God
- Showed hospitality
- Opened her home
- Persuaded others to follow Christ
- She was a good listener
- She pays attention
- Her home was a place where others could gather, be encouraged, and rest
Let’s Pray,
LORD, Father God, Thank You for Your Holy Words, the Bible, and Your Holy Spirit, who teaches and leads us in all truth.
Thank You for Lydia’s life and what You did in her life. She answered Your call upon her life, a faithful, God-fearing woman. Help us to be the women of God You have called us to be; help us to show hospitality with a heart of joy and kindness.
Make us women who encourage and provide a place of rest for others; please help us to keep our hearts yielded and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings; make us a good listener and doers of Your Word. We love You and thank You for all You do in our lives; may it be all for Your glory. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
When Doors Slam Shut, Part 1
Clinging to Hope • Pastor Chuck Swindoll • Acts 16:6–10
God May Be Working in Ways You Can’t See
Season: Open Heart, Open Home: Lessons from Lydia
Article Source:
Mary Elizabeth Foster Baxter (1837-1926) was born and raised in Worcestershire England. At the age of twenty–one she responded to a clear presentation of the gospel and shortly thereafter became involved in evangelistic ministry. She was married to Michael P. Baxter in 1868 and together they raised one son, Michael Paget Baxter. England and much of Europe were influenced for the cause of Christ, through the Baxter’s selfless service. They eventually founded Bethshan House, a refuge for the sick of body and soul. Mary and her husband were mentored by spiritual leaders like Andrew Murray and D. L. Moody, to name a few.
Among Mary Baxter’s many talents was a profound love of writing. She held the position co–editor of the “Christian Herald” in London and authored many books, including The Women in the Word, as well as articles, and Bible studies. In response to the command to be “a witness…unto the ends of the earth,” Mary took a world tour with her pastor and his wife. During this journey she suffered from a violent form of neuralgia, which Mary recognized as God’s way of bringing about humility and an end to her self–will. Mrs. Baxter wanted her life’s testimony to be summed up by the statement: “God is faithful.”
