Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Mistaken Identity
Acts 16:11-15 – Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is the [a]foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us
Paul, Silas and Luke are led by the Spirit to Philippi
They stayed there a few days and on Sunday, they went to find a church to go into
There was no church but there was a meeting place where they found women who meet there
One of the Woman they met was names Lydia. She listened to them and was baptized as well as her household.
She was very grateful that she asked them to stay at her home
- Where can I find ten men?
. Vs 13 – They went to a place “where prayer was customarily made” (in a way which follows customs or usual practices)
. They only found women, and if any men were there, it doesn’t seem like they were involved
. There wasn’t a synagogue in the area because, they couldn’t get 10 male lead families to start a church
. We have a city that is very prosperous, one of the most traded cities, yet there is no focus of God
. “Success is not an indication that you are in God’s will”
. I named this message, “mistaken identity” because most of the time we identify something, somewhere, or someone in a certain way but you end up getting closer, to see that they are totally a different person, place or thing
. Hence people have fences, we want people at arm length, because when they come close, we can smell the stench that’s coming from their hidden sin
. From far this city is a desirable place. Color purple sold here was a sign of loyalty, yet Paul and the crew had to go find a place to offer up their prayers
. Where can I find 10 men? Men who are willing to break free of trying to display a certain image on Facebook, twitter, church, Homes, work place ..name it?
. The interesting thing is Synagogues were a place of worship and teaching the word of God. The place was going to help the community; it wasn’t about just these required families
. We tell our girls, everything you do has an effect on everyone else…not just you.
. Our work for God is not just for us. We are just a conduit to further His kingdom, but until you ignore the shiny things around up. Stop chasing things that Solomon calls Vanity or Vanity…a generation will be lost in our account.
. Where can I find ten Men? To lead their wives and Children to God. Where can I find 10 men and women who are willing to change a community – Push the enemy lines back?
Genesis 18: 22-26 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”
Genesis 18:32-33 – Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 33 So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
. God is not looking for a temporary place in our hearts, He is looking for a permanent one.
- Are you listening?
Vs 14- Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
. Lydia was a trader of the color purple, a prestigious color, color of loyalty, and though she possessed what was valuable in the eyes of man, she lacked what was more precious.
. Lydia worshipped God but didn’t have a relationship with God.
. She even came to a place of worship to worship God
. When she listened- God opened her heart and she heard and was baptized, her and her family.
. Looking at there and the trade she did before she was baptized is a mistaken identity.
Revelation 3: 14-19 “And to the [a]angel of the church [b]of the Laodiceans write,‘ These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [c]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.[d] Therefore be [e]zealous and repent.
Are you listening? Or are we telling ourselves that we are ok and have need of nothing?
Luke 13:6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it [a]use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 [b]And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ –
. If you going to identify as a mango tree, you better produce some mangos, if not you will be cut off
We can’t identify ourselves as a mango just to fit in, to look like other mango trees
A time will come when you will be exposed by the fruits you bear
- Do you know Him?
I think that’s what was missing in the town was the lack of knowledge of Who God is.
It easy to go through the motion and not stop to think that the Almighty God is the author of everything…even these stuff they were trading.
If we truly knew Him, we would see Him differently, Love and worship Him in awe
Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
If we truly knew the will of God, we would know Him. We wouldn’t mistake Him for something else
The issue is that we have formed our own ideas of who God is, that is why we think that we can go around doing our own things, then sprinkle a little Jesus here and there
We assume that we can build our castles and invite God in them.
Acts 10:34 – Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons
Deuteronomy 10:17For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
- You can’t fool God
We have to have a referential fear of God
Isaiah 20:1-6 – Loose Sack clothes loin cloths
Ezekiel 24:13 -19 – Ezekiel to Judah
We need to understand who God is and if we do, we will lose all the false identity especially in the place of worship
If you know Him, then you will be able to hear Him, which in turn you will end up being one of 10
Then you will Truly know Him, then your identity will be in Christ and you will not be confused about who God is
If you love Him, then you will know Him, (Husband and wife)
The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us
Last part she wants to serve
For more sermons please visit faithandvictory.com/sermons
Mistaken Identity
Mistaken Identity