The Opening of the Heart is the Province of God

"Whose heart the Lord opened."—Acts of the Apostles 16:14.

It is always blessed to trace mercies to their source! And blessed when, through grace, we are enabled to give God his glory, and not put down to man's merit what wholly originates in God's grace. The opening of the heart can only be the province of Him that made it. Renewing work, as well as creating work, is his. He that hath the key of David, is he alone "that openeth, and none shutteth; and shutteth, and none openeth." What a beautiful illustration hath the Holy Ghost given the church of this precious truth, in the instance of this woman, whose heart the Lord opened! We are told in her history, that she was of the city of Thyatira, a place remote from Philippi, where this sovereign act of mercy was shewn towards her. How long she had remained in a state of unrenewed nature, or what predisposing providence it was that brought her to Philippi, with other circumstances which we might have thought interesting to inquire after, we are not informed: the grand feature in her character is summed up in this short, but blessed account, "whose heart the Lord opened." The Holy Ghost hath indeed recorded her name and occupation, by way of making this testimony concerning her: - "a certain woman, named Lydia, a seller of purple." Behold, my soul! what blessed instruction ariseth out of it, for thine evening's meditation. What honourable mention is made of her, from this one blessed act, which the Lord wrought upon her. Poor and inconsiderable as she was in herself; small and of no reputation, yet her name is in the book of life! Pause, and contemplate the rich mercy which the Lord hath also accomplished in thee. Hath not he that opened Lydia's heart, opened thine? And is it not his province also, that first opened it by his grace, to keep it open by the daily influences of his Holy Spirit? Is it not his to renew, to refresh, to comfort, to strengthen, and to confirm unto the end? And wilt thou not, my soul, with the close of day, and the opening of the morning, look up for these precious manifestations? Lord! do thou open mine eyes, mine heart, my whole soul, to the enjoyment of these gracious renewed visits of thy love: and let no night or morning pass, without receiving fresh and increasing evidences from my Lord, that Christ hath both opened my heart, and is "formed in my heart, the hope of glory!"

- Robert Hawker, The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions, March 13, Evening

 

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Brother Glen:)

 

The account of Lydia's conversion in Acts 16, tells us, that BEFORE the "Lord opened her heart", that she ALREADY, "worshiped God" (verse 14).

In Acts chapter 10, we read of the conversion of Cornelius, BEFORE he was saved, "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (verses 1-2)

In both cases, they ALREADY WORSHIPED and FEARED God and PRAYED to the Lord. They were SEEKERS of the One True God of the Bible, which is what Paul says in Acts 17, "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (27), where all sinners are told to SEEK the Lord, that in the HOPE they might FIND Him. It is something that all sinners must DO.

Interesting in the case of Cornelius, we read very clearly, "Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him" (34-35). Which is what Cornelius and Lydia were doing BEFORE the Lord reached out to them with His salvation.

What of these words, "WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS"? for those who teach Justification is by faith ALONE?

More solid Bible testimony that is against the FALSE teachings of the so called "reformed"!

 

What of these words, "search out who in it is worthy"? Matthew 10:11

 

Proof positive, God has wrought within:

20 for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light, and doth not come unto the light, that his works may not be detected;
21 but he who is doing the truth doth come to the light, that his works may be manifested, that in God they are having been wrought.` Jn 3

13 for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:
14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); Ro 2