Reading Portion : 16:13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. 16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. On The Sabbath Day (Acts 16:13): This is lords day. The day Jesus Christ risen from the grave. It is Sunday (Matthew 28:1,Mark 16:2, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:1,John 20:1). This particular Sunday become an historical Sunday in the history of Europe. Europe continent received a special blessing in this particular Sunday. We will see how they received this special blessing. My Testimony: I don't want to miss Sunday. I may miss the Bible Study On Thursday, Or Youth meeting in the Sunday evening. But I wont miss the Sunday worship. My Sunday worship has to include these four ( 1. Personal Worship to my Savior Jesus Christ by open my mouth or reading a psalm, or a chorus or open my mouth and say few words which Glorify God for WHO he IS, 2.  Breaking of Bread (Showing that I am part of HIS (one) Body), and 3. Fellowship  give him small share of my material things I have and the  love feast (some times loves feast may not possible). 4. Message Apostle Paul and others went out of city to the river side : We doesn't know whether Apostle Paul and his team had specific plan in visiting the place, God had a specific Plan. He want to Create History through the life of Apostle Paul. The Jewish community at Philippi, being too small and poor to have a synagogue of its own was obliged to meet by the riverside from public observation. Where we supposed that some people met for prayer :A group of women (only Women) used to gather, may be they used to gather in circle or a small group led by a lady. My Testimony: When I was in Hong Kong the first Sabbath day of my visit there I went in the dawn to search for a church. It was early morning. I was led to a children park in Kowloon. To my wonder there are 100s of women are there. All are in groups of 20-25. There are about 30 groups. It is wonderful scenario. It is more beauty than the Whole glory of Hong Kong and its high class buildings. They are singing songs and spending time in sharing and reading small portions from the word of God and letters received from their well wishers. It was started from 4 Am in the morning up to the late afternoon. Some groups are automatically dispersing others are gathering So orderly so divine.  Where Prayer was customarily made : These women used to gather regularly at the river side, Job of Old testament He ( JOB ) feared God (Job 1:1) He ( JOB ) would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them (job 1:5).He ( Daniel ) prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. (Daniel 6:10). I ( David ) will praise you seven times a day because all your laws are just. (Psalm 119:164). Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. (Acts 3:1) was a ( Cornelius ) man who regularly prayed to God. (Acts 10:2).  Did you have any good habit for the glory of God? How many days back you worshiped the God in the Holy Congregation by Opening your mouth By Saying "Thank you Jesus". Be a disciplined Christian. Don't be a spectator. We sat down and spoke to the women who met there : May be in a small circle or small group. Platform was set to tell about Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lydia and their group is going to receive a new revelation. i.e. about messiah. It is some what remarkable that it was addressed to a handful of women in the open Air. This setup was the entry point for the Gospel into the Land of Europe.  Lydia Introduced : One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. (Acts 16:14). A woman of considerable business capacity, with energy enough to leave her native city of Thyatira and cross the city to establish herself in Philippi as agent for the sale of purple-dyed garments for which her native town was famous. She is such a rich lady she disposed of the finest class of wares. And she must have possessed considerable amount of capital to be able to deal in such expensive articles. She was withal eager seeker of God. We already saw some Godly people who worshipped the God. First Gospel Sermon in Europe: As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. (Acts 16:14) And it is some what remarkable that it was addressed to a handful of women in the open-air. Lydia was the first of a great succession of Holy Women, who have welcomed the Jesus Christ as their sovereign. See the Steps. a. She Listened b. Lord Opened her Heart  c. She accepted what Paul was saying.  In the Apostle Doctrine regarding the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 We used to see that our Gospel must contain the a. Death of Jesus Christ b. The burial of Jesus Christ c. Resurrection of Jesus Christ and d. manifestation of Jesus Christ.  God opens doors to evangelize the world through various means healing, signs and wonders , etc. But we should not inclined towards them but we have to teach the healer and the Lord Jesus Christ. We can see a Great example in the Book of Acts. Cf. In  Acts 2 after out pouring of Spirit many signs and wonders taken place. But the preaching is not the signs and wonders but by the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts 3 we see the healing of lame man, but the Gospel is not on healing  but on healer. At the receiver side of Gospel we should ensure that Gospel is received in a right perspective. i.e. the Gospel has to bring the person into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. And not only we are bringing into belief ('you believed' 1 Corinthians 15:2) but also it must be accepted. Since Accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior only brings a person into salvation (Romans 10:9). Other those Christians will become only Professing Christians. In present day we can see lot of Professing/believing (just belief not accepted) Christians. The result of the morning service was Lydia's conversion, Whether she received the Apostles message of the Crucified and living Lord at once or gradually, is not clear - most likely her heart opened as a flower to the sun., but the result was that she accepted Jesus and was baptized. Not only she whole her household believed and baptized in water.  Lydia invited Apostle Paul and his team to be her guests: She must be a woman of considerable determination and perseverance. Let us see how it is, Paul decided and the same he mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:8 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. Paul doesn't want to be dependent on his converts. And again he said " for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void"( 1 Corinthians 9:15).He would bear any thing rather than risk the imputation of the suspicion that he was making profit of the Gospel. Rather than this he wrought day and night, that he might be chargeable to none; and with his own hands ministered unto his own necessities and to those that were with him. To this person Paul and his team she told "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did. (Acts 16:15). Now She won the bet.  Believer's at Lydia's home : Paul and Silas then returned to the home of Lydia, where they met with the believers and encouraged them once more before leaving town. ( Acts 16:40 ). After the conversion of Lydia Paul and silos went out and preached the Gospel. After Lydia , a slave girl( Acts 16:16)  who had been callously used by both demons ad men before she encountered the word of freedom spoken by Paul. And thirdly a jailer( Acts 16:16), a Roman soldier a sturdy family man who, as a result of his own transformation, was able to lead his household to Christ. These are some of the saints who are in Lydia house. When Apostle Paul writing a letter to Philippi in first verse it says "the Saints in Philippi" these people.          Did you opened your house for the Gods people. First, Open up your home for the Lord Jesus. Invite your fellow believers to your home and had a nice time of fellowship with them. Listen to them, Pray for them. Ask them to pray for you if they too are believers. Pray together for the relatives, neighbors your church and your fellowships. Be participate Gods movement. Gods movement wont stop. He want you to be partakers in His movement. For this nothing  but  your availability is required.  Some more people are mentioned in the book of Philippi Epaphroditus( Philippians  2: 25, Philippians  4: 18), Eudia, Syntyche ( Philippians 4:2) , Clement( Philippians 4:3) - real people with a real story who loved one another, who have prayed and rejoiced together. The Church at Philippi Became Strong, This also we can see from the first verse of Philippians chapter 1 and verses one and two. ".. to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:...". Observe the statement made by Apostle Paul, He didn't said "Saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi and overseers and deacons". If that is the case the overseers are in Jerusalem or in some other place. But the phrase is "Saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons". Overall The church at Philippi was a loving, Godly church, filled with servants and saints. It has fine leadership from its overseers and deacons. Pray that your church become strong and Godly Church. Don't run from one place to other place. If your are moving it is  not that your church has mistakes. You are making mistake more than your church. Regards G J Thimothy