SCRIPTURE: Acts NIV) 16:12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
OBSERVATION: Through a dream, Paul and those traveling with him had been directed by the Holy Spirit to the province of Macedonia. There probably was no synagogue in the city of Philippi, so they looked by the river for a place where Jews would gather for prayer. The water would be readily available for their ceremonial washing. It might have been a house used for prayers, or just an open-air place with or without a roof. From the few women gathered grew the church to which Paul wrote the letter we have in our Bible—Philippians. church. We do not go to church; we are the church! Let’s act like the church. Let’s do what the church does. Let’s expect the Holy Spirit to work through us wherever we are!
APPLICATION: I am so glad the church is NOT A BUILDING! The church is people who have Jesus living in their hearts. The church may have regular scheduled times of gathering, but the church meets anytime two believers meet. It may be in a grocery store, at the market, at the post office or gas station. It may be in a hospital around a sick friend.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, thank you for moving through us in times when we are gathered as the church. But, also move through us in times and places where we would not normally expect you to do so. Keep reminding we that I are the church wherever we are and whatever we may be doing. Amen
Pastor Leon
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