https://youtu.be/bFRw0JRVTIA

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