The Lord Opened

The sermon explores divine guidance, particularly through the concept of “negative guidance,” illustrated by Paul’s thwarted attempts to preach in Asia and Bithynia, ultimately leading him to Philippi and the conversion of Lydia. It emphasizes that God’s direction isn’s always through open doors, but also through blocked paths, and highlights the crucial role of proclamation and the Lord’s sovereign act of opening hearts, demonstrating that true faith arises not from human persuasion but from God’s transformative work, particularly as seen in Lydia’s receptive response to the gospel and the preparation already done by God.