25th Jul 26 | 04:00
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Small beginnings
📖 Acts 16:13-13
Acts 16 - Series 03/Episode 06 - Thu, 02nd July 2026 - Small beginnings - Acts 16:11-15 - LYDIA'S CONVERSION - Zechariah 04:10
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Acts 16:13 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.
Paul and the team were in Philippi for some days. Acts 16:12 and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. They must have arrived in Philippi in the middle of the week. They found that prayers were being held at the riverside. Paul and the team were present when the group of women met for prayers on the Sabbath day.
There must have been very few Jews in Philippi to have a synagogue, but there were faithful women who were the remnant, who met for prayer. We find that Lydia was a worshipper of God, which meant that she was from a Gentile background but joined with the Jewish women who met for prayer.
It was a small group of faithful people who met for prayer. We can see how the Lord honoured this small gathering, and a great work of God took place.
The eyes of the Lord run to and fro on the earth to see if there are faithful people who will look up to Him. This becomes the place for God to do His great work. Zechariah 4:10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
We must earnestly seek the Lord, though our numbers may be small. Often, we become discouraged when our numbers are few, and we wonder what can happen in such a small gathering, but God's ways are far different from ours. Job 8:5-7 If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty, (6) If you were pure and upright, Surely now He would awake for you, And prosper your rightful dwelling place. (7) Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
The principle of small beginnings is beautifully captured in the parable of the Mustard Seed. Matthew 13:31-32 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, (32) which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."
If only we understood this principle, it would make a big shift in the way we conduct ourselves. We will not be anxious about numbers, but we will continue to meet for prayer, the Word, worship, and fellowship.
God does great things, and no flesh can glory in His presence. I Corinthians 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. (27) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, (29) that no flesh should glory in His presence. (30) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- (31) that, as it is written, "HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD."
The church may seem weak in the eyes of the world, but they will know our God is the God of heaven and earth.
This small group is considered the remnant. The remnant is a symbol of God's grace. Romans 11:4-6 But what does the divine response say to him? "I HAVE RESERVED FOR MYSELF SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL." (5) Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
This principle of God working with a few is seen on several occasions. Judges 7:7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place." / I Samuel 14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few."
We praise God for these few women who met for prayer by the riverside in Philippi.
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