I ONCE WAS LOST: ENTERING THE KINGDOM
Acts 16:6-15
Pastor Calvary deJong
July 20, 2025
Introduction: When Closed Doors Lead to Open Hearts
Have you ever had a door slam shut in your face, only to realize later it was the best thing that could’ve happened? Years ago, my wife and I thought we were stepping into a new ministry. We prayed, planned, and even travelled to a new city to look for housing. But every door closed. Then came a voicemail from our realtor: “There’s nothing available that fits your needs or budget.” It felt frustrating—like we were following God’s call, only to be blocked. But that dead end became a divine detour. It redirected us here, to Saskatoon. Looking back, we can see God’s hand in the closed door.
This theme of redirection plays out in Acts 16. Paul and his team are eager to advance the gospel into new territory, but the Holy Spirit stops them—not once, but twice. Then God gives them a new direction. They head to Macedonia, and by a quiet riverbank outside the city, a woman named Lydia hears the gospel. Her heart is opened, she receives Christ, and the church in Philippi is born.
Today, we’ve come to the fifth and final threshold in our I Once Was Lost series based on the book by Everts and Schaupp. Informed by real-life stories of adult conversion, this series has followed five common steps many people take as they move toward Jesus:
- From distrust to trust
- From complacency to curiosity
- From closed to open to change.
- From meandering to seeking
- And now: entering the Kingdom
This final threshold is when the journey turns into surrender. When curiosity becomes a decision to follow Jesus. When the gospel moves from being merely intriguing to becoming everything.
When God Closes a Door and Opens a Heart (Acts 16:6–15)
- The Spirit Redirects Our Steps (v. 6–10)
Paul and his companions are eager to bring the gospel to new regions of the ancient world, but “the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the word in Asia” (v.6). Then again, “the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them” to go into Bithynia (v.7). These aren’t accidents—God is actively guiding them through closed doors.
Then Paul receives a vision in the night: a man from Macedonia, pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (v.9). They respond immediately: “we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia” (v.10). When we’re seeking God, even closed doors often lead to the exact place we’re meant to be.
- The Gospel Finds a Ready Heart (v. 11–14)
In Philippi, they find no synagogue, so they go outside the city gate to a place of prayer by the river. There they meet Lydia—a successful businesswoman, a “worshiper of God” (v.14). She’s already spiritually seeking. She’s crossed the earlier thresholds—trust, curiosity, openness, even active pursuit. But she hasn’t yet heard the gospel.
Paul preaches and then a spiritual awakening happens: “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” It’s not just about information. It’s about transformation. God does the heart-work. And Lydia believes.
- True Faith Leads to Action (v. 15)
Immediately, Lydia is baptized—and so is her whole household. Then she opens her home to Paul and the others: “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” Faith always bears fruit. Lydia goes from listener to believer to host. Through her, the first church in Europe was planted. What began with redirection ends with resurrection—new life, new faith, new beginnings.
Application: The Invitation Still Stands
The story of Lydia reminds us that entering the Kingdom isn’t about religious performance—it’s about the Spirit opening our hearts to respond to Jesus. Her journey wasn’t rushed or formulaic. She had been spiritually attentive for some time, but the moment came when the Lord opened her heart—and she responded in faith.
That’s the question today: Is your heart open to Christ? You may have spent years circling the airport without landing the plane—admiring Jesus, even learning about Him—but never stepping fully into surrender. Lydia reminds us it’s possible to be close to the truth, even attracted to it, without being changed by it. But the Spirit is still in the business of opening hearts. The invitation still stands.
What would it look like for you to say yes to Jesus today? Not to just know about Him—but to trust Him. To let go of your need to be in control and take hold of the new life Jesus offers. Or maybe you’re in a season where plans have fallen apart. But remember Paul: before he received the vision, the Spirit had already closed other doors to guide him. So, where has God said “not this way” in your life? What if that delay is not rejection, but redirection? What if the Spirit is guiding you even now? Let me offer two reflection questions for your heart this week:
- Reflect: Where have you sensed God saying “no” or “not yet”? Could that be the Spirit’s way of preparing something better?
- Respond: Like Lydia, pray, “Lord, open my heart.” Ask Jesus to help you to step into a relationship with Him.
The same Spirit who opened Lydia’s heart is here today. He’s still leading. Still redirecting. Still drawing people into the Kingdom. Will you respond when He calls?
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for leading us—even when the way is unclear.
Thank you for closing doors that weren’t meant for us,
and for opening our hearts to hear Your voice.
We pray today for those still on the journey—
for those who are seeking, wandering, or waiting.
May your Spirit continue to stir and guide.
And may we be like Lydia—open, responsive, and ready to share what you’ve given.
Lead us to live as people of welcome and witness.
In your name we pray,
Amen.