Could Paul open people's hearts by preaching?
Paul's preaching alone could not open hearts. Even with his apostolic power, the opening of the heart was the Lord's work. The Holy Spirit opened Lydia's heart so she attended to Paul's words. Human preaching cannot open spiritual eyes; God must open the heart and spiritual understanding.
Les explains that even the great apostle Paul, with all the power he had, could not open the hearts of those people with his preaching. It took the work of the Holy Spirit to open Lydia's heart, and then the words of Paul took root. Les says it is no different today: we can do nothing, and we can never get across these truths unless the Holy Spirit opens the heart and spiritual eyes of those to whom we speak. He admits his words are nothing more than a tinkling cymbal unless God Himself opens hearts. Some people wonder why they did not catch this years earlier; it simply was not God's time. In His own time, He opens hearts and spiritual understanding. This connects to Romans 10, where Paul asks how they can proclaim unless God is in it and sends them, and notes that not all have obeyed the gospel.
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
More Questions
Who opens a person's spiritual heart?
God has to open people's spiritual hearts; we have to do our part, but only God can open those hearts.