Could Paul's preaching open people's hearts?
No. Even the apostle Paul, with his power, could not open hearts by his preaching. The Lord opened Lydia's heart, and then Paul's words took root. It took the work of the Holy Spirit, and it is no different today.
Les explains that even the great apostle Paul, with the power that 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. It is no different today. You and I 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. Les says his words are nothing more than a tinkling cymbal unless God Himself opens hearts. Some people wonder why they did not catch it fifteen years earlier; it simply was not God's time. In His own time, He opens hearts and spiritual understanding. So how can they proclaim unless God is in it? He has to send us. Israel especially had not all 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
Why did Lydia pay attention to Paul's preaching?
The Lord opened Lydia's heart so that she attended to the things spoken by Paul.