Acts 16:18 English Standard Version (ESV) And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

Spirit speaks to spirit and this is the point of this message. We are human and we speak to humans. The words we speak are truth and life but we cannot compel anyone to accept Christ. We have to wait upon the Lord to do the real work of salvation.

“Who are you to tell me anything?” This can be a response to our witness.

We were all someone else at some point in time. Can they relate to those times and understand why we yearned to escape that life for something better? This takes a deeper discussion than just being able to say God loves you. It takes time, it takes transparency, and it takes admitting what we were in the past. That can be an ugly place with bitter memories. We escaped and have no desire to go back.

How can that lost soul connect to those real human feelings if we will not be vulnerable to a stranger and let them know we have been exactly where they are now?

Only a person of low descent can be lifted up. How we escaped is nothing more than an escape plan. We cannot make someone use that ladder to get out of the hole they dug for themselves.

The first thing they have to do is to admit to themselves they do not want the life they are living in the here and now. If they are proud of that life, they will not seek change. If they feel unsure then it is a conversation of conditions. Why do they feel uncertain? What is troubling their soul? Where is the peace they seek? Do they feel like they deserve the troubled life and are punishing themselves?

These things are discoverable only by being an honest advocate.

Hebrews 11:6 English Standard Version (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

What do you think of when you see the word rewards here?

Our ideas surrounding rewards are based mostly on earthly experiences and not eternal issues. There is a large difference between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh will interpret rewards according to fleshly pleasures. The spirit sees things from God’s perspective.

Can God reward us in the flesh? Yes but will those rewards glorify God? Is a promotion in Kingdom living a reward?

Luke 16:10-11 English Standard Version

¹⁰ “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. ¹¹ If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

Wealth is one thing that tends to please the flesh but it is said here that it is not true riches.

What are true riches and do they relate to God’s rewarding the faithful?

Matthew Henry’s commentary says this about this parable. “The riches of this world are the less; grace and glory are the greater.”

True riches are those gifts from God that are given to faithful servants to glorify God and enhance Kingdom living for all God’s people. They cannot be purchased but they can be withheld if we have proven ourselves to be untrustworthy.

The greater gifts come with greater responsibility and why should we expect to be given those gifts if we have not used those which we already have to glorify God?

The gift of the Shepard says why would we be given 200 to Shepard if we cannot glorify God in the 5 sheep He has placed with us?

Do all things as the Lord would do them, faithfully.