God's honours list
Every year the British Monarch publishes a new year’s honours list which gives awards to politicians, sports men, and women, show-business people, public servants, charity workers, philanthropists, awards for bravery, industry, commerce and many more.
The entertainment industry also likes to give honours and awards.
The Brit Awards
The Academy Awards, Oscars, Emmy`s etc.
Sport gives honours and awards.
Player of the year
Journalist’s Best Player of the year etc.
But what we want to consider today is God`s honour system, specifically who or what does the Lord honour, who or what does the Lord command His people to honour?
What part does honour and honouring play in the life of a Christian?
The aim of our study today is to answer these questions and to emphasize that honour and honouring is a key part of each believer’s life.
Dictionary Definition: Honour is the high respect, renown, glory, or a good reputation. Honour can also mean a sense of what is right or due, or a high rank or position.
In the USA, the judge is called ‘Your Honor.’
In the UK MP`s are called the ‘Honourable Member.’
We also have titles such as a Maid of Honour, Guard of Honour etc.
Honour in a sense is the recognition of the value/rank/achievement that a person has.
As Christians we have a duty to honour those God has commanded, and as you would expect our first debt of honour is to the Lord Himself.
So how do we honour the Lord God?
Firstly, we must recognize him for who he is, that is the creator of the cosmos, the Alpha and the Omega, the Giver and Sustainer of life and we must give him first place in all our thoughts, actions, plans, prayers, and praise. All the glory and honour belong to him. We ought to revere Him and hold Him in the highest honour and therefore commit all our ways unto him.
Mark 7:6; This is not just talking a good game or giving an outward appearance of honour, but true honour from the heart. Jesus says, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’ God looks at our hearts to see if we really honour him in truth.
Proverb 3:9; We can show honour in our giving. This can show if you are concerned with the creator or the creation. God is honoured when we give the first part of our money and goods to Him. It very importantly shows that we acknowledge him as the source of all good things. Amen.
John 5:23; We honour the Father by recognizing who the Son is, that is the express image of the Father, the eternal Word made flesh. Those who do not honour the Son, as the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Saviour, dishonour the Father (this applies to the other religions).
But we believers recognize and honour Jesus Christ.
Honour in the Church, Family, Workplace
Ephesians 5:15-33
Verse 18; Crucial step to avoid being filled with the wrong spirit but be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 21; We honour the Lord by submitting to each other. We must recognize the high value that God sets on each human life, and that every man, your fellow man is made in the image of God, just like you.
We ought to fit in, and always act with such dignity as becomes a saint. We need to recognize that we are not the only one who hears God speak.
We must not have the attitude of a brother or sister who says, ‘get out of my way’!
Every believer has the same Spirit, the same Father, and the same baptism.
Look to please others not yourself. Remember love is never self-seeking.
Submit to your church leaders. They must give an account to the Lord for you. See 1 Timothy 3:17 and Hebrews 13:17
Verse 22; God has given a special honour to the man of being the head of the wife. Christian wives ought to recognize this and apply it in their marriages. God has given the casting vote to the husband but not the only say!
Verse 25; Husbands honour your wives by loving them. Recognize the high value God places on your wife, as your partner in life, so always seek their good, seek every blessing for them, including their spiritual growth.
1 Peter 3:1-7
Verse 1; How to win unsaved husbands
Verse 2-6; Wives honouring their unbelieving husbands through submission
Verse 7; Our believing wives are our fellow heirs of eternal life
We must not crush, bruise and abuse our wives as this will directly hinder our prayers.
Ephesians 6:1-3; Honour your father and mother is a commandment with a promise!
Honour is recognizing your parents’ position and authority given to them by God.
Methods of honour.
* Show respect through speech or actions like rising when they enter the room.
* Give them money
* Pray for them
* Visit them and be kind by feeding and helping them
* Listen to them
Verse 4; Honour your children – Do not abuse your position over them. Give them your best i.e. God`s word.
Verse 5-8; Employees – Do the job as unto the Lord.
Honour your bosses, respect them as God’s appointed bosses.
Verse 9; Bosses – Treat your workers with respect and dignity, God has made you a boss over them for good and not for evil. Recognise the high value God places on them.
Be filled with the Spirit as this makes all human relationships improve!
Honour to all Mankind
1 Peter 2:17
We must show honour to all men for they are made in God`s image. People who commit atrocities must first dehumanise their victim(s) for example the Nazis saw the Jews as rats.
We must recognise the great value God sets on each human life even the alcoholic, addict, homeless, or enslaved by sin.
John 3:16
God has given us a BA (Born Again) with Honours!
Honour God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Honour your brothers and sisters, your father and mother, and all men.
Recognise God`s high value he places on each life.
Amen
Personal Prayer
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