Honor-able #1

HONOR – ABLE #1

(Malachi 1:6) “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!

When we honor people, we are honoring God.

(Malachi 2:1-2) “And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.”

• Honor – value, worth, weight.
• Dishonor – to take lightly.

(Mark 6:1-5) Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. ² The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” ³ Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary^[a] and the brother of James, Joseph,^[b] Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

⁴ Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” ⁵ And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

• Familiarity causes dishonor.
• Offenses cause dishonor.

HOW DO WE SET OUR HEARTS TO BEGIN TO HONOR

1. Honoring begins with God’s claim on them.

(Ephesians 5:21) Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Treating people based on our view of Him, not our view of them.

2. Honoring benefits me too.

• The level of honor you give to something determines what you receive from it.

(Ephesians 6:2-3) “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise–“that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

3. Honoring is decided, not deserved.

(1 Peter 2:13-17) Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

You have to make a decision to honor.