Culture of Honor
Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love, honor one another above yourself.
Honor — “is the recognition of the value, contribution, and importance of others.”
“To esteem, or hold in great respect, or to place value on a person."
Revelation 5:11-14 (NLT) Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
Matthew 6:10 (ABPE) Let your Kingdom come, let your will be done also in the earth, just as it is in Heaven.
Jesus has called us to be an extension of His heavenly honor here in the earth.
We demonstrate honor in our…
Relationship with Him — Jer. 10:7
Bodies (sexuality) — 1 Cor. 6:18-20
Wealth — Prov. 3:9-10
Society (governmental authority) — Rom. 13:6-7
Church (leadership) — 1 Tim. 5:17-18
Occupation — Eph. 6:5-9
Marriages — Heb. 13:4
Parenting — Eph. 6:4
Relationships — 1 Pet. 2:17
Elderly — Lev. 19:32
Honor is undeniably at the heart of the Kingdom of God.
Have we ever considered what the outcome of today’s culture might be?
Culture — “a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and behaviors that characterize a group of people.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV) This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
A culture that isn’t fundamentally rooted in honor will fail to produce anything of eternal value.
1. As a family, we will serve the Lord
Joshua 24:15 (NIV) And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
2. As husbands, we will honor our wives
1 Peter 3:7 (NLT) In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.
3. As wives, we will honor our husbands
Titus 2:3-5 (NLT) Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. 4 These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, 5 to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
4. As children, we will honor our parents
Ephesians 6:1-3 (NKJV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
Deuteronomy 27:16 (AMP) Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother. All the people shall say, “Amen.”
5. As parents, we will honor our children
Ephesians 6:4 ESV Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
The best way we can honor our children is by loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and then passionately, consistently, and unrelentingly teach our children to do the same.
2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV) I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
A. We make the mistake of taking each other for granted.
B. We allow pride to erode the foundation of our relationships.
Proverbs 18:12 (NIV) Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.
Mark 6:1-6, Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty works there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief..."
Honor gives us access to the anointing people carry — while dishonor closes us off to it.
"A culture of honor begins in the home!"
2 Timothy 2:21(NIV) Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.