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Keeping Honor - part 1 of 2 Many in the body of Christ today have issues of low self-esteem. God’s people tend to walk with their head down, feeling sorry for themselves, feeling misunderstood and feeling left alone. In our lives, there are three issues of honor: Giving honor, receiving honor, and keeping honor. The first two must be in operation before the third can be attained. Also, the third is the hardest but the most important to attain in order to become all that God has called us to be. First: How to give honor. The book ofRevelation shows us how to give honor to others using an example of honor being given to Christ. Rev. 4:9-11 (KJV) “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Verse ten reminds us of another scripture to put into application in our relationships with others: John 15:13 (KJV) “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” One of the hardest things for people to do is let things go. We should hold only to the things that God says hold on to, but we should let go of the things that God says let go of. We can cast our desires down to the feet of another. We can die to our self so that another can live. The Love chapter is also a good source of how to give honor: 1 Cor. 13:4-7 (NIV) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” It is important to note that honor should be given at all times in all circumstances to all people. This is the first key to being all that God wants us to be. Secondly: How to receive honor. It is good to note here how NOT to give or receive honor: Dan. 11:21 (KJV) “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.” One key to discerning other people’s motives is too see where their focus is. If they compliment the natural, carnal things of our life, it is not meant to give honor. Thus when we hear it, we should go to the Lord and have him show us his perspective. God desires that we see others with our spiritual eyes, complimenting one another by giving the glory to God not man through flatteries. 2 Chr. 1:11-12 (KJV) “And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: 12Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.” The Lord shows a wonderful example of how we can receive honor. God is giving honor to Solomon here because of his pure heart. When we receive honor from others with a pure heart, we can go to the Lord in our prayer closet and from his perspective he will add to the honor given to us. The mastery of this key is to receive from God’s perspective, not man’s: Seeing ourselves the way God sees us. What others compliments as our strengths, God may see it as a weakness. Likewise, man may speak harsh of our weakness, but God will show himself strong. Here are the keys to keeping honor. Who can receive honor that they do not give? Who can give honor that has not received from the Lord? Once we have learned from the Lord and mastered these keys, then we can learn how to keep honor and be free from offense, overcoming to be what God has called us to be. -S. Chad Ross July Newsletter 2002 | Warfare Prayer | The Fear Factor part 1 of 2 Pastor's Journal July 2001 | Keeping Honor part 1 of 2 | The Jaundiced Eye part 1 of 3
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Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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