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Keeping Honor - part 2 of 2 In John chapter 5, Jesus establishes His esteem and where it comes from: John 5:31-47 (KJV) “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41I receive not honour from men. 42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” Here, Jesus is establishing confidence. John the Baptist bore witness of Christ, but Christ came to bear witness of the Father. Jesus establishes His purpose to mankind that they know God in a new light. In the law, man thinks he has salvation, but Jesus says that the law is to testify of Him. Jesus states that He does not receive honor from men, only from Father. People will not receive Him because He does not come in his own deeds or wealth, but He comes in that of another: Father. We must learn from Jesus Christ how to keep honor. The way that we keep it is by continuously going back to God the Father, in the Name of Jesus and asking for His insight to our everyday situations. Keeping is by far the hardest issue of honor. The other two, giving and receiving, can be done through self-righteousness. But keeping honor can only be done through Christ-righteousness. It is only by His wisdom that we can overcome. It is not by our self-righteous behavior that we will be victorious within. We must learn to tap into the new dimension that God is granting us. He is teaching us to come boldly before the throne of Grace. To enter in boldly does not mean to come in and demand our way and rant and rave about how another is treating us. Would a judge come from His chambers to witness a court room out of control? Yet many in the body will say to just tell Him how you feel. We will learn that we can only have wisdom and knowledge through humility and fear of the King. Then may He come from His chambers to meet us in His throne room and show us the new dimension. In this confidence and security through fear and humility, we can keep honor. As we remember that it only comes from Him, He will show us favor. Where we go and what we do will show that Christ truly is the center of our life. People will know and see that there is another of whom we are bearing witness. Our conversation will not reflect ourselves and our own accomplishment, but will only show His through us. God, please do this work through your Sons. We ask that your honor through us will truly bring more into the kingdom desiring the very benefit that you give us by serving you. Amen. -S. Chad Ross August Newsletter 2002 | Be Comforted | Fear Factor part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal August 2001 | Keeping Honor part 2 of 2 | Jaundiced Eye part 2 of 3 |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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