Guaranteed Greater Unleashed: In A Culture of Honor

There has been a culture shift in the 21st century church. Something has happened to cause a lessened honor as it relates to:

• Reverence

• Respect

• and Honor 

This shift affects all demographics, to include:

• The house

• Leaders

• and People

How do we honor God?

We honor Him with our lives, with our commitment, with the gifts He has given unto us (our reasonable service).

What is honor?

Honor means to esteem; hold in great respect, or place value on a person.  To honor someone means to ascribe a high price on them, so much so that we give them preference over our own life.

Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Honor extends to how we treat other people.

Honoring others goes against our natural instinct, which is to honor and value ourselves.  It is only by being endured with humility by the Holy Spirit that we can esteem and honor our fellow man more than ourself.

The Holy Ghost will direct you to honor others, even if they don’t honor you.  The spirit will constrain you to speak to people who won’t speak to you.  Be found doing what you’re supposed to do.  

Romans 12:3 (NIV)

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Philiipians 2:3 (KJV)

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind.  Let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Concerns Regarding Lack of Honor

1. Dishonor devalues people for whom God has placed high value upon.

- you will never look into the eyes of someone who doesn’t matter to God; everyone matters to God - when we dishonor someone, we degrade what God has paid a high price for (John 3:16)

2. Dishonor hinders the church from bringing up future generations that will exceed them.

- a lack on honor only sees people as they are and not what they can be through the eyes of grace; don’t get stuck on what you see right now, we’re steadily evolving / this hindered some of the religious people of the day of Saul, who’s now Paul 

3.  Dishonor diminishes the church of the potential of operating in, or experiencing, the miraculous.

- if we only see people as they are, then we will fail to recognize the Holy Spirit that may be resting upon them / through dishonor we place ourselves outside of the influence they could have on us, our church, our ministry events

4. Decreases the chances of God sending prophets into our churches. 

God has the authority and right not to send the apostles or prophets in your midst.

Anointed people will be set by God in places that will honor and steward the gifts they have been given.  People will readily receive them with honor.

The Apostle Paul is trying to get us to get our eyes off ourselves.  We can develop false illusions of who we think we are.

Honor begins by how God treated us.  It begins with Him.

Hebrews 2:6-8

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

The culture of honor.

In the book of Luke, chapter 4, Jesus came into Nazareth and preached his initial sermon. He went into the synagogue and began to read the passage (verse 18) “the spirit of the Lord is upon me”, He announced that Isaiah's decree was being fulfilled through Him.  There was no question that He was being empowered by the Holy Spirit, but something happened that created an opening for a spirit of familiarity to creep in.  The audience in the room overlooked the spirit that was upon Him and began to state “isn’t that Joseph’s son” - a total disregard for the power that Jesus possessed that day.  

Luke 4:24 (KJV) - And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

How many people today are being bypassed from receiving Guaranteed Greater Unleashed because of their lack of honor?  How many refuse to honor the man/woman of God?

Never reduce your man/woman of God to your level.  Your man of God should be your reference point of where you’re trying to go. When you refuse to honor them, you cut yourself off from the blessing.

We must respect those who are placed in our lives to lead us; and respect those in the house of God. If you want to be honored, you must show honor, and the honor that you show will come back to you.

Mark 6:1-5 (KJV)

1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

This text illustrates the rejection experienced at Nazareth. The people were offended at Jesus because he did not fall into their minds of thinking.

Imagine how excited Jesus was to come back home after being out and doing works and being well received in other places.  He went home to be a blessing to his people, but things came to a screeching halt when Jesus’ listeners began to state “where did he get all this stuff from”?  This spirit of familiarity, caused them to take offense and refuse to honor Jesus.

Jesus stated once again in Mark 6:4 “a prophet is not without honor except in his own home” amongst his own people.  Jesus could not do mightly miracles there because of their unbelief.  The people could not handle this now Jesus - they were too stuck on what He was (the past).  He was reduced to one of them.

The culture was deprived of receiving Guaranteed Greater Unleashed because of a lack of honor.  When we fail to recognize the presence of the Holy Sprit because we’re distracted by who their are, their educational, family background, accolades, or lack thereof, we dishonor and reduce our possibilities of receiving what they carry.  We’re too stuck on who we perceive them to be.

"We miss the blessing because we’re wrapped up in personalities."

- Bishop Anthony L Jinwright

Hebrews 13:2 (KJV)

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Questions to ask yourself as it relates to honor.

Do you honor those within the church?  Do you honor all people regardless of what you initially see on the outside?  Do you honor those who may or may not have a position or title?  Do you require a title before you give honor?  Are we craving for positions so that people can honor us?  

In closing, we should honor all and do good to all people; especially those who are the body of Christ.  You’re not a good Christian if you don’t honor and respect one another.

Who are you honoring?