The Honor Principle

The Honor Principle

John 12:25-26 (NKJV)

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Honor - to value, see as weighty and precious.

- According to Webster’s dictionary honor is defined as “to revere, respect; to treat with deference and submission, and preform relative duties to.”

Honor is a forgotten virtue in the church that must be activated! It is a powerful virtue that unlocks and releases the kingdom of heaven and unimaginable breakthrough!

Merriam Webster Defines “principle” as:

1a: a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

b: a rule or code of conduct

Honor is the primary function of the apostolic mandate. Honor activates the anointing The Flow of Honor: First Christ, then prophets (five-fold), then the righteous man, then our peers, and finally those who serve under us.

Honors Reward

Matthew 10:40 (TPT)

“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the One who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is God’s messenger will share a prophet’s reward. And whoever welcomes a good and godly man because he follows me will also share in his reward. And whoever gives a cup of cold water to one of my humble disciples, I promise you, he will not go unrewarded.”

Faith is the frequency of Heaven

Faith produces rewards.

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)

But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.

The Difference Between Partial and Full Rewards

Matthew 6:5-6 (TPT)

“Whenever you pray, be sincere and not like the pretenders who love the attention they receive while praying before others in the meetings and on street corners. Believe me, they’ve already received in full their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your innermost chamber and be alone with Father God, praying to him in secret. And your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.

*Note: Talk About the 10 Leapers As An Illustration

How do you obtain honor’s full reward?

Proverbs 22:4 (TPT)

Laying your life down in tender surrender before the Lord

will bring life, prosperity, and honor as your reward.

Proverbs 21:21 (TPT)

The lovers of God who chase after righteousness

will find all their dreams come true:

an abundant life drenched with favor

and a fountain that overflows with satisfaction.

No Rewards

Mark 6:1-6 (TPT)

Afterward, Jesus left Capernaum and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. On the Sabbath, he went to teach in the synagogue. Everyone who heard his teaching was overwhelmed with astonishment. They said among themselves, “What incredible wisdom has been given to him! Where did he receive such profound insights? And what mighty miracles flow through his hands! Isn’t this Mary’s son, the carpenter, the brother of Jacob, Joseph, Judah, and Simon? And don’t his sisters all live here in Nazareth?” And they took offense at him.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is treated with honor everywhere except in his own hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” He was unable to do any great miracle in Nazareth, except to heal a few sick people by laying his hands upon them. He was amazed at the depth of their unbelief!

Then Jesus went out into the different villages and taught the people.

The Flow of Honor

- The Flow of Honor: First Christ, then prophets (five-fold), then the righteous man, then our peers, and finally those who serve under us.

*God Established 4 Divisions of Delegated Authority:

Civil Church Family Social

Civil Authority

1 Timothy 6:1-2 (TPT)

Instruct every employee to respect and honor their employers, for this attitude presents to them a clear testimony of God’s truth and renown. Tell them to never provide them with a reason to discredit God’s name because of their actions. Especially honor and respect employers who are believers and don’t despise them, but serve them all the more, for they are fellow believers. They should be at peace with them as beloved members of God’s family. Be faithful to teach them these things as their sacred obligation.

Romans 13:1-7 (TPT)

Every person must submit to and support the authorities over him. For there can be no authority in the universe except by God’s appointment, which means that every authority that exists has been instituted by God. So to resist authority is to resist the divine order of God, which results in severe consequences. For civil authorities don’t intimidate those who are doing good, but those who are doing evil. So do what is right and you’ll never need to fear those in authority. They will commend you for your good citizenship. Those in authority are God’s servants for the good of society. But if you break the law, you have reason to be alarmed, for they are God’s agents of punishment to bring criminals to justice. Why do you think they carry weapons? You are compelled to obey them, not just to avoid punishment, but because you want to live with a clean conscience. This is also the reason you pay your taxes, for governmental authorities are God’s officials who oversee these things. So it is your duty to pay all the taxes and fees that they require and to respect those who are worthy of respect, honoring them accordingly.

Honor Harsh Authority

-How Do We Handle It?

1 Peter 2:18 (NKJV)

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

We honor leadership because of their position, not their behavior. According to Thayer’s dictionary the greek word for harsh is skolios. Skolios - crooked, perverse, wicked, unfair and forward. W.E. Vine’s, an expert in Greek New Testament words defines the term as “tyrannical or unjust masters (leaders).” Other versions of the Bible translates this term as “dishonest, cruel and unreasonable leadership. Let’s look at this passage of scripture again. Only this time let’s look at it in The Passion Translation (TPT).

- 1 Peter 2:18-19 (TPT)

Those who are servants, submit to the authority of those who are your masters—not only to those who are kind and gentle but even to those who are hard and difficult. You find God’s favor by deciding to please God even when you endure hardships because of unjust suffering.

“All authority is of God, but not all authority is godly.” - John Bevere

There are three benefits for honoring harsh leadership:

Your case will be put in the hands of God, who will judge justly. When you repay evil with a blessing (honor), you inherit a blessing from God. See 1 Peter 3:9. When you handle unfair treatment with honor or blessing, you position yourself to receive a reward or promotion.

There’s a big difference between harsh leadership and immoral leadership; evil dictators that try to lead and convince their followers to sin. See Daniel 3:2.

Daniel 3:1-2 (AMP) Nebuchadnezzar the king made a gold [-plated] image, whose height [including the pedestal] was sixty cubits (ninety feet) and its width six cubits (nine feet). He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the [b]satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and lawyers and all the chief officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Note* We don’t not adhere to or follow such leadership.

•Kingdom Authority (Church)

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (TPT)

Dear brothers and sisters, make sure that you show your deep appreciation for those who cherish you and diligently work as ministers among you. For they are your leaders who care for you, teach you, and stand before the Lord on your behalf. They value you with great love. Because of their service to you, let peace reign among yourselves.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (TPT)

The pastors who lead the church well should be paid well. They should receive double honor for faithfully preaching and teaching the revelation of the Word of God. For the Scriptures have taught us: “Do not muzzle an ox or forbid it to eat while it grinds the grain.” And also, “The one who labors deserves his wages.”

Explain details and give practical examples:

Five-fold ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Teaches, Pastors & Evangelists) Deacons Elders Worship Leaders Ushers Intercessors Sunday School Teachers Any position in leadership

•Family

Honor Your Wife

1 Peter 3:7 (TPT)

Husbands, you in turn must treat your wives with tenderness, viewing them as feminine partners who deserve to be honored, for they are co-heirs with you of the “divine grace of life,”so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Ephesians 5:25 (TPT)

And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, his bride. For he died for us, sacrificing himself

Honor Your Children

Ephesians 6:2-4 (TPT)

For the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” was the first of the Ten Commandments with a promise attached: “You will prosper and live a long, full life if you honor your parents.” Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, but raise them up with loving discipline and counsel that brings the revelation of our Lord.

•Social

1 Peter 2:17 (TPT)

Recognize the value of every person and continually show love to every believer. Live your lives with great reverence and in holy awe of God. Honor your rulers.

Romans 12:10 (TPT)

Be devoted to tenderly loving your fellow believers as members of one family. Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another.

•Honor God

“To honor God is to attract His honor toward you.” - John Bevere

1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)

Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

*Note: It’s important to understand that we can honor by going through the motions by using systematic approaches, catch phrases and our speech. But that’s not the kingdom. Everything is a heart posture; we have to view honor through the heart of God.

Matthew 15:8 (TPT)

These people honor me only with their words, for their hearts are so very distant from me.

“True honor originates from the heart and is an outflow of the fear of the Lord.” - John Bevere

John 5:41-44 (NKJV)

I do not receive honor from men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

- Honor God with Your Body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Hebrews 13:4

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

- Honor God with your Finances

Proverbs 3:9-10 (TPT)

Glorify God with all your wealth,

honoring him with your very best,

with every increase that comes to you.

Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings

from an uncontainable source of inner joy!

Malachi 3:8-9 (NKJV)

“Will a man rob God?

Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say,

‘In what way have we robbed You?’

In tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with a curse,

For you have robbed Me,

Even this whole nation.

“If I had to make a choice, I’d rather rob a bank than God himself.” - John Bevere

*Obedience

Deuteronomy 5:33

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

There is a difference between submission and obedience. “Submission deals with our attitude, whereas obedience deals with our actions.” - John Bevere Isaiah 1:19 (NKJV) If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; There’s a difference between unconditional submission to authority and unconditional obedience.

“Obedience to the will of God is the pathway to perpetual honor and everlasting joy.” - Charles Spurgeon

- Obedience is better than sacrifice.

14 Keys of Honor.

Honor Is the Birthplace of Revival Honor is the secret code to unlock breakthrough. Honor releases the anointing Honor unlocks signs, miracles & wonders Honor creates a safe place for deliverance. Honor is the key ingredient to successfully drive out demons in the toughest cases of deliverance. Honor produces lasting fruit (longevity). Honor is christian maturity. Honor is a bi-product of true humility. Honor captures the heart of God (faith). Thankfulness is the Result of Honor Honor is the Evidence That A Person is Walking in Fear of the Lord

Conclusion: The Key to Heaven’s Kingdom Realm.

Romans 2:7

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.