- Honor is RECIPROCAL.
- When you HONOR, HONOR is bound to flow to you.
When the disciples of Jesus came to him, they said, "Master, teach us how to pray. In other words, teach us how to receive heavenly blessing." Jesus replied and said to them, "If you want the blessings of God from heaven to pour out on you, the first you must do is to HONOR the Father in heaven." (Matthew 6:9) (Romans 13:7)
To DISHONOR your leaders is to dishonor God's grace upon their life. Whatever position your leader occupies, you must give due HONOR to him/her because it's the same HONOR that will come back to you.
10 REASONS TO HONOR
1. Indicates that PRIDE has been dealt with in your heart.
- James 4:6 - "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
2. Releases more GRACE and ANOINTING upon your life allowing you to RISE.
- James 4:6a - "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith."
3. Releases LONG LIFE for you in life and ministry.
- Ephesians 6:2-3 "Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
4. Gives you VICTORY over the schemes of the devil.
- Your leaders have certain GRACES, not just because of the anointing on their life, but also by virtue of the position they occupy. They command a certain respect and can also stop certain schemes of the enemy against you!
- JOSEPH is a prime example of this. While he was in command, he was able to stop the punishment of Israel.
- Elisha appealed to Elijah's POSITION in his life when he said, "My Father, My father, the chariot of Israel and the horse men thereof." Elisha's ANOINTING was stirred up and he was able to command the king to take the bow and arrow and shoot, and he shot; and Elisha declared there would be a three-time VICTORY over Syria!
5. How you RESPOND to the INSTRUCTION of your leader shows how much honor you have for them and the TYPE of VICTORY that will follow you.
6. Your ERRORS and MISTAKES can be easily forgiven and overlooked.
- The example of the SINNER WOMAN, mentioned in Scripture, that brought an alabaster box of ointment and washed the feet of Jesus with her tears. She HONORED Jesus with a very expensive perfume. Others judged and condemned her, but Jesus saw her LOVE, her HONOR and her REVERENCE for Him and pronounced her sin forgiven and her errors and mistakes bypassed and overlooked.
7. UNITY is released. (Psalm 133)
8. It VALIDATES your leader's leadership in your life.
- John 3:33 - "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true."
9. It RELAXES those who are leading you, when you're around.
- Your leader is not agitated because of disrespect or face value. Rather, they know that TOGETHER you will do mighty things for God.
10. It brings RESPECT, HONOR and ACCEPTANCE to your own ministry.
- The world will not honor the church and their ministers until the people in the church begin to honor their own and one another.
- You are responsible for HOW you honor your leader. Their honor is your honor; their dishonor is your reproach.
- Psalm 69:9b - "And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me."
RESPECT and HONOR are reciprocal. Respect those you are leading and also affirm your authority. (Romans 12:10b "...in honor preferring one another.")
HONOR is a must in CHRISTIAN MINISTRY and LEADERSHIP; no matter the age of your pastor or leader, you must respect and honor them for your own sake, in God's eyes.
