Honor

Luke 14:8-11 is a great parable from Jesus, showing us a dimension of how the kingdom works. It speaks of honor, which is a lost art in the church, but an art that will return to the church with a comeback like no other. This verse shows us the fruit that comes if we hold true to its teaching and the curse that comes if we neglect it.

Luke 14:8-11

8.When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not recline on the chief seat [in the place of honor], lest a more distinguished person than you has been invited by him 9. And he who invited both of you will come to you and say, Let this man have the place [you have taken]. Then, with humiliation and a guilty sense of impropriety, you will begin to take the lowest place. 10. But when you are invited go and recline in the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher! Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit [at the table] with you. 11. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank).

Honor is truly an art that has been lost in the modern church of the west. This parable speaks of the upside-down kingdom. A kingdom worth trusting. Not because our intelligence says that it's wisdom to trust, but because our Christ has spoken that IT IS wisdom to trust. It is foolishness to the world, but it is the wisdom of God to his children. Many would say "You have to fight for your place in this life," but Jesus, proposes a different approach to gaining the seat of honor in this life. He tells us to humble ourselves rather than being humbled by others. The first is always more fruitful. This goes in any arena in life. If you are a son or daughter of God it is your inheritance to be exalted in this manner. We must always take the low road if we want the favor and blessing of God on our life. There is no other road that will offer such an inheritance as this road offers. God calls this road "the Highway of Holiness" (Isaiah 35).

One thing that has to happen in the church before Jesus returns is that the people of God have to be made pure and spotless. Jesus is coming to marry a harlot that has been washed in the blood of the Lamb. She must not have any blemish on her, for who is worthy to partner with this Man? She must be purified and sanctified. In Malachi 3:1-3 God speaks of the Day of the Lord (the same day He sends the Spirit of Elijah) that 'He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; and purge them (the church) as gold and silver.' He is speaking of his church being prepared for His coming.

Honor is one of the main issues, especially in the western church, that needs to be restored in order for the bride to be purified.

Ephesians 4:11-13

11. And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. (The 5 Fold Ministry)

12. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),

13. [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

I believe God is restoring honor to us so that when we hear a man of God speak the words of God, our hearts and minds would truly be edified and we would draw closer to Christ. The church was originally set up in a culture of honor. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul speaks of the Gods appointed order in the church. If we begin to honor Gods order we will be a healthy church.

We need to be an honorable people. Daniel honored Nebuchadnezzar not because Neb was worthy of the honor but because Daniel was an honorable man. We can be honorable people to unbelievers because we have an honorable inheritance. But like Daniel we should never compromise our faith in God for the sake of honoring an crooked man, for we have a Father who is much more honorable. It's a heart posture. Its a lifestyle. Its a culture. Its an art.

Honor will return to the church with a comeback like no other! You will hear more and more preaching and teaching on honor before Jesus comes back. Why, you ask? Because it is part of the culture of Gods Kingdom. If we want to live and dwell with him in the next age, we must begin to go after honoring our fathers, elders, brothers and sisters above ourselves. We must honor the way our Father in heaven ordained the church to function. God spoke of a day that would take place before the great and dreadful day of the Lord when the Spirit of Elijah would again "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers" (Malachi 4:5-6) The spirit of Elijah is the restoration of God's children. The the fullness of the Spirit of Elijah is not limited to honor being restored, but honor is its foundation, unto a church being made ready for a coming King.

The Spirit of Elijah looks like an honorable people, where the fathers honor the children and encourage them to run farther than they ever did. And where the children honor and respect the the fathers, and the grandfathers, and the elders, where they sit and listen to there words with attentive hearing ears. We must understand that we are not sitting at a round table, but we are sitting at a rectangular one. Don't put yourself in a position to be brought low. Posture your heart low to be brought high at the day of the resurrection.