THE MYSTERY OF HONOUR.

The English dictionary defined "HONOUR" as these:

"To think of highly, to respect highly; to show respect for; to recognise the importance or spiritual value of" "recognition of importance or value; respect; veneration (of someone, usually for being morally upright or successful)"

Honour is a spiritual mystery which most Christians especially up and coming young ministers have been ignorant of.

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

Many young believers don't know what it means to honour and the blessings that accompanies honour. They feel that because they are anointed, that gives them a license to dishonour anybody even the Fathers who were before them. Yes you may be more anointed but the Fathers are more experienced and as such should be given honour. "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine."

An adage says that "what an elder sees while sitted, a child cannot see it even if he climbs the tallest iroko tree"...

One of the mystery of honour is that "HONOUR PROVOKES DIVINE FAVOUR".

The Bible is replete with examples of people who were favoured just because they understood the mystery of honour.

ABRAHAM: When he was returning back from war, he met Melchizedek and honoured him by giving him the tithe of what he got and Melchizedek blessed him "For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"

Because Abraham honoured God, God promised to bless them with a child "And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him."

HONOUR GIVES YOU ACCESS TO SECRETS.

When God wanted to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and he passed through the land where Abraham dwelt, Abraham did not let God go like that, he invited HIM into his house and entertained HIM, that was honour and this made God to reveal the secret of what HE was about to do to Abraham and this made Abraham to intercede for his nephew, Lot and the city. "And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know."

ESTHER honoured her uncle Mordecai and this made him to reveal the secret of what Haman was planning for the Jews to her, so that she can do something about it.

See what the word of God says again "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."

HONOUR OPEN DOORS OF GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, PRIVILEGES AND MIRACLES FOR YOU.

REBEKAH honoured Eliezer, Abraham's servant by giving him and his camels water to drink and that qualified her to be the wife of Isaac and the mother of two nations (Esau and Jacob).

RUTH honoured her mother in law and followed her back to her people, this decision gave her the opportunity to marry Boaz and the privilege of becoming one of the great grand mother of Jesus Christ.

PUBLIUS honoured Paul and this opened the door of opportunity for his father to be healed "In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary."

HONOUR PLACES YOU IN THE POSITION TO BE HONOURED TOO AND MAKES YOU USEFUL TO GOD.

When you honour God, you can do it in so many ways, part of which includes serving Him faithfully, paying your tithes, making sure you are pure and fit for HIS use at all times; "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." In doing this, you place yourself in the position to be honoured too

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

HONOUR MAKES WAY FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND GENERATIONS YET UNBORN.

Honour is like a mango seed that is planted, it might not bring out fruit immediately but will definitely bring out fruits in abundance after many years which generations to come will have the privilege of feeding from it.

that was why when David was sent for by Saul, Jesse did not allow David to go empty handed, he gave him things to present to the king and David was retained in the palace "And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight."

Abraham also paid tithe for generations yet unborn when he honoured Melchizedek unknown to him "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."

HONOUR GIVES LENGTH OF DAYS AND UNHINDERED PRAYERS.

The Word of God commanded us as children to honour our parents so that our days may be long, "Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

"Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

Dear Brothers and Sisters, the mystery of honour goes on and on but it is only accessible to those who live by it. It is time for us to repent of our spiritual arrogance and pride, let us take up the cloak of humility once again and give honour to whom honour is due"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Finally, the Word of God says in 1 Peter 2:17 "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

I pray that the Holy Spirit will Himself teach us more about the mystery of honour and give us the grace to obey His teaching in Jesus Name, Amen.

SHALOM.

© Winnie