KINGDOM CULTURE 1: HONOR

Two words make up the name of our series: KINGDOM and CULTURE.

  • By KINGDOM we are referring to Christ’s Kingdom.

1 Timothy 6:15 - At just the right time Christ will be ______from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.But in this world at this time…

2 Corinthians 4:4- Satan, who is the _____ of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the ______of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

Does this signify that in the meantime, our world is hopeless and we have nothing promise of good in our lifetime? Absolutely not!

  • It is true that Satan has blinded many, but…

1 Peter 2:9 - - But you are not like that, for you are a ______people. You are ______priests, a ______nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he ______you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

  • It is OUR ASSIGNMENT to SHINE the LIGHT OF JESUS to the very people that Satan has blinded – to be the COUNTER CULTURE to Satan’s dominion.
  • Culture = the sum of ATTITUDES, VALUES,BELIEFS, and CUSTOMS that distinguishes one group of people from another.

One interesting thing about our series is that the values that we’ll be looking apply to our lives both as INDIVIDUALS and as members of a CHURCH BODY.

  • Culture works best in relationship with VISION.
  • Vision is WHAT WE DO, and culture is WHO WE ARE.

No matter what the VISION is for a life or a church, if the attitudes and actions (CULTURE) don’t support it, the vision will never come to pass.

  • If our prayer to God is – “May your Kingdom ______soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is inheaven.” (Matthew 6:10) – Then we must adopt live by His kingdom’s truths and values.
  • The first kingdom concept we will look at today is HONOR.

Romans 13:7- Give to everyone what you ______them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority

The Greek word for honor here means TO ASSIGN A VALUE, TO SET A PRICE.

  • It’s interesting that God would couple TAXES and HONOR into the same command.
  • Then Benjamin Franklin came along and coupled TAXES to DEATH.

– In this world only two things are certain, death and taxes. . – Benjamin Franklin

  • We’re talking about serious stuff here. Honor should be as certain as death and taxes.
  • The earthly culture tries to AVOID taxes, death, and honor.
  • But the KINGDOM CULTURE pays them.
  • Let me divide the rest of this sermon into 2 parts: Who to honor, and what happens in a culture of honor.
  1. PARENTS

Exodus 20:12 -______your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

This is the FIRST MENTION of HONOR in the Bible, and it makes God’s TOP TEN.

  • It is the first of the HORIZONTAL commandments (explain).
  • Thus establishing that HONORING OTHERS comes easier when children are raised to honor their parents.
  • Let me begin addressing the young people in the room since the bible mentions some very specific commands concerning this.

Proverbs 1:8-9 - My child, ______when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Two words stand out: LISTEN and LEARN.

  • I’m not sure why so many young people suffer from the KNOW-IT-ALL syndrome.
  • I hate it when kids think they know it all. It’s an insult to us parents who do! (Humor).

Proverbs 10:5 - A wise youth harvests in the summer, but one who______during harvest is a disgrace.

Let me rephrase this one in 2017 terms:

  • “If you wake up past noon instead of attending school or going to work, you’re a disgrace to your parents.”
  • If you waste your days playing video games instead of being PRODUCTIVE, you’re a disgrace to your parents.” – Ok, I better stop.
  • In essence, it is encouraging you to be DILIGENT, RESOURCEFUL, HARD-WORKING, and PRODUCTIVE.
  • Notice, however, that age is not mentioned as an EXEMPTION to this commandment.
  • Here’s a very simple application to HONORING PARENTS IN THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF LIFE.
  • As children: OBEY
  • As adolescents: RESPECT.
  • As adults: CARE FOR.
  1. SPOUSE

1 Peter 3:5- This is how the ______women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God andaccepted the authority of their husbands.

1 Peter 3:7 - In the same way, you husbands must give ______to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered

  1. SPIRITUAL LEADERS

1 Timothy 5:17 -The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are ______of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Too many people in this country celebrate FAME rather than VIRTUE.

  • Too many of our celebrities are such poor role models, they have no business being honored.

Proverbs 26:1 - Honor is no more ______with fools than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

Let’s celebrate men and women fearful of God who live exemplary lives and model healthy values.

  • Remember that to HONOR is to ASSIGN A VALUE. It’s exactly what David’s mighty men did to their SHEPHERD KING.

2 Samuel 18:2-3 - He sent the troops out in three groups, placing one group under Joab, one under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and one under Ittai, the man from Gath. The king told his troops, “I am ______out with you.” But his men objected strongly. “You must not go,” they urged. “If we have to turn and run—and even if half of us die—it will make no difference to Absalom’s troops; they will be looking only for you. You are ______10,000 of us, and it is better that you stay here in the town and send help if we need it.”

Intrinsically, every life is worth the same. But these men knew that in relation to this particular purpose, their shepherd was worthy of being HIGHLY VALUED.

  1. THOSE IN AUTHORITY
  • This one here includes BOSSES, TEACHERS, GOVERNMENT LEADERS, etc.
  • At the time, the king was NERO, a perverted, abusive man who tortured and killed hundreds of Christians.
  • Historians say that Nero murdered his own mother.
  • He would later behead Paul and crucify Peter himself.
  • Still Peter understood that the OFFICE of King deserved honor regardless of who occupied it.
  • If Peter were writing today, he would say, HONOR THE PRESIDENT.
  • When you don’t agree with him…

1 Timothy 2:2-4 - Pray this way for ______and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and ______God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

  1. THE ELDERLY

Leviticus 19:32- Stand up in the ______of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord.

I love how God puts His SIGNATURE on this one – “I am the Lord.”

  1. ONE ANOTHER

Romans 12:10 - Love each other with ______affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

CONCLUSION

I want you to see that at least 2 VERY IMPORTANT THINGS are cultivated by HONOR.

The first is LIFE. Long life and abundant life.

  • The LAW OF FIRST MENTION for biblical scholars is the reasoning that the first mention of a concept in the Bible is most likely the clearest presentation of that concept.
  • In other words, it’s REALLY IMPORTANT when studying an idea, to look at the FIRST MENTION.
  • The first mention of honor as we said earlier is found in Exodus 20:12.

Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and mother. Then you will ______a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

When God first speaks of honor, in the Ten Commandments, He promises that long life will be our REWARD.

The second thins cultivated by HONOR is MIRACLES.

Matthew 6:4-5- Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is ______everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any ______among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Here Jesus makes a direct correlation between a LACK OF HONOR and the fact that he COULD NOT do many miracles in His hometown.

  • Do you want to experience the SUPERNATURAL as an INDIVIDUAL…as a CHURCH?
  • The SUPERNATURAL only manifests in a KINGDOM CULTURE OF HONOR.

I know that some people on this list may not be WORTHY of HONOR. But regardless, God is worthy of OBEDIENCE.

  • In the end, we HONOR GOD!