Posts Tagged ‘ Honor ’
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31, HCSB
God created a home for us with all we need to enjoy Him and be with Him, so may we worship and honor Him in everything we do, thanking Him for all good things and every provision.
For I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13, CSB
God calls us to rest, and one of those ways is to rest from anxiety and fear. Trust God, and honor His call by resting in Him.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all.
1 Chronicles 29:11, CSB
We are called to rest, and we follow the example of our Creator. Do we truly believe He is worthy of all honor and glory? Let us glorify Him by obeying Him and even resting, finding ultimate rest for our souls through Christ.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Exodus 20:8, CSB
God calls us to rest, and He gave us the example. We need to remember to honor God by respecting the time we have and resting regularly.
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Ephesians 6:2-3, ESV
Trust God. He is our heavenly Father, and He calls us to love and honor our own parents. Trust His promise to bless us if we forgive and love parents.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, ESV
We were called by God to wisdom, and He equips His Church to help each other grow. Elders and leaders in the Church should be specially equipped to help and thus respected and encouraged, as well.
We help each other to seek Christ.
Don’t neglect to do what is good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:16, CSB
God created us for fellowship, but we broke that by stealing from His glory and our own honor. He became one of us to restore fellowship, and He calls us to similarly sacrifice and care for each other to His glory.
Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.
Romans 12:10, CSB
How can we not love others knowing how much God loved us even when unforgiven and died for us? Let us set the example for others by following His example and loving sacrificially.
I preached again!
I was honored to once again be with the brethren in Paulden Christian Fellowship.
As usual, these are my rough notes, so not necessarily everything I said while preaching.
Growing up: Shy kid, but antagonized religious people due to family’s history (hurt), until it clicked. Challenged teachings. Challenging things to hear got to me.
As a Christian: Frequently challenged with tough questions. Had to learn some grace and to develop a squishy-tough skin. (Huggable and patient while shrugging off attacks.)
In Acts 5, we see the early church in a similar situation:
Apostles trying to deal with new people with a need to show grace.
They also keep getting arrested, as seen here. Sometimes freed, as Pastor Paul talked about last week and will be seen again.
Last time, they were freed to go back and preach, which brings us back to being arrested again, picking up in verse 28.
[Read vv. 28-32]
We know we should obey God rather than man, but it can be hard.
“… you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us!”
Yes! We are all guilty of Jesus’ death!
[Read Romans 3:22-25, 6:23; Colossians 2:13-14]
It is our sins that put Jesus on the cross, but it’s also the cross that forgives us, if we have faith in this truth.
Other truths hurt, too, especially when God’s Word intersects with our lives. This is why we need the “squishy-tough skin.”
Our society today says:
“Live your truth.” (John 14:6)
“Love is love.” Or “Just let people do what they want! They’re not hurting anyone.” (1 John 4:16)
“Don’t judge!” (Matthew 7:1-6)
“That’s just your interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
When we disagree with people, basing it on God’s Word, they will feel attacked and hurt.
We see it with the priests here, who are angry enough to kill.
[Read vv. 33]
When we share God’s truth, it offends our natural senses. “Why can’t I do whatever I want?!”
We’ve each felt it. We may disagree with the Bible, but I guarantee all of our disagreements come from misunderstanding or selfish pride.
The alternative is our next point:
[Read vv. 33-39a – “found opposing God!”]
The Apostles said hurtful things, and many will feel hurt by the truth, but we can learn from Gamaliel.
“Hey, if this isn’t of God, it will blow over.”
Yes, we still defend biblical truth, but who would claim to know as much as Jesus’ Apostles?
Remember, too, that the Apostle Paul had been a student of Gamaliel, but how well did he listen? [Acts 87:58-8:3]
Even as a Pharisee, he followed the leadership of the Sadducees in this area.
But look at Paul’s letters later: he defended truth, called out false teachers, and treated straying believers with grace.
Even in grace, people will react strongly and (sometimes trying to be reasonable) negatively. (Remember, the religious leaders think they’re defending good beliefs!)
[Read vv. 39-42]
The leadership felt like they were letting the Apostles off easy with “merely” a beating.
Think of what’s happening in our society today:
If you’ve ever said anything bad (by current standards), you should be cancelled.
If you disagree with the current standards, you’re a [insert religious/sexual identity]-phobe.
If you think there really is an absolute truth, you’re stupid and wrong.
And they think they’re being kind to everyone else, and even to Christians by trying to help them get over their stuffy old ways.
Yet, our society will vilify and mock us, and we’re even seeing increased reports of attacks on churches, Christians, and ministries and Christian-owned businesses. (Nov. 15, 2023, a pastor was shot in the head while street preaching just 100 miles south of here in Glendale.)
But how can we stay joyful in our faithfulness?
Jesus told us in the Beatitudes that we who are merciful and peacemakers are blessed, and in Matthew 5:10-12 that when we are persecuted, reviled, and mocked that we should rejoice!
Why?
Look at their words: they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. They were considered worthy of the same treatment as our God.
Not for being a jerk.
Not for putting people in their place.
Not for strict adherence to a set of rules (though many will claim that’s all it is.)
They rejoiced knowing they are counted faithful like our Lord.
And we do that when we join them in going house to house teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Remember they met in houses and at the Temple.)
Stay faithful, with grace, patience, and squishy-tough skin.
What does it look like for us?
We keep calm when situations aren’t going the way we would like, remembering everyone is trying to get through this life. [And God is in control!]
We teach others God’s truth, even when it hurts, but with gentleness and respect.
[Read 1 Peter 3:13-17]
We’re in an election year: Stick to biblical truth, but don’t get angry with those who disagree!
We expect that people will disagree with us, but we show grace.
And if someone reviles, mocks, or attacks us:
-We develop that squishy-tough skin. Yes, being vulnerable, but we let their attacks slide off of us.
-We remember that this is how they treated our Lord.
-We rejoice that Christ’s faithfulness has moved through us.
[#1: Truth hurts, but we are faithful to God’s truth.]
[#2: Don’t try to hurt, but be honest and reasonable.]
[#3: Expect to hurt, but stay faithful and joyful.]
Our worthiness is found in Christ alone, and His faithfulness. We are counted worthy when we are found in Him and His truth.
It’s easy to feel like we’re right and deserve better, but the only things Christ promised us are that we will have troubles in this world (John 16:33) and that He is always with us (Matthew 28:20), especially in our troubles.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Mark 8:35, ESV
We start out selfish, but Christ came to die and rise again for our forgiveness that we may join in His sacrifice and love others more than ourselves for His sake.
a simple man of God 