June 26, 2012
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Honoring God
Giving honor toGod
Honor: high respect, esteem, give a place of distinction,speak praise of….
We honor God when we worship Him:
Psalm29:1 A Psalm ofDavid. Give unto the Lord, O youmighty ones, Give unto the Lordglory and strength. 2 Give untothe Lord the glory due to Hisname; Worship the Lord in thebeauty of holiness
Example of Mosesgiving honor to our Father: note some ofthis includes” publishing” His name (I think of the fact that we would considerit an honor if someone wrote our biography—Moses is publishing what he knows tob e God’s biography.)
Here Mosesacknowledges their total dependence on God – it is honoring God when we do thesame.
Also: Moses reminds the people to obey God’s ways– obeying Him honors Him.
Deut 32::1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I willspeak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
2 Mydoctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as thesmall rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:3 Because I will publish the nameof the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways arejudgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.……….7 Remember the days of old, consider theyears of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders,and they will tell thee.8 Whenthe Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated thesons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of thechildren of Israel.9 For theLORD's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, andin the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kepthim as the apple of his eye.11 As aneagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad herwings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:
12 So theLORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.13 He made him ride on the high places ofthe earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him tosuck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;…………{RB note: In 46—47we see the response of obedience expected by God from His people}……………………….........46 And he said unto them, Set your heartsunto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall commandyour children to observe to do, all the words of this law.47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because itis your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land,whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
The Psalmist in145 honors God:Ps 145:1 Iwill extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2 Every day will I bless thee; and I willpraise thy name for ever and ever.
3 Great isthe LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thymighty acts.5 I will speak ofthe glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 Andmen shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7 Theyshall abundantly utter thememory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8 The LORD is gracious, and full ofcompassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9 TheLORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10 All thy works shall praise thee, OLORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11 They shall speak of the glory of thykingdom, and talk of thy power;12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the gloriousmajesty of his kingdom.13 Thy kingdomis an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout allgenerations.14 TheLORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; andthou givest them their meat in due season.16 Thouopenest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, andholy in all his works.18 TheLORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him intruth.19 He will fulfil the desireof them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20 The LORD preserveth all them that lovehim: but all the wicked will he destroy.21 My mouth shall speak the praise ofthe LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
As we read theWord , we will see many saints giving glory to the Lord! We can learn some more praise and worshipvocabulary from reading their responses to our Father.
Honor Him as beingthe Creator
Heb 1: 10 And,Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and theheavens are the works of thine hands:
He wants Honor -- He will reject those who dishonor Him andturn to a people who will honor Him (in this passage an example of dishonoringGod is giving Him shoddy sacrifices):
Malachi 1:6 "Ason honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am theFather, Where is My honor?And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despiseMy name. Yet you say, 'In what way havewe despised Your name?' 7 "You offer defiledfood on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'Thetable of the Lord iscontemptible.' 8 And when you offer the blindas a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Isit not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?Would he accept you favorably?" Says the Lordof hosts. 9 "But now entreat God's favor, That He may begracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will Heaccept you favorably?" Says the Lordof hosts. 10 "Who is there even among you who wouldshut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? Ihave no pleasure in you," Says the Lordof hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 11 Forfrom the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall begreat among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to Myname, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,"Says the Lord of hosts. 12 "Butyou profane it, In that you say, 'The table of the Lord is defiled; And its fruit, its food, iscontemptible.' 13 You also say, 'Oh, what aweariness!' And you sneer at it," Says the Lordof hosts. "And you bring thestolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I acceptthis from your hand?" Says the Lord.14 "But cursed be thedeceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to theLord what is blemished--For I am a great King," Says the Lordof hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations. {Godwill NOT put up with dishonor!! RB)
We honor Him when we pay tithes andofferings – even the resulting blessings on us when we are obedient will showforth to all nations that our Father istaking care of us:
Mal 3: 7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone awayfrom My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I willreturn to you," Says the Lordof hosts. "But you said, 'In what way shall we return?' 8 "Will aman rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbedYou?' In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Eventhis whole nation. 10 Bringall the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And tryMe now in this," Says the Lordof hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour outfor you such blessing That there will not be room enough toreceive it. 11 "AndI will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy thefruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in thefield," Says the Lord ofhosts; 12 "Andall nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,"Says the Lord of hosts.
The Lord’s prayercontains points that honor God: Matt6:
His name is holy,sacred, pure – to be revered.
9 After this manner therefore prayye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name
He is the King whosewill should preempt that of all others
.10 Thykingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
We are utterlydependent on Him .
.11 Give us this day our daily bread.
He has the power toforgive us.
12 Andforgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
He has power over allthe wiles of the enemy.
.13 And leadus not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
He, the King, has allpower and glory for ever.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
He provides as aFather to us—we must trust this and b egrateful and not dishonor Him with our worryingwhether or not He will take care of us
Matt 6: 25 ThereforeI say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what yeshall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life morethan meat, and the body than raiment?26 Beholdthe fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather intobarns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better thanthey?27 Which of you by takingthought can add one cubit unto his stature?28 Andwhy take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how theygrow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29 Andyet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like oneof these.30 Wherefore, if God soclothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into theoven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Thereforetake no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do theGentiles seek
for your heavenly Father knoweth that yehave need of all these things.Matt 7:7 Ask,and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall beopened unto you:8 For every one thatasketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh itshall be opened.9 Or what man is there ofyou, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him aserpent?11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto yourchildren, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good thingsto them that ask him?
Luke 11: 13 Ifye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how muchmore shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
There should benothing that we believe our Father cannot do! Jer 32: 27 Behold, Iam the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
God is holy andhonoring this fact means we forsake all that is unholy – this honors Him:
2 Cor 6: 16 Andwhat agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of theliving God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and Iwill be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from amongthem, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; andI will receive you,18 And will be aFather unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LordAlmighty.
One of the biggest honors we can giveto a parent is to say, “I want to be just like you” :
We as His children we must desire and strive to imitate Him!
Eph 5:11 Beye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Luke 6: 35 Butlove ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and yourreward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he iskind unto the unthankful and to the evil.36 Beye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Phil 2: 15 Thatye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midstof a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
We honor Him by doing good works infront of others:
Matt 5:16 Letyour light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorifyyour Father which is in heaven.
Faith honorsGod…using diligence to seek Him blesses HIm
Heb 11:6 Butwithout faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God mustbelieve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We honor Him byrelating well to others
Heb 13: 16 Butto do good and to communicate (fellowship;=); forget not: for with suchsacrifices God is well pleased.
We honor Him whenwe worship Him in Spirit and in truth --- by communing with HIS life in us –not with man’s wisdom and learning:
John 4: 23 Butthe hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Fatherin spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship himmust worship him in spirit and in truth.
We honor theFather by honoring the Son:
John 5: 23 Thatall men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He thathonoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
John 6: 32 37 All that the Father giveth me shallcome to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mineown will, but the will of him that sent me.39 Andthis is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given meI should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40 Andthis is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, andbelieveth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at thelast day.
John 8: 42 Jesussaid unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceededforth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
John 10: 27 Mysheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 And I give unto them eternal life; andthey shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, isgreater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.30 Iand my Father are one.
John 12: 26 Ifany man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also myservant be: if any man serve me, himwill my Father honour.
John 14: 20 Atthat day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeththem, he it is that loveth me: and hethat loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and willmanifest myself to him.
John 14: 23 Jesusanswered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and myFather will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.24 He that loveth me not keepeth not mysayings: and the word which ye hear isnot mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Abiding in ‘Christand bearing the fruit of the Spirit honors the Father
John 15: 1 Iam the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and everybranch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3 Now ye are clean through the word which Ihave spoken unto you.
4 Abide inme, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide inthe vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abidethin me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye cando nothing.6 If a man abide not inme, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, andcast them into the fire, and they are burned.7 Ifye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and itshall be done unto you.8 Hereinis my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
When we honor and worship Him, we must also let Him know we are grateful forHis LOVE for us and the fact He has committed to be our loving, faithful Fatherforever and ever!
Our Father LOVESus—we should take serious note of that fact and we should respond withgratitude and praise . We honor Him when we say “Godis love” – we are praising His character when we do that.
I Jn 3: 1 Behold, what manner oflove the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons ofGod: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.2 Beloved, now are we the sons ofGod, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shallappear, we shall be like him; for weshall see him as he is.
Our Father will remain faithful to usforever!
God is our Daddywho has adopted us and will give us aninheritance because we ARE His sons and daughters -- Rom 8: 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are thesons of God.15 For ye havenot received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,Father. 16 The Spirititself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 Andif children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so bethat we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Matt 25: 34 Then shall the King say unto them onhis right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared foryou from the foundation of the world:
Rev 21: 3 AndI heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God iswith men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. GodHimself will be with them and be their God. 4 AndGod will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things havepassed away." 5 Then He who sat on the thronesaid, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me,"Write, for these words are true and faithful."
