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Honor Begins With Surrender

One of the most misunderstood words in the modern Church is the word honor.


When many people hear the word honor, they think of respect, good manners, or simply being polite. While honor includes those things, biblical honor goes much deeper.


Honor is not merely what we say with our mouths.


Honor is revealed by what we surrender with our lives.


The truth is that honoring God begins long before we honor others. It begins with a heart that is willing to lay down its own desires and place God in His rightful position as Lord.


And that is where many believers struggle today.


What Does Honor Actually Mean?


The biblical idea of honor carries the meaning of giving weight, value, worth, and importance to something.


To honor God means we recognize His value above every other voice, desire, opinion, or pursuit in our lives.


When we honor something, we make room for it.


We listen to it.


We submit to it.


We prioritize it.


This is why Jesus said:


"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30 NKJV)

Notice Jesus did not say God should have part of our hearts.


He said all.


Honor is demonstrated by what receives the highest place in our lives.


The Problem With Modern Culture


Western culture teaches us something very different.


From childhood we are told:


  • Follow your heart.

  • Chase your dreams.

  • Do what makes you happy.

  • Put yourself first.

  • Live your truth.


The world tells us that fulfillment comes through self-promotion.


The Kingdom teaches that fulfillment comes through surrender.


These two worldviews are constantly at war with one another.


Jesus said:


"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23 NKJV)

Notice that before Jesus says "follow Me," He says "deny yourself."


Why?


Because self sits on a throne that belongs to God.


Honor begins when we step off the throne and allow God to sit where He belongs.


Surrender Is the Foundation of Honor


Many believers want to honor God, but they try to do it without surrender.


They attend church.


They sing worship songs.


They read Scripture.


They serve in ministry.


Yet if we are unwilling to surrender our opinions, desires, ambitions, offenses, fears, and pride, then we are only honoring God with our lips while resisting Him with our hearts.


Jesus warned about this very thing:


"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." (Matthew 15:8 NKJV)

God has never been interested in outward appearances alone.


He is after our hearts.


Honor is not proven by what we say in church.


Honor is proven by how quickly we obey when God speaks.


Jesus: The Perfect Example of Honor


No one demonstrated honor more perfectly than Jesus.


Although He was God in the flesh, He continually submitted Himself to the Father.


Jesus said:


"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38 NKJV)

Think about that.


If anyone had the right to insist on His own way, it was Jesus.


Yet He continually chose surrender.


Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, facing the cross, Jesus prayed:


"Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42 NKJV)

That is honor.


Honor is not merely praising God when things are easy.


Honor is choosing His will when our flesh wants something different.


Why Honor Matters


Throughout Scripture, honor opens the door for God's work in our lives.


Honor creates an atmosphere where faith can grow.


Honor positions our hearts to receive correction.


Honor allows us to walk in humility.


Honor protects us from pride.


Many people want God's power without honoring His authority.


But God's Kingdom does not operate that way.


The centurion understood this when he approached Jesus for healing.


He recognized authority and honor.


Jesus marveled at his faith because the centurion understood something many people miss:

authority and honor are connected.


When we honor God, we trust Him enough to obey Him even when we do not fully understand what He is doing.


What Does Surrender Look Like Today?


Surrender is not merely a one-time prayer.


It is a daily decision.


It looks like:


  • Forgiving when your flesh wants revenge.

  • Giving when your flesh wants to keep.

  • Serving when your flesh wants recognition.

  • Loving when your flesh wants distance.

  • Trusting when your flesh wants control.

  • Obeying when your flesh wants comfort.


Every day we face opportunities to either honor ourselves or honor God.


Every day we choose which voice will sit on the throne.


The Invitation


The good news is that God is not asking for surrender because He wants to take something from us.


He asks for surrender because He wants to give us something greater.


Many believers fear surrender because they think they will lose freedom.


In reality, surrender is where freedom begins.


The more we cling to ourselves, the more bound we become.


The more we surrender to Christ, the more we discover who we were created to be.


Honor starts when we recognize God's worth.


Honor grows when we surrender our will.


Honor flourishes when we walk in obedience.


And honor transforms us because every act of surrender brings us closer to the One who is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.


As believers, perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is not, "Do I respect God?"

But rather:


"Have I truly surrendered to Him?"


Because honor is not simply what we say about God.


Honor is what we allow God to rule over.



Pastor Scott




 
 
 

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