The Key that Unlocks Heaven on Earth – #ChurchDNA 6

[Translation: [French | Italian | Spanish]

Today’s post is from Pastor Stephen Quackenbush as the continuation of the DNA series. We’ll be discussing an important topic that has the power to bring heaven to earth.

The key is: honour.

When you live with complete honour of the presence of God you begin to hear His voice and allow Him to transforms your life.

Read this with an expectant heart.

What is honour?

The word Honour means admiration, praise and esteem.

Honour originates in our hearts. It refers to the significance we personally place on someone. When we honour God, we demonstrate the high regard we have for Him. However, God desires an honour that comes from the bottom of our hearts.

“The Lord says, ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me’” (Isaiah 29:13). We bring Him the highest honour when we seek the Lord in everything we do, delight in Him, and make choices that reflect the place He has in our hearts.

What honour is not:

Many mistakenly think that honour is respect. Respect is earned, it is mine to give to those who have earned it from me. Honour on the other hand is not earned. We are commanded to honour our fathers and mothers (Deuteronomy 5:16; Mark 7:10), the elderly (Leviticus 19:32), and those who rule over us (1 Peter 2:17).

What are the things that one ought to do to honour God?

#1. Honouring God in others

When we honour men and women of God whom God placed in our lives, we express our honour toward God. The Bible tells us in 2 Kings 2:1-14 that Elisha recognized the gift that was bestowed by the Lord on Prophet Elijah. Elisha humbly served and honoured the man of God Elijah because He recognized the hand of God on his life. Because of this genuine honour, Elijah’s gift of prophesy was rubbed off on Elisha’s life as well.

#2. Honouring God’s Word 

The Bible says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). The Lord Himself is the Word of God. His eyes are on those that honour His Word, “this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The Lord will love you when you honour His Word (John 14:21-23).

Honouring His Word leads you into your destiny.

God knows how to draw those who honour His Word to where they’re supposed to be.  It is God’s way to put honour upon those who give honour to Him first. The Bible tell us the story of a poor widow woman in 1 Kings 17:8-16: she honoured the prophet Elijah as her spiritual leader and honoured the instructions of the Lord; hence the Lord honoured her.

#3. Honouring His presence 

“…for those who honour me I will honour.” (1 Samuel 2:30)

We see in the life of Joshua that He loved and honoured the presence of God; He was known as the one that lingered a little longer in His presence. God honoured Joshua because Joshua honoured His servant Moses. Numbers 27:18 tells us that Joshua was chosen by God to shepherd the Israelites.

Honour comes from the Father to the Sons.

God honoured us, His children/creation, by sending His only begotten Son to die for us. By sending Jesus to die for us He released the treasures of heaven on Earth.

The only way we partake in the heavenly treasures on Earth is when the Love of Christ lives in our hearts. The heart which has treasures of heaven honours God by glorifying Him for He is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving.

#4. Honouring the cross

As believers we know the cross, and we know Jesus. We’re saved.

So how do we honour the cross?

By honouring everything that Jesus said about us, about us towards our leaders, about us towards Him. Pastor Russel Evans (Founder of Planet Shakers) once said that faith is the currency of heaven and honour of the cross is what unlocks limitless funds. Therefore honour unlocks heaven!

Spend a few minutes in personal reflection with God: In what situations did I fail to show honour to God? Do I always express my love for Him love for him showing honour to those in authority?

Ask God to help you develop the practice of showing honour where honour is due.

I hope you have been blessed with this message. If so, don’t forget to share this with your friends!