Today's Sermon Notes:

Positioned for Honor

The Celebration & Acceleration of Honor IV

The Text

Proverbs 21:21 (ESV) ²¹  Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Introduction

Render honor to whom honor is due.

Romans 13:7 (NASB 95) ⁷Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

As believers, we are commanded to give honor to whom honor is due; even those whose behavior did not deserve honor. Yet it is also human nature to dishonor those who behave dishonorably. Believers should not put a stumbling block in the way of those who wish to obey God’s commandment to give honor to whom honor is due.

Matthew 18:6 (YLT)  and whoever may cause to stumble one of those little ones who are believing in me, it is better for him that a weighty millstone may be hanged upon his neck, and he may be sunk in the depth of the sea.

1 Corinthians 10:32 (NIV)  Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God--

Consequently, we should not behave in a manner that tempts them not to give that due honor. Parents should not behave in a manner that tempts their children to dishonor them.

Ephesians 6:4 (AMP)  Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.

Pastor should not behave in manner that tempts their members to dishonor them.

Hebrews 13:17-18 (ESV) 
^{Heb 13:17 (ESV)}  Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
^{Heb 13:18 (ESV)}  Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Husbands and wives should not behave in a manner that tempts their spouse to dishonor them. Let us behave honorably.   

The Lesson

Those who give honor receive honor.

• Gracious conduct and a humble attitude increase honor.

If you dishonor those upon whom God has bestowed honor, you will hinder the blessings of God upon your life. If you fear God, you will honor others as He instructs us. If we are too proud to honor others, we will not receive lasting honor.

Proverbs 15:33 (ESV) ³³  The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Romans 12:10 (KJV)  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Proverbs 11:16 (ESV) ¹⁶  A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches.

Proverbs 18:12 (ESV) ¹²  Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 22:4 (ESV) ⁴  The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.

Proverbs 29:23 (ESV) ²³  One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

• God bestows honor upon those behave wisely and righteously.

1. Wise conduct increases honor.

Proverbs 13:18 (ESV) ¹⁸  Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

Proverbs 3:13 (ESV) 
¹³  Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
Proverbs 3:16 (ESV) 
¹⁶  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Proverbs 3:35 (ESV) ³⁵  The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

Proverbs 8:12 (ESV) 
¹²  “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
Proverbs 8:18 (ESV) 
¹⁸  Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

14. Foolish behavior can squander the honor God and others have bestowed upon. If you act a fool, don’t blame others when you don’t get respect. It’s human nature to dishonor fools.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV) ¹  Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 (NLT2) ¹  As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

14. If you sow honor, you will receive honor. Don’t spoil it by foolishness behavior.

Proverbs 26:1 (ESV) ¹  Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

Proverbs 26:8 (ESV) ⁸  Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.

14. Honoring a fool can backfire and hit you in the face. Don’t make people regret that they vouched for you.   
1. Righteous conduct increases honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (ESV) ²¹  Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 5:3-4 (ESV) 
³  For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, ⁴  but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Proverbs 5:8-9 (ESV) 
⁸  Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
⁹  lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,

Romans 13:13-14 (ISV) ^{Ro 13:13 (ISV)}  We should live honorably, as people who live in the light of day. No wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, or jealousy!
^{Ro 13:14 (ISV)}  Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop obeying your flesh and its desires.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (NLT2) ^{1Th 4:3 (NLT2)}  God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
^{1Th 4:4 (NLT2)}  Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

Conclusion

If you want God to accelerate and elevate you; walk in humility and give honor to whom honor is due. Honor your God, your parents, your spouse, your pastor, your government, God’s people, and every human being. And most of a, live an honorable life.

Lastly, if you want to make it to heaven, you must honor Jesus Christ. Honor Him as Lord and Savior and He will accelerate and elevate your life for all; eternity. And, if you have allowed sin, Satan or silly mistakes to rob you of honor and bring to shame, God can restore it you only repent. We serve a God of another chance.

Isaiah 54:4–5 (ESV)
 ⁴“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
⁵For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.