PRINCIPLES OF POSTURE IN PRAYER 9: The Weight of Honor

The weight of Honor - The principle of honor is very important to the walk of a believer. We are commanded, as stated in previous teachings, to love our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This means we are to honor them.

Honoring God - Mark 12:33 also tells us that loving or honoring God and our neighbor is more important than any sacrifice. It says, “And to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves are more important than any burnt offering or sacrifice we could ever give.” The Voice

In other words, this Scripture is telling us that loving God as our first priority in everything we do, guarantees that we will partake of the spiritual and earthy blessings of His Kingdom. We do that by spending precious time of intimacy with Him by the reading of the Word, praising and worshiping Him, and by obeying every command that comes out of His mouth. We are also commanded to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But how do we love or honor God and our neighbor? We have stated in the previous posts that one important way is by giving a helping hand whenever possible, be it financial, with resources, with our wisdom, with our prayers, with our good attitudes towards them, and in every way God commands us to.

But there are other ways we need to be honorable to those around us, since honoring is a currency in the Kingdom of God. This means that the measure of honor we give to others is the measure we will receive for ourselves. This too is part of the Law of reciprocity or of sowing and reaping. 1 Samuel 2:30 says,

“Therefore the Eternal God of Israel declares: “I promised that your family would go in and out of My presence forever. But now I surely declare, those who honor Me I will honor, but people who choose to despise Me, I, in turn, will consider contemptible: those who hate Me will not matter to Me. “ The Voice

This Scripture shows that we forfeit access to what we do not honor. The issue of honor holds a great deal of weight in God's eyes. Therefore, some of the ways we demonstrate honor to others, according to Scripture include:

Honoring our father and mother – Ephesians 6:2-3 tells us, ² “Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother—this is the first commandment with a promise—

³ That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.” AMPC

Deuteronomy 5:16 also says, “Honor your father and mother, as I have commanded you. If you do, you will be blessed with long life and all will go well for you as you live on the ground I am giving you.” The Voice

These passages are letting us know that God is a God of order and authority. Authority also means an order and alignment that we need to learn to submit to. God gave us a father and a mother, either biological or a parent figure for us to learn to submit. When we learn to submit to our parents, we are submitting also to God because He established them as our authority figures in our life that represent Him. Dishonoring our parents or father or mother figures opens the way for us to walk in a cursed life because we chose to reject the authority God established in our lives.

I am aware that not everyone knows how to parent or be an authority figure that we would want to submit to, but as stated in other posts, our job is to pray for them because this will ensure that we will be in right standing with God and live a blessed life. Disagreeing with our father and mother or paternal figures in our life does not mean we should be dishonoring to them. For those who are older, this also includes that we take care of them financially and in every way we are able to. Matthew 23:23 tells us to not neglect being merciful, just, and faithful. This command is for every area of our life, including how we honor our parents. It says,

“So woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You hypocrites! You tithe from your luxuries and your spices, giving away a tenth of your mint, your dill, and your cumin. But you have ignored the essentials of the law: justice, mercy, faithfulness. It is practice of the latter that makes sense of the former.” The Voice

By the same token, Ephesians 6:4 also discloses that parents should not be obstacles for their children and irritate them by putting more discipline than love and care in their relationship. In other words, there are times for discipline, but also, there are times in which our duty as parents is to allow the gift of God in them to flow and that they have the freedom to be used of God even in ways we do not understand and for which we need to exercise discernment of their seasons and how God is using them.  To a certain extend our children need freedom to be themselves and not what we think they need to be like. The Scripture says, 

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." NLT

Malachi 4:5 also reveals the importance of allowing the relationship between parents and children to be strengthened in the Lord. For this, the Lord is making available to us His healing touch so that everything the enemy has done to divide the generations may be destroyed. Our job is to pray and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for our families. Otherwise, the enemy could come with a snare from which it would be difficult to come out. This snare may transcend generations if not dealt with promptly and properly. The Scripture says,

“’Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. ⁶ His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.’” NLT

Honoring our spiritual parents – The first thing to address about this is that a spiritual parent is not the same as a mentor. In order to learn to honor them in the proper way, we first need to understand the difference between a mentor and a spiritual father or mother. A mentor is someone that gives us knowledge of how to succeed at a public or career level. But a spiritual parent is one that not only wants to see us succeed in these areas, but will make us uncomfortable as he or she will tell us by the leading of the Holy Spirit the areas where they see weakness in our character and in our walk with God. For this, they can address our growth as children of God, as parents, as spouses, as friends, as children, in our finances, or how we treat our employees and businesses. This is important to them because they see our great potential.

In other words, by his or her teaching of the word and through communion with them, they will bring correction to us and teach us their wisdom that will help us overcome in the areas where they see us weak. By  their wisdom through their testimonies they can share with us how they have overcome the enemy in all areas. 1 Corinthians 4:14-16 says in the Amplified Classic Version,

¹⁴ “I do not write this to shame you, but to warn and counsel you as my beloved children.

¹⁵ After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel).

¹⁶ So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.”

Many do not understand the admonition to honor those whom God has placed in our life as a spiritual parental figure. This is because they go to great length and labor to teach us the way of the Kingdom that will ensure we will succeed in every area by the truth of the Gospel. Therefore, our response should be to honor them by serving them and obey what God has said through them. Even when we start walking a successful life does not mean we start thinking we have become higher than them. They still labor in the spirit for us with their prayers, warfare, and the wisdom God gives to them for us.

For this we should be respectful of their time and not neglect meeting with them and serve them like Elisha did with Elijah. 1 Kings 19:21 says that Elisha, who was working with his oxen, plowing the field, forsook everything and followed Elijah and served him. If God is not asking us to leave everything behind, we need not do that, but He is asking us to spend time with our spiritual parents in the way He specifies which is communion (spending time with them since they are more than a mentor to us and he or she was placed there by God) so we serve them in the way God also specifies to us.

This is important because it is the way of the Kingdom for if we want to be great, we need to serve others in the manner God tells us to. Seeking after greatness starts through our service of those we are called to learn from and be of assistance to them. This is how we truly learn and reach other dimensions in the spirit, not by seeking greatness like the world does. When we do not serve those who God has placed in our lives to teach us the ways of the Kingdom properly and as led by the Spirit of the Lord, we are forfeiting our growth to higher statures and dimensions of power and authority in the spirit and become a target of the enemy to confuse us, derail us, and blind us from the way of the Lord for us which may lead to judgment. ! Corinthians 4:18-21 states,

^18-20 I know there are some among you who are so full of themselves they never listen to anyone, let alone me. They don’t think I’ll ever show up in person. But I’ll be there sooner than you think, God willing, and then we’ll see if they’re full of anything but hot air. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.

²¹ So how should I prepare to come to you? As a severe disciplinarian who makes you toe the mark? Or as a good friend and counselor who wants to share heart-to-heart with you? You decide. MSG

Honoring our spouse – This is an important area to pay attention how we direct our attitudes, our words, and in essence, how we treat our spouse. The Bible is very direct and clear in what is expected husbands towards their wives and the wives towards their husbands. Some of those admonitions involve:

1 Corinthians 11:11 says, “Regardless of how it all began, husbands and wives should recognize they are not independent;” The Voice

Ephesians 5:21-26 explains, ²¹ “being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as [a service] to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church, Himself being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything [respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house].

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives [seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love], just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], ” AMP

Part of this involves not to leaving her with all the weight of caring for the children, the household, and the responsibility of praying for herself and for the children and rearing them in the ways of the Lord. The spiritual environment and strength of their walk with God as a family is primarily the responsibility of the husband and the wife is to be his support in this. This is how the husband honors his wife and children: by taking on that role as spiritual head, not just to provide finances and discipline, but to live a balanced life with spiritual, financial, and care for all members of the household so they benefit from the right alignment of husband and wife.

But if that is not the case, 1 Peter 3:1-2 says, ¹”In the same way, wives, you should patiently accept the authority of your husbands. This is so that even if they don’t obey God’s word, as they observe your pure respectful behavior, they may be persuaded without a word by the way you live.” The Voice

Colossians 3:19 also says, “Husbands: love your wives, and don’t treat them harshly or respond with bitterness toward them.” The Voice

In addition, 1 Peter 3:7 also reveals the importance for husbands to honor their wives and not treat them harshly: so their prayers get answered. It says, “In the same way, husbands, as you live with your wives, understand the situations women face as the weaker vessel. Each of you should respect your wife and value her as an equal heir in the gracious gift of life. Do this so that nothing will get in the way of your prayers.” The Voice

Last but not least, the marriage union through sexual intimacy, should not be neglected between husband and wife as 1 Corinthians 7:3-7 instructs, ³ “Husbands and wives have reciprocal duties. Each husband has the responsibility to meet his wife’s sexual desires, and each wife should do the same for her husband. ⁴ In marriage neither the husband nor the wife should act as if his or her body is private property—your bodies now belong to one another, and together they are whole. ⁵ So do not withhold sex from one another, unless both of you have agreed to devote a certain period of time to prayer. When the agreed time is over, come together again so that Satan will not tempt you when you are short on self-control.” The Voice

Honoring our government leaders – 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 8 says, ¹”So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. ² Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— ³ all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior ⁴ who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth.”

⁸ “So here’s what you tell them; here’s what I want to see: Men, pray wherever you are. Reach your holy hands to heaven—without rage or conflict—completely open.” The Voice

According to this Scripture, we are to first, keep the right attitude towards  those God placed in their governmental positions for God established them there whether we agree with them or not. Whenever we see or hear about any policies or laws that are not right for us or for our fellow citizens, we are to pray for the leaders to walk in the truth and wisdom of God so they can make the right decisions for us and that we will live a peaceful life in our countries, our counties, our cities, and neighborhoods. Slandering and gossiping about them does not help them or gets the job done. It only makes us vessels used of the devil to speak against them and this too is failing to honor them. Doing this also gives the enemy more ammunition to accuse them and deceive them in their lives so they make more mistakes.

Honoring our civil authorities - Romans 13:1-4 explains clearly how we are to deal with our civil authority figures. This incorporates our policemen and firemen, the military, even the meter maids, and other public authority figures. It says,

¹”It is important that all of us submit to the authorities who have charge over us because God establishes all authority in heaven and on the earth. ² Therefore, a person who rebels against authority rebels against the order He established, and people like that can expect to face certain judgment. ³ You see, if you do the right thing, you have nothing to be worried about from the rulers; but if you do what you know is wrong, the rulers will make sure you pay a price. Would you not rather live with a clear conscience than always have to be looking over your shoulder? Then keep doing what you know to be good and right, and they will publicly honor you.

⁴ Look at it this way: The ruler is a servant of God called to serve and benefit you. But he is also a servant of God executing wrath upon those who practice evil. If you do what is wrong, then you’d better be afraid because he wields the power of the sword and doesn’t make empty threats.” The Voice

Honor in the marketplace – Ephesians 6:5-9 discloses for us the right way to conduct ourselves in our places of employment and if we are the business owners, bosses, or supervisors, our attitude towards those under our authority should be to bless them and take care of them so they can thrive in their work environment in the best way we can. It says,           

^5-8 “Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

⁹ Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.” MSG

For more explanation of this, see the other posts in this teaching series.

To God alone be all the glory. ■

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