He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm ~ Psalms 105:14-15.
Introduction
The new creation man is a crowned honourable! He is crowned with glory and honor (Psalms 8:5). Indeed, all true saints of God carry the spiritual substance of honour, but in varying measures (Psalms 149:9).
The world has long known that honour is a quintessential part of life. When you take honour away from any man, his life is done. Success without honor is like an unseasoned dish; it won't taste good even if it looks adorable. Honour is a very important quality of success.
Most importantly, the Bible also teaches that honour is living the virtues, and it commands us to trade with it in our everyday affairs of life (Exodus 20:12; Leviticus 19:32; Romans 13:1-7). It goes further to instruct us never to despise honour, equating anyone that does so to a dying beast (Psalms 49:20).
What Is Honour?
Honour can mean completely different things to different people, depending on who you are and where you’re looking at. Honour is an elusive word, and it depends on “who” is viewing “what”.
Some people consider that being a noble philanthropist, a generous giver, or a brave soldier is very honourable. Some others opine that being a gospel missionary, because of the deep selflessness involved, is the most honourable adventure in life.
While those instances are uniquely different, all have one thing in common: the actions involved are incident on a moral conviction to do what is considered right and necessary.
Honour is an assumed appearance of nobility, dignity of mien, and a certain substance of reverence, admiration, regard, exaltation and distinction (1Kings 3:13). It is a privileged rank that promotes the reputation or good name with which a person is known.
Succinctly, to honour means to respect or treat someone with awe, esteem and submission, manifesting the highest regard or most exalted thoughts, in words and actions.
The man honoured is the one whose “face” is lifted up for notice and acceptance (2Kings 5:1; Job 22:8). Those who enjoy honour are dignified and are usually raised to distinction, which they may or may not even merit.
Generally, honour comes with authority and, as such, social capital and spiritual weights are automatically added to “honored people”, as was the case with Mordecai (Esther 6:1-10). They are usually treated with courtesy and due respect, even in the ordinary everyday intercourse of life.
The weight of honour that is upon your life will also determine the value and gifts you will attract. In fact, what you own, which is a function of what you have attracted, is determined by the weight of honour upon your life.
Above all, your spiritual authority and the level of obedience you can command in the spiritual realm are largely determined by the weight of spiritual honour that rests upon you (2Corinthians 10:4-6).
Understanding and Accessing The Garb of Honour
Honour is a piece of spiritual apparel that covers the entire personality (Psalms 104:1-2). Aaron the High Priest had one in those days. For as long as he was clad with it, no evil touched him, but immediately the garb was removed from him, he died there on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:23-29).
The words and the presence of “honourable personalities” are generally weighty (Genesis 34:19; 1Samuel 9:6). However, the divine cloak of honour varies in weights from one individual to another (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Now, the abundant substance of honour primarily comes from God’s gracious imputations (Numbers 27:18-20; 1Chronicles 16:26-27; 29:12). Honour is ever copious in His presence (Psalms 96:6).
By the hand of Moses, God honoured Joshua to an eminent degree through his separation and presentation as a leader in Israel (Number 27:18-23). This promoted the spiritual endowment requisite for the governmental office to which he was called.
God had said to Joshua: “This day will I begin to magnify thee” (Joshua 3:7). He just needed the public honour to make him respectable among the people, for the discharge of his duties.
It is particularly enthusing to note that there’s a subsisting divine promise to all God’s covenant people: “I will glorify the house of my glory” (Isaiah 60:7). More so that the Lord’s imputations are ever sure to provoke victory, riches and honour (2Chronicles 17:5; 32:27).
Secondly, honour can be accessed by labouring with diligence and prudence to do good to people everywhere, including the churches of Christ wherein we do various gospel works (1Timothy 5:17).
Honour is earned through deeds and reputation. No person was ever honoured for what he received; honour has always been the reward for what people gave or did for others. Those who serve and do good to others can never lose their honour (Esther 6:3).
It was a peculiar honour for Aaron, and his sons, to be separated unto the office of the high priest (Hebrews 5:4). Great respect was shown them: but their principal honour lay in the work they were called to perform in their services to God’s kingdom.
Very importantly, a passionate spiritual walk with God always provokes supernatural honour (Psalm 26:8). This may call for a lifestyle of aloneness with God in prayers, righteousness, humility and holy awe (Psalms 91:15; Proverbs 15:33; 21:21; 29:23). But, we cannot do less!
Walking in wisdom generally provokes immeasurable honour (Proverbs 4:7-8; 8:18; Proverbs 25:2). Developing your gifts and charismatic pull to attract friends, and to make christian disciples to the glory of God, will bring much honour any day (Proverbs 14:28; Daniel 2:6).
Now, we are charged to honour everyone (1Peter 2:17; Romans 12:10). And, above all, we are commanded to honour God (Proverbs 3:9). He is the Most Highly Valued Personality in our lives — our Creator, Owner, Ruler, Savior and Sustainer.
Honouring God means giving Him genuine worship, reverence, submission and adoration (John 5:23). It also means to love Him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength (Mark 12:29-30). And, to love Him is to obey and serve Him (John 12:26; 14:21). That way, we will be able to attract more of His honour (1Samuel 2:30).
On a final note, honour is a very subjective right. It is single and indivisible from responsibility, and it can be lost. Hence, we must always ensure, through our lifestyle of pure faith and patience, that we’re never bereft of honour (2Timothy 2:21). Anyone that loses honour can only live at the mercy of virulent evils.
Beloved brethren, keep in mind that divine honour without measure was what our Lord Jesus Christ enjoyed in His earthly walk, and it is what His Name is still attracting till today. No one could kill Jesus; He rather laid down His life for us, freely.
This honour is made available to all believers in Christ Jesus. It is certainly heavy, eternal and supernaturally potent against sin, Satan, diseases, poverty, demonic assaults and premature death (Psalms 149:5-9). Yes, we’re too honoured to be overlooked, and too weighty for any devil to handle (Job 28:7-23).
By reason of this honour, throughout the remaining part of this year, and henceforth, your enemies shall run when no one is pursuing them. The gatekeepers shall favour you with abundance, and the holy watchers shall keep you safe by the power of the Most High God. You won’t miss it, in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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