“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12 NKJ)

Honor is very much like a seed. Planted in the hearts of men for relationships: in the home, in the community, in the country, in our relationship with God.

Honor is a long game strategy: Taking the necessary steps, now, for long-term success later.

“If you build a society around children who would honor parents, the society would long survive. If a society does not honor parents that society is doomed for self-destruction” – Dennis Prager

• The principle of honor is an important building block for our home, our community, our country, our world, and our civilization.
• Honor is not lip service, but it is about relationships.

And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. (Matthew 15:6-7 NLT)
• Honor is a heart issue.

POINT #1: HONOR PRODUCES FAITH

Honor produces faith. Dishonor produces unbelief.

They could not enter in because of unbelief. (Hebrews 3:19 NKJ)

• Their unbelief kept them away from the Promised Land.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:5-8 NLT)

• The Roman Officer understood that he was in the presence of someone who is above all authority.

I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” (Matthew 8:9 NLT)

• The Roman Officer made the link between authority and honor.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! (Matthew 8:10 NLT)

• Jesus made the connection: honor, authority and faith.

POINT #2: HONOR PRODUCES BLESSINGS

Children, OBEY your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “HONOR your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJ)

• As children you obey your parents as long as you are in your parents’ home, when you grow up and have your own home, you honor them.
• The principle of honor: Parental authority, Civil Authority (policeman, judge, governor, all the way to the President), Social Authority (A boss, a coach, a teacher), Church Authority (Any position of church leadership)
• The only time you do not submit is when any authority at any level ask you to do or say anything that is sinful and that contradicts the word of God!

POINT #3: HONOR PRODUCES DESTINY

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16 NKJ)

• The land here is not heaven. The land here is home, community, country.
• When honor is displayed at home, destiny is released wherever God has called you!

CONCLUSION:
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?