OPENING SCRIPTURE:

Unless the LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, the builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1 NIV)

God The Architect. The Designer.  The Builder.

First four commandments- look upwards – towards God.

Week 1: God must be first

Week 2: God’s image must not be replaced

Week 3: God’s name must not be misrepresented.

Week 4: Stop. Rest. Remember. (Worship)

Last six commandments- look outwards towards people

Now we turn our attention outwards – Relationship with people.

Week 5: The Power of Honor

Honor begins at home

“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)

#1: Honor is a long game: Starts At Home

Honor is a lifestyle that begins in the home.

The home is the first classroom

Honor your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12 NKJ)

• Honor: to value, respect, and highly esteem.
• Honor does not mean ignoring dysfunction, abuse, or wrongdoing.
• Honor does not mean you compromise the word of word.

If we honor home authority, we will honor His authority

Unless the LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, the builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1 NIV)

The house is the training ground for what happens outside the house.

As we are learning as parents, we are also training our children.

TRAIN UP a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NKJ)

Training is like planting seeds. It will eventually produce a harvest.

• When you learn how to honor, you also learn how to submit to Godly authority.

The only time you do not submit is when any authority at any level is asking you to do or say anything that is sinful and that contradicts the word of God!

“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”

We build a society by starting at home.

#2: Honor is a long Game: A bridge between generations

• Honor is a bridge between generations.
• Wisdom, faith, values, stories, and experiences should be passed from one generation to another.

“And THESE WORDS which I command you today shall be IN YOUR HEART. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NKJ)

• Parents are given the responsibility of intentionally teaching the next generation.

Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation. (Joel 1:3 NKJ)

• God’s blueprint is meant to be transferred.

#3: Honor is a Long Game: Does not require Perfection

God is not looking for perfection. He is looking for obedience and honor.

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 are an adult and you are out of the parent’s home, you don’t have to obey your parents…but you honor them.
• The seed of obedience has now transformed or matured into another seed, honor.

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 NKJ)

• Provoke: To provoke to anger, irritate, exasperate, or stir someone into a state of resentment or bitterness.
• Examples of abuse of authority: Excessive or unreasonable demands; Harsh or humiliating correction; Inconsistent expectations; Constant criticism; Comparing children; Withholding affection.
• Biblical authority is designed to serve, protect, teach, and develop.
• Parents are called to lead, nurture, and teach.

#4: Honor is a Long Game: A legacy that Outlives You

A good man leaves an INHERITANCE to his CHILDREN’S CHILDREN (Proverbs 13:22 NKJ)

• The Inheritance: Values, Faith, Character, Wisdom, Memories.

One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4 NKJ)

• Every generation has a responsibility to tell the story.

CONCLUSION

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