INTRO: Football practice was over, and Denny was sore from head to toe. Slowly he climbed the graffiti-laden stairway of the aging apartment building.
Suddenly, his mother’s chilling screams pierced the cold, still air. He had heard the sound many times before. Still, a sickening knot formed in Denny’s stomach. Denny had tried for years, without success, to quell his father’s drunken fits of anger and abuse. Today would be different.
Something snapped inside him. With adrenaline pumping, Denny stormed through the apartment door and tore his dad away from his mother. Hardened by years of football training, he hammered his dad with two quick punches. Then, empowered by years of burning memories, he lifted his father from the floor and threw him through their second-story window.
Amazingly, his father sustained only minor injuries in the fall. But memories of what he’d done haunted Denny through two marriages and a string of friendships shattered by a fiery temper. Alcoholism, something he swore would never destroy his life as it had his father’s, slowly ate away at him as well. Little did Denny realize that if he had any chance at all for a worthwhile life, it would come by learning to honor his dad.
Miraculously, even Denny discovered the freedom to be found in honoring his dad. After six years Denny finally consented to attend church with an old high school team-mate and placed his faith in Jesus Christ. Soon he met and married a wonderful Christian widow. Prompted by his wife and several Christian friends, Denny placed three phone calls to his dad over the course of seven years. Each call began with, “Dad, I love you,” only to be abruptly cut off with a prompt “click” on the other end. Finally, on the fourth attempt, Denny was able to convince his father to listen. In the ensuing moments, he explained how much his life had changed, and how he could forgive and honor his dad now because of all he had been forgiven.
Several months passed. One day his mother called him at the office with the shocking news that his father was near death. Before he could leave for the airport, his mother called again to report that his dad had disappeared. His father had checked into an alcoholic rehabilitation clinic in order to be able to talk with Denny about spiritual things, sober, before he died.
Denny did see his father again, and had the incredible privilege of leading him to the Lord. Several months later, his dad died. Denny waits with great anticipation to see him again, eager to pick up where they left off.
Having found the freedom in giving the gift of honor, Denny now moves through life unencumbered by the chains of hate that once paralyzed him. By choosing to bestow honor, even when it wasn’t deserved, he liberated himself and brought his dad to Christ. For Denny, and for many others, the gift of honor is the gift of life. (Gary Smalley)
This morning I am continuing the series on honor but let me review for those who have missed.
Review:
-Honor means to put value to something, it’s precious, weighty, to respect.
-Dishonor – treat as common, ordinary, disrespect, no value.
: When we honor someone, honor will go before us as a guide. (Romans 12:10)
: We are to outdo one another in showing honor.
-Literally to take the lead, we are to show others how to do it.
: Honor is something you give and not take. (Matthew 23:6)
: We also learned that we can move from a vessel of dishonor to a vessel of honor by cleansing (separating) ourselves. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
: The author of Hebrews (probably the apostle Paul) asked the saints to pray that they would continue to have a desire to honor others. Me first is a tough opponent.
: We need to realize judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17). God is going to make a decision for or against based on an investigation.
TITLE: Honoring Others – Part 3
TEXT: Romans 13:1-2
TS: Sometimes when we think about the concept of honor it seems kind of nebulous so I am going to see what it looks like when dealing with authorities. After all we all have to deal with authorities.
-Someone said if you need God you need authorities. I would say if you have God you will have authorities.
I. Basic understanding of authorities. I would put authorities into 3 basic categories.
A. Types of authorities.
1. Civil authorities – government leaders, police, teachers, bosses, etc. (2 Peter 2:13)
2. Family authority – children obeying parents, wives submitting to husbands. (Ephesians 6)
3. Church authority – bishop, elders, overseer, pastors, etc. (Hebrews 13:17)
B. Text teaches submission to authorities.
1. Notice it says everyone – that means all, everyone is to submit.
-During the first century Roman rule, the leaders weren’t the nicest people. They were pretty vicious.
a. Today in America, we submit only if we agree or if we respect the person (that’s not a kingdom view).
-John Bevere: “We are a people who are trying to understand kingdom principles with a democratic mind.” Therefore if we don’t agree or don’t respect the person I don’t have to obey. That is a worldly view.
Example. Johnny comes home from school and tells you he got into trouble because he didn’t obey his teacher. You ask why and he tells you because she snapped at me, or she was raising her voice. You respond that’s ok honey you did the right thing. I’ll give that mean teacher a call.
-You do that and you’re hindering the kingdom of God in his life.
2. Why, because God has established every authority.
-This does not mean that he is responsible for the sins of tyrants, but only that the authority to rule comes originally from God.
3. There is a punishment when you disobey God’s authority (listen English Standard Version) v. 2, “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.”
-Be careful you don’t stand against what God is trying to do. God is the one who sees the big picture and knows the plans of the future.
a. Side note: I understand there are times when you should not obey authorities because it goes against God’s law.
Example. During the time of Moses, when a decree came down to kill all the male babies. The Egyptians were afraid the Jews would become too numerous and then turn on them. So the leader of Egypt told the Jewish midwives to kill the babies if they were boys but the midwives feared God and didn’t do what they were told. As a result the Lord blessed the midwives.
-They didn’t go against God’s law (murder).
b. Far too often we disobey an authority or don’t listen to them.
List reasons: Because they didn’t ask right, they had a frown on their face, I got a weird vibe from them, I don’t respect them, I don’t like them, I don’t agree with their decision, they weren’t nice to me, they’re not a Christian, I can’t receive from someone like them.
-Realize these are excuses that will not count and as a result judgment will come from God.
Point: The kingdom of God is not a democracy.
C. You want to know how you honor others – take a look at how you do with authorities.
1. If we can get into our spirits this truth how we honor authorities is an indication how we will honor God.
-We can’t stand on judgment day and say the reason I didn’t obey this authority is because they weren’t a Christian or they were mean, that excuse will not work.
Point: We are to submit to good leaders or harsh leaders. Why, because they are appointed by God.
Example. You look at the great people of the Bible and how they responded to bad (harsh) leaders in the Bible.
-David and King Saul who was always trying to kill him.
-Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar.
-The apostles and Caesar or other kings (none of them had a democratic viewpoint).
Thought: The way they treat us should not give us an excuse not to obey them (honor them).
2. Let me look at this from a child’s view. If I’m a Christian and I’m actively seeking to do God’s will and advance his kingdom and I find myself in a difficult situation with an authority and I’m being mistreated I believe my father is going to come and take care of this matter.
-The key it’s in his timing and not mine. My job is to do what he has told me (obey, honor authorities) and when the test is over the grades will be passed out.
TS: You might be wondering when is this going to end.
D. Let me answer that by one of our Lord’s stories. Luke 17:7-10. [Read]
1. Setting. Disciples struggling with their faith, they want to have the Lord increase it.
-Tells them this story.
a. Servant working hard in the field, tending sheep, hard day of work. After this the servant is to prepare a meal for the master.
-Listen to these words. “Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink.”
b. The reason this is hard for the American mind to grab hold of is -
i. I have trouble in realizing the master’s needs are more important than mine.
ii. I see myself more in the role of the master rather than the servant.
-Or I see myself as a servant with rights, in reality the truth be known I’m more concerned about my rights than the master’s needs.
-The truth is God’s needs are more important than my rights.
2. When did the servant get to eat?
-After his duties were done.
Point: When will this hardship be over with this harsh authority? When the job is done, when you’ve completed the task, when you’ve finished.
3. The Bible is littered with people who could not finish, maybe they started great but they couldn’t finish.
Example. King Saul, a man anointed by God to lead a nation, was humble, honored others, at the end was getting council from a witch filled with pride putting his needs above others.
Conclusion
Authorities will show you if you truly can honor the way God wants you to honor.
-Remember the test (struggle) is over when you have finished or completed the task.
