Father's Honor (Dated 02/06/2013)

 Father’s honor

Introduction:

“If any man serve me,let him follow me;and where I am ,there shall also my servant be;if any man serve me,him will my father honor.”

John 12:26

                Who does god honor? According to this verse, he honors them that serve him. In this world, we get honor in form of incentives and rewards; likewise our heavenly father wants to honor us. Today, we should be expecting god’s honor to be bestowed upon us. But before expecting god’s honor, we have to be prepared and worthy enough to receive it. Everybody wants to be blessed and honored but there is always a condition levied. This passage reveals the conditions to receive god’s honor. Our God is a God who never forgets each and every single thing that we did to him.

                The verse clearly says that we have to follow him to get his honor. Therefore we are going to see how we should follow him and what are the spiritual aspects connected to the experience of following him.

I.COURAGEOUS

”And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, certain man said unto him, lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. “ “And Jesus said unto him, foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nest; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head “

Luke 9:57

                When we read the above passage, we might not comprehend the hidden meaning. We see Jesus did not react much when he hears the statement of a certain man .This means following Jesus is not a child’s play. Everybody cannot follow Jesus. Only to those who are called by his name and chosen according to his purpose.

“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men , being the first fruits unto god and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 14:4

 The verse clearly depicts the eligible persons to follow Jesus Christ.

”And he said unto him, Lord , I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.”

Luke 22:33

 We see Peter reveals his hunger to follow Jesus. His statement is too bold and  courageous in nature .Today our experience of following Jesus needs to be courageous like unto Peter. Whatever comes in our way, we should never backslide or diverge. Instead, we should rise above with a brave heart. We should pray to god to give us the courage to follow him amidst of all the trial and tribulations in life.

II.SUBMISSION

”Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love ,as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to god for a sweet-smelling favor.”

Ephesians 5:1-2

                Here Paul instructs us, like unto a father by calling us Dear children. These two verses are the continuation of the fourth chapter of Ephesians. Paul tells us what we ought to do? And what ought not to? Paul wants us to have a perfect submission in god’s hands. In this sinful earth, we Christians have to be highly mannered and live a life of Submission. We can cleanse and save ourselves from this futile world, only if we submit ourselves to God. We should follow god with the factor of submission present in us. This submission rescues us from all sinful situations and also changes all the demonic traps devised against us. It makes us to follow Jesus truly and faithfully. Therefore, we should submit ourselves to God to follow him perfectly.

III.SACRIFICE

“And when he called the people unto him with his disciples also , he said undo them, whomsoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, follow me.”

Mark 8:34

”…and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”

Mark 10:2

                This passage tells us that one has to sacrifice himself to follow our Lord God. Here cross refers to the burdens that we have in life, it could be of any form. Each and every one of us have their respective cross (burden) in this world. God has given us this cross to bear, because only then we will seek God and automatically we will be guided. Today God his giving us graces to bear our respective cross. Whatever might be the cross, we need to carry it with a sense of sacrifice. Today God strengthens to carry the cross and to follow him with an element of sacrifice. 

IV. JOY

” And why he became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Ghost.” “So that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”

1 Thessalonians 1: 6,7

                Here Paul says, the people became true followers of God because they followed God with the Joy of Holy Ghost. We might ask, how is it possible to follow god with joy?, it is possible because the Holy Ghost has given us the eternal joy. We will be able to walk on our problems with ease. We need to cast our burdens on god, only then we will get the joy of Holy Ghost. From now on, God takes control of all our problems and we need not worry about anything in life. God fills is with the everlasting joy and we shall be an example to all believers. Money cannot buy this joy, therefore we have to rely on god who gives us the true joy.

V.GLORY

 “This spake he,signifying by what death he should glorify god.And when he had spoken this,he saith unto him,Follow me”

John 21:19

                Our life should be in such a way which glorifies our Lord god. Whatever happens in our life, it should render the due glory to god. We must follow our lord god by glorifying him. We should submit all glory, honor and praises to him alone. Henceforth, God makes us a person who follows him by glorifying him. No matter how much ever we achieve in life, whatever fames we get, we need to humble ourselves in the presence of God and glorify God. Amen. God Bless You.