GOD HONORS MAN.

INTRO:

1. In 1 Sam. 2:30, God said: "...them that honor me I will honor..."

2. Yet, how little do we stop to think of the untold ways in which God has honored those that are His.

3. When we stop to consider God's greatness over us, we should realize that we are to honor Him.

4. Many have tried but failed in their attempts to honor God.

A. Because they have tried to honor Him by their own devices.

B. Such failures come from one not knowing or accepting the characteristics of God as are expressed by David in Psa. 139.

C. Neither have they considered His elevated ways as are mentioned in Isa. 55:8,9.

5. Yet, the fact remains that God has said, "Them that honor me I will honor."

A. So, we endeavor to learn of the ways by which we may truly honor God.

1) God must be approached with the right attitude. Psa. 96:1-13.

2) He must be worshipped in His way and not ours. Jno. 4:23,24.

3) We must have faith in Him, His word, and His power to save. Heb. 11:6; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 1:16.

4) We must be willing, by our faith, to obey His every command. Jas. 1:22; Lk. 11: 28; 1 Sam. 15;22; Heb. 5:8,9.

6. God's will reveals to us that services of this kind pleases Him and therefore gives Him honor.

A. Thus, by this, we shall be honored by Him in return.

7. Let us now consider a few ways in which God honors man:

I. GOD HONORS MAN IN CREATION:

A. Once God had completed the creation of the heavens and earth, and all the other living creatures, He said:

1. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." Gen. 1:26.

2. Then it is recorded: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2: 7.

a. What an honor! To be fashioned after the God of heaven!

1) No other creature can lay claim to such a privilege and honor.

2) Man is the only one that has been given a physical, mental, social, and spiritual nature and an eternal soul.

3) Of him, the Psalmist said: "Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor." Psa. 8:5.

4) In another place, he wrote: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psa. 139:14.

B. In these thoughts, we see the honor that God bestowed upon man in creating him in His own image and likeness.

II. GOD HONORS MAN BY OFFERING HIM SALVATION FROM SIN.

A. Man fell from his first relationship with God by sin.

1. All are guilty, Rom. 3:23, and so have caused a separation between themselves and God. Isa. 59:1,2.

B. But God loved sinful man so much that he provided a plan whereby man could be redeemed and reconciled. Gal. 3:13; Col. 1:21,22; Rom. 1:16,17.

1. Such salvation could only be accomplished by the giving of God's only begotten Son to die on the cross. Jno. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 9:28.

2. What an honor God has bestowed upon man by offering him salvation, when man really deserves to die.

a. This is the thought expressed by the apostle Paul in Rom. 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

III. GOD HONORS MAN BY EXTENDING ADOPTION TO HIM.

A. When individuals obey the commandments of God that are necessary to salvation, they thereby become the children of God. Gal. 4:4,5.

1. They become children of His spiritual family.

a. This is accomplished by the power of God mentioned by Paul in Rom. 1:16.

b. Then, John says: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." Jno. 1;12.

c. In this respect, God makes no distinction. Acts 10;34,35; Gal. 3:26-29.

B. But the true degree of this honor is understood when we learn that the children of God are to be joint-heirs with Christ Himself!

1.Note what Paul has to say: "The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." Rom. 8:16,17.

2. Let's take note of what is said by John, in: 1 Jno. 3:1,2.

a. Because of this promise, we should be striving to take on the nature of God and to attain His characteristics. 1 Jno. 3:3; 1 Tim. 4:7,8.

IV. GOD HONORS MAN BY ALLOWING HIM TO BE HIS CO-WORKER.

A. We feel honored when men express their confidence in us by allowing us to participate in the various fields of endeavor of this life.

1. But ;not of these things can be compared to the high and holy work of God in the saving of souls.

2. Men, with their varied talents and degrees of ability, are the perfect instruments to accomplish God's purposes. Matt. 25:14-30;1 Cor.12:14-31.

a. So, we find Paul writing to the Corinthians: "For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 1 Cor. 3:9.

B. As God's co-workers, we must realize that His work can only be accomplished according to His will and not ours.

1. We must build upon the foundation that is laid, "which is Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 3: 11.

a. To do this requires study of God's word, 2 Tim. 2:15, and a willingness to remain within the boundaries of Christ's doctrine. 2 Jno. 9.

CONCLUSION:

1. No doubt, many other observations could be made as we consider the ways in which God has honored man.

2. But in closing, let us remember his promise: "...them that honor me I will honor..."

3. Is this too much for God to ask as we consider all that He has done and will do for those who honor Him?

4. Remember, that the honor bestowed upon man by God will climax in victory over death, 1 Cor. 15:54-57, and an eternal home with Him in heaven. 1 Pet. 1:3-5.

5. God is honored today, when we serve His Son. Jno. 12:26.

A. Also note: Rom. 2:10; 1 Cor. 15:58.

By Jim Sasser

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