Dwight Fletcher | Honour – a gateway to breakthrough

IF I were to ask you what were some key principles to the Kingdom of God, what would you say? I’m talking about the fundamental truths of God’s eternal kingdom. The belief structures that everyone supports and promotes. Would you say grace? Or faith? Or the forgiveness of sins? Would you say love or hope or peace?

Would you say honour? Many wouldn’t, but the truth is that honour is one of the most important principles of the Kingdom of God. Honour, as a principle, is a cornerstone of Kingdom living. And it’s not just God’s Kingdom which depends on honour. I would go so far as to say that without careful regard to honour, all kingdoms or civilisations go into a state of spiritual, moral and economic decline.

Honour means to have high respect or great esteem. When I was growing up, I was taught the principle of honour as a lifestyle. This is the way I was taught to approach life. I was taught to honour all persons because they are made in the image of God – honour my schoolteachers, honour people in authority and honour people like our father and mother.

But let’s face it, we live in an era where honour is not a positive virtue anymore. Just watch the news, listen to how we speak to each other or about others. There’s very little honour shown. As a matter of fact, dishonour seems to be the order of the day.

Even many children’s programmes subtly teach or promote dishonour. Disobedience or breaking the rules is celebrated. Children speak to their parents out of anger and disrespect. Parents are often portrayed as outdated or draconian when they enforce rules and punishment. Dishonour is everywhere. And what we don’t recognise is that dishonour destroys. We’ll discuss how it destroys in the upcoming weeks, but first, let’s start with this truth.

HONOUR IS A GATEWAY TO BREAKTHROUGH

In Mark 6, we read an incredible story that shows us the importance of honour. Jesus is in His hometown, preaching, teaching and desiring to heal. They were amazed by His teaching and His wisdom. They knew, or at least heard, of his power and authority. But instead of honouring Him, they dishonoured Him. This dishonour stopped the flow of God’s power and best for their lives. It stopped the flow of God’s healing to their lives.

“Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” Mark 6:4-5 (NIV). Only a few could get healed, and with those He had to lay hands on them. It’s almost like the text is saying that Jesus had to force it.

On the other hand, we read in Mark 5 that Jesus was at a town and the woman with the issue of blood only touched the hem of His garment. She was immediately healed. She honoured Jesus; she recognised who He was, knew He was the only One who could save her and gave the honour due. As a result, she received her breakthrough, and He wasn’t even actively involved.

Honour creates the environment for the flow of God, the blessing of God, and the best of God for your life. In the same Mark 5, Jairus came to Jesus on his daughter’s behalf, he honoured Jesus, and we see the flow of God’s grace as his daughter is brought back from the dead. But the people in Jesus’ hometown showed no honour and that shut down the flow of God’s goodness to their lives.

The Bible is intentional to put these two chapters beside each other. It’s a warning to us as believers. If we don’t learn to walk with a spirit of honour, we can literally shut down God’s best for our lives. But when we honour God and the ministers He uses, we see breakthroughs for our health, our finances, our relationships, our lives. All because of this simple principle of honour.