I am deeply concerned that the
body of Christ is suffering greatly because of a lack of honor for one another.
We are not to solicit honor from men but are to desire the honor of God. Jesus
told his disciples that it is impossible to function in the faith of God
seeking first the honor of men and not the honor which comes from God. Men who
know the honor of God will honor you.
All Body of Christ Division Comes from
Dishonor
The Apostle Paul an imitator of
Jesus the Christ gave the body of Christ a profound revelation concerning the
life giving, power rendering effect of Godly honor.
But now
God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many
members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need
of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary and those members of the body which we deem less
honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable
members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have
no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to
that member which lacked, so that there
may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for
one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one
member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body,
and individually members of it. I Corinthians 12:18-27 NASU
Bestowing more honor upon the
seemingly less honorable strengthens the overall body of Christ. The Apostle
Paul is clear in declaring that all division in the body of Christ results from
failure to honor the seemingly less honorable members of the body. Remember
that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
As our ultimate mentors, God and
His Christ is consistently honoring
creation by calling us forth into our predestined role in the earth;
calling all in hope that we will honor the call of God and the call of others
bringing glory to God.
Gideon by Understanding Honor Defeats the
Midianites
Gideon as the Judge and leader of
Israel displays a needed understanding of corporate power in overcoming enemies
of Zion. Gideon sends messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim asking
them to cut off all water supplies available to the Midianites (Judges 7:24).
Ephraim, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, was granted a land inheritance
along the Mediterranean coast of the Promised Land. They were asked by Gideon
to enforce control over the waters against the Midianites in an area all across
Israel eastward to the Jordan River.
Gideon
sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come
down against Midian and take the waters before them, as far as Beth-barah and
the Jordan." So all the men of Ephraim were summoned and they took the
waters as far as Beth-barah and the Jordan. They captured the two leaders of
Midian, Oreb and Zeeb, and they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they
killed Zeeb at the wine press of Zeeb, while they pursued Midian; and they
brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon from across the Jordan. Judges 7:24-25
NASU
Ephraim, having been honored by
Gideon as worthy members of corporate Israel, accomplished exploits above and
beyond that which was asked of them. We see in Judges chapter eight that
Ephraim was a bit irate towards Gideon
in that they were not initially asked to help defend Israel against the
Midianites.
Then the
men of Ephraim said to him, "What is this thing you have done to us, not
calling us when you went to fight against Midian?" And they contended with
him vigorously. But he said to them,
"What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the
grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? "God has given the
leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb into your hands; and what was I able to do in
comparison with you?" Then their anger toward him subsided when he said
that. Judges 8:1-3 NASU
What a classic display by Gideon
of honor of his fellow man. Not only does Gideon again bring to mind the
victorious military exploits of Ephraim but note that Gideon exposes Ephraim's
true God given identity. Ephraim means fruitfulness and Gideon reiterates the
importance of Ephraim gleaning the grapes. Gideon was stirring the hearts of
the men of Ephraim as to the importance of their calling from God identified in
the name Ephraim.
Gideon by honoring his fellow
Israelites empowered those of Ephraim to have all anger subdued. Unity could
now prevail and we know that Israel under the rule of honorable Gideon had a
forty year season of peace.
Misunderstood Frustration in the Body of
Christ
As a young minister and church
planter I was perplexed by what seemed to be outright attacks against the plan
and implementing of God's vision for our newly found work. Then one day it
dawned on me that these members of my flock simply needed to be honored. I have
concluded that 99% of frustrated sheep are experiencing an inner desire to
fulfill their anointing. As Gideon let
us honor the gifting and callings of God to the body of Christ truly
experiencing our oneness in Christ.
I am much grieved today as I
encounter on a daily basis the horrific death rendering result of dishonor. The
God given life of mankind is to be recognized by godly men who see the
seemingly less honorable as God sees them.
He who
does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:23b
NASU
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