Seeking the Honor that Comes from God Only!

2Corinthians 6:4-10 (AMP)
But we commend ourselves in every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities, In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as] truthful and honest. [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and [yet] not killed; As grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing; as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and [yet in reality] possessing all things.

Honor defined:
• Strong moral character or strength, and adherence to ethical principles.
• Great respect and admiration.
• Personal dignity and integrity, that sometimes leads to recognition and glory.

In the above scriptures Paul talked about some weighty things. It is never pleasant to go through temptations, test or trials yet amid them our God will never leave us nor forsake us. Paul talked about honor and dishonor. Isn’t it amazing how a person can be honored by someone one hour and dishonored the very next minute by someone else. Honor can be toxic if it is not filtered through Christ. We must not seek to be honored by others because we set ourselves up for disappointment and discouragement. When we become distraught, depressed and confused because of a lack of honor from others this only reveals that we had our priorities all wrong. When we choose to look to human-kind for approval, acceptance and validation then we spiritually disarm ourselves and like Sampson find ourselves lying on the lap of the enemy, shaven and without power. Jesus said, “I receive not honour from men” John 5:41. Jesus was not a slave to the opinions of people. He was not moved off course by their approval or disapproval of Him. The scriptures said, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25
Jesus knew the corruptness of human nature. He knew that the nature of man was selfish. A person who is controlled by selfishness will not honor you without strings attached. The honor that they give is tainted and not genuine, it is false, a mere facade. There will be times when your good is evil spoken of. There will be times when people try to defame and smear your good name to try to dishonor you. There will be times when seemingly for no apparent reason people began to despise and reject you, casting you off to the side like a dried up piece of meat. Don’t take it personal, it’s just the devil working through them trying to get you to give up, cave in and quit. The devil has trapped and shipwrecked many a soul through dishonor. Dishonor can buckle a man or woman to their knees quicker than a Karate kick to the abdomen. Dishonor has its roots in betrayal. Betrayal can leave a person feeling violated, striped, exposed, and weak both spiritually and physically.
Jesus said, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" John 5:44 Seeking the honor of men is a product of unbelief. Unbelief is a sign of spiritual weakness and retardation. We are not growing properly as Christians when we harbor unbelief. Faith in God is what we need to grow and flourish properly.
When we are dishonored by others, this is a demonic attack to try to ambush our faith. But be of good cheer, God did not leave His people without a defense against such a monster.
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Psalms 107:20
The word of God can equip you and fortify you against any attack of dishonor. The word of God in you will never back up in defeat, it will always pursue then conqueror and subdue your enemies. The word of God will establish you so that you will only seek the honor that comes from God; everything else is just a cheap imitation. The word of God will cause you to be unmovable, unshakable, and unbreakable. But in order for this to happen we must make the word of God a high priority in our lives. We must take the time to allow the Holy Spirit to download the word in our hearts. This does not just happen through brief methodical readings of the scripture. We must lock in and engage our spirit, soul and body in the word of God. We must submerge ourselves and take long soaks in the word of Life.
You are a vessel of honor don’t be disillusioned by the picture the devil is showing you in his mirror of deception. Square your shoulders back and walk tall, God will honor you before all. Keep the faith don’t give in, you win!