Glorify God and Dishonorable Leaders

Glorifying God and Dishonorable Leaders
Ephesians 6:1-4

Exodus 20:12   Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.”

1 Peter 2:17   Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account….

Jeremiah 42:6 Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God… so that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.

Colossians 3:20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

I. Defining Honor and Obedience

1. Hebrew “Honor” - (kaw-bad') - to give weight, value, or to show proper respect

2. Greek “Honor” - (tim-ah'-o) - to prize, honor, revere, or to place value

3. Hebrew “Obey” - (shaw-mah') – listen carefully in order to honor, obey with earnest desire

4. Greek “Obey” - (hoop-ak-oo'-o) - to listen carefully as a subordinate, to follow a command

Ephesians 6:1-4   Page #1173

II. Truths concerning Honor and Obedience toward Authority

1.Earthly leaders are God’s delegated authority.

• “Discipline”- Ongoing equipping and loving correction
• “Instruction” - To put into the mind & focusing on God’s truth and attitudes

2. must in words and actions honor and obey authority “as to the Lord.”  

Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

• Right - upright, safe and suitable for us
• Rejoicing - pleasurable and delights our soul
• Pure - clean and genuinely good
• Enlightening - kindles our spirit, gives truth to follow the Lord
  
  
  3. Using authority to provoke others to frustration and anger proves we are not acting on His behalf.

1 Timothy 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

“Well” – Behaving righteously, with attractiveness

“Dignity” - Honorable, worthy of respect, living with deep character

III. Truths to apply with “dishonorable leadership”.

1. Parents and leaders are not immune from rebuke.

1 Timothy 5:20 Those (Elders) who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

Galatians 2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him in public, because he was clearly wrong.

2. Honoring authority never includes enabling sinful behavior.

Leviticus 19:17   Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt.

3. Value a leader’s spiritual life over his/her position.

James 5:20   Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

4. “Relational honor” is ultimately earned, not demanded.

1 Timothy 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5. Honoring the Lord over dishonorable authority shows our belief in the Gospel & our submission to the only true Lord.

Acts 5:29   But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Matthew 10:37 - Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…

Matthew 15:3-6     Page # 974

Faith Sheet

Transformation Verse - As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.          Psalm 103:13 (NASB)

Times with the Lord this week - If you have extra time, look up the cross references with the Transformation Scripture.

#1- Reviewing this Past Sunday  

1. Read Ephesians 6:1-4. Discuss Sunday’s message with someone.
2. What struggles have you faced in being with or working under a person who is discrediting his position of authority?
3. What does it mean for us to value someone’s soul over his position, and why is this so important?

# 2- Preparing for Next Sunday
Abiding in Christ as a Family

• Read John 15:1-11. What truths do you see that are important for daily living?

1. W. Pink said, “To abide in Him is to have sustained conscious communion with Christ.” How would this change our daily lives? Families?
2. Read Psalm 128:1-4 and use it as a prayer for families.