Men of Honor- Prelude

We are in the final stages of planning and preparing for our upcoming Main Event Men’s Conference, September 29-30, 2017.  I am so excited about this years retreat and what I believe, God is going to do in the lives of men across the state of Oklahoma!  I am praying that God will supernaturally touch the hearts of men and empower them to not only see transformation in their own lives, but also in the lives of their families, churches, and communities.

At last years conference, God began to speak to me about this year’s theme, Men of Honor and over the past year I have been asking questions and searching the Word of God for the answers.  I know that God is calling men to raise the bar when it comes to their walk with the Lord, guarding the purity of their hearts and minds.

• What is a life of honor?
• What does it take to live a life of honor?
• What characteristics do we look for when we honor someone?
• What does God say about honor?
• How does that play out in our daily walk with the Lord and others?
• What does the Lord honor?

Over the next few weeks, we are going to explore the idea of honor and how it plays out in our lives.  May God give His favor and direction as we journey together!

Foundations for a life of honor

As a pastor, I have not only attended my fair share of funerals, but have presided over many of them.  Typically each service places great emphasis on honoring those who passed, by telling of the positive characteristics of their lives.  While there were many services in which it was easy to honor the character of the deceased, there were those services where it was not only hard to come up with something, but I have watched a family stretch things a bit.

I understand that we want to honor someone who is passed and we sure wouldn’t tell all the bad things the person was involved with, (especially in front of the preacher!) but I wonder, how would the service look if they had lived with honor.  You see the opposite of living a life of honor, is living for yourself.  Not caring about others, or worse, not caring about what God has desired or designed for our lives.

When searching through scripture, a foundational verse stood out as a key element to living a life of honor.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Proverbs 3:13–16 (ESV)

The writer of Proverbs tells us that we are blessed when we find wisdom and get understanding.  These key elements in a man’s life comes with a promised result…honor.   It isn’t an honor that is demanded, but one that is earned through a life well lived.  It is proven in the battlefield of everyday life, making choices, building relationships, and living out our purpose.  Wisdom and understanding provides us with the ability to live above reproach and gives us with the ability to discern what is right in light of the Word of God and His kingdom.

So how do we gain wisdom? Consider God’s Word as an instructional guide for acquiring wisdom and understanding!

• The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7)
• To find wisdom, first find God (Proverbs 2:6–12)
• Wise people accept advice (Proverbs 13:10)
• Wise people boast not in their wisdom but in knowing God (Jeremiah 9:23–24)
• The wise understand God’s ways and follow his guidance (Hosea 14:9)
• Wise people build on the solid foundation of God and his Word (Matthew 7:24–27)
• God’s wisdom is different from the world’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1–16)
• God will give us wisdom if we ask for it (James 1:5)

Wisdom and understanding doesn’t come as the result of simply living life, it is a conscience effort to live each day, seeking the Father’s guidance and applying the principles of scriptures to our lives.  As a result, we not only receive God’s blessing on our lives, but those around us are blessed as well.

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Proverbs 3:21–22 (ESV)

Thank you God that you have provided everything necessary for living an abundant life and have given to us, the key to living a life of honor before you and man.  May you grant us the wisdom necessary to search after your will and direction for our lives. May you pour out your blessing on our lives and on the lives of those we come in contact with.  We will be careful to give you the glory, honor, and credit for what you are doing and going to do in our lives.  Amen

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