RESTORATION OF HONOUR SERIES (3):

Honour Your Parents

 

1.  INTRODUCTION

 

a)  Rom. 1:21 Honour is essential in developing and building relationships when you fail to honour and appreciate God your relationship deteriorates.

 

b)  Honour - a decision to place high value, esteem, worth, important upon a person and giving them a place of priority in your life.

     Dishonour - despise, remove value, make nothing of, treat lightly.  People are   dishonoured when you treat them as having no value, despise and look down on          them and refuse to make them welcome.

 

c)  Jesus Example

·      Jesus constantly honoured people - He treated them as valuable, special and made room in His life for them when others despised them.   e.g. Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:1 - 10, Woman at the well (Jn. 4:1 - 30), Infants (Mk. 10:13 - 16).

·      Because God has honoured us as an undeserved gift - we are able to honour others as our gift to them, whether they deserve it or not.

 

2.  HONOUR BEGINS IN THE HOME

 

a)  In the last days, family breakdown will be widespread. 

·      2 Tim. 3:2 Selfish - disobedient - unthankful - without natural affection.  Restoration begins as heart attitudes are changed and God’s principles are restored.

·      The first place you can learn to honour and value people is in the home.

 

b)  Eph. 6:1 - 3  Children obey - Honour your father and mother.

     Col. 3:20 Children obey your parents in all things.

·      Obey = (5219 Strongs) = To hear under.

                    Hear and obey, submitting to their right to rule.

                    Compliance with parents word, whether like it or not.

·      2 Reasons

                    This right - disobedience is always wrong.

                    This is pleasing to the Lord.

·      Honour = (5091 Strongs) = “Fix a value on, to prize, esteem, treat as precious.

                    Place high value on parents treating them with respect and value and                     giving them a place of priority in your life.

                    This is your gift to them and is pleasing to God.

 

c)  Dishonourable Parents

·      Some parents neglect, fail, abuse and are unloving to their children.

·      This dishonours their children creating hurt, anger, grief, resentment.

·      Children that are dishonoured, devalued, made to feel unwanted react by dishonouring their parents and setting in motion a cycle of sin that carries on from generation to generation.

·      God holds us responsible for our actions/reactions to parents.

 

3.  REASONS YOU SHOULD HONOUR YOUR PARENTS

 

a)  Your parents gave you the gift of life

·      You came from them whether planned or unplanned.

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·      God fore-knew your arrival and planned a destiny for you (Eph. 1:4).

·      Your parents gave you life and the opportunity to enjoy eternity with God.

 

b)  Your parents hold an office as God’s representatives

·      When you honour your parents you honour God.

·      Rom. 13:1 - 7 - Principles of Authority.

·      God is the ultimate authority and source of authority - He has the right and power to rule his creation.

·      God has established institutions to administer His purposes.  e.g. Government, family, church.

·      Each institution established by God is given certain responsibilities and authority to carry it out.

·      One who is in a position of authority has the right to rule over those in that institution and only those.

·      God’s Word gives boundaries or limits to the authority of each institution and guides how to rule well.

·      Every person is subject to one or more authorities at one time.

·      Those in authority are a minister (servant) of God for our good.

·      Parents are ministers of God for the protection and blessing of Children.

Resist = 498 Strongs = oppose, arrange self against.

Ordinance = 1296 Strongs = something set in order, an institution.

·      Resisting or dishonouring the authority = resisting or dishonouring God.

 

c)  Consequences of Dishonouring Parents

i)    Rejection

·      Rejecting and despising parents (origin) = rejecting and despising self.

·      Every cell of your body carries chromosomes from each parent.

·      Your appearance and traits resemble one or both parents.

 

ii)   Cursing

·      Dt. 27:16 - cursed is he that dishonours parents.

·      Eph. 6:2 - 3 - Not go well for you in life.

·      A curse is a negative influence from the spirit world that continually frustrates and blocks people from success.

·      Conflict and turmoil in relationships and especially with authority figures e.g. teachers, boss, police, etc.

·      e.g. Gen. 6:23 - 25 Noah’s son Ham - generational curses.

·      e.g. 2 Sam. 6:23 Michel - unresolved conflict with her father overflowed into her marriage.

 

iii)  Demonic Oppression

·      Prov. 30:17 Ravens of Valley = demonic spirits.

·      When the law of God is broken evil spirits have right to access.  They intensify the conflict already present and seek to hold the person in bondage.

·      Verbal and physical abuse of parents warranted the death penalty under Moses’s law (Exod. 21:15 - 17).  Demonic spirits use the broken law as a legal right to enter and destroy.

·      E.g. 2 Sam. 14 - 15 Absolum (David’s son) - his unresolved bitterness against his father resulted in premature death.

 

 

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iv) Honouring parents breaks the cycle of generational sin

·      Exod. 20:4 Generational sin - 3rd & 4th generation.

·      Generational sin is destructive sin habits/patterns that pass from one generation to the next.

       e.g. Anger, Adultery, Alcohol, Divorce, Violence.

      

·      The causes of the transfer are:

               Bitterness and unforgiveness

               Demonic Spirits

               Learned habits of relating

·      Forgiveness and restoration of honour - break the cycle of sin.  Jn. 20:23  Whose sins you remit (release) are remitted (sent away).

 

v)  God’s promise of Blessing to those who Honour Parents

 

        Col. 3:20 This is well pleasing to the Lord

        Eph. 6:23 the first commandment with a promise.

        “Long Life” -    No violent death from war, accident, disease.

                                Promise of death at the right timing.

                                Opportunity to accumulate wealth.

                                Health.

 

4.  HOW TO BEGIN!

 

·      Evaluate your present attitude and actions, conflicts.

·      Resolve hurts and offenses - confess sin and release forgiveness.

·      Ask the Lord for grace to help you change.

·      Consider practical ways to appreciate and value your parents as your gift to them.

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR DISCUSSION

 

(Do not attempt all the questions).

 

1.  What was your relationship with your parents like?

a)  A good aspect

b)  Something you struggled with.

 

2.  Read 2 Tim 3:1 - 3.  What experience have you had that indicates the emerging in this generation of many of the last days signs.

 

3.  Read Eph. 6:1 - 3

    

·      What experiences have you had with disobedient children?  How did it affect relationships and the general atmosphere?

·      In what ways does Verse 1 conflict with common child raising practices today.

·      What do you think is the reason many parents fail to train their children to be obedient?

·      Can you suggest practical ways:

a)  That children dishonour their parents

b)  That children could honour their parents.

·      Can you identify areas of conflict in your relationships especially with authority figures that point to unresolved conflicts originating in your family?  What can you do to put this right?

·      Suggest practical ways you could honour and value your parents that you are not doing at present.