Honor grows from love
Put some HONOR on my name • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Christ’s love develops God-glorifying honor which furthers the gospel.
Intro:
Intro:
Hi Everyone. Welcome to Church Online!
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Today we begin a brand-new sermon series. As I was thinking and praying about what to preach on next, I started thinking about the needs of our church family, but also what would be helpful and relevant to our community. And the theme of HONOR came to mind...
Now, you’re probably thinking, “Honor? How’s that something relevant to our world today? Who even thinks about honor anymore?” Actually, that’s a great question!
We live in a highly-triggered culture. It’s so easy to offend people today, even when that wasn’t the intention. And I think this sensitivity is because we aren’t thinking about HONOR anymore! I’ll explain this more as our series goes on, but let me start with a definition for HONOR:
To have a good name or reputation worthy of respect.
It also means to give, regard, or treat another person with respect or special recognition.
Finally, it can refer to our living up to, or fulfilling, terms or responsibilities we agreed to.
And we’ll address all of these aspects of HONOR in this series titled: Put some HONOR on my name.
Some of you are thinking, “What the heck? What does that title mean? Where does it come from?”
Well, there’s this rapper named the Birdman...
Btw, I know some of my sermon illustrations are a little strange, especially for a pastor in Glastonbury, CT. But many of you know, I didn’t grow up here, nor did I grow up in a church bubble. I grew up out there. Therefore, my mind will naturally connect to things I remember from my past.
And I think this is okay, as long as it doesn’t glorify or justify sinful living. I mean, I BELIEVE THE BIBLE. And the Bible says God planned my days, including where I would grow up. And that He uses all things - even the things that shaped my life - for good, including sermon illustrations...
That’s why when I use examples like “Homie the Clown,” and I later here that people in our church say, “Homie the Clown in a sermon? Who does that? That’s different!” I get excited. Especially when the sermon illustration helps people engage with the Bible!
… anyways, back to the Birdman. He was part of this crew called the Big Tymers. And they drove around these blinged-out cars. And I remember watching their music videos and wanting to drive a Cadillac Escalade w/ 20’s singing, “Can’t pay my rent, cuz all my money spent. But that’s okay, cuz I’m still fly.” I know… stupid.
A while back, Birdman was invited onto a talk show and apparently the hosts had been talking trash about him. So, before the interview, he told them, “Before we get started, I gotta say this… When you speak my name, you better put some respeck (with a K) on my name.”
...And since “respect” is a synonym for “honor,” I figured why not title the series, “Put some HONOR on my name.” There are other reasons too… but that’s where the TITLE comes from!
And to consider this THEME, we’re going to go thru the book of Philippians, which has a lot to say about HONOR. So, let’s jump in. Chapter 1 starts off...
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pretty standard greeting for a letter written by Paul. If you read his other letters, you’ll see something similar. However, I want to suggest this greeting is DIFFERENT from his other letters because of the unique relationship Paul had with this church. While it serves as as STANDARD greeting elsewhere, here, it’s the beginning of a letter between good friends. We’ll see that more as we continue. But it would be fair to summarize these verses this way, “Paul and Timothy, writing to all of my friends in Philippi!”
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
Notice the “personal possessive pronoun” used here… “MY God.” I mention this because it helps us outline our series on HONOR. In verse 3, there are 3 parties represented:
God
Paul
And the Philippian church (or “you/us”).
Likewise, in this series, we will be discussing HONOR in 3 ways:
How to put HONOR on God’s name.
How to put HONOR on one another’s names.
How to put HONOR on our own name based on how we live out the gospel.
Moving on..
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Basically, whenever I think about you, all my memories of you bring me joy and cause me to thank God! Again, all of Paul’s letter involve this sort of thankfulness and joy, but there seems to be more emphasis here. And that’s because the Philippians were truly his FRIENDS! To the fullest extent, they were his PARTNERS in the gospel.
The word “partnership” is the Greek word, “koinonia,” which can be translated “fellowship” and involve “friendship.” But it also includes a joint-participation. In this FRIENDSHIP, Paul was fully invested in their lives; and vice versa!
This partnership (or friendship) started years before the letter. We actually find the start of their friendship in Acts 16. And I want to quickly review that story, because it will give us some history on this beautiful relationship, but it’ll also show us something relevant to our church!
Acts 16 is when Paul is on his second missionary journey (second trip to start new churches). He trying to bring the gospel to certain areas, but God keeps closing doors on him. Then, one night...
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
So, Paul’s group decides to go to Macedonia because it’s clear that’s where God is calling them. They eventually arrive at...
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
This is important to consider because it means, “It was a very pro-Rome area.” A Roman Colony was a place outside of Rome, that gave full allegiance to Rome, and also declared the glory of Rome. And as you might guess, bringing a message that declared the glory of another King and Kingdom wouldn’t be easily received. Philippi seems like a bad place to start a church.
Nevertheless, as was Paul’s normal practice, he first looked for a Jewish synagogue, but there was none. All he could find were some women praying down by the river. However, Paul preaches the gospel to them and they receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior!
Afterwards, they encounter a demon possessed slave-girl who harassed them. And by the power of Jesus, they cast out the demon and set the girl free! However, she previously used her demonic powers to make people money by fortune-telling. When this stopped, her owners got mad and beat Paul and Silas (one of Paul’s traveling buddies), and threw them in jail.
Yet..
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,
Which makes me ask, “Would we respond the same way if we were ever beaten and thrown in jail for Jesus?” I hope so, because it says that people were observing their lives. And people are watching our lives. And as the prisoners observed Paul and Silas worshiping...
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Again, I’m reviewing this story because it’s the start of the Philippian church and the beginning of their friendship with Paul. But there’s another thing I want us to notice. Look at the beginning of this church:
It started in an area that no one expected would receive the gospel.
Some of its first members were a bunch of ladies down by a river, which in that culture would’ve seemed insignificant...
A ex-demon possessed slave girl...
A Philippian jailer and his family...
Finally, I wouldn’t be surprised if it also had a bunch of convicts who witnessed the power of the gospel thru Paul and Silas.
Think about that roster. Who starts a church with this group of people? You know who does? God does! And they became Paul’s most faithful partners in the gospel.
Now, think about this. Look around. Think about The River Church’s story. I think we share a lot of characteristics with the Philippian church! Some may wonder, “How COULD this group bring about revival in Glastonbury and beyond.” But I wonder, “How WILL God use us to bring the gospel to the world!”
I also think of this...
The Philippians’ willingness to partner with Paul was something developed before they even knew Christ. What I mean is they developed this kind of loyalty, this kind of full-buy-in, as a Roman colony. This kind of partnership was REQUIRED by Rome. Now that they served King Jesus, they simply transferred their allegiance to a different Kingdom!
And I wonder what kind of things have we been through that could be used for God’s glory?
Were you taught the benefit of hard work? Hey, use it for Christ!
As a child, did you learn how to persevere through difficult circumstances? Use that strength for Christ!
Are you creative? Do you have musical gifts? Use them to partner with Christ!
When you think about it, we’re already passionate about many earthly things and know how to dedicate our lives to them. When we give our lives to Christ, partnering with the gospel is as simple is taking that previous commitment and merely transferring our allegiance!
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
We all know this verse. We probably love this verse. And we’ve found many ways to apply it to our lives. But in its context, Paul’s writing to his dear friends who He CONFIDENTLY believes in. But he’s not saying this just to ENCOURAGE his friends. He’s introducing (hinting at) themes that are going to be important to the purpose of his letter.
Because what we will soon discover is the Philippians - as great as they are - are starting to slide away from a life that HONORS Christ. And part of the solution will involve remembering what Jesus has done for them; and remembering that Jesus has already finished the work. They just need to walk in it.
It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Here again, Paul hints at something else. When he says they are “partakers of grace in… the defense and confirmation of the gospel,” it’s not just about their consistent partnership, but also acknowledging that the Philippians are personally facing opposition, which is likely contributing to their falling away from Christ-HONORING living.
Paul finishes up the introduction to his letter by saying...
For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Basically, Paul’s praying that when all of this is over and they’ll be standing before Jesus in HONOR! And in the remainder of the letter, he’ll explain how they can make sure that happens...
And over the next few months, we too will discover how to live with honor thru what Paul teaches the Philippians. But, we don’t have to wait to start because I believe we discover the KEY to HONOR in what we just read.
If you know Paul, you know he isn’t shy about using himself as an example for how to properly follow Jesus. That’s not arrogant. He’s super humble. But he’s also super confident in the power of the Holy Spirit, rightfully so! And he told the Corinthians, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ!” (1 Cor. 11:1). And as he teaches the Philippians how to live with honor, once again uses his own life as an example.
For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
We’ve already discussed it. Paul loved this church. They were his partners and close friends. He says, “I yearn for you with the affection of Jesus.” That word “affection” refers to a feeling coming from the deepest parts of your being. We get a good sense of the word when Paul uses the same word writing to another close friend, Philemon.
I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.
That phrase “my very heart” is the same Greek word. Essentially, Paul is telling the Philippians, “I love you with the SAME HEART that belongs to Jesus.” That’s huge because Jesus is the very definition of love. The perfect expression of it. And notice the strategic transition...
He goes onto say, “And it is my prayer that YOUR LOVE may abound more and more...” How do we live with HONOR? We live with LOVE. But not just any love, but with God’s love. Which is why Paul also writes… “with knowledge and all discernment.”
The phrases here refer back to the “affection of Christ” found in verse 8. This is not undefined love. This is not self-defined love, meaning whatever we say is “love.” That’s not love. That’s selfishness. No, this is “agape-love.” That’s the word used in verse 9. God’s love defined by God’s truth. It’s a love framed by God’s word (the Bible) and felt by God’s presence, meaning we experience and learn this kind of LOVE directly from Him.
We love because he first loved us.
This is the kind of love that produces HONOR. Love sourced from, and defined by, God. It’s the heart of Jesus. It’s the love of Paul. And it’s the LOVE the Philippians need to grow in. And when this kind of LOVE is active, we will:
“Approve what is excellent.” When you experience God’s love, you’re not fooled by counterfeits. Instead, you’ll test things based on God’s word and decide, “This is God’s love. Therefore, I want it in my life so it’ll produce more HONOR. Or, that’s NOT God’s love. Let’s leave it alone.”
And when that process is in place, we will “be pure and blameless for the day of Christ...” Meaning, when Jesus examines our lives, He will recognize His heart stamped on it.
And, we’ll be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes thru Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” When God’s love invades our lives, we become everything God has created us to be! And God gets glory and praise because our lives are filled with HONOR!
The path to HONOR looks like this:
It starts with God’s love. Receiving God’s love and living with God’s love.
And when God’s love fills our hearts, it’ll transform our thinking.
And when God’s love radically transforms our thinking, our lives will be changed and filled with good works that Christ has planned for us.
And if Jesus is having His way in our lives, it’ll be GOOD and filled with HONOR.
Response:
Response:
We live in a world that doesn’t think about HONOR any more. It’s viewed as this ancient irrelevant principle, but it couldn’t be more relevant!
I believe if we, once again, begin to value HONOR, many of our community conflicts would disappear! And I also believe it’s the responsibility of the church to lead the way, especially since TRUE HONOR is BUILT on God’s LOVE. That’s our jam!
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
God’s love is supposed to be our THING! Therefore, the implication is: HONOR should be our THING!
You know the church’s influence has changed over the years. People in our community no longer look to us for answers. But maybe they would if we started showing them something real, fresh, and desperately needed - like HONOR.
If you’re ready to step up your game in HONOR, start by pressing into God’s love.
Make sure you’re spending time in God’s word and presence. Remember, true LOVE is sourced from, and defined by, God. So we gotta start there!
Take the time to “approve what is excellent.” Don’t just let anything into your lives. Slow down, stop and think, “Wait, does this HONOR God? If I were to stand before Jesus in this moment, would He see His love stamped on this?”
The way we put HONOR on His name is by LOVING in His name.
Let’s pray...
Father, we want to live with HONOR. We believe this is something important to you; therefore, it NEEDS to be important to us! And we recognize HONOR is produced by your LOVE. Therefore, we need you to fill us with your LOVE. And Lord, maybe there’s someone listening who needs to do this for the first time. They don’t know you, Jesus, as Lord and Savior. But they are ready to change that! God, would you reveal your LOVE to them in this moment. Help them to turn from their sin and put their FAITH in Jesus. Would you start a good work in their life right now (in this moment), that will one day be finished, and filled with HONOR, by the power of Jesus Christ. In Jesus name, amen.
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