"Honor the King!"
(I Peter 1:17 NIV)
"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King."
Peter is saying, "How can you say you fear God whom you do not see, when you cannot honor the leader He has placed His authority upon that you do see?" If we fear God we will honor leaders, whether civil, social, family, or Church.
In America we say to a leader, "You will have to earn my respect." However, the fear of the Lord says, "I see the authority that God has placed on you; therefore you already have my respect."
So what King is Peter talking about here? Herod Agrippa I, he was this self-serving, corrupt leader that was in monarchal power at this time. Herod came into full political power after the "resurrection" of Jesus Christ in AD 37.
Herod Agrippa I was very shrewd and he knew how to cultivate opportunities that would lead to his own promotion. One of his key political maneuvers came after the emperor Caligula was murdered and he help Claudius to gain the throne. Claudius rewarded his perceptive political move, and he confirmed Agrippa in his ruling position and added the territories of Judea and Samaria. He became ruler of a kingdom as large as that of his grandfather Herod the Great.
During his rule, Herod Agrippa I was forced to take sides in the struggle between Judaism and the Christian sect. Without hesitation he assumed the role of the Christians' bitter persecutor.
(Acts 12:1-3)
"That's when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John's brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter - all this during Passover week, mind you."
His rule was cruel to believers because it served his political purposes and gained him favor with the Jews. He'd killed James, one of Jesus' three closest apostles, and he intended to kill Peter.
· Pastor Peter in Prison - (4 squads of 4 soldiers 16)
(Vs.4b & 5)
"He was planning a public lynching after Passover. All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the Church prayed for him most strenuously."
· Parishioners Praying - The constant prayers of the saints and their obedience to honor authority had a greater impact on the turn of events.
1. God will always send a Radiance of Light before your Release
2. Your not "Dreaming, Your Being Delivered" (vs. 9)
3. From "Jailhouse to House-call"
"Honor The King!"
I Timothy 6:1
"Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honors, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed."
Message
"Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior."
In this text Paul addresses "social authorities." (employers, bosses, teachers, coaches) Let's zero in on the essence of Paul's thoughts. He says we are to honor social authority so the name of God and the teaching of the gospel, "be not blasphemed."
(AMP)
"So that the name of God and the teaching [about Him] may not be brought into "disrepute and blasphemed." (disgrace, disrespect, disregard) (emphasis mine)
1. The word "disrepute" is defined as "the state of being held in low esteem by the public."
2. The word "blaspheme" is defined as "to treat God or sacred things disrespectfully."
In putting these two words together we see that when we believers neglect to honor our employers, teachers, or other social leaders it will result in society having a low esteem for the kingdom of God; and can even lead to the point of treating God or sacred things disrespectfully.
(How has our society treated the things of God disrespectfully?)
· Prayer has been removed from our school
· The Ten Commandments have been taken our of our courtrooms
· A good portion of our entertainment is offensive and even atheistic
· Much of our music blatantly insults God
· Our education system paints those who believe in creation as narrow minded and even a threat to the advancement or knowledge
Could it be that the "community of faith" has added to our society's problem. This is exactly what happens when we fail to walk in true honor.
Titus 2:9-10
"[Tell] bond servants to be submissive to their masters, to be pleasing and give satisfaction in every way. [Warn them] not to talk back or contradict, nor to steal by taking things of small value, but to prove themselves truly loyal and entirely reliable and faithful throughout, so that in everything they may be an ornament and do credit to the teaching [which is] from and about God our Savior."
(Message)
"Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters - no back talk, no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God."
Don't discredit the thing you teach and preach about!
