Kenneth Copeland — The Picture of HonorPosted by admin on September 9th, 2009
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:1-2).
The greatest picture of honor is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He could have called forth 12 legions of angels to set Him free, but He did not (Matthew 26:53-54). He had every right to do so, but He knew if He did that, we would go to hell. Later, at Calvary, He withstood the shame and the pain that was put upon Him for the joy that was set before Him. This was honor.
We are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, as our example of how to lead honorable lives in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
Back to the Basics
We have to teach and preach honor just as if our generation had never heard of it because many of them have not!
We have to return to the fundamentals of personal integrity and Christian responsibility. We have to teach once more the most simple principles, such as: When you use something that belongs to somebody else, wash it, clean it, fill it with gas or fix it (even if you didn’t break it) before you return it. Whatever you borrow, return it in better condition than when you got it.
Here is another of the most basic principles of honor: Don’t lie. The most dishonorable thing you can do is to misrepresent or distort the truth.
“But, Brother Copeland, Christians don’t lie.” Sure, they do. Just because you and I are believers does not mean that we are not part of today’s dishonest society. Let me give you an example.
“We’re having a meeting at the church Thursday night. Are you coming?” “I’ll sure try to make it.”
Often that is a pure lie. The person has no intention of coming. It is obvious that he does not plan to attend, or he would not have said “try to make it.” He is just leaving himself an opening, a way out. That isn’t the Christian thing to do.
Believers ought to not have an escape hatch. Jesus taught us to make our word either yes or no. He said that all else proceeds from evil (Matthew 5:37). I know all this is really basic; but when you get to the fundamentals of honor, you get down to the heart of God. He is truth!
Kenneth Copeland Ministries