Honoring the Elders Among Us

The LORD commands us to honor our parents and the elders He places in our lives. So, this honor is to manifest first in our families and then in the church environment, and everywhere we encounter our elders.

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

This is a non-negotiable, divine command and one of the very Ten Commandments.

“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” Proverbs 20:20

There is a blessing attached to honoring our parents and also a curse on anyone who disobeys. Any person who does not honor both of their parents God brought them through, is under a curse.

The Command

“Honour thy father and thy mother” 

The Result, the Blessing

“that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

Do you want it to be “well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth“?

It matters not if our parents are perfect human beings. No, they aren’t and neither are we!

“The hoary (gray) head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31

Sharing how God is working in her life concerning her relationship with her beloved mother, Karen Cochran writes:

“I had to die to being right. Pride! How could I love her (my mother) with the love of Jesus? How would she see Jesus in me? She would not see Him in me in all my pride and arrogance! By being full of pride, all I did was stir up strife. Proverbs 10:12 ‘Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.’ Because she would retaliate and would be angry. I had to learn to keep my mouth shut. And it has completely changed our relationship. But first the Lord had to change me and cleanse me from my ‘know it all’ attitude and my pride. I went to the Lord and said ‘why is she (my mother) so mean to me’. The Lord straightened me out quick. It was me not her! I couldn’t control her! All I could do was allow God to root out what was sin in me.”

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

PRAYER: Father, I repent LORD for not properly and fully honoring my parents and all other elders You placed in my life from birth till now. Father please forgive my rebellion against You in Jesus’ name and help me to honor all people you put in my life.

In this late hour, as we behold the downright and utter rebellion of mankind, the disrespect of this current generation, we, as God’s people, must openly demonstrate the honor God desires….

2 Timothy 3 Resume’ of the Last Days

Godlessness in the Last Days
1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 
2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 
3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 
4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 
5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 
6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 
7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Honest Confessions of Dis-honoring Children

“I also confess to God that I haven’t always honored my parents.” Anna

“I have sinned against God, in that me too, have not honored my parents according to the measure that I should be doing by the Word of God. Both of them have been long gone. Today whenever I remember them, I remember what I did not do for them. God have mercy on me. I’m a sinful soul except by the unmerited grace and the mercy that God have dealt with me in spite of my grievous sins.” Max W.

“In the early part of 2016, I have been led to commit the same sin once again, when we as a family, decided to move to Australia for good. This was in spite of my wife’s plea not to do so. During the period of March 2016, it so happens that an issue arise in the family of my wife resulting in her parents being homeless. At that point, it saddens me very much, but I had hardened my heart in not doing anything about it. Thereafter, believe me beloved brother, everything I touch is like it catches fire and burned up into ashes. I was in great agony. My family too, suffered with me. I tried to open my KJB and read God’s Word but God would not speak to me from His Word. I knew at that point what’s going on. I knelt before my KJB and confess my faults, with tears and sorrow because I have sinned against God. I did that every morning and practically the whole day. Then one day, as I was reading from my KJB, I was led to Matthew 19, the story about the rich young ruler. While I was reading, I stopped at verse 19. It’s just like a sword pierced through the depth of my heart and cut into my soul. I cried and cried nonstop… Needless to say, I decided that we should move back to Singapore, to do what is needful.” Max

“Yes Lord ….I repent myself of dishonoring my parents and the pride that I had to those the placed me with …. please have mercy and forgive me Lord. I stand in agreement and petition my prayer along side my brothers and sisters. Amen.” Devin

Paul’s Instructions to the Body of Christ Concerning Elders

1 Timothy 5:1-20

1  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 
2  The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. 
3  Honour widows that are widows indeed. 
4  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. 
5  Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. 
6  But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. 
7  And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. 
8  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 
9  Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 
10  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 
11  But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; 
12  Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 
13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 
14  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 
15  For some are already turned aside after Satan. 
16  If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. 
17  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 
18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 
19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 
20  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 

1 Timothy 5:1-8: WISE TREATMENT OF YOUNG AND OLD

by FB Meyer

“That minister of Jesus is happiest who introduces the tone and manner of family life into the church, 1Tim. 5:1-2. The attitude of son or brother to other men is peculiarly fitting. But he must always keep up the spiritual tone. It is so easy to descend to frivolity and familiarity. Remember that all intercourse with others must be governed by the words-in all purity.

The special references to widows evidence the early practice of the Church. Provision was made for godly women who had lost husbands by death, and who in return for the weekly gift from church funds, gave themselves to Christian service. The Apostle indicates the age and characteristics of those who might be eligible. It was his clear judgment, however, that, wherever possible, it was becoming for children to make such provision as would place an aged mother or other relative beyond the reach of want or any need of claiming maintenance from church funds. Our nurses and deaconesses are the modern counterparts of the order of widows in the early Church; yet the standard of Christian living here emphasized may well be pondered and prayed over by all Christian women, who should, as far as possible without fee or reward, consider church service only second to the claims of home.”

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