This Is Us: A House of Honor

Scripture References

• 2 Kings 5:1–14
• Psalm 91
• Job 22:28
• Ephesians 4:14
• 1 Timothy 2:8
• Isaiah 60:1
• Ecclesiastes 11:4
• 1 Samuel 1–3

Introduction

• The congregation is in an overarching series called “Culture – This Is Us,” intended to lay concrete foundations for Embassy City’s way of life.
• Today’s burden: restore authentic corporate worship and establish a sustainable culture of HONOR—toward God, leaders, one another, and even ourselves.
• Honour is scarce in society and in the church; the sermon confronts both hyper-honour (idolatry) and hyper-familiarity (disrespect).
• Text chosen: Naaman’s healing (2 Kings 5) as a living parable of humility, obedience, and the miracles released through true honour.

Key Points / Exposition

1. Worship Is Corporate Discipleship

• Clapping, standing, lifting hands are not mood-based applause but revelation-based declarations of who God is.
• “Rock won’t cry out in our place”—each believer must steward the atmosphere on their row.
• Angels and the “great cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1) observe our responses; worship teaches creation how to honor God.
• Men are specifically exhorted to lead (1 Tim 2:8); worship is not delegated to women alone.

2. Conviction vs. Condemnation

• When God exposes sin in His presence, it is always for healing, never for shaming.
• The congregation is urged not to flee conviction; “God only reveals what He desires to heal.”

3. Establishing a Culture of Honour

Sub-points:
a) Honour Begins With Right Perception
• We cannot receive correctly where we do not perceive correctly.
• Honour is the by-product of spiritual revelation—not personality, status, or fashion.

b) Honour Flows Up, Down, and Sideways
• Up: Presence of God, Scripture, spiritual leaders.
• Sideways: Peers, volunteers, parking-lot team—“everybody gets respect.”
• Down: Children, newcomers, those without titles.

c) Ditches to Avoid
• Hyper-honour/idolatry (forced titles, celebrity culture).
• Hyper-familiarity (casual disrespect, gossip, social-media slander).
• Honour is never demanded; it is discerned and voluntarily given.

4. Naaman: Honour, Humility, and Obedience (2 Kings 5)

• Naaman’s Résumé vs. Reality: decorated Syrian general yet secretly leprous (symbolic of hidden sin).
• A nameless servant girl (spoils of war) discerns a prophetic solution others overlook—honour can be located in unexpected voices.
• Prophetic Door: Naaman arrives with horses, gifts, and ego, but Elisha will not be bought; sends instructions through a messenger.
• Stumbling Block: Dirty Jordan vs. cleaner rivers illustrates that God removes all grounds for self-credit—miracles require humility.
• Seven dips = perseverance; each submersion looked worse before it looked better (“a just man falls seven times and rises again”).
• Outcome: fresh, childlike flesh—the fruit of obedience rooted in honour.

5. First-Fruits & Financial Honour

• Biblical pattern: life before fruit (Abel vs. Cain).
• Congregation invited to sow sacrificial first-fruit offerings, not as payment but as prioritising God.
• Testimony: $600k debt cancelled for Atlanta Smart Academy—proof that God still honours honour-motivated giving.

6. Family & Relationship Honour

• Baby dedications (1 Sam 1–3 model) underscore parental and congregational responsibility.
• Singles encouraged to pursue holiness; true partners respect boundaries.
• Married couples coached to out-honour one another—men lead through prayer, women reciprocate through tangible care.

Major Lessons & Revelations

• Honour creates a SAFE place; dishonour breeds suspicion and gossip.
• The womb of the miraculous is humility; God often hides breakthrough in lowly instructions.
• Worship is not preference but protocol—Heaven has patterns.
• Spiritual doors open through gifts of gratitude, good attitude, and obedience, not bribery or flattery.
• Communities either build or break themselves by the way they treat God’s presence and God’s people.

Practical Application

1. Arrive ready: Pray, prepare, and posture yourself before entering corporate worship.
2. Guard your tongue: Speak well of leaders and peers; address issues privately, never through public dishonour.
3. Serve somewhere unseen: Parking, children, cleanup—train your heart away from platform-seeking.
4. Sow first-fruits: Decide a sacrificial seed and label it “It’s about to happen,” expecting God’s provision.
5. Daily decrees (Job 22:28): Verbally establish health, prosperity, favour, and wisdom despite external “winds” (Ecc 11:4).
6. Husbands/fathers: Lead family prayer; wives/mothers: reinforce honour by example; singles: honour God with purity and patience.

Conclusion & Call to Response

• Embassy City must be known as “A House of Honour.”
• The invitation was extended to salvation, church partnership, and recommitment.
• The charge: never become familiar with holy moments—cling to humility, practise honour, and expect God to manifest.

Prayer

“Father, establish honour in our hearts—toward You, our families, our leaders, and every person we meet. Remove all pride, all idolatry, and every residue of offence. Teach us to worship without restraint, to obey without delay, and to serve without needing applause. Cover our finances, our children, and our destinies as we trust and honour You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”