Born for Significance: Advancement and HonorSample

Honor and Evangelism

Evangelism has been around for two thousand years. It is vital, as we are facing what will be the greatest harvest of souls the world has ever seen. The harvest is upon us now. But the only reason I mention this subject in the context of honor and promotion is that we are often blind to the tools Jesus used. The proper use of these tools often sets us up for the kind of promotion that He longs for us to receive.

1. The bold preaching of the gospel 

I will admit, this is my favorite of all. I love hearing the bold declarations of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The transformation of my life came in large part through the bold preaching of Mario Murillo. He presented a no-compromise gospel: either you’re all in or all out. I loved it, and I needed it. If I’m going to select one method to use for the rest of my life, it will be this one. God has honored this method for two thousand years. All the great revivalists were known for this gift. I pray this generation embraces the privilege of being bold in our proclamation of truth.

2. The blessings of God upon His people 

This will probably seem like the strangest of all evangelistic tools. And I guess it should be, as we’ve not always known how to carry favor and blessing the way it was designed. And yet the principle remains: blessings upon us reveal Him. Psalm 67:1–2 addresses this profoundly: “God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations” (NKJV). Look at it carefully. God’s mercy and blessings displayed upon our lives reveal His nature—“that your way may be known on earth.” The next statement is the most astonishing of them all—“Your salvation among the nations.” The blessing upon us, carried well, is what reveals the nature of our perfect Father in a way that impacts entire nations. With that outcome hanging in the balance, we might want to give more deliberate attention to this vital tool. I owe the world around me a blessed life because it is that life that reveals His nature in a way that makes His grace irresistible.

3. Giving honor where it’s due 

I doubt this will come as a surprise, but God uses a different standard for seeing where honor is due than we do. In this case, it’s not that our perspective is wrong. We know how to recognize nobility and reward accordingly. We also know a bit about recognizing bravery and courage. We rightfully honor our first responders as they face considerable challenges in carrying out their duties. There are many other such things that we are able to recognize and honor.

But Jesus raised the bar on how, when, and to whom we are to give honor. The honor He gave was not according to externals. He honors according to the heart, but also to the potential. Jesus sat next to the offering plate in the synagogue and noticed how some people gave considerable sums of money. But He honored the widow who put in all she had even though her gift was the least. He honored the centurion for his unique understanding of the kingdom in his demonstration of great faith.