TITLE:

HONORING GOD THE BIBLICAL WAY

THEME FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY:

HONORING GOD TMIN 2024

SCRIPTURE:

Proverbs 3:5-10
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways
acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and
depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your
possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your
vats will overflow with new wine.

Mga Kawikaan 3:5-10

[5]Kay Yahweh ka magtiwala, buong puso at lubusan, at huwag kang mananangan sa sariling
karunungan.
[6]Sa lahat ng iyong gawain siya nga'y alalahanin, upang ika'y patnubayan sa iyong mga tatahakin.
[7]Huwag mong ipagyabang ang iyong nalalaman; igalang mo't sundin si Yahweh, at lumayo ka sa
kasamaan.
[8]Sa gayon, ikaw ay lalakas at magiging matatag, mawawala ang pighati, gagaling ang iyong sugat.
[9]Parangalan mo si Yahweh sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga kayamanan, at mula sa iyong mga
pinakamainam na ani, siya ay iyo ring handugan.
[10]Sa gayon, kamalig mo ay lagi nang aapaw, sisidlan ng inumin ay hindi nga matutuyuan.

INTRODUCTION:

Maraming kainan at parties ng paskong nagdaan.

“How heavy are you?”
"Gaano ka ba kabigat?"

Ito ay tanong na walang respeto, ngunit sa ibang kultura, ito ay isang pag galang dahil may mga ibang
bansa na ang alam nila sa kahulugan ng “weight = honor.”

Bakit?

The word for a respected authority is “big.” The logic is rather simple:
Kapag mabigat ka, importanteng tao ka; marami ka kasing resources at pagkain. Heaviness implies
importance.

Sa Old Testament.
This “weight=honor” mindset sheds light on the Old Testament concept of honor.
The primary Hebrew word for honor is kavod.
• The word is central to Old Testament culture and theology; the verb kavod occurs 173x and the noun
kavod occurs 200x.
• The main meaning is “weight,” which then carries a metaphorical sense of weightiness, importance,
and honor.
• Here are some ways the word is used.
• The Hebrew word also refers to “wealth” and “riches,” as the most valuable objects, like gold and
silver, were the heaviest (Isa 61:6; Judges 18:21).

Weight means glory.

• Maaaring tumukoy sa mga bagay na mariringal.
• Kapag kilala ka ng lipunan, (as political, o celebrity) meron kang social weight - social distinction.

WE ALL HAVE THE CALLING TO GLORIFY GOD IN EVERYTHING WE DO.

This is why we are here. Scripture says God created us for His glory (Isa. 43:7) and instructs us to “do
everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

IT IS GOOD TO START THE YEAR 2024 IN GIVING GLORY TO GOD.

HONOR = GLORY = RESPECT

It is the word kavod, the word we usually render as glory. It means a heaviness.

The idea of respect and honor in kavod comes from the idea of heaping praise, respect and honor on
someone, weighing them down with respect.

HOW DO WE HONOR GOD?

IT STARTS WITH TRUSTING GOD.

REMEMBER: YOU CANNOT HONOR A GOD YOU DO NOT TRUST!

• V. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
• MAGTIWALA KA SA DIOS.

Naniniwala ka na iniligtas ka ng Panginoon, pero bakit hindi mo kayang paniwalaan na kaya Niyang ibigay
lahat ng pangangailangan mo?

Honor the LORD with your possessions: This is another practical way to show that you do trust in the
LORD with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5). When we truly trust Him, we can honor Him with generosity
that realizes He is the great provider and God has inexhaustible resources.

Many commentators note that the word honor has a connection with sacrifice.
DAHIL BIGATIN ANG DIOS. HINDI PWEDE ANG KURIPOTISM ATTITUDE.

• Ang pagbibigay ng first fruits ay hind ceremonial religion

• ITO AY PAGPAPAKITA NG 1. PASASALAMAT SA MGA NAIBIGAY SA ATIN, AT...
2. PATULOY NA NAGTITIWALA SA DIOS NA MAGBIBIGAY SA ATIN NG MATERYAL AT PINANSYAL NA
PAGPAPALA SA SUSUNOD NA TAON.
• Tanda ito ng tumitibay mong tiwala sa Dios kahit pinagpapala ka na. Ang tiwala mo ay hindi sa
kayamanan, kundi sa Dios na nagbibigay ng kakayanang lumikha ng kayamanan.
• Deuteronomy 8:18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to
get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. ITO AY
WARNING AGAINST PRIDE. YUMAMAN KA LANG, INIWANAN MO NA ANG GIVING, MINISTRY, CELL
GROUP, CHURCH, CONNECTION WITH YOUR LEADERS, AT MAYABANG KA NA MAGSALITA. NAGIGING
LISENSYA MO NA ANG SALAPI PARA MAGMALAKI: No time for ministry. Kung kelan ka nagkaron, tsaka ka
nagkuripot sa Dios.

HONORING WITH FIRST FRUIT AY ANG PAGBABALIK NG YAMAN SA DIOS NG MAY SACRIPISYO SA DIOS NA
NAGBIGAY SA IYO NITO.

b. With the first fruits of all your increase: According to the principle of the sacrifice of the first fruits, we
should give to God the first and best. If we will truly honor the LORD with our giving, it won’t be with the
last and leftovers.

Firstfruits: “It takes on the technical sense of offering the best of material things.” (Waltke)
GINAGAWA ITO SA ISRAEL NUNG LUMANG TIPAN.

The principle of firstfruits also means that we give to God in active anticipation that He will provide
more. We honor Him by thinking, “I can give You the first and the best because I know You can and will
give much more.”

NAPAKAGANDANG PANGAKO SA LAHAT NG TUTUPAD NG UTOS NITO:

So your barns will be filled with plenty: This is a wonderful principle. God is the master and distributor of
unlimited resources. He knows how to prosper and take care of those who honor Him with the resources
He has given to them.
• Filled na, plenty pa!

CONCLUDING REMARKS:
Everything that comes from God must go back to God. They become dysfunctional when they remain
with man. Blessings must turn to praise and praise is not just giving thanks for what God gave, it is giving
back to Him what He gave. Don't give thanks to God for things that He gave and deny Him access to
them for His use. Whatever blessing you don't return back to God in praise turns to pride.

Sa tagalog...
"Anumang galing sa Dios ay marapat na ibalik natin sa Dios. Nawawalan ito ng pakinabang kung
nananatili sa tao lamang.
Ang mga pagpapala ay dapat maisauli sa Dios hindi lamang sa pamamagitan ng pasasalamat, kundi sa
pagbabalik ng kanyang ibinigay sa atin. Huwag mong pasalamatan ang Dios sa kanyang mga pagpapala
ngunit hindi mo naman hinahayaang magamit ito ng Dios.
Ang pagpapalang hindi mo naibabalik sa Dios ay nagbubunga ng kayabangan."

APPLICATION
FIRSTFRUITS THIS JANUARY. WHOLE SALARY NA MATATANGGAP AY ISASAULI SA DIOS NG BUONG GALAK
SA PUSO.

Madaming tao ang naniniwala na para magkaroon ay nagho-hoard or naka-close ang kamay sa
pagbibigay. But ang hindi nila alam, dahil nakasara ang kanilang mga kamay ay hindi rin sila
nakakatanngap. Let us start to give.

Whenever you decide to make a first fruit offering, the important thing is that you do it freely, with no
guilt or obligation. This is supposed to be a celebration of all that God has done for you. It’s a kind of
worship that you can use to support the work of others. A first fruit offering is our opportunity to give
above and beyond

3RD WEEK OF JANUARY.

MINISTERING TIME.
THANK GOD AND PREPARE AND COMMIT YOUR FIRST FRUIT.

END.