BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

6 : B V O V vulnerable. Think about it. That's what Jesus did. He made Himself vulnerable when He gave Himself for us. Losing sight of ourselves will cause us to find life. Remember how Jesus put it? "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:39). The man who seeks to keep his life will eventually lose it, but he who gives up his life for the sake of Jesus and His kingdom will find it. That person who gives his life will find life, dominion, authority—and honor. When he gives his life, or puts it at risk; when he makes himself vulnerable by obeying The WORD of God, he places himself in a position in which God can trust him with dominion, authority, riches, life and honor. However, if an individual is dishonorable, he will be unable to handle the dominion, authority, riches and honor that come to him. Instead, he will allow them to handle him. Soon, he will honor the gifts rather than the Giver. God will not allow that to go on for long. It's not part of the Covenant, the blood-sworn contract between God and His people. Honor When No One's Looking "Love your enemies, BLESS them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12). An honorable man is one who is the same whether or not someone is looking. He is honorable toward his boss whether he is liked or not. He is honorable toward the company whether he's treated right or wrong. An honorable man acts as if there is no one around but him and God. He acts the way his covenant or contract calls for him to act. Imagine that I am working for you, and you are a hateful boss. As your employee, however, I am in covenant with you. There is a Blood covenant made in Jesus' own blood that has brought us together and made us one. I must honor you and prefer you. If you continue to misuse and abuse me, I don't have to stay in your employment unless The LORD says to, but as long as I am there, I must work for you in honor, treating you as if you were Jesus Himself, never dishonoring you in word or deed. Jesus said we are to love those who misuse and persecute us (Luke 6:31-35). He was talking about the power of honor. When He said to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, He didn't say to do unto others before they do unto you. The way we deal with others is the same way we will be dealt with. As we walk in God's honor, we are to prefer one another (even those who persecute us) and not follow our flesh or the thoughts in our own minds. Eventually, the majority of people will treat us the same way in return. Why? Because God honors His promises. If you and I keep our part of the covenant, God will see to it that others do so as well. If we give honor, we will receive honor. We are not of this world anymore. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, reborn of His Spirit into His kingdom (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are in a Blood-covenant relationship with Almighty God Himself. His Name is now our name (Deuteronomy 28:10). We are one. We must represent Him the way we desire for Him to represent us. This covenant relationship is very real to me. It's as real as if I had taken a knife, cut open my hand to let blood flow, thrust it into the bleeding side of Jesus, and said, "I covenant with You forever." But His blood was not tainted with sin like my blood. I don't need to mix my blood with His. His blood took the place of my blood. He has made me His righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). When I plead the blood of Jesus, the blood of my Covenant with Him, satan hears that plea. You can't have a spiritual bond without some kind of covenant involved."

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