Dishonor Disrupts, Honor Lifts Up Nick Bowlin | River Church Frankfurt

The Fall of Dishonor – The Rise of Honor
Main Verse:
1 Samuel 2:30 (NKJV)
“Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed
INTRODUCTION
Heaven promotes what the world rejects—honor. The greatest divide in eternity began with a dishonor in heaven. Satan fell because of it. Jesus rose because of honor.
The principle is this: Dishonor brings demotion. Honor brings promotion.


PART 1: LUCIFER – THE PATTERN OF DISHONOR
1. Rejected Authority
Isaiah 14:13–14 (NKJV)
“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’”
Lucifer refused God’s assigned position. He didn’t want to serve—he wanted to rule.


2. Filled with Pride
Ezekiel 28:17 (NKJV)
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor;
I cast you to the ground,
I laid you before kings,
That they might gaze at you.”
He became impressed with himself instead of glorifying the One who created him.


3. Led Others into Rebellion
Revelation 12:4 (NKJV)
“His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.”
Satan didn’t just fall—he took one-third of the angels with him through manipulation and dishonor.


4. Undermined God’s Word
Genesis 3:1 (NKJV)
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”?’”
Dishonor always begins by questioning God’s Word. That same spirit still whispers today.


5. Result: Demotion and Judgment
Luke 10:18 (NKJV)
“And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.’”
Revelation 12:9 (NKJV)
“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”
He was cast down and eternally separated from the presence and favor of God.


PART 2: JESUS – THE PATTERN OF HONOR
1. Submitted to the Father’s Will
John 6:38 (NKJV)
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
Jesus honored the Father by living in total submission, even when it cost Him everything.


2. Walked in Humility
Philippians 2:6–8 (NKJV)
“[Jesus], being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Humility and obedience are the foundation of honor.


3. Lifted Others Instead of Pulling Them Down
John 13:14–15 (NKJV)
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Instead of exalting Himself, Jesus lowered Himself to lift others up.


4. Magnified the Word of God
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”’”
Unlike Satan, Jesus honored the Word of God and used it as His weapon.


5. Result: Exaltation and Eternal Glory
Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV)
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Honor led to exaltation. Jesus is now enthroned forever.
James 4:10 (NKJV)
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”