Honoring God Is The Key To Living A Life of Honor Nick Bowlin | River Church Frankfurt

Honoring God

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.’”

10 Ways God Honors Those Who Honor Him

1. He Promotes You in Due Time

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” – 1 Peter 5:6
When you honor God, you don’t have to chase positions—He elevates you at the right time.

2. He Fights Your Battles

“The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” – Exodus 14:14
Those who honor God walk under divine protection and justice.

3. He Entrusts You with More

“You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” – Matthew 25:21
God honors obedience and faithfulness with greater responsibility and blessing.

4. He Makes Your Name Respected

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches...” – Proverbs 22:1
When you honor God, He gives you favor with people and builds your reputation.

5. He Covers You with His Presence

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1
His presence becomes your atmosphere—peace, power, and clarity follow.

6. He Blesses Your Children After You

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” – Proverbs 20:7
When you honor God, it creates a legacy that blesses generations.

7. He Makes Your Life Fruitful

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water... whose leaf also shall not wither.” – Psalm 1:3
Those who honor God become unshakable and productive in every season.

8. He Trusts You with His Power

“These signs will follow those who believe...” – Mark 16:17
Miraculous authority follows those who fear, love, and honor Him.

9. He Rewards You Publicly

“Your Father... will reward you openly.” – Matthew 6:6
God doesn’t just bless privately—He will honor you in front of others when you honor Him in secret.

10. He Gives You a Crown That Doesn’t Fade

“When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” – 1 Peter 5:4
Earthly honors fade, but God gives eternal rewards to those who live for His glory.

1. Put God First in Everything

Matthew 6:33 –
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Exodus 20:3 –
"You shall have no other gods before Me."

Proverbs 3:5–6 –
"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."

• Start your day with prayer and the Word.

• Schedule around God, not around convenience.

• Let Him have the final say in decisions.

2. Obey His Word

John 14:15 –
"If you love Me, keep My commandments."

Deuteronomy 11:1 –
"Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and keep His charge, His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments always."

James 1:22 –
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

• Study the Bible daily.

• Don’t delay obedience.

• Align your life with what the Word says, not culture.

3. Honor God with Your Body

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 –
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

Romans 12:1 –
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."

1 Thessalonians 4:4 –
"That each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor."

• Avoid sexual sin and immorality.

• Get proper rest and care for your health.

• Use your body to serve others and glorify God.

4. Honor Him with Your Giving

Proverbs 3:9–10 –
"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."

Malachi 3:10 –
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 –
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

• Give regularly, not just emotionally.

• Support the local church and kingdom work.

• Trust God as your Source, not your job.

5. Worship with Reverence

Psalm 29:2 –
"Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

Hebrews 12:28 –
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

John 4:24 –
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

• Prepare your heart before you worship.

• Don’t treat worship like entertainment.

• Let your lifestyle reflect your worship.

6. Live a Life of Holiness

1 Peter 1:16 –
"Because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"

2 Corinthians 7:1 –
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved,
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
Perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Hebrews 12:14 –
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness,
Without which no one will see the Lord."

• Separate yourself from sin.

• Make holiness a pursuit, not a performance.

• Let the Holy Spirit guide your conduct.

7. Honor His Presence

Exodus 33:15 –
"Then he said to Him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.'"

Psalm 16:11 –
"You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Matthew 18:20 –
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

• Welcome His presence intentionally.

• Don’t rush Him—linger in worship and prayer.

• Acknowledge His presence in all things.

8. Trust Him in Trials

Proverbs 3:5–6 –
"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."

Isaiah 26:3 –
"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."

Romans 8:28 –
"And we know that all things work together for good
To those who love God,
To those who are the called according to His purpose."

• Don’t panic—praise instead.

• Speak faith even in pain.

• Surrender outcomes to God’s will.

9. Represent Him Well

Colossians 3:17 –
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
Giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

2 Corinthians 5:20 –
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,
As though God were pleading through us:
We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."

Philippians 2:15 –
"That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault
In the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
Among whom you shine as lights in the world."

• Reflect Christ in speech and conduct.

• Be excellent in your work ethic.

• Show integrity when no one is watching.

10. Share the Gospel

Romans 1:16 –
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,
For the Jew first and also for the Greek."

Matthew 28:19–20 –
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;
And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen."

Mark 8:38 –
"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation,
Of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed
When He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

• Share your testimony boldly.

• Pray for divine appointments daily.

• Support missions and evangelism regularly.