Imagine a scenario where you and a friend are in the same room or at the same event as the wealthiest man you can think of right now. You, knowing who the said person is, honour their presence and even have your expectations heightened for whatever nuggets he is to deliver; your heart ready to receive. But your friend, on the other hand, has a different heart posture. Maybe for a lack of knowledge of who the wealthy person was, he has discerned the wealthy man as an ordinary fellow, so he isn’t as expectant as you are to learn. One of you will leave the room different from the other.

In our walk with God, expectations prepare the heart to receive, but it is honour that determines how much you can actually receive. Honour is simply treating something as sacred. When we recognise the sacredness of what God is doing and, even so, who He is using, we unlock our capacity to draw from Him.

Let’s take a look at Scripture to see the consequences of familiarity and dishonour:
Mark 6:2-3, 5
New King James Version
2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?’ So they were offended at Him.
5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Notice their response to Jesus. See what familiarity did to the hearts of those who divine blessings awaited. It’s sad. The text says they got offended. Familiarity led to dishonour that somehow resulted in offence in their hearts. He could do no mighty work in His hometown because of familiarity. Dishonour did not weaken His power; His ability and willingness to heal were fully present. However, it hindered their ability to receive it. In the realm of the Spirit, a lack of honour translates directly to unbelief, and it is impossible to appropriate spiritual gifts or blessings where unbelief exists. We must never be found in this position!

You would most definitely receive only from those you deem worthy of receiving from; those you honour. This culture of honour must therefore be intentionally applied, not only to the Word, but to the ministers God sends to relay the Word to us.

Ephesians 4:11-12
New King James Version
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

God blesses men through men. That’s the paradigm He has chosen. That divine blessings and edification be brought to his people by other men.

Think of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:9-10
New King James Version
9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.
10 Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” 

She discerned that Elisha was a holy man of God and honoured his ministry by making a room for him. Her profound honour unlocked a miracle her family desperately needed. When you honour the vessel, you honour the God who sent them.
Paul had a similar testimony of the Church in Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 
New King James Version
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

This text shows us the disposition we need to have in honour. The Thessalonian church honoured the message by receiving it as God’s Word, and because of that honour, it effectively worked in their lives. We must have this same reverence for the Scriptures, for the pastors labouring over us, and for the supernatural relationships we share with fellow believers.
When we receive ministers in their God-given offices rather than reducing them to their age, background, or flaws, we position ourselves to receive the spiritual rewards they carry. 

From today, discern no man by the flesh: let nothing about the divine feel common. Remember, every part of the body is a supplying joint! It is your responsibility to guard your heart against the subtle trap
of familiarity. Treat the presence of God, His instructions, and His chosen vessels as sacred, knowing that your honour is the very key to what you receive.

Prayer Point
Father, I thank you for your word that has come to me this morning. I begin to channel my heart to honour: for you, your word and those through whom your word comes. I let go of familiarity, and I embrace reverence every day.