THE GREATEST HONOUR

"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is (shall be, has to be) dreadful among the heathen", Mal 1:11,14 

There is no greater honour to be given unto God Almighty than to be instead of Him. This great God who needs no representation is granted honour by such who may say “thus says the Lord!” and it is truly so. Man is always shunning off to be instead of God because of self alone. He would rather be instead of God for the sake of self – if God would but uphold man!

But in this Arena, to be there by God, to be there indeed, is where you show how much or how little you are to yourself or anyone else, much more than not being there at all – this is how God is glorified, when man does not hinder God Himself to work while representing Him fully, man becoming absent while present because God's presence overwhelms all and everyone, without disdaining on a single matter. To draw back is not glorifying unto God, for then you will never know if you are able to give honour unto Him. To do as did John the Baptist (by denying Christ the baptism) is holiness, but not the will of God fully fulfilled. We have not to withdraw from baptizing God, but to do so. How should people seek the face of God, how should they all have their words be fire itself and burn the hearts of man, so much so that they may baptize God and stay serving as usual – how holy indeed must they become to do so!

In Jesus Name, His Holy Name, should mean a whole lot to you as well. Never pray, never work, never sing without being as God yourself, wherever you are! Magnify Him the whole of His host, for we are to be gods and godly at the same time – not godly alone, nor gods alone either. Do not fear to be proud because you won't be, for if you enter His courts and do not speak up accordingly, you might just be asking God to deny you sometime soon too. Next time when you dare to speak, God might just withdraw by not putting the words in your mouth so you may not be established for His sake. Rejoice then for He remains to be God through that, and He chose to be through you, even though He could do otherwise – now you are able to see how to be holy – through Him alone. Should you not enter His courts then, just as Isaiah says? No, but be holy as He is holy and enter them to magnify our great God unto the heavens yourself! To stay out does not glorify Him – it only does not defile Him. For God never to be defiled is never enough done. He is a great King and His name shall always be great – not unpolluted alone. He is a great God and we have the how, the temple, the means to glorify Him fully fulltime, sick in bed, sleeping or awake. There is no greater honour to you but to put your whole shoulder unto any plough, and yet have God be all in the strength He gives you, which you have fully as your own. To deny Him your strength, is to deny Him His own workings, His honour. See to it that He is a much greater King through your living, rather than through refusing Him to be baptized into you. He is always a great King – deny Him not yourself unto Him then. Enter the gates, the narrow door, with thanksgiving even – baptize Him thoroughly.

José Mateus