Podcast Summary: "Honor Must Be Repaid | Chris Cody | Offering Message"

Dufresne Ministries Podcast – Campmeeting 2019, World Harvest Church, Murrieta, CA
Date: June 21, 2019
Speaker: Chris Cody

Episode Overview

This episode features guest minister Chris Cody delivering the offering message at the 2019 Campmeeting. Cody centers his message on the biblical principle that honor—especially the honor shown to ministers and ministry—must be repaid by God. Drawing from the story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4, Cody shares personal revelations and practical takeaways about deepening one’s perception, the tangible nature of honor, and how opening the “door of honor” invites the blessings and miracles of God, sometimes even beyond the reach of one’s faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Foundation: The Shunammite Woman’s Story ([00:16]–[07:16])

• Scripture Focus: 2 Kings 4:8–37 (The Shunammite woman honors the prophet Elisha)

• Perception Precedes Reception:

  • Cody emphasizes that the Shunammite woman’s first step was her perception that Elisha was a man of God, which led her to honor him tangibly.
  • “You’re going to receive from the minister in direct proportion to your degree of perception.” (Chris Cody, [01:44])

• Honor in Actions, Not Just Words:

  • The woman remodeled her house—a significant, costly gesture—creating a dedicated “aliyah” (an upper room) for Elisha, furnished with the finest items. Cody clarifies that this space was reserved for honored guests, not just ordinary visitors.
  • The translation “stool” in the King James is clarified as a “canopied throne”—honor was expressed with the best available.

• Biblical Echoes of Honor:

  • Connecting the “aliyah” to other key biblical moments: Daniel’s prayers, Jesus’ last meal, and the outpouring at Pentecost all occurred in spaces marked by honor.

Revelation 1: Honor Must Be Repaid ([07:16]–[10:05])

• Unasked-for Blessings:

  • The Shunammite woman did not make a request; her only intent was to bless Elisha. Still, Elisha is compelled to find a way to honor her back—offering to advocate for her with the king and, ultimately, by prophesying a miraculous birth.
  • “He kept marching the floor going, no, something must be done for her.” (Chris Cody, [06:40])

• Divine Principle:

  • Cody shares his first revelation: “Honor must be repaid.” When genuine honor is shown—especially to God and His servants—God obligates Himself to reciprocate.

    “Honor must be repaid. That’s why God put it in the heart of the prophet she honored. And that honor triggers something.”
    —Chris Cody ([08:35])

• Faith vs. Honor:

  • The woman received a miracle without ever making a request or even having the faith for it; her honor opened the way.

Revelation 2: The Open Door of Honor ([10:05]–[12:30])

• The Avenue of Miracles:

  • Cody’s second insight: Even if one’s faith isn't sufficient for a particular miracle, the “open door of honor” can make God’s blessings accessible.

    “God could still get it to you through the open door of honor.”
    —Chris Cody ([11:24])

• Development and Consistency:

  • The Shunammite woman eventually developed her faith—she later received another miracle (her son being raised from the dead), partly because she maintained her relationship with the prophet over years.

• Practical Implication:

  • Honor should not be manipulative or self-serving. True honor isn’t about “working” the minister for a benefit; it’s about blessing them genuinely.

Application to Giving ([12:30]–[14:17])

• Showing Honor Tangibly:

  • Offerings become both an expression and a test of honor. Cody encourages the congregation to let their giving reflect their perception and esteem for the ministry and its leaders.

• Personal Reflection:

  • Cody attests from personal experience that he and his wife have seen God's repayment through their continued efforts to grow in honor.

    “God has repaid our honor, that we’ve shown him, his word, and the people—the ministers that God’s put into our life to bless us. Every offering you receive...is an opportunity for you to open the door up, because honor is shown with words. It is. But honor’s more than talk.”
    —Chris Cody ([13:10])

• Encouragement for the Week:

  • Participants are urged to “open the honor door all the way to the doorstop so that God can reach our life through that avenue.” ([14:00])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You’re going to receive from the minister in direct proportion to your degree of perception.” —Chris Cody ([01:44])
• “She never even put in a prayer request. She did not have a side agenda...She just wanted to bless him.” —Chris Cody ([04:51])
• “Honor must be repaid. That’s why God put it in the heart of the prophet she honored. And that honor triggers something.” —Chris Cody ([08:35])
• “How did this woman get a miracle without having faith?...God could still get it to you through the open door of honor.” —Chris Cody ([11:24])
• “Honor is shown with words...but honor’s more than talk. If you want to get the kind of miracles this woman got, you’re going to have to have the kind of honor she had and the kind of perception.” —Chris Cody ([13:19])
• “Let’s open the honor door all the way to the doorstop so that God can reach our life through that avenue.” —Chris Cody ([14:00])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:16 – Opening scripture and context: 2 Kings 4
• 01:44 – The impact of perception and its role in receiving
• 04:51 – The Shunammite’s motives and the true spirit of honor
• 06:40 – The prophet’s compulsion: “What must be done for her?”
• 08:35 – The divine principle: “Honor must be repaid”
• 11:24 – “The open door of honor” as a path to miracles
• 13:10 – Personal testimony on growing in honor
• 14:00 – Encouragement to open the honor door
• 14:17 – Offering instructions and closing prayer (content ends)

Conclusion

Chris Cody’s message urges listeners to recognize and act on the power of honor—especially towards God’s ministers. Honor is not just talk, but an actionable, heart-driven choice that can trigger God’s blessings, even in the absence of faith for a particular miracle. As Cody summarizes, “Honor must be repaid,” making honor both an avenue for personal blessing and a vital key to unlocking God’s favor. Listeners are encouraged to give with perception and genuine esteem, knowing it opens doors not only for themselves but for God’s supernatural movement in their lives.