TO BE SEEN OF MEN

I have observed most people desire to be seen or admired of others, this person included: yet this personal ambition is starting to abate in me. Matthew 23:5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. Our works here represents how we interpret God’s word, and if we interpret it in our wisdom our works must be burnt up. When we hear God’s word the way He sees them: our way of seeing them will be dissolved, and this has been our works. 2 Peter 3:11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness. I recall as a young men how I loved to dress up and go to my local synagogue of Satan on Sunday mornings: to be seen of men. I enlarge the brim on my Fedora and wore my Italian suits with pride. Matthew 23:5But all their works they do for to be seen of men. The works are our thoughts, and our thoughts are our works. Our work has nothing to do with anything physical we might do to impress others in a physical Church. Revelation 3:8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. We denied God’s name: which is his word when we make our wicked thoughts equal to his thoughts. We see God’s name in our own wisdom and reject the spiritual door and try to enter in another way. John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [See the letter: ‘’Barabbas’’ on our legendary website shibbolemibstries.com.] Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.Isaiah 66:18For I know their works and their thoughts. We repeat, our works are our thoughts, and we are commanded to stop saying things about the Bible that we cannot prove by other scriptures unless; it is revealed to us by the Holy Ghost. Yet to be seen of other men and receive their glory, we are constantly adding our thoughts to God’s word. Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Preachers or fools refuse to hold their peace and will give their own interpretation on any scripture because it glorifies them: God never called them. Proverbs 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. John 7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  It has just been revealed to me as I write these words, what is God’s righteousness? It is when we seek His witness about the scriptures, we are entering into His righteousness. We will not be seeking the glory from mortal men, when we witness His glory or the meaning of the immortal scriptures. John 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? When we believe our own witness about the Bible we will never see His glory, and our own glory spiritually puffs us up. 1 Corinthians 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? In physical bread, leaven causes it the rise or puffs it up. When partake of God’s word do wicked thoughts arise in our heart? Acts 20:30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. We can only witness God’s glory when we can spiritually knowledge our glory has been the glory of the flesh. We have not cared as long as other men praised our own foolishness, and we receive glory from them. John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one. Jesus gives the glory or the interpretation of God’s word because they are one and gives it to us. Earthly mental glory and praise from mortal man is such a great sought out achievement. Let a man win the Super Bowl and an announcer strips him of that glory by asking him what’s next. The word glory is mentioned close to 400 times in the Bible: it has been a mystery to us. In order to receive the glory from above we have to be stripped of our own earthly glory. Job 19:9He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. Mentally we are born with a crown and see ourselves as kings; even if our wives see otherwise. The crown of your head is located at the very top of your skull. You may also sometimes see it referred to as the vertex. We all love the praise and glory that comes from other men. Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. Modern history is full of men of the earth that were great orators; it has been rumors that many didn't even write their own speeches. Whether it was written by them or not: they still receive the glory from men. Acts12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Michael Rudolph Hodges 5/9/2023 

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