the Praise of men

[Bowhunter2394]

Nevertheless among the Chief Rulers also Many Believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not Confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue(gathering place):

For they loved the praise of men more than the Praise of God.

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Interesting here, we see many Jews in Jesus's Time BELIEVING on Him, but they never CONFESSED Him, Hidden belief without a confession? oh Indeed, sometimes God calls His Own to a SILENT witness at times, their Lives a testimony to the Working of the Spirit of Grace as these on lookers witness the change from Inside Out... indeed!

the Reason they did not Confess Him although they Believed on Him? it was the different between being put out of the Synagogue and being deemed a heretic and a rebel rouser (accused falsely) and 'absorbing the praise of men' as they elevated themselves above and beyond the Righteousness of God, the Gift of Righteousness, the Person of Christ, God manifest in the flesh.. or Aligning Yourself with Eternal Life, and the Righteousness of God , which the Father imputes onto His own.. indeed! suffering persecution for the Cross of Christ, the praise of men, adorning themselves, the broad way, to destruction, The Narrow Way, Christ Crucified.. His Way... Not popular, not in the Majority, but Eternal Life.. and Truth. The love of the Praise of men over God's Praise... the difference maker? the Cross, and Him Crucified, Paul talks about other men in religion wanting to glory in your flesh, and bring into bondage, they only do this because they are in the flesh, and dont like the Persecution that comes from Being Crucified Daily with Him, 'lest they should suffer persecution for the Cross'.. interesting thoughts and the reality of the SILENT WITNESS, yet belief on Him, but what puts the 2 together Dynamically? not fearing mans reproach and being Faithful in Witness to the Grace and Glory of God? its the Cross and Its Preaching along with the Power of the Holy Ghost! those go hand and hand, boldness, Power, Christ Crucified, Humble vessels, broken vessels..... indeed!

 

[crossnote]

Sometimes the motive is not the greatest...

Philippians 1:14-17
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Even in preaching, there can be a wide open door for pride.

 

[Bowhunter2394]

Yep, thats why He said, Many are 'called' but FEW are chosen, and why Its revealed the Reality of the Enormous amount that will Stand before Him , claiming this and that in His Name, but He tells them I never KNEW you... these who did some real geat stuff for Him, but never 'knew' Him.. I can say the pride of man, fits into that. TO KNOW HIM is eternal life, Indeed.....

That I may know HIM , and the power of His Resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Here is Paul, a man who met the LORD on the Road to Damuscus, talked with the Risen Savior, yet still wanting to KNOW Him MORE, even after the powerful Conversion...KNOWING Him, more than an intellectual knowledge or head knowledge, it Truly Is... He KNOWS the Heart of Man , He truly does, those hidden secret regions, where actions are played out by those which are formed there... indeed!

 

[Yet]

Diotrephes wanted the praise of men. So he exalted himself. He became a cleric.

 

[DesiredHaven]

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

3 John 1:9 I wrote unto the church:
but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

There were others loving that preeminent place over the church seemed not to receive the apostles themselves

Sounds familar,
Which love to be first

 

[pwrnJC]

WOW..this was an awesome observation..thankyou for your spiritual insight on this! I loved it!!!!!!

 

[Bowhunter2394]

one purpose of this is that you can Be Silent in your Witness, yet still be In Him, quiet, meek, yet moving with Power... usually when you are FOUND IN HIS REST, those 'working' for their Salvation, will approach you and 'say '.. you need to be doing this, and doing that, why arent you more active here or there.. MOST of the times these are OUTSIDE the Rest of Christ... and are the flesh.. NO WHERE more evident is this than on a Sunday and ye are labouring, they coming and condemning you for working on Sunday.. lolz... usually a couple Scripture verses said to them will make them turn head and toe and walk away... IF YOUR HIS GENUINELY.. He IS YOUR SABBATH REST! INDEED... have you entered into His Sabbath Rest? resting under the Shadow of the Cross? what a Place!

 

[Bowhunter2394]

Sometimes the motive is not the greatest...

Philippians 1:14-17
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Even in preaching, there can be a wide open door for pride.

Good observation... from there I would add to ILLUMINATION.. the Illumination to 'preach'... behold a sower went forth to 'sow'.. the parable of the Sowers? so much tied into this.. indeed! and the times we live in..