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Hollow — 17 Comments

  1. Very good commentary on the verses in Amos. We should all strive to worship in spirit and in truth. However, although it is more important that someone is at church than how that person is dressed, the person may be the only one worshipping, as the "dress" maybe so distracting, that no one else can worship. One does not go to church and expect to be looking down another persons clefts or cleavages.

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  2. Acts 2:38 If we are baptized we are one with the spirit of God. If we are baptized and have not received gift of spirit then we are buried alive. It is a dangerous job to be Adventist. I think that Jesus did not rebuke Pharisees because He was judging them but to open their eyes. If He told them they were hypocrites we read that like He insulted them. I think Jesus goal was to wake them up. To be honest to them. Not to flatter to them wile they were going in damnation. They have relationship with Jesus although not pleasant one. Some of them even repented in time of Acts. Not all from the poor peoples repented. They do show greater respect to Jesus than Pharisees but were not they in their need? From 10 lepers only 1 come back! When need is satisfied then are they not dreaming to be like Pharisee -- a blessed one and strong one and winner not loser ?

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  3. It is true that the inside of the cup is more important than the way one dresses, but the lack of leadership in the church has gone a little bit too far...We must realize that even if we are all sinners, there is a level of respect for God that is amiss in our churches these days. We dishonor God by distracting or hindering others' worship by displaying our nakedness...The way some of our women dress will not be accepted in court, why do it in church? God is patient, but He also asks us to rectify our ways and to exhort one another with love...

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    • God bless you my sister. When a lady dresses in such a way that is exposing her body or undies, either by loose covering or tight fitting and some male is lusting seriously and is distracted from what he came to do, such lady should rethink and read the commentary for wisdom and knowledge. We should learn and begin to worship God in spirit and in truth.

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  4. Lillianne, to me it is the simple matter of being a real disciple of Jesus. Often we equate that with witnessing or giving Bible studies, even doing something for those in need but if we do all those things without love it amounts to nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). We may think that we have to do things like that because Jesus commands us to but that mental attitude is just legalism, salvation by works. It is when we treat others the way we would like to be treated and honestly want to do good without duress that we emulate the character of Jesus and stop being "hollow".

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  5. I can't agree more! As a result I'll b presenting this topic for discussion on Sabbath afternoon. Thanks

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  6. Very great analysis. We need first to be convicted by the Holy Spirit. We ought to be filled by the Holy Spirit and experience the power.

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  7. Jesus continued to tell them to repent until some did. It may take time but even if the mind of that person sitting in the church maybe be somewhere else, one of the many programs will touch that unrepented heart. It can be a hymnal, a memory verse or even a prayer. In one way or the other that coming together is good and brings a good end. Act 20:9 talks about Eutychus who was even asleep as Paul gave a very long sermon such that the youngman even got injured after falling from the upper flow. I guess that marked a turning point in his prayer life.

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    • Very interesting insight in Acts 20:9, even if one falls asleep while listening to preaching he can die and be resurrected- in one word: have experience with God and a top one experience: to be resurrected.

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  8. I write to beg God for forgiveness for my church fits Christ's description of an hypocrite. Please pray for us.

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  9. Anyone heard the proverbial boiling of the frog? The Devil is boiling Adventists to death in a church. Some of us don’t even know it. We think we are saved. The scribes and Pharisees didn't become hypocrites overnight. As suggested, it starts with disregarding intimate relationship with God in our personal time. Public worship is the icing, not the cake. God is so important that we should put him first. We must read his word DAILY and formally pray a few times during the day. Fellow believer once shared with me how she comes to Church just out of habit. Wish I told her she's on a dangerous road. Can you imagine the redeemed showing up to the Holy City on Sabbaths to worship “just out of habit?” I understand how repetitiveness in our routine might turn our worship to a mere habit but our God is a God of varieties and spices. If anyone knows how to spice up food, it’s Him. May God spice up our relationship with him by His Spirit lest we fall into a trap of complacency that leads to hypocrisy.

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  10. Church can be a Holy Spirit Hospital where we go to church every sabbath seeking our little bit of the Spirit, to ease our guilt for not giving god time during the week. If everyone at church is doing the same the Spirit never satisfies and church becomes a great breeding ground for the church police. (Did you see Mrs Brown had nail polish on today)

    A church which has members who grow in the Holy Spirit during the week, praying without ceasing, learning to love time with God every day, and bringing the Holy Spirit in abundance on Sabbath, becomes a church that God can send seekers along to, people praying for truth. What an amazing God, a huge God who wants to pour blessings out on all people!

    The only ones keeping it hollow and blocking blessings are you and I

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  11. Since 1844, God has looked for a generation who will be sealed. The Bible says it will happen, but doesn't tell us when. That is up to us. True worship can only be practiced in holiness. (Ps 29:2 & Ps 96:9) So the message in Revelation 14 is calling people to be holy,["fear God...give glory to Him...and worship Him..."] and only holy people can give that message with the power that must attend it. It's not the "worship" that God hates, it's the unholy lives that pretend to worship, which renders such worship as useless and even disgusting in God's sight. Our greatest need seems to be honesty with ourselves in the light of God's word, which will "reprove, correct and instruct in righteousness" if we search it with faith, and with the purpose to obey it by God's grace. He can keep us from falling, but we must submit to Him fully if that is to happen.

    The message of Amos speaks to us more than to those who lived in his day.

    Yes, there may be many among us who dress inappropriately, or sin in some other way, but what has that to do with MY obedience to God? Study 1 Samuel 14 to know what God's servants will do while the rest do nothing or actually desert the cause of God. That is our example if we would be found faithful. It's just not safe to wait for others, but to do the work God has given to us to do. That is all we will be held accountable for. Also, notice the revival that takes place in that story as those two faithful servants do God's work, trusting in Him. They led by example, without the consent of others.

    Do we wish to hear those blessed words: "Well done!"?

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  12. I believe most Christians are still carnal and no wonder that they are not different from natural men. They don not walk in the strength of Jesus because He is not central in their lives. It is sad that we still have people in our churches to day who are like the scribes and the Pharisees. We are supposed to be heavenly ambassadors on earth who are completely transformed from all elements of the world. We are supposed to be new creatures and lamps placed on top of the hills. We are supposed to be like those women who had their lamps full of oil. We are high priests and the chosen generation of God. But the way we behave completely shows that we are off line and that we will not have our bodies redeemed to the incorruptible body of the living God. Christians lets show what God has deposited in our spirits. If it is His Word lets be the word, nothing more or less. God has already done us a great thing by making our bodies His dwelling place. Now lets look at what we do with our bodies. Are we using them to bring out the best of God? Lets look at the way we dress, speak, walk. Is God found in all these things? If not then lets ask God to do something new in our lives that will live to glorify Him and not man.Remember we are going to see Jesus but not in these childish behaviours. We prefer to dress better before man and not God. Is this how things are supposed to be? Ask your self if Jesus will not disqualify you when He comes again. Lets finish the race like Paul who fought a good fight and won.

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