Fellowship with the Living God

 

Fellowship with the Living God

1 John 1:1-2:2

 

Amazingly, the Bible tells us that we can have fellowship with the living God.  Rich fellowship – bringing us “fullness of joy”. (1 John 1:3-4) When we believe in Christ, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to live within us and teach and guide us. If we are willing to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can have fellowship with the Lord and our lives can be a continual feast!  

 

Scripture tells us that:” God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5b) And when we have fellowship with our good God, who is all light, Scripture says that we will be “walking in the light”.   (1 John 1:7) And when we walk in the light, or when we have fellowship with our God and Father, we have joy and peace.  Why don’t we Christians always “walk in the light” since it is such a joyful path?  Why do dark shadows so often creep in and follow us?  How do we get off the path so easily?

 

The Bible says that sin can get in the way of our fellowship with God.  Scripture says: “If we say that we have fellowship with God, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1:6) If we have believed in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our sin isn’t going to take away our salvation.  After we believe in Christ, if we purposely continue sinning, we are still part of God’s family.  But our holding onto sin may take away our close fellowship with God. 

 

God has a plan.  Scripture says: “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (I John 1:9) Confessing our sins before a faithful and just God brings cleansing and forgiveness.  We will not be completely free of sin until we die and often, we don’t even recognize some of our sins.  The Holy Spirit is working on us, and when we do recognize a sin, we are told to confess it in prayer and turn from it.

 

 We often try to overlook our sin or make excuses for it. I have a problem loving some people. Especially people who treat me badly and people who try to tear down the Christian faith.  I make excuses for my sin of hating certain people.  But I can’t get around the fact that Scripture tells us to “Love and pray for our enemies” (Matthew 5:44) Without the help of the Holy Spirit, I find it impossible to love these folks.  So, I need God’s help in order to be able to obey Him.

 

 On many occasions, I have had to ask the Lord to give me His love for the person who was treating me badly or attacking the Christian gospel. And amazingly, He always answers those prayers.  (I may slip and have to ask Him for His love again and again!) But He always supplies it again if I want it. God calls His children to live a life of love and to pray for our enemies. And He calls us to let Him deal and judge the person who is giving us trouble.

 

We are called to confess our sins when we become conscious of them and not make excuses.  We humans sometimes boast that we can have fellowship with God while living in unrepentant sins.  But we are trying to lower God to the human (sinful) level.

 

 The Bible says that if we claim to be close to God while being determined to go on actively sinning, we deny the truth.  Scripture says: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” (1 John 1;6) The Bible speaks often about the “truth”.  But what is this truth?  The Word of God, the Bible, is the truth.  When we study the Scriptures, we can discover what is good and what is sinful.  Our job is to trust and obey. That is the ticket!  When we trust and obey, even though we are sinners, we can have joyful fellowship with the Living God.     

 

But then there is another way we can mess it up.  We humans sometimes boast that we can have fellowship with God by living a sinless life.  If we can just be good enough, spiritual enough on our own, we can have fellowship with God.  But we are all sinners and the Bible says that claiming that we are without sin denies the truth and makes God out to be a liar.  Scripture says: “if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…  If we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 and 10)

 

It sounds confusing and impossible for us.  But the righteousness of Jesus uniquely suits Him for His role as our Helper when we have sinned.  Jesus is our eternal Advocate.  Jesus fills us with His Spirit and covers us with His righteousness, and Scripture says: “the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7b) His Spirit in us is changing us.  God’s offer is for us to confess our sins and a faithful and just God will bring cleansing and forgiveness. No other religion on earth offers us anything like this.  God is the real joy giver! There is no greater place to be on earth than in the presence of God.    

 

  

 

 

 

,

 

    

 

David and Goliath

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17

 

The year was approximately 900 B.C. and the Israelites had gotten their very first king, King Saul.  The Philistines were neighbors and enemies of the Israelites during King Saul’s reign.  And the ruthless Philistines were always trying to pick fights and conquer the Israelites in order to enslave them.  So, King Saul’s men, were constantly fighting the Philistines. Sometimes they lost their battles with the Philistines and sometimes they won.  But whenever the Israelites trusted God for their victories, they won. 

 

During this time David was just a shepherd boy and too young to be a soldier. But three of his older brothers were soldiers in King Saul’s army. During one of the battles with the Philistines, David’s father, Jesse, asked David to go to the battleground and check up on his older brothers and bring them food.

 

 So, the next morning David left his sheep with a servant and took off hiking across the fields to find King Saul’s army and his brothers.  Scripture tells us that the battle was being fought in a valley between two hills.   The Philistines were camped on one hill and across the valley the Israelites were camped on the opposite hill.   Just as David arrived at the battleground, Goliath, a huge Philistine giant about 9 ½ feet tall, came stomping out from the Philistine army camp and stormed over to the Israelite camp shouting out curses at the Israelite soldiers.

 

Goliath, a champion of war, was wearing a bronze helmet and a heavy coat of scale armor. He had bronze shields on his legs and a bronze javelin slung on his back.  His spear shaft was heavy and long, and his shield bearer marched ahead of him carrying a heavy shield to protect him.

 

Every morning and evening for forty days now Goliath had been strutting up and down the valley shouting insults at the Israelite soldiers and daring one of them to be a man and come out and fight him!  Goliath is making fun of the God of Israel and mocking the Jewish soldiers for having a God that wouldn’t be able to save them from him and his might fighting power.

 

All the Israelite soldiers would run away each time Goliath would come out and bully them.   When David saw this he became very angry and he argued with his older brothers. David felt that one of the Israelite soldiers should trust God enough to go fight this giant. Why should Goliath be allowed to insult God?  Why didn’t one of King Saul soldiers trust God enough to fight this giant Philistine?  Eliab, David’s oldest brother, flew into a rage and told David to shut up.  He fussed that David was a stupid boy and didn’t understand. That Goliath, the giant and mighty man of war, with all of his armor would certainly kill any man who tried to fight him.  But little David insisted that God was bigger than any giant and someone, maybe he, should go fight Goliath in God’s Name. 

 

What David said was overheard and reported to King Saul, and the king sent for David to come to him.  David bowed before his king and said: “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine: your servant will go and fight him.”  (1 Samuel 17:32) King Saul insisted that David was just a boy and surely the giant would kill him.  But David insisted that the God of Israel would deliver him.  King Saul prayed for David and then tried to put his armor on David, but it didn’t fit.  So, David got five little stones from the creek bed and said that he would fight Goliath with his little slingshot. 

 

When David came out to fight, Goliath looked David over and saw that he was only a boy.  Scripture says that Goliath hated David and he said: “Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks? “Goliath cursed David by his gods.  Then he roared at David: “Come here, I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!”  (1 Samuel 17: 43-44)

 

And David replied: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will hand you over to me, … and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves: for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”  (1 Samuel 17:45-47) 

 

Goliath in a fury ran to attack, and David ran to the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, David slung it and struck Goliath on the forehead.  The stone sank into his forehead, and Goliath fell face down on the ground.  When the Philistine army saw that their hero was dead, they all turned and ran away.

 

David grew up and was chosen by God to be Israel’s next king. (2 Samuel) Scripture says that David was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22 and 1 Samuel 13:14)   Why is that?  Let’s look at David’s life and see if we can find out why God was so pleased with David.  Why he was a man after God’s own heart!

 Even though David committed many big sins in his life, he was always deeply sorry and always quickly repented of them. David sincerely wanted God’s will for himself as well as for his country, Israel. God meant everything to David.  David loved God with all his heart, and he loved God’s Word and said that it was a light for his path. It is believed that David wrote many of the Psalms through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  

 

David was a humble servant. (1 Samuel 16:14-23) And a faithful and obedient son. (1 Samuel 16:1-13)   David wanted God and Gods’ Word more than anything else and he always gave God praise and honor and glory.  David was a victorious warrior.  He saw only the size of his God and not the size of the giant.

 

 Scripture says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) David firmly believed and trusted in God and he believed that God would answer his prayers. His bold faith pleased God.  I believe that David’s love and faith in God are the reasons that he was a man after God’s own heart.  

 

How do we measure up?  Do we go after the “giants” in our lives trusting God to be with us and fight our battles?  Have we let the size of the giants in our lives overwhelm the size of our God?  Do we believe the scriptures that tell us that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him?  Do we love and trust God and want His will in our lives?  Are we willing to obey Him?  Oh that we could live our lives so that they would bring joy to God’s heart the way David did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Do's and Don'ts of Spirit Living

Do’s and Don’ts of Spirit Living

 

 

The Bible tells us that when we believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the power of God – in the form of the Holy Spirit- is given to us as a gift!  The Holy Spirit is released into our lives and it is no longer we who live but it is Christ who lives in us and through us. (Galatians 2:20)

 

Without Christ, we humans are slaves to sin.  We are addicted to sin and we can’t free ourselves from sinning even when we try our best. But if we yield to Christ’s Spirit in us, we can be set free from being a slave to sin.  Christ has come to set us free - free from sin and death!  And His Holy Spirit in our lives is quietly changing and freeing us and re-making us in His image.

 

The Bible tells us that we are to “walk in the Spirit”.  I believe “walking in the Spirit” means living our lives allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Scripture says: “Since we live by the Holy Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)   But how do we physically “walk in the Spirit” or “keep in step with the Spirit”?   The Bible gives us some directions or concrete steps to help us to “walk and keep in step with the Spirit.”

 

First, we are to drop the ego!  Scripture says: “Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  (Galatians 5:26) Christians are to be humble.  Scripture says that:  Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Proverbs 16:18) As Christians we are told that we have been “crucified with Christ”.  (Galatians 2:20) Our old nature is on its’ way out and the new nature in Christ is maturing in us.  Let us keep in step with what the Spirit is doing in our lives and allow the Spirit to create a humble spirit in us.   

 

Second, we are to restore the fallen.  Scripture says; “Brothers and sisters, if anyone is caught in any sin you who are spiritual should restore him or her in a spirit of gentleness.  Keep watch over yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) If a Christian is caught in a sin we are to pray for guidance and gently confront him or her.  We can humbly and lovingly show this person the Scriptures that condemn their sinful words or actions.  We are not to call good evil or evil good. (Isaiah 5:20)

 

Thirdly, we are to bear one another’s burdens.  Scripture says: “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Burden bearing honors Jesus Christ.  We are to help one another.  Be generous and feed the hungry, care for the sick, give to the poor and rescue persons in trouble.  Pray for others and welcome the stranger.  Jesus said that if we do good to people in need, we are doing good to Him.  And Jesus calls everyone who helped the needy into His kingdom.  (Matthew 25:34-40) Jesus also says that those who refused to feed the hungry or give to the poor or care for the sick here on earth, that they actually refused to feed Him and He refuses to allow them into His heavenly kingdom.  (Matthew 25:41-46) 

 

Forth, in our quest to “walk in the Spirit” we are told to take responsibility for ourselves.  Scripture says: “For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  For each will have to bear his own load.  (Galatians 6:3-5) We ae to self- examine ourselves. Check out our attitudes.  Work and try to carry our own weight.

 

Fifth, take responsibility for doing your share to help your church or ministry.  Scripture says: “Let the one who is taught the Word, share all good things with the one who come to you with the Word.”  (Galatians 6:6) Look after those who are running your local church if you can.  We are in a battle for the Truth and we all need to do our part. 

 

Sixth, don’t mock God with your life.  Scripture says: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.  For whatever you plant or work for, that you will also reap (or get back).  If a person works to build up his own ego and pride, he or she will get back corruption, but if a person works or plants to the Spirit, he or she will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8) We are not to ridicule God by the way we live our lives.  God wants us to live our lives for Him.

 

And last, we are not to tire of doing good.  Scripture says: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

 

When we walk in the Spirit, we are to look for opportunities to bless people.  Let the Spirit lead us.  Do it all with love. God will give us what we need for the journey. As God has forgiven you, forgive others.  Place it all at God’s Feet.  God promises to give us the power to live wherever He puts us.  This is a list of some of the do’s and don’ts of Spirit living.  (Galatians 6:1-18)     

 

 

 

.   

 

 

.

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You

Draw Near to God and He Will Draw Near to You

 

I have had a very blessed life and my Christian faith has given me much joy.  But I have a sin or a fault that hangs onto my life and I have not been able to stop doing it no matter how hard I have tried.  This sin has haunted me for as long as I can remember.  My big sin is worrying.  And becoming very anxious in certain situations. 

 

Long ago I accepted the fact that sometimes I become very fearful and anxious.  It was just who I was, I told myself.  It was only normal for me to be fearful in this broken world.  There was nothing I could do about it since being anxious was part of my makeup, I told myself. I was always miserable when these anxiety attacks would come, but then what could I do?  I prayed and told the Lord that I had tried and tried, and I didn’t have the strength to get rid of my fears by myself.

 

All my life I have covered over my fears and pretended to the outside world that I was normal.  I would tell myself that someday in heaven Jesus would finally change me – make me into a new person in Him – and then these miserable panic attacks would finally be gone.

 

But then one day something happened!  A still small Voice inside my head spoke to me and whispered that I didn’t have to wait till heaven to get rid of my panic attacks.  That Jesus can start changing me now!  Start making me into that “new person” in Him now! He can give me His courage in the places where I have no courage of my own.  And that He can give me His peace, when I am fearful and have no peace!

 

Soon after that, a situation came along that made me anxious. As always, I again felt myself being gripped by my dark forebodings and fears. I had no peace of my own, just sick nervous fear.   Then I remembered that Jesus promised His peace to His followers and believers. (John 14:27) Shouldn’t I ask for what He has promised me? 

 

So, in the middle of my terrible fears, I started praying: “Jesus, give me Your peace.”  “Jesus, give me Your peace.”  This short little prayer seemed to be my lifeline.  I prayed this little prayer slowly over and over believing that He was giving me His peace right then, right when I needed it most.  I pictured Him, my Savior, bending over and lovingly and generously giving me His provisions – His courage and His peace. My fears seemed to lose their grip and His warm peace enveloped me. How safe and secure I felt in His presence.  What a victory!   

I wonder now why I spent so many years not developing a closer walk with Jesus.  And so many years trying on my own to stave off my worries and panic attacks.  And why I never learned to completely rest in His Presence or ask the Lord for His peace and strength, believing and thanking Him for giving them to me.  Scripture says that we will find the Lord when we search for Him with our whole hearts. (Hebrews 11:6b) Deuteronomy 4:29: Jeremiah 29:13)   

 

 Jesus has called us all to pursue a close walk with Him. He is always near and ready to strengthen and help us. But He wants us to really want Him. (Song of Solomon) When we walk with Him, Scripture says that He takes great delight in us. The Bible says:  ”The Lord your God is with you.  He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

Scripture says: “For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: “In returning to Me and in resting in Me you shall be saved: in quietness and confidence in Me shall be your strength.” But you would not.”  (Isaiah 30:15) How sad when Israel would not take the time to worship and trust in their God.   Let’s not miss out walking closely with our Savior and Lord because we refuse to spend quality time before Him in prayer and worship and waiting on Him.  

 

I have always found great strength and comfort in standing on the promises in God’s Word.  But I have been guilty of not spending time waiting on Him in prayer.  Not closely walking with the Lord.  We need to do both of these things. 

 

Some of my favorite Bible Scriptures are: “My sheep listen to My Voice: I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, no one can snatch them out of My Hand.”  (John 10:27-28)   And: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He (God) shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”  (Deuteronomy 33:12)

 

More favorite verses are: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning, great is Thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) And “The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (Psalms 145:14)  And: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone: my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation: He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:5-6) 

 

 And: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  (Philippians 4:6) And: “You show me the path of life, and in Your presence is fullness of joy: at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  (Psalm 16:11) “Casting all your care on Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

 

You have different needs than I do.  But Jesus knows just what you need and how to lift you up.  If we will take the time to pursue a close walk with Jesus every day, He will change us and mature us in Him.  He will give us the desires of our hearts if they are in His will.

 

 If we listen for His Voice, we will hear Him speaking to our hearts. He delights in disclosing Himself to us if we take time to open up to Him.  And sometimes He displays His unseen Presence in subtle ways.  Take time to find Him in the details of your day. Ask Him to use you where He wants to use you. Fill your heart and mind with Scripture because He reveals Himself to us through Scripture.  Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)   It will be a glorious adventure.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Samuel, the Boy whose Mother Gave Him to God

Samuel, the Boy Whose Mother Gave Him to God

 

The year was around 1085 B.C. and many Jewish people were forgetting their God and worshipping their neighbor’s gods – handmade idols. Israel was the only nation in the ancient world that only worshiped the one God.  All of the neighboring nations were worshipping those popular idols, and it was tempting for the Jewish people to go along with what everyone else was doing – even though God had forbidden them.  God wanted His people to only worship Him. 

 

But Elkanah, a Jewish man, and his family, still faithfully worshipped only God.  Year after year, Elkanahs’ family always walked from Ramah to Shiloh to worship and sacrifice to the Lord in the temple there. Elkanah had two wives: Hannah was his favorite wife and Peninnah was the other wife.  Peninnah had many children with Elkanah, but Hannah had none.

 

Year after year passed by with Hannah trying and trying to get pregnant.  Year after year of grief and tears and disappointments for her.  In that ancient culture, a woman who couldn’t have children was a disgrace. And Peninnah, the other wife, was always there constantly making fun of Hannah and reminding her of what a failure she was as a woman.

 

 Scripture tells us that one year as Elkanah and his two wives and all their children were traveling to the temple in Shiloh to worship the Lord, his wife, Peninnah, as usual, started teasing and insulting Hannah.  Peninnah always insulted Hannah, but this time Hannah became so upset that she quit eating and couldn’t stop crying. When Hannah got to Shiloh to worship, she kept on crying and crying.  As she knelt before God, tears streaming down her cheeks,  Hannah made this vow or promise to God: “O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give me a son, then I will give him back to You for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” (1 Samuel 1:11)

 

Eli, the priest, sees Hannah’s red puffy tear stained face and he hears her sobbing and begging God as she is bent over kneeling before the altar.  So, he thinks she is drunk.  The priest comes over to Hannah and scolds her for being drunk with wine while coming before the Lord to pray. But Hannah assures Eli that she is not drunk with wine! That she had been praying out of her great anguish and grief. (1 Samuel 1:9-16)

 Then Eli, the priest answers Hannah, and with faith he blesses and prophesies over her: “Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.”  (1 Samuel 1:17)   Hannah joins in on Eli’s proclamation of faith in God with her own proclamation of faith: “May your servant find favor in Your Eyes,” she prays to God. (1 Samuel 1:18a) Faith has caught the joyful sound! Both Eli, the priest and Hannah reach out together to their God in faith with Hannah’s request.

 

There is a spiritual breakthrough! Immediately Hannah stops crying and starts smiling.  She begins eating and stops her fast. (1 Samuel 1:18b) Believing prayer brings ease to the soul.  Hannah has given her sorrow to her heavenly Father and she trusts Him to take care of it.  It is in His Hands.  God knows best and He has heard her prayer. God has promised to hear His children’s prayers and Hannah believes His promise. There is joy in believing!   

 

Several days later Elkanah, Hannah, Peninnah and the children head for home. And very soon after that Hannah became pregnant!  When she gives birth, it is to a son and she names the baby “Samuel” which means “asked of God”.  Hannah did not forget her promise to God to give her son to Him for his lifetime.  After she finished nursing Samuel and when he was just a child, Hannah and Elkanah took Samuel back to Shiloh and gave him to Eli the priest where he would learn to serve the Lord in the temple. Samuel knew that he had been promised to God by his mother and he loved God and whole heartedly gave his whole life to God’s service.

 

Hannah was so thankful to God for answering her prayer that she sang a song of praise to God.  Her song can be found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.  There was music and perhaps dancing as Hannah rejoiced in the Lord.  She sings out that “There is no one besides You.  There is no Rock like our God.”  “For the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed.”  “The foundations of the earth are the Lords’.  Upon them He has set the world.”  “He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness”.  God also gave Hannah four more children after Samuel was born.    

When Samuel grew to adulthood, he became a priest and a judge of all of Israel.  He served God all of his life.  Samuel was humble. (1 Samuel 3:15-18) He was obedient to God. (1 Samuel 3:10-14) And his life was dedicated to God. (1 Samuel 3) God led the people of Israel through Samuel.   All of Israel repented of their idol worship and came back to God.  (1 Samuel 7:3-4) The whole nation renewed their allegiance to the Lord alone.  (1 Samuel 7:5-9) Under Samuel’s leadership Israel became a spiritually wise people (1 Samuel 7:15-17) And a victorious people!  (1 Samuel 7:10-14)   God used Hannah’s faith and her prayers and Samuel’s dedicated life to bless and change all of Israel.  What can we learn from this story?  Can God use us too if we give Him our lives?            

 

 

             

 

.

     

             

The Lazy Priest Who Wouldn't Stand Up for God

The Lazy Priest Who Wouldn’t Stand Up for God

 

The year was approximately 1,000 B.C. and Eli was the High Priest over all of Israel.  All the Israelites came to Eli to bring their offerings and sacrifices to God. Many years earlier God had revealed Himself to Eli’s forefather, Aaron, when God had chosen Aaron and his offspring to be His priests. (1 Samuel 2:28)

 

So, Eli had inherited his high priestly position by being born into the family God had chosen to be His priests.  God gave Aaron and his children special spiritual blessings and instructions as to how priests were to come before His presence. And how they were to bring the offerings and sacrifices to God. There were careful instructions as to how the sacrifices should be offered to God. It would be a sign of disrespect if God’s commands were to be ignored.  God called His people and priests to honor Him always.    

 

God had given this responsibility of the priesthood to Eli and his offspring, along with His Spirit to guide and bless their work.  And God had spoken: “They shall walk before Me forever.” (I Samuel 2:30)   But, “walking before God” is not only a great honor, it is also a condition of the promise.  They had to choose to “walk before God”.

 

In other words, “they shall have the honor of the priesthood, “IF” they choose to faithfully do the service.”  God chose Aaron’s family to walk before Him always as priests, but Aaron’s children also had to choose to “walk before God always”. Their relationship before God was a two-way street – as is ours.  God has His part, but then we choose to have our part too. God doesn’t force us to love or serve Him. 

 

We hear about Eli’s life from the Scriptures after he has become an old man. He had been a judge and a high priest of Israel for forty years, but he had had little spiritual influence over his people, Israel. Eli neglects his responsibility of preaching Gods’ Truth to his people and they are left spiritually confused and depressed. 

 

 Eli allows his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas to take his place and do the work of priests.  His sons take the offerings and sacrifices from the people, but they use Gods’ offerings for their own personal gain.  Scripture tells us that they did not respect God or follow God’s commands concerning how to bring the meat offerings to Him.  They did their own thing!  They took the best parts of the meat for themselves.  They robbed God and the people coming with their meat offerings by seizing for themselves some of part of the meats that were to be offered to God. They treated Gods’ offerings with contempt and used God for their own gain.  (1 Samuel 2:12-17,22) Eli’s sons also sexually seduced many of the women who were coming to worship. (1 Samuel 2: 22)

 

God gives a stern message to the young boy, Samuel, to give to Eli. (1 Samuel 3) God message to Eli is that He is angry.  I believe that God wants Eli to do something about his son’s rebellion.  Eli is the high priest and he is responsible for his son’s actions. The Lord says that He will overthrow Eli’s house and raise up faithful priests for Himself. (1 Samuel 2:27-36) God also sends one of His prophets to bring a second message to Eli emphasizing again the seriousness of ignoring His commands. (1 Samuel 2:27-36) But amazingly, Eli shrugged off all of God’s warnings!    

 

 It seems like nothing can upset Eli!  He fails to do his job and get involved in cleaning up the problem. He continues to look the other way while his sons continue profaning God’s offerings. Even after he receives these angry warnings from God, his bland answer is: “Let the Lord do whatever He wants to do.”  He seems to value his relationship with his sons more than he values his relationship with God. He tells his sons that he has heard about their bad behavior. But he doesn’t stand up for God and make his sons stop sinning or remove them if they refuse. 

 

 As high priest, God had given Eli great spiritual power for the job of spiritually leading and influencing Israel.  But Eli turns his back on all that he has been given and he doesn’t do anything about preaching God’s truth to his people. If Eli had repented and used his God given power as high priest, if he had stopped his sons from sinning against God, perhaps history would have been different for ancient Israel. Scripture says: “Without a vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)

 

The Philistines were a powerful military people and they were neighbors of the Israelites.  They were a great threat to the Israelites during the time when Eli was High Priest.  Shortly after Eli ignored God’s messages and neglected the problems he could have taken care of, the Philistines came to fight with Israel. The Israelites went out to fight them but lost the battle.  They quarreled with God for not helping them win.

 

. So, the Israelites took the ark of the covenant with them for their next battle with the Philistines.  Eli went along with this idea as he went along with anything that was popular.  He gave the ark to the people without a word.  His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas went off carrying the ark into battle.  No need to obey God or listen to His warnings, when they had the ark there to save them in battle. Scripture says that:  The Israelites were living as they pleased yet believing God would bless them anyway. (1 Samuel 2:30)   

 

Alas, it was a sad day for the Israelites. The Philistines won the battle that day and many Israelite soldiers were killed in battle. Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were killed and the ark of the covenant was taken away by the Philistines.  Some of the Israelites felt like God had abandoned them.  (1 Samuel 4:19-20) If only they had had a spiritual leader to lead them to God. 

 

What can we learn from this Old Testament Bible story from so long ago?  God has given each of us a responsibility in this life. There are people in each of our lives who trust us, people who we influence, people God can bless through our lives. God can use us to reach these people.  Let’s not let them down. What can we learn from Eli’s life?  Perhaps we can learn what not to do when we read about Eli’s life. When we read about his lukewarm faith and his lack of concern in following Gods’ commands. 

 

First of all, we can try not to be “lukewarm” in our faith as Eli was.  God hates the “lukewarm” faith offered to Him by believers.  (Revelations 3:16) We can ask God to help us be “hot” and give our whole lives to God, love Him with all our hearts and go all the way, as He has called us to do. We can strive to be a faithful steward of the resources God has entrusted to us.  Give up the control and destination of our lives to God.  Get involved in the lives of others.  Walk in faith even when it is difficult. Don’t give in to what is popular for the moment but stick to what God has revealed is His will in Scripture. Repent of our sins and spend time in prayer and Bible study.  Let’s always be ready to stand up for God.   

 

All this sounds like a tall order, but God will open doors and make a way for us to be a great blessing to others, if we are willing. Are you willing?    

 

 

 

 

 

. 

 

   

 

T