THE SPIRIT OF ELI IN THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCHES
Unedited Message as shared by Pastor Sean Akinrele
The Evangelical and Pentecostal churches
have witnessed a quiet but insidious infiltration of a harmful attitude of
discipleship. It is a mentoring tendency that closely resembles the biblical
pattern described by the life of Israel's penultimate Judge, Eli the High
Priest and his two sons: Hophni and Phinehas. The proliferation of this
'spirit' has always been with the churches; but has over the last few decades
assumed the character of a spiritual pandemic running amok throughout the 21st
Century church-world. By 'spirit', I of course, mean 'attitudes', 'tendencies'
and 'dispositions' rather than a demonic presence; though this can't be always
ruled out in some specific instances.
Spiritual leaders in our churches displaying this tendency have been on the increase as more and more have seen the largesse forerunners have enjoyed with little apparent divine punishment. As the Preacher observed "Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder" (Ecclesiastes 8:11 MSG). Many Pastors and leaders have imbibed Eli's error and allowed the consequences into their lives and ministries. Eli's judgment when it came produced a premature offspring named Ichabod (1 Sam. 4:21). The glory will always depart or be lacking in such lives and ministries.
ELI'S PEDIGREE
Eli was the only person to combine the positions of High Priest and that of a Judge of Israel. From the biblical record, he was fifty-eight years old when he began to judge Israel until he died at the age of ninety-eight (1 Sam. 4:15, 18). He judged Israel for forty years. We do not know how long he was the High Priest, but he was a direct descendant of Aaron through his son Phinehas.
Physically, Eli is described as very fat and with failing eyesight later degenerating into near blindness (1 Sam. 2:2; 3:15, 18). Despite his dismal description, Eli appeared highly respected in Israel and his word alone calmed Hannah in 1 Sam 1:17 after she had poured out her soul unto the Lord for a child. She immediately believed the word of Eli and ceased her mourning in anticipation of answered prayers. God also honoured Eli's pronouncement by granting her a child that same year (1 Sam. 1:18-20)
He faithfully trained and nurtured Samuel into a first class prophet of God. He displayed discernment in guiding Samuel's first encounter with God's voice; and his instructions to Samuel showed the practical familiarity of one experienced in hearing from God (1 Sam. 2:11; 3:1-10).
Many 21st Century Eli's have also impeccable pedigrees and unassailable Christian records of service. They have by stint of hard work and consistence become icons within their local or national Church communities or denominations. A few have even developed international stature as respected church leaders.
Modern Eli's have also grown 'fat' and exhibit evidences of material prosperity and success as key indicators of their ministries. They can also point to supernatural workings of God as evidence of divine recognition of their ministries. Testimonies of answered prayers and transformed lives abound in their ministries. Many are by no means 'evil' or bad in the normal sense of the word. They have merely compromised some of their standards and adjusted to the pressures of their environment. Some of these happen so gradually that neither they nor many around them actually realise how far they have actually changed.
THE SONS OF ELI
Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were described as 'sons of Belial' (sons of wickedness or worthless; 1 Sam. 2:12) WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD, even though they fulfilled priestly duties in Israel. This is a curious description for sons of the High Priest charged with leading Israel in worship of Jehovah. Eli's sons grew up accustomed to the temple and its services and familiarity with God's house produced contempt and disregard for God. They grew up discounting their privileged positions and saw it as a means for personal gain and license.
Possibly because of Eli's age he apparently left much of the day to day operations of the temple to his sons (1 Sam. 1:3b). Eli's sons had no respect for God and it showed. They were accused of disrespecting the Lord's offerings by forcefully appropriating the best part for themselves (1 Sam. 2:13-16); they were also guilty of sleeping with women worshippers in the temple itself (2:22), thereby profaning their priestly vows. Though he heard reports of their evil escapades, Eli failed to control or discipline his two sons for their irreverence towards God and His temple. He merely remonstrated with them without taking any steps to correct their actions when they ignored his reproof (2:22-25). He obviously preferred his sons over his devotion to God. Centuries later, God describing the same tendency charged prophet Ezekiel to tell the Israelite Priesthood that:
YOU HAVE BROUGHT UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS INTO MY SANCTUARY—PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HEART FOR GOD. IN THIS WAY, YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE EVEN AS YOU OFFERED ME MY FOOD, THE FAT AND BLOOD OF SACRIFICES. IN ADDITION TO ALL YOUR OTHER DETESTABLE SINS, YOU HAVE BROKEN MY COVENANT. INSTEAD OF SAFEGUARDING MY SACRED RITUALS, YOU HAVE HIRED FOREIGNERS TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY SANCTUARY. (Ezekiel 44:7, 8 NLT)
ELI'S GUILT
1. ELI ALLOWED PROFANE PERSONS TO WEAR THE LINEN EPHOD AND MINISTER IN THE TEMPLE AS PRIESTS IN THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD, though he knew God's requirement of purity and reverence from those who drew near to Him in worship and service. The fact that they were his sons was no excuse as they clearly had not fear of God and failed the moral requirements for the priesthood. To God they were as good as ''UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS' fulfilling the office of the priests as "NO MAN TAKETH THIS HONOUR UNTO HIMSELF, BUT HE THAT IS CALLED OF GOD, AS WAS AARON" (Hebrews 5:4 KJV)
• SIMILARLY, MANY 'SPIRITUAL MENTORS' HAVE APPOINTED AND SUSTAINED PROFANE PERSONS INTO SPIRITUAL MINISTRY IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY. We have witnessed high incidences of irreverent ministries and church leadership within our denominations that had no business being in the ministry in the first place. Many are protected and supported by mentors within the denominational or fraternal system who turn a blind eye to their misdeeds or rationalize their failings in ministry. These mentors are unwittingly falling into the error of Eli and unless they genuinely repent will share in his judgment as God is no respecter of persons and He remains ‘THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER’ (Heb 13:8).
2. ELI WAS ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE GROWN FAT FROM THE LORD'S OFFERINGS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED BY HIS SONS. Though he did not actively participate in their disrespect for God's offerings; he partook of the ill-gotten gains of their profanity. He accepted his own share of the proceeds of their crimes knowing full well how these prime beef and mutton were obtained.
So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—FOR YOU AND THEY HAVE BECOME FAT FROM THE BEST OFFERINGS OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL! (1 Samuel 2:29 NLT)
• ELI SHOWED HE LOVED THE COMFORTS HIS SONS' MISDEEDS BROUGHT THAN HIS INTEGRITY BEFORE GOD. Despite knowing what God had revealed about His plans for his children; Eli was swayed from what he knew was right by the gifts his sons left for him. Similarly, Isaac (in Gen. 25:28; 27:1-4) was willing to give Esau the birthright blessings despite God's word in Gen. 25:23 that the older shall serve the younger; because Esau supplied his love of bushmeat;
"AND THOU SHALT TAKE NO GIFT: FOR THE GIFT BLINDETH THE WISE, AND PERVERTETH THE WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS" (Exodus 23:8 KJV).
• INTERESTINGLY, BOTH ISAAC AND ELI WERE REPORTED TO BE ALMOST BLIND AT THE TIME OF THEIR GREAT BLUNDERS (Gen 27:1; 1 Sam 2:2); suggesting that impaired vision and short-sightedness may be contributory factors to the operation of the spirit of Eli. Also Lev. 21:16-23 makes it clear that any defect of eyesight should have disqualified Eli from continuing in priestly service.
'God spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron, None of your descendants, in any generation to come, who has a defect of any kind may present as an offering the food of his God. That MEANS ANYONE WHO IS BLIND or lame, disfigured or deformed, crippled in foot or hand, hunchbacked or dwarfed, WHO HAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS EYES, who has running sores or damaged testicles. NO DESCENDANT OF AARON THE PRIEST WHO HAS ANY DEFECT IS TO OFFER GIFTS TO GOD; HE HAS A DEFECT AND SO MUST NOT OFFER THE FOOD OF HIS GOD. HE MAY EAT THE FOOD OF HIS GOD, BOTH THE MOST HOLY AND THE HOLY, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS DEFECT HE MUST NOT GO NEAR THE CURTAIN OR APPROACH THE ALTAR. IT WOULD DESECRATE MY SANCTUARY. I am God who makes them holy."' (Lev. 21:16-23 MSG)
The Bible took pains to report that Eli had become short-sighted and eventually degenerating into blindness (1 Sam 2:2; 4: 3:15, 18). Yet Eli continued to function as the High Priest of Israel in negation of the commandment of the Mosaic Law. Though no such physical qualifications are stipulated in the New Testament; 2 Peter 1:5-9 spells out a checklist of spiritual growth in ministry amongst which are ‘discipline’ (temperance or self control), ‘virtue’ and ‘godliness’. Peter concludes this passage in 2 Pet.1:9: “BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS”. Clearly Eli’s eye defect went beyond the physical and had compromised his ability to see as God sees. He thus became twice blind and the gifts from his sons further blinded his spiritual discernment and deadened his awareness of his peril of imminent divine judgment.
• THE ABUSE OF THE PROPHET’S OFFERING: Today, Eli's spirit is actively at work in many ministries and denominations as leaders in positions of authority to correct and discipline erring protégées turn a blind eye as long as they receive their share of the illicit largesse. Many biblical principles which when correctly applied are a blessing to the church and individuals are corrupted to aid the religious sleaze. Terms such as 'prophet's offering', 'sowing into the life of your mentor' or 'Baba gba owo òpe me re' (lit. accept my thanksgiving offering) have become acceptable slogans and slangs used to perpetuate this tendency in the churches.
• PROTÉGÉES OF SUCH LEADERS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PERIODICALLY MAKE SUBSTANTIAL 'RETURNS' TO THEIR MENTORS TO ENABLE THEM REMAIN IN HIS GOOD BOOKS. Such mentors rarely support any form of sanctions for their 'loyal' protégées but always fight to find him a soft landing from the consequences of misdeeds. Blind eyes and deaf ears are turned to reports of immoralities, financial misdeeds and other character flaws for which the Bible prescribed clear sanctions. Many maverick sons and daughters therefore outdo themselves in making of gifts of houses, cars and hard currency etc to the ministries of their 'fathers in the Lord' to secure their benevolent protection and cover.
'Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, HAVE RUN GREEDILY IN THE ERROR OF BALAAM FOR PROFIT, and perished in the rebellion of Korah'. (Jude 1:11 NKJV)
• PERHAPS MORE DISTURBING IS THE TREND WHERE SOME OF THIS SPIRITUAL PATRONAGE IS EXTENDED INTO THE POLITICAL AND CORPORATE COMMUNITY. Here politicians and businessmen of doubtful pedigree adopt church leaders as mentors and overwhelm them with portions of doubtfully acquired wealth 'sown' into their ministries and personal lives to secure their endorsement and spiritual cover. Such unwary leaders soon become 'fat' from such 'seed' offerings and find they are unable to challenge or give meaningful rebuke to the misdeeds of such erring 'protégées'. Their relationship with such individuals is perceived with resentment by many in the society who rightly conclude that the leprous fingers of graft and sleaze had soiled the mantle of religious piety.
3. GOD CHARGED ELI WITH HONORING HIS SONS ABOVE THE GOD OF ISRAEL (1 Sam. 2:29). God sent warnings to him, but he failed to act on the divine warnings until it was too late. He displayed a fatalistic disposition to God's judgement that was in contrast to saving faith in God's mercy and reverence for His just anger. It was a display of godless apathy and indifference to the dishonour being brought upon God's name and damage to His people (1 Sam. 3:18) that was unworthy of one wearing the linen ephod of priestly service.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE ELI TENDENCY
The consequences of Eli's folly is quite instructive to those who have 'ears to hear' in these last days. Eli's folly produced a harvest of evil fruit not only for him and his sons; but for all Israel and his future descendants. God spelled out His judgment on Eli's household in 1 Sam. 2:
"BE WELL WARNED: IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE I WIPE OUT BOTH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FUTURE FAMILY. NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL MAKE IT TO OLD AGE! YOU'LL SEE GOOD THINGS THAT I'M DOING IN ISRAEL, BUT YOU'LL SEE IT AND WEEP, FOR NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL LIVE TO ENJOY IT. I WILL LEAVE ONE PERSON TO SERVE AT MY ALTAR, BUT IT WILL BE A HARD LIFE, WITH MANY TEARS. EVERYONE ELSE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR TWO SONS, HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS, WILL BE THE PROOF: BOTH WILL DIE THE SAME DAY. THEN I'LL ESTABLISH FOR MYSELF A TRUE PRIEST. HE'LL DO WHAT I WANT HIM TO DO, BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE. I'LL MAKE HIS POSITION SECURE AND HE'LL DO HIS WORK FREELY IN THE SERVICE OF MY ANOINTED ONE. SURVIVORS FROM YOUR FAMILY WILL COME TO HIM BEGGING FOR HANDOUTS, SAYING, 'PLEASE, GIVE ME SOME PRIEST WORK, JUST ENOUGH TO PUT SOME FOOD ON THE TABLE.'" (1 Samuel 2:31-36 MSG)
Spiritual leaders in our churches displaying this tendency have been on the increase as more and more have seen the largesse forerunners have enjoyed with little apparent divine punishment. As the Preacher observed "Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder" (Ecclesiastes 8:11 MSG). Many Pastors and leaders have imbibed Eli's error and allowed the consequences into their lives and ministries. Eli's judgment when it came produced a premature offspring named Ichabod (1 Sam. 4:21). The glory will always depart or be lacking in such lives and ministries.
ELI'S PEDIGREE
Eli was the only person to combine the positions of High Priest and that of a Judge of Israel. From the biblical record, he was fifty-eight years old when he began to judge Israel until he died at the age of ninety-eight (1 Sam. 4:15, 18). He judged Israel for forty years. We do not know how long he was the High Priest, but he was a direct descendant of Aaron through his son Phinehas.
Physically, Eli is described as very fat and with failing eyesight later degenerating into near blindness (1 Sam. 2:2; 3:15, 18). Despite his dismal description, Eli appeared highly respected in Israel and his word alone calmed Hannah in 1 Sam 1:17 after she had poured out her soul unto the Lord for a child. She immediately believed the word of Eli and ceased her mourning in anticipation of answered prayers. God also honoured Eli's pronouncement by granting her a child that same year (1 Sam. 1:18-20)
He faithfully trained and nurtured Samuel into a first class prophet of God. He displayed discernment in guiding Samuel's first encounter with God's voice; and his instructions to Samuel showed the practical familiarity of one experienced in hearing from God (1 Sam. 2:11; 3:1-10).
Many 21st Century Eli's have also impeccable pedigrees and unassailable Christian records of service. They have by stint of hard work and consistence become icons within their local or national Church communities or denominations. A few have even developed international stature as respected church leaders.
Modern Eli's have also grown 'fat' and exhibit evidences of material prosperity and success as key indicators of their ministries. They can also point to supernatural workings of God as evidence of divine recognition of their ministries. Testimonies of answered prayers and transformed lives abound in their ministries. Many are by no means 'evil' or bad in the normal sense of the word. They have merely compromised some of their standards and adjusted to the pressures of their environment. Some of these happen so gradually that neither they nor many around them actually realise how far they have actually changed.
THE SONS OF ELI
Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were described as 'sons of Belial' (sons of wickedness or worthless; 1 Sam. 2:12) WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD, even though they fulfilled priestly duties in Israel. This is a curious description for sons of the High Priest charged with leading Israel in worship of Jehovah. Eli's sons grew up accustomed to the temple and its services and familiarity with God's house produced contempt and disregard for God. They grew up discounting their privileged positions and saw it as a means for personal gain and license.
Possibly because of Eli's age he apparently left much of the day to day operations of the temple to his sons (1 Sam. 1:3b). Eli's sons had no respect for God and it showed. They were accused of disrespecting the Lord's offerings by forcefully appropriating the best part for themselves (1 Sam. 2:13-16); they were also guilty of sleeping with women worshippers in the temple itself (2:22), thereby profaning their priestly vows. Though he heard reports of their evil escapades, Eli failed to control or discipline his two sons for their irreverence towards God and His temple. He merely remonstrated with them without taking any steps to correct their actions when they ignored his reproof (2:22-25). He obviously preferred his sons over his devotion to God. Centuries later, God describing the same tendency charged prophet Ezekiel to tell the Israelite Priesthood that:
YOU HAVE BROUGHT UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS INTO MY SANCTUARY—PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HEART FOR GOD. IN THIS WAY, YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE EVEN AS YOU OFFERED ME MY FOOD, THE FAT AND BLOOD OF SACRIFICES. IN ADDITION TO ALL YOUR OTHER DETESTABLE SINS, YOU HAVE BROKEN MY COVENANT. INSTEAD OF SAFEGUARDING MY SACRED RITUALS, YOU HAVE HIRED FOREIGNERS TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY SANCTUARY. (Ezekiel 44:7, 8 NLT)
ELI'S GUILT
1. ELI ALLOWED PROFANE PERSONS TO WEAR THE LINEN EPHOD AND MINISTER IN THE TEMPLE AS PRIESTS IN THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD, though he knew God's requirement of purity and reverence from those who drew near to Him in worship and service. The fact that they were his sons was no excuse as they clearly had not fear of God and failed the moral requirements for the priesthood. To God they were as good as ''UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS' fulfilling the office of the priests as "NO MAN TAKETH THIS HONOUR UNTO HIMSELF, BUT HE THAT IS CALLED OF GOD, AS WAS AARON" (Hebrews 5:4 KJV)
• SIMILARLY, MANY 'SPIRITUAL MENTORS' HAVE APPOINTED AND SUSTAINED PROFANE PERSONS INTO SPIRITUAL MINISTRY IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY. We have witnessed high incidences of irreverent ministries and church leadership within our denominations that had no business being in the ministry in the first place. Many are protected and supported by mentors within the denominational or fraternal system who turn a blind eye to their misdeeds or rationalize their failings in ministry. These mentors are unwittingly falling into the error of Eli and unless they genuinely repent will share in his judgment as God is no respecter of persons and He remains ‘THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER’ (Heb 13:8).
2. ELI WAS ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE GROWN FAT FROM THE LORD'S OFFERINGS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED BY HIS SONS. Though he did not actively participate in their disrespect for God's offerings; he partook of the ill-gotten gains of their profanity. He accepted his own share of the proceeds of their crimes knowing full well how these prime beef and mutton were obtained.
So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—FOR YOU AND THEY HAVE BECOME FAT FROM THE BEST OFFERINGS OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL! (1 Samuel 2:29 NLT)
• ELI SHOWED HE LOVED THE COMFORTS HIS SONS' MISDEEDS BROUGHT THAN HIS INTEGRITY BEFORE GOD. Despite knowing what God had revealed about His plans for his children; Eli was swayed from what he knew was right by the gifts his sons left for him. Similarly, Isaac (in Gen. 25:28; 27:1-4) was willing to give Esau the birthright blessings despite God's word in Gen. 25:23 that the older shall serve the younger; because Esau supplied his love of bushmeat;
"AND THOU SHALT TAKE NO GIFT: FOR THE GIFT BLINDETH THE WISE, AND PERVERTETH THE WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS" (Exodus 23:8 KJV).
• INTERESTINGLY, BOTH ISAAC AND ELI WERE REPORTED TO BE ALMOST BLIND AT THE TIME OF THEIR GREAT BLUNDERS (Gen 27:1; 1 Sam 2:2); suggesting that impaired vision and short-sightedness may be contributory factors to the operation of the spirit of Eli. Also Lev. 21:16-23 makes it clear that any defect of eyesight should have disqualified Eli from continuing in priestly service.
'God spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron, None of your descendants, in any generation to come, who has a defect of any kind may present as an offering the food of his God. That MEANS ANYONE WHO IS BLIND or lame, disfigured or deformed, crippled in foot or hand, hunchbacked or dwarfed, WHO HAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS EYES, who has running sores or damaged testicles. NO DESCENDANT OF AARON THE PRIEST WHO HAS ANY DEFECT IS TO OFFER GIFTS TO GOD; HE HAS A DEFECT AND SO MUST NOT OFFER THE FOOD OF HIS GOD. HE MAY EAT THE FOOD OF HIS GOD, BOTH THE MOST HOLY AND THE HOLY, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS DEFECT HE MUST NOT GO NEAR THE CURTAIN OR APPROACH THE ALTAR. IT WOULD DESECRATE MY SANCTUARY. I am God who makes them holy."' (Lev. 21:16-23 MSG)
The Bible took pains to report that Eli had become short-sighted and eventually degenerating into blindness (1 Sam 2:2; 4: 3:15, 18). Yet Eli continued to function as the High Priest of Israel in negation of the commandment of the Mosaic Law. Though no such physical qualifications are stipulated in the New Testament; 2 Peter 1:5-9 spells out a checklist of spiritual growth in ministry amongst which are ‘discipline’ (temperance or self control), ‘virtue’ and ‘godliness’. Peter concludes this passage in 2 Pet.1:9: “BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS”. Clearly Eli’s eye defect went beyond the physical and had compromised his ability to see as God sees. He thus became twice blind and the gifts from his sons further blinded his spiritual discernment and deadened his awareness of his peril of imminent divine judgment.
• THE ABUSE OF THE PROPHET’S OFFERING: Today, Eli's spirit is actively at work in many ministries and denominations as leaders in positions of authority to correct and discipline erring protégées turn a blind eye as long as they receive their share of the illicit largesse. Many biblical principles which when correctly applied are a blessing to the church and individuals are corrupted to aid the religious sleaze. Terms such as 'prophet's offering', 'sowing into the life of your mentor' or 'Baba gba owo òpe me re' (lit. accept my thanksgiving offering) have become acceptable slogans and slangs used to perpetuate this tendency in the churches.
• PROTÉGÉES OF SUCH LEADERS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PERIODICALLY MAKE SUBSTANTIAL 'RETURNS' TO THEIR MENTORS TO ENABLE THEM REMAIN IN HIS GOOD BOOKS. Such mentors rarely support any form of sanctions for their 'loyal' protégées but always fight to find him a soft landing from the consequences of misdeeds. Blind eyes and deaf ears are turned to reports of immoralities, financial misdeeds and other character flaws for which the Bible prescribed clear sanctions. Many maverick sons and daughters therefore outdo themselves in making of gifts of houses, cars and hard currency etc to the ministries of their 'fathers in the Lord' to secure their benevolent protection and cover.
'Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, HAVE RUN GREEDILY IN THE ERROR OF BALAAM FOR PROFIT, and perished in the rebellion of Korah'. (Jude 1:11 NKJV)
• PERHAPS MORE DISTURBING IS THE TREND WHERE SOME OF THIS SPIRITUAL PATRONAGE IS EXTENDED INTO THE POLITICAL AND CORPORATE COMMUNITY. Here politicians and businessmen of doubtful pedigree adopt church leaders as mentors and overwhelm them with portions of doubtfully acquired wealth 'sown' into their ministries and personal lives to secure their endorsement and spiritual cover. Such unwary leaders soon become 'fat' from such 'seed' offerings and find they are unable to challenge or give meaningful rebuke to the misdeeds of such erring 'protégées'. Their relationship with such individuals is perceived with resentment by many in the society who rightly conclude that the leprous fingers of graft and sleaze had soiled the mantle of religious piety.
3. GOD CHARGED ELI WITH HONORING HIS SONS ABOVE THE GOD OF ISRAEL (1 Sam. 2:29). God sent warnings to him, but he failed to act on the divine warnings until it was too late. He displayed a fatalistic disposition to God's judgement that was in contrast to saving faith in God's mercy and reverence for His just anger. It was a display of godless apathy and indifference to the dishonour being brought upon God's name and damage to His people (1 Sam. 3:18) that was unworthy of one wearing the linen ephod of priestly service.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE ELI TENDENCY
The consequences of Eli's folly is quite instructive to those who have 'ears to hear' in these last days. Eli's folly produced a harvest of evil fruit not only for him and his sons; but for all Israel and his future descendants. God spelled out His judgment on Eli's household in 1 Sam. 2:
"BE WELL WARNED: IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE I WIPE OUT BOTH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FUTURE FAMILY. NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL MAKE IT TO OLD AGE! YOU'LL SEE GOOD THINGS THAT I'M DOING IN ISRAEL, BUT YOU'LL SEE IT AND WEEP, FOR NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL LIVE TO ENJOY IT. I WILL LEAVE ONE PERSON TO SERVE AT MY ALTAR, BUT IT WILL BE A HARD LIFE, WITH MANY TEARS. EVERYONE ELSE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR TWO SONS, HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS, WILL BE THE PROOF: BOTH WILL DIE THE SAME DAY. THEN I'LL ESTABLISH FOR MYSELF A TRUE PRIEST. HE'LL DO WHAT I WANT HIM TO DO, BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE. I'LL MAKE HIS POSITION SECURE AND HE'LL DO HIS WORK FREELY IN THE SERVICE OF MY ANOINTED ONE. SURVIVORS FROM YOUR FAMILY WILL COME TO HIM BEGGING FOR HANDOUTS, SAYING, 'PLEASE, GIVE ME SOME PRIEST WORK, JUST ENOUGH TO PUT SOME FOOD ON THE TABLE.'" (1 Samuel 2:31-36 MSG)
·
During his tenure, the Ark of God was
seized as war booty by Israel's enemies. He is the only recorded judge and
priest of Israel who lost the Ark of God's Covenant with Israel. This was the
only time in Israel's history that the Ark would fall into enemy hands:
'AND
THE ARK OF GOD WAS TAKEN; AND THE TWO SONS OF ELI, HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS, WERE
SLAIN'.
(1 Samuel 4:11 KJV)
·
He lost his two sons, daughter-in-law and
his own life in one day - 1 Sam 4:11, 18-22
·
His grandson was named Ichabod, meaning
'the glory has departed' from Israel. He was born when his mother heard that
her husband and father-in-law were both dead and the Ark of God captured by the
Philistines (1 Sam 4:21-22)
·
His great grandson, Ahimelech son of Ahitub
and all the priestly line were exterminated on the orders of Saul (1 Sam.
22:11-20). Only Abiathar, son of Ahimelech was able to escape to David as
prophesied in 1 Sam. 2.
·
His descendants eventually lost the High
Priesthood (1 Kings 2:26-27):
'SOLOMON
STRIPPED ABIATHAR OF HIS PRIESTHOOD, FULFILLING GOD’S WORD AT SHILOH REGARDING
THE FAMILY OF ELI.'
- (1 Kings 2:27 MSG)
The severity of God's judgement on Eli's household is a warning to us New Testament believers of God's views of irreverence and disrespect of His name and glory.
'NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED.' (1 Corinthians 10:6 KJV)
Mentors, Pastors and spiritual leaders in these last days must realize that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New Testament. Only the covenant has changed; God is "THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER" (Hebrews 13:8). God holds us accountable for the actions of those we raise and support in ministry.
"DON’T BE IN A HURRY TO PLACE YOUR HANDS ON ANYONE TO ORDAIN HIM. DON’T PARTICIPATE IN THE SINS OF OTHERS. KEEP YOURSELF MORALLY PURE". (1 Timothy 5:22 GWT)
CONCLUSION
1. The Spirit testifies that a lot of the corruption manifest in the visible churches is directly related to these Eli tendencies within church and denominational hierarchies. However, a purging has begun within the Body of Christ (as distinct from denominational churches) to judge backslidden and apostate leaders who have soiled their hands in the sleaze of Eli's family and introduced or nurtured pollutions into sections of God's vineyard under their oversight.
2. Many spiritual 'dynasties' of mentors and protégées will be scattered or wiped out within the next few years as the Holy Spirit orchestrates incidents that will expose and reduce their influence amongst the faithful.
3. Some spiritual Abiathars the Lord has been warning for years will come to judgment from this year forward as the Holy Spirit's departure from them will become manifest to the faithful; even though the deceived will continue to celebrate them
4. The Lord will increasingly differentiate the Zadok type of ministry from the Abiathar type of ministry as He limits the Abiathar and Eli ministries to the flesh-hooks ministrations outside His presence. This will cause many apostasies within the latter to become manifest as they increasingly seek alternative sources of power to retain their popularity with the deceived.
5. A fresh wave of the Spirit will visit the body of Christ to purify and empower His people and cause a separation within the organized churches between clean and unclean. This wave will usher in a revival within these physical churches as He uses His activities in the lives of the pure to provoke the worldly and carnal to hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness.
6. Judgment is coming on the ‘Achans’ in the Household; swift and conclusive judgment beginning from God’s own who have polluted themselves.
7. Mercy and restoration will be extended to as many as truly repent and forsake their evil ways and turn to the Lord for cleansing.
- (1 Kings 2:27 MSG)
The severity of God's judgement on Eli's household is a warning to us New Testament believers of God's views of irreverence and disrespect of His name and glory.
'NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED.' (1 Corinthians 10:6 KJV)
Mentors, Pastors and spiritual leaders in these last days must realize that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New Testament. Only the covenant has changed; God is "THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER" (Hebrews 13:8). God holds us accountable for the actions of those we raise and support in ministry.
"DON’T BE IN A HURRY TO PLACE YOUR HANDS ON ANYONE TO ORDAIN HIM. DON’T PARTICIPATE IN THE SINS OF OTHERS. KEEP YOURSELF MORALLY PURE". (1 Timothy 5:22 GWT)
CONCLUSION
1. The Spirit testifies that a lot of the corruption manifest in the visible churches is directly related to these Eli tendencies within church and denominational hierarchies. However, a purging has begun within the Body of Christ (as distinct from denominational churches) to judge backslidden and apostate leaders who have soiled their hands in the sleaze of Eli's family and introduced or nurtured pollutions into sections of God's vineyard under their oversight.
2. Many spiritual 'dynasties' of mentors and protégées will be scattered or wiped out within the next few years as the Holy Spirit orchestrates incidents that will expose and reduce their influence amongst the faithful.
3. Some spiritual Abiathars the Lord has been warning for years will come to judgment from this year forward as the Holy Spirit's departure from them will become manifest to the faithful; even though the deceived will continue to celebrate them
4. The Lord will increasingly differentiate the Zadok type of ministry from the Abiathar type of ministry as He limits the Abiathar and Eli ministries to the flesh-hooks ministrations outside His presence. This will cause many apostasies within the latter to become manifest as they increasingly seek alternative sources of power to retain their popularity with the deceived.
5. A fresh wave of the Spirit will visit the body of Christ to purify and empower His people and cause a separation within the organized churches between clean and unclean. This wave will usher in a revival within these physical churches as He uses His activities in the lives of the pure to provoke the worldly and carnal to hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness.
6. Judgment is coming on the ‘Achans’ in the Household; swift and conclusive judgment beginning from God’s own who have polluted themselves.
7. Mercy and restoration will be extended to as many as truly repent and forsake their evil ways and turn to the Lord for cleansing.
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