1. Eli the Priest and His Sons March 19, 2006

2. One of the places that the Lord insists on keeping pure and holy is His House One of the places that the Lord insists on keeping pure and holy is His House In the Old Testament, there was a priest named Eli who served in the temple In the Old Testament, there was a priest named Eli who served in the temple He had two sons, Hophni and Phineas, who helped him serve He had two sons, Hophni and Phineas, who helped him serve

3. When the people needed to offer sacrifices in the temple, the priest, Eli, would sanctify himself and follow a certain order for offering them to God When the people needed to offer sacrifices in the temple, the priest, Eli, would sanctify himself and follow a certain order for offering them to God However, Hophni and Phineas were wicked men who sinned in the House of the Lord However, Hophni and Phineas were wicked men who sinned in the House of the Lord

4. They did evil things and people called them scoundrels They did evil things and people called them scoundrels They paid no attention to the Lord, to the rules or to regulations They paid no attention to the Lord, to the rules or to regulations The people of the temple were very annoyed with them and murmured against them. Many of them hated the Holy Place because of them!! The people of the temple were very annoyed with them and murmured against them. Many of them hated the Holy Place because of them!!

5. The Lord heard the people’s complaints and saw the evil deeds The Lord heard the people’s complaints and saw the evil deeds He immediately ordered Eli to rebuke them He immediately ordered Eli to rebuke them So Eli went to his sons and gently warned them not to do it again So Eli went to his sons and gently warned them not to do it again But this angered the Lord! But this angered the Lord!

6. At this time, a little boy named Samuel was in the temple and the Lord appeared to him At this time, a little boy named Samuel was in the temple and the Lord appeared to him He told Samuel that he was going to kill Eli and his sons for the sins they have committed He told Samuel that he was going to kill Eli and his sons for the sins they have committed Eli knew what the judgment of the Lord was going to be and he was very sad Eli knew what the judgment of the Lord was going to be and he was very sad

7. Soon, there was a great war in the land and Hophni and Phineas died in battle Soon, there was a great war in the land and Hophni and Phineas died in battle Not only that, but the Israelites were defeated AND the enemies took the Ark of Covenant Not only that, but the Israelites were defeated AND the enemies took the Ark of Covenant When their father, Eli, heard of this, he was so shocked from the news that he fell and died immediately. When their father, Eli, heard of this, he was so shocked from the news that he fell and died immediately.

8. What can we learn from this? The Lord’s temple is a Holy Place and we should treat it with respect The Lord’s temple is a Holy Place and we should treat it with respect Obeying the rules of the House of God is not only pleasing to the elders of the church but to God Himself Obeying the rules of the House of God is not only pleasing to the elders of the church but to God Himself Those who do not obey the regulations disappoint the Lord and should be punished Those who do not obey the regulations disappoint the Lord and should be punished

9. Being disrespectful of the House of God ruins prayer and worship for those who are disobedient and for those that are around them Being disrespectful of the House of God ruins prayer and worship for those who are disobedient and for those that are around them We need to follow all of the directions that are given to us inside of the Church in order to learn how to pray and act in front of the Lord We need to follow all of the directions that are given to us inside of the Church in order to learn how to pray and act in front of the Lord

10. Verse “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” - Mark 11:17