“WHEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD DEPARTED” I Sam. 2:31-36

·         Those who allow their children in any evil way, and do not use their authority to restrain and punish them, in effect honour them more than God.

·         Let Eli's example excite parents earnestly to strive against the beginnings of wickedness, and to train up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

·          In the midst of the sentence against the house of Eli, mercy is promised to Israel. God's work shall never fall to the ground for want of hands to carry it on.

·         Christ is that merciful and faithful High Priest, whom God raised up when the Levitical priesthood was thrown off, who in all things did his Father's mind, and for whom God will build a sure house, build it on a rock, so that hell cannot prevail against it.

·         I SAMUEL 2:31-34,35

THE GLORY OF THE LORD WILL DEPART WHEN…….

I.                   WHEN GOD’S PRESENCE  BECOMES A CHERISHED  RELIC RATHER THAN A NECESSARY ELEMENT OF WORSHIP (I Samuel 4:3)

A-Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

B-II Timothy 3:5-7 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

II.                WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE REACT TO SITUATIONS RATHER THAN TAKING A DECISIVE ACTION (I Samuel 2:29)

A-Joshua 24:14,15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

B-Mark 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

III.             WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE ALLOW PAST VICTORIES TO  SUBSTITUTE FOR PRESENT TRUST (I Samuel 4:3)

A-II Chronicles 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

B-I Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

Conclusion-FIRST, REALIZE THAT GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR SOUL IS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN, THEN, CHOOSE TO DO RIGHT & DON’T ALLOW SITUATIONS TO MAKE YOU COMPROMISE, AND FINALLY, TRUST GOD FOR THE VICTORY TODAY NOT JUST THE PAST.