2 Sam 3:1-18 Eli’s Spiritual Failure CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

As Eli grew older and fatter, 1 Sam 4:18, he failed in the ministry.  There are some things he did and some things he didn’t do that caused his ministry to end in spiritual failure.  If you don’t want you ministry or your life to end the same way then make sure to not repeat what he did.  Eli failed spiritually because he lost his:

Spiritual Zeal – 1 Sam 1:9 – he became lazy in the ministry and started sitting around at the temple – there was not a seat in the temple furniture Ex 25-27, 30 – contrast 1 Cor 15:58, 1 Cor 16:13-15

Spiritual Fire – 1 Sam 3:2-3 – he let the lamp of God go out at night Ex 27:20, Lev 24:1-4 – in a sense, he quenched the Spirit of God, 1 Thes 5:19  – and in a sense, he got away from the word of God, Ps 119:105

Spiritual Perception – 1 Sam 3:8 – it took three times for Eli to finally realize that the Lord was calling Samuel – the older he was the more spiritual perception he should have had, not the less

Spiritual Fear – 1 Sam 3:13 – the Lord had already told Eli these bad things that were going to happen to him and his house and he did not repent 1 Sam 2:27-36 – contrast how the king of Nineveh responded, Jon 3:6-10

Spiritual Authority – 1 Sam 3:13 – with 1 Sam 2:25 – he couldn’t restrain his boys who had made themselves vile 1 Tim 3:4-5 – contrast Phinehas Num 25:7-13 – the spiritual authority comes from knowing the word of God and doing it

Spiritual Supplication – 1 Sam 3:18 – he just gave up and quit – contrast 2 Chr 33:12-13, 2 Sam 12:21-22