Romans 8:31-39 NIV 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

 

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? Who can be against us, when God is for us? Who can be our foe if God is on our side? This is a rhetorical question. It does not need an answer. There is no one who can stand against God. There is no one who can conquer Him and no one who can defeat Him. His side is the winning side. If we are on His side – He will be on ours. With God on our side we cannot fail and we cannot be defeated.

 

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Romans 8:32

 

God gave us His best – His Son – why would He hold back anything from us that was good for us? If He did not spare His Son, then would He not graciously give us all things that pertain unto life and godliness? If He sent His only Son to die for us then He is going to see it through all the way.

 

We are not merely saved by the skin of our teeth. We are His own family – His own children – bought with a price. He did not save us from hell so that we could have hell on earth – He saved us from hell now and later. We can have heaven on earth!

 

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Romans 8:33

 

Who dares to bring an accusation against God’s elect? God has justified us and brought us into a right relationship with Him. Who dares to accuse or impeach those Whom God has chosen and washed in His blood? Satan is the accuser of the brethren (Revelations 12:10), but He cannot argue with the Blood of Jesus! We are acquitted by the sacrifice of our Savior and justified by His blood.

 

If God, the Great and Righteous Judge, has acquitted us, then there is no one who dare bring an accusation against us. The courts of Heaven have been satisfied. The law has been fulfilled. Justice has been done.

34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Romans 8:3

 

Jesus, the only One Who has the right to condemn us, has chosen to forgive us instead. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:17). Not only does Jesus not condemn us, but in His position at the right hand of God He is actually continually interceding for us  – He is constantly pleading our case before the Father.

 

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

 

36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

 

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

 

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

 

39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:35-39

 

God loves us and will always love us. There is nothing in Heaven or on the earth or under the earth that can make Him stop loving us, and nothing that can prevent His love from reaching out to us. We might spurn His love, but we cannot make it go away.

 

Because He loves us, we are forgiven.

 

Because He loves us, we are acquitted.

 

Because He loves us, we are justified.

 

Because He loves us, we are brought into right standing with Him.

 

Because He loves us, we are blessed.

 

Because He loves us, we are protected.

 

Because He loves us, we are healed.

 

Because He loves us, we are delivered.

 

Because He loves us, we are free.

 

Because He loves us, we are prosperous in every area of our lives.

 

Because God loves us, He redeemed us.

 

Because God loves us, He is on our side.

 

If you are a child of God then He is on your side. If you honor him with your life and all that is within you then He is on your side. If He is on your side then you don’t have to worry about a thing. Your enemy is His enemy and your enemy is no match for Him.

 

Because He loves you, you are more than a conqueror. Because He is on your side, the devil does not stand a chance. If God is for you, who can be against you?

 

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.  Acts 10:38 KJV

 

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil…for God was with Him. About 70% of Jesus’ ministry was healing the sick and casting out devils.

 

Everywhere He went He ministered by the laying on of hands. The Bible does not say that He prayed for the sick, but it does say that He ministered the healing power of God by the laying on of hands. There was a transference of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ touch. This anointing brought life, healing, strength and deliverance to everyone Jesus ministered to.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; for she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”  Mark 5:25-34 NKJV

 

This woman was a desperate case. She had suffered with an issue of blood for twelve years, having spent all her money on doctors who had done nothing to help her. Instead, her condition was even worse than before. In her desperate state, she heard of Jesus and when He came to her town, she formulated a plan to secure her healing.

 

Throngs of people surrounded Jesus and the scripture says that she had to work her way to Him through the press. When she was near Him, she reached out and touched the hem of His garment. The anointing flowed into her and she was instantly healed. Jesus did not pray for her. She touched Him and His anointing touched her.

 

Even though Jesus did not feel her physical touch on His garment, He felt the anointing flow from Him into her and He knew that someone was drawing the anointing out of Him by their faith. There is something about the touch of faith. By it, we can receive from God all that we need.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.  John 5:2-9 NKJV

 

A man who had been sick for thirty-eight years lay at the Pool of Bethesda, waiting for the angel to trouble the water. The first person in the water after it began to move, received their healing. He had no one to help him to the water, so he just lay there, sick, while others received their healing.

 

Jesus walked in and came to find him. He asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man was not expecting his healing to come from anywhere else but the troubled water and he believed that the hindrance to his healing was the fact that he had no man to help him down into the pool at the appropriate time.

 

Jesus told him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” Immediately the man was made whole, picked up his bed and walked! He did not even know who it was who had healed him until later.

You can receive your healing by a touch of faith or you can receive it by a word of faith or you can simply reach out and receive as the Spirit of God moves in our midst. When the waters of the Pool of Bethesda began to stir, anyone could receive their healing. The only requirement was that they jumped into the waters first. Whosoever could get whatsoever!

 

When the Spirit of God begins to move and stir in our midst, it is time to reach out and receive! God is no respecter of persons. If you will reach out and receive, you will be healed. You are a whosoever who could receive whatsoever if you will open your heart to receive when the Spirit of God is moving.

Isaiah 54:9-17 KJV

9 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

 

10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

 

11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

 

12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

 

13 And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

 

14 In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

 

15 Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

 

16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

 

17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Psalms 23:1-6 KJV

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

 

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalms 91:1-16 KJV

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

 

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

 

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

 

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

 

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

 

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

 

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

 

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

 

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

 

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

 

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

 

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

 

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

 

20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  Ephesians 4:17-32 NIV

 

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. How do you grieve the Holy Spirit? You grieve Him by ignoring Him; by speaking or acting in a way that is contrary to His will; and by refusing to obey Him when He speaks.

 

How do you please the Holy Spirit? You must acknowledge Him every day in every way. You must not only believe and say that He is Lord and Master of your life, but you must behave that way too. You must hear Him and obey Him when He speaks.

When your heart is hard, you are insensitive to God and ignorant of the truth; your understanding is darkened and your thinking is futile; you are separated from the life of God. You sin constantly and it doesn’t bother your conscience at all—because you don’t have a conscience. You have seared your conscience and hardened your heart. Even if the Holy Spirit spoke to you, you would not hear Him. Being spiritually deaf is like being physically deaf. When you are physically deaf, sound does not cease, rather there is sound all around you, but you cannot hear it. It is the same in the spirit. The Holy Spirit could be talking, but you will not hear Him.

 

The Holy Spirit will prosper your way if you will let Him minister to you. If you want the Holy Spirit to minister to you, help you, teach you, guide you, and warn you, you must open your spiritual ears to hear Him; you must acknowledge His voice and presence in all your ways; you must be yielded to Him and submitted to Him. Just as you would honor a certain person by paying attention to him, listening to what he has to say and doing what he tells you to do—so you should also treat and honor the Holy Spirit, because He is greater than any man.

 

You cannot tell me that you are a Christian who hears and listens to the Holy Spirit if you are negative, critical and deceitful, because the Holy Spirit is going to shine His light on you and convict you of your sin. If you say something mean about another person, you will sense in your heart that the Holy Spirit is grieved. Then you must quickly repent, so that the Lord can forgive you.

 

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.  1 John 2:20 NIV

 

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.  1 John 2:27 NIV

 

The Holy Spirit is your teacher. He will tell you the truth and He will lead you into the truth. Listen to Him, acknowledge Him and give Him place in your life.

 

 

 

 

 

Many hearts were broken for the lost tonight. With 1581 harvesters we have seen over 26,000 decisions for Christ. We still have 7 Holy Ghost and Fire Meetings left. For more information on revival.

October 14, 2008 – October 15, 2008

Dr. Rodney Howard Browne will be at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort in Chandler Arizona on Saturday October 14, 2008 through Sunday October 15, 2008. Services for this life changing event will start at 7:00 p.m. both evenings. Saints from across America are also invited to attend this 2 night event.

Speaker: Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne
Crowne Plaza San Marcos Resort
1 N San marcos Pl
Chandler, Arizona 85225
United States
(480) 812-0900

Join us at the below location for 20 days of Power Evangelism October 6th-25th @ 9 AM.
All classes will be conducted in English and Spanish.
Fountain of Life Christian Fellowship
6052 E Baseline Rd; Suite 137
Mesa, AZ 85206-4803
(480) 219-9443

Rodney Howard-Browne is president and founder of Revival Ministries International. This fall he will reach tens of thousands of souls across America through the Great Awakening Tours.

In 1987, God opened doors for him to come to the United States of America; He has stirred up churches and set them on fire for God. paper on Rodney Howard-Browne talks about the Toronto Blessing movement In February 1995 there was a series of meetings held in Adelaide, South Australia, Rodney Howard-Browne taught about love, prosperity, the move of the Holy Spirit and blessings. What shall we say about his ministry? It is the result of the genuine work of God, with Power, signs and wonders. The Media Spotlight shows people being touched and healed in his meetings all over the World through God TV and the power of the Internet.

In 1999, Rodney Howard-Browne held a mass crusade in Madison Square Garden New York City. An eyewitness account from someone that was there Friday night said the building could hold around 20,000 people and ALL the people in attendance were obviously excited about the meetings. Many of them were jumping up and down, dancing in the Spirit, and waving their arms during the worship before the messages even started. Many began counting the un-reached, un-churched street people attending (those who stayed seated during worship) and saw that they could feel the presence of the Lord resonate through the building.

Rodney Howard Browne shares a teaching on Doing Good

But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.

 

II Thessalonians 3:13 NKJ

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Galatians 6:6-10 NKJ

The word says that whatever we sow – that is what we will reap. So we should not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing good and doing right. We will reap in due time and at the appointed season if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faith. There are three things we must do to reap our harvest. Do the right thing. Keep on doing the right thing – don’t let weariness or discouragement stop you. Keep your faith in God’s word activated as you do the right thing.

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that being a giver is the right thing to be. Giving is the right thing to do. We must be givers, as a way of life, and we must resist the temptation to change what we are doing and to stop giving when we are weary and frustrated. We must be a blessing to those who minister spiritually into our lives and also to our church family. We must do the right thing because it is the right thing, not because we feel like it or not. The devil is sure to apply pressure to us from time to time, trying to prevent us from doing God’s word and His will. He does not want us to be blessed or fruitful in any way. We must not be moved by what we see and feel and we must DO right because it IS right!

“You have said harsh things against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'” Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.Malachi 3:13-18 NIV

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that Sometimes Christians begin to think that they are hard done by. They feel like they are trying hard and getting nowhere. The “poor, little, old Christian” is struggling along, barely making it, while the devil shows them the ungodly and disobedient and he tells them that these sinners are more blessed and prosperous than they are. The devil tells them that the sinner is getting away with what he is doing. He tries to convince the Christian that all their faithfulness, commitment and devotion to God are for nothing, while the sinner escapes justice. To the frustrated Christian, who believes this lie, it seems as if the sinner is better off than they are and so they begin to gripe at God.

God rebukes us for even thinking that any one individual escapes justice. God is merciful and He is very, very patient with every one of us, but you can be sure that no one gets away with anything. There is a day of reckoning for every one. On that day you do not want to be the one who must give an account of how you stopped doing what you knew to be right just because you were looking at other people. You do not want to be rebuked by God because you had a bad attitude, which prevented you from receiving all of the blessings of God in your life.

There is a scroll of remembrance written in the presence of the Lord, concerning those who fear Him and honor his name. God sees and knows every small thing we do that is right and He will bless and honor us for it. There is a reward waiting for us. No matter how comfortable and prosperous the ungodly seem now. No matter how much it seems that they are getting away with – there is coming a time when the whole earth will see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. We are His treasured possession and He loves us and is watching over us with compassion. He is taking note of every right and good thing we do and He is also watching our heart attitude as we do it. Take heart and do what you know is right.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:12-17 NKJ

 

The devil does not have free rein to come in and destroy your life. God has given you ways to protect yourself. The armor of God is not something that God puts on you – it is something that you put on yourself with His help. You protect yourself with the truth, with righteousness (integrity), the Gospel, faith, salvation and the Word of God.

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 NKJ

 

You must love and desire the truth even if the truth means you have to change. The truth protects your vulnerable belly and righteousness protects your heart. You must have a humble and repentant heart and God will clothe you in His robe of righteousness. You continue to walk in righteousness when you walk in honesty and integrity in your own heart. You must be ready to share the Gospel freely. You are ready for any situation when you are equipped with the Gospel of peace. You must be full of faith. Faith is a shield of protection for your whole body. You need to bring your mind into subjection to your spirit and the Spirit of God. Your thought life is sanctified as you allow the Word to wash your mind and the Spirit to teach you and lead you. The Word of God needs to be in your heart and in your mouth – a two-edged sword – cutting through the lies of the enemy.

 

You will notice that the shield of faith does not just prevent the enemy’s arrows from reaching your soft, vulnerable flesh, but it actually quenches the fiery darts and flaming missiles he sends your way. The devil may try his best, but your faith in God not only completely stops his arrows, but it thoroughly destroys them. God does not just do it for you – you do it with your faith in God. If faith quenches arrows then fear will allow them to penetrate your flesh and hurt and destroy you. Faith does not prevent the arrows from leaving the devil’s bow, but it will not allow them to touch you! You must press on in faith.

 

Faith believes that God will do what He said He would do. The Amplified Bible describes faith as “believing in God/Jesus with a personal trust, a confident surrender and firm reliance” and “the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness.”It is only when you trust God completely that the enemy will get nowhere in his attacks on you. People who do not trust in God fall to pieces at the first sign of an attack, but a person of faith says, “I don’t care what you try, devil, I know that God is on my side and I trust Him to take care of you!” The person of faith knows what the Word says and uses it on the devil just like Jesus did. “It is written!” You can have faith, not only in God’s power to help you, but in His goodness too and the fact that you know that He will help you. When you know that not only can God help you, but that He will help you – your faith in Him will be unshakable and the enemy’s attack in vain!

Malachi 2:14-15 (KJV) 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.

15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. The Lord brings a man and a woman together as one and a reason for this is so that they can bring forth godly offspring.

1 Samuel 2:12 12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. The priest, Eli, had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They were rebellious and would not walk in the ways of God. When we don’t deal with rebellious attitudes in our heart, it leads to evil and can causes the downfall of other people, too.

Hophni and Phinehas would not respect the offering of God or listen to their father and it cost them not only their own lives, but also it also caused their father’s death.

1 Samuel 2:17 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. 1 Samuel 2:22 22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Hophni and Phinehas despised the offerings of the Lord and were fornicating with many women. Their sin opened the door to the enemy and caused the presence and glory of God to depart from Israel and the Ark of the Covenant to be stolen by the Philistines.

1 Samuel 4:17-18 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. When Eli had heard of the outcome and how that the Ark of God was stolen, it was too much for him and he fell over backward off his seat. Because he was an old and heavy man, he broke his neck and died. This was not the way that God had intended for his end to be. He would not deal with his sons and it cost him everything including all of their lives.

1 Samuel 4:19-22 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel : for the ark of God is taken.This is a sad story of a whole family negatively affected, because they would not take heed to God and His Word and His ways. Any rebellion in our lives must be stamped out and our attitudes must be dealt with and brought in line with the Word of God. Without exception, this applies to the minister as well as the congregation member. This rebellion and ungodliness in the family of the priest was one of the reasons why God had to raise up Samuel. God used Samuel to give a message to Eli about his family to say that God would judge him because he would not deal with his sons.

1 Samuel 3:11-14 11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel , at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. To have a family that loves God and His Word should be our desire and our goal. We should teach our children to love and respect God and His Word so that we raise up godly seed that respect and revere Him all the days of their lives.