1 Samuel 2:12-17
The high priest of Israel at the time of this text was a man named Eli. He had two sons that were priests as well, but who had no relationship with the Lord. Nothing is more dangerous than people in leadership that “know not the Lord” (verse 12).
According to chapter one, their names are Hophni and Phinehas. Hophni means “fighter”, while Phinehas means “mouth of brass”. Both boys use their position as priest to their gain, meeting the people at the altar and taking their sacrifices away from them, before they can offer them to the Lord. The priest was allowed to have whatever was left over from a sacrifice for their own consumption, but to take it raw, before it could be offered, kept the offerer from receiving absolution from their sins. This form of raw, or sodden meat was off limits. But they didn’t seem to care.
When Israel came out of Egypt, God told them to eat the lamb of the Passover, “roast with fire, not sodden”. They were to eat it cooked, not raw. The reason for this, is that the lamb was a type of Christ, who must be consumed as a crucified Savior. Only the finished work of Jesus, not the life of Jesus that will change lives. Many are asking what Jesus would do or say, but the greatest question should be, “What DID Jesus do at the cross?”
These two priests represent the spirit of anti-Christ in this final hour. John said that in the last time there are “many anti-Christ’s” (1 John 2:18). We often view the Anti-Christ as the one who comes during the Tribulation, but the Bible never refers to him by that title. Rather, in this final hour the anti-Christ that John is speaking of will take away the power and authority of the real Christ. Unfortunately, we are seeing less and less of the crucified Christ, His loveliness and His cleansing power. It is not because Jesus is less powerful, but because our combative spirit and mouth of brass has thrown law and works at the comers to the altar for so long, that the people have begun to despise the entire process (1 Samuel 2:17).
In your walk today, recognize that the cross of Christ is a finished work, with no assistance needed from you. Do not give that grace to yourself only, but be ready to share it with everyone that you come in contact with. If you have been hearing the “fighter” and the “mouth of brass”, then salvation has become less about resting in His finished work, and more about doing something to please God. Relax in His presence today, with the only laboring that you do, being the labor to enter into rest (Hebrews 4:11).
Open the gift of righteousness which Jesus paid for, so that you could have abundant life. May His grace and peace follow you today!
(Need more information on today’s topic? Contact the ministry and ask for Pastor Paul’s sermon, “The Spirit of Anti-Christ in the Last Time” on CD. It is our gift to you! God bless.)
The high priest of Israel at the time of this text was a man named Eli. He had two sons that were priests as well, but who had no relationship with the Lord. Nothing is more dangerous than people in leadership that “know not the Lord” (verse 12).
According to chapter one, their names are Hophni and Phinehas. Hophni means “fighter”, while Phinehas means “mouth of brass”. Both boys use their position as priest to their gain, meeting the people at the altar and taking their sacrifices away from them, before they can offer them to the Lord. The priest was allowed to have whatever was left over from a sacrifice for their own consumption, but to take it raw, before it could be offered, kept the offerer from receiving absolution from their sins. This form of raw, or sodden meat was off limits. But they didn’t seem to care.
When Israel came out of Egypt, God told them to eat the lamb of the Passover, “roast with fire, not sodden”. They were to eat it cooked, not raw. The reason for this, is that the lamb was a type of Christ, who must be consumed as a crucified Savior. Only the finished work of Jesus, not the life of Jesus that will change lives. Many are asking what Jesus would do or say, but the greatest question should be, “What DID Jesus do at the cross?”
These two priests represent the spirit of anti-Christ in this final hour. John said that in the last time there are “many anti-Christ’s” (1 John 2:18). We often view the Anti-Christ as the one who comes during the Tribulation, but the Bible never refers to him by that title. Rather, in this final hour the anti-Christ that John is speaking of will take away the power and authority of the real Christ. Unfortunately, we are seeing less and less of the crucified Christ, His loveliness and His cleansing power. It is not because Jesus is less powerful, but because our combative spirit and mouth of brass has thrown law and works at the comers to the altar for so long, that the people have begun to despise the entire process (1 Samuel 2:17).
In your walk today, recognize that the cross of Christ is a finished work, with no assistance needed from you. Do not give that grace to yourself only, but be ready to share it with everyone that you come in contact with. If you have been hearing the “fighter” and the “mouth of brass”, then salvation has become less about resting in His finished work, and more about doing something to please God. Relax in His presence today, with the only laboring that you do, being the labor to enter into rest (Hebrews 4:11).
Open the gift of righteousness which Jesus paid for, so that you could have abundant life. May His grace and peace follow you today!
(Need more information on today’s topic? Contact the ministry and ask for Pastor Paul’s sermon, “The Spirit of Anti-Christ in the Last Time” on CD. It is our gift to you! God bless.)
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