1 Samuel 2:12-17 KJV 12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. 13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

The state of unbelief in God causes one to be a follower of the devil, even unto worship of false gods. The sacrifices done in the name of the Lord for different beliefs have no spiritual value for the unbeliever. It does no good to sing the song of praise, make a sacrifice before the Lord without faith. Today sacrifice on an altar like In Old Testament. It is a sacrifice of finances, hobby, habit, or vow made to God. In other words giving up of something for the work or use of God, even time of a person. The son's of Eli were not of God. That is Eli's sons first mistake in trying to perform the sacrifices on the altar of God. If you don't believe God you can not offer a sacrifice of anything. It not for God you sacrifice it is for your own self. Eli's sons seen a way to extort food, money and other things from the people they served. Aaron molded the golden calf(idol of baal) on the road to the Promise land. Moses was away on Mount Sinai when this happened talking with God. Aaron a man faith but feared the people and did has they wanted him to, instead of obeying the Lord. God not please by any form of disobedience in worship of Him. God not pleased with Aaron or Eli's sons. As a believer we can not serve two masters. We either serve God fully or we serve the devil. People high ministers today with hope and prayers they have minister of faith in pulpit. Moses was consider a good leader though he was found with fault of disobedience to God at times. Even good leaders fall, but those that try and serve both God and devil will not stand but for a time to teach the people about evil ministers. One can not be blind to the fact that all claiming a call of faith is truly callled. Actions of a minister is in fact a testimony of faith. Yet even the devil imitates the works of godly people. One can not go on word alone but actions can be deceiving. A person that seems kind can be a devil at times. I seen on news the other night a minister had been arrested I can help but wonder if the minister even had faith, or if his actions is a testiony of his faith. The temptation to sin is real, Jesus was even tempted by the devil but the only one to resist and over come temptation without sin. It easy to resist the devil, but not always easy not to sin. Moses in his anger sinned against the Lord by hitting a stone twice instead of once. The water poured out before the people despite Moses' sin. God did not punish the people for Moses transgression. Let us return to the sacrifice for a moment the action of giving to the Lord. Abel gave a gift appropiately to the Lord. Cain offering was not pleasing to God. Eli's sons sacrifice was not pleasing to him. The point being the cost of disobedience even unto sacrifices were not meet with grace. Cain found himself tempted and overcome with sin of jealousy of his brother Abel who sacrificed a good sacrifice and was consider righteous before the Lord. If one gets an award in school and someone is jealous, kids might try and sabotage the work of the award winner so it will not happen again. In other words instead of feeling pride for another, they attitude is I can not achieve it so neither will you ever again. The attitude of jealous will destroy the ability to gain God's favor too. Cain jealousy cost him a relationship with God. Unbelief in God or no fear/no revence for God will cost you if it followed by sin, but the first sin already happened it the wrong attitude and disobedience in worship to God as individual or in corporate worship and that is unbelief. No minister can offer your sacrifice to God if he does not believe, and neither can he worship God. The unbelief and even the offering of sacrifice to God by unbelievers has existed since the time of Abel and Cain. Cain would teach his children about what God did to him, for Lamech sin in Genesis 5 and claimed if God did this to Cain who murder his brother what will God do to him for his sin of murder. It was known what Cain did to his family. Not all leaders are like Jesus. Not all ministers are even like Moses, Abel and Jesus. There are some ministers in our world like Cain, Eli's son, and even priesthood of the devil who come as children of light. Children of devil can remain in good standing with the people for sin will show its ugly head. Be careful in the knowledge of good and bad leaders. The best leader of all to follow is Jesus, for He is the Son of God, everlasting Lord, and Prince of Peace. Paul instructure Titus in the Continual scriptural study section to choose good ministers. Ministers with good attributes of faith and good works. No one but God can see the heart of man, we can only see the actions of man. If the hebrew people had only seen Moses on the day he willful sin against God would the people, still chose him to lead? Based on Titus probably not. Based on the verse all sin and fall short of the glory of God yes Moses might of still been chosen. As one outward sign of sin, does not make one a bad minister or leader, it only means they are human. The grossness of some sin will make some leaders evil for decades. Despite repentance. Many ministers have public repented of sin only to be both forgiven and hated by people. Some only fearing that the minister would only repeat the offense. As beleivers we can not follow the minister despite his ability to be a good one, our eyes need to be on Jesus. If our minister points to the one who can save us, then we know that he too knows that we all must submit to Christ. Our obedience must be to our Lord. There is good and bad in all of us. Some of us are more Christlike then others in appearance. If we follow Christ we will obey Him, we will keep his commandments. His commandment is to love the Lord and to love others as yourself. Paul teaching Titus of how to instructed the ministers of faith. The church world will always need ministers and teachers to teach about the Lord. They are God's helpers in ministry, but also God's servants and not ours. Ministers may serve us a meal but they serve the living God if they are people of faith. Dear Heavenly Father grant the ability to be wise in who we choose as leaders, but also let us be wise when it comes to human fralaties verses cold heart willfulness to continue in sin. A repentant man is far useable by you then one that is not. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Titus 1:1-16 KJV 1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; http://www.turtle30cshell.com