Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines... And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field. And...the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.” So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD...And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook. Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God has come into the camp!” And they said, “Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before....Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews...Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!” So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

Everyone living being has the breath of God in him or her, otherwise they won’t be alive. But that does not mean that everyone living can operate in the power or anointing of God. The ability to do that is largely dependent on the eligibility of each individual, based on his/her relationship with Jesus Christ.

In the passage above, the Israelites found themselves routed at war, so they decided to bring the Ark of Testimony (a symbol of the presence of God) into their camp with the hope that it would help them to overcome their enemies. When the Ark eventually arrived, they jubilated, as they then expected an easy run over their enemies. The Ark had made them prevailed over similar challenges in the past, it would definitely aid them again this time. How wrong they were.

However, the Ark could not deliver them from their enemies because it was carried to the camp and was in the care of two unworthy vessels – Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli – who were both notorious in eyes of God for their excesses (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-36).

Their contact with the Ark rendered it ineffectual, and it could not fulfil the purpose for which it was brought. In fact, it was taken captive by the Philistines and could not prevent 30,000 of the soldiers from being slaughtered. That means the Ark – a symbol of God’s presence and power – is only as effective to the extent of right standing of the person bearing it.

You will succeed in Jesus Name!

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