(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 6/95, Dumas 10/95, Plano 3/96
Filename: Me a priest?

ME A PRIEST?

TEXT: Revelation 5:9-10

INTRODUCTION--

1. A preacher in a Gospel Meeting I attended once told of being shocked when he saw a Catholic Priest (in his clerical garb) suddenly pull out a package of cigarettes and light up in a public place.
   
2. A Priest in Selma's home town was a notorious alcoholic, with an arrest record of DWI and public drunkenness, but was not removed from his parish.
   
3. Such incidents make us wonder about the reputation of priests.
   
   1. Should their image in public reflect private convictions?
      
   2. Is there a standard of conduct for Christians (the "holy priesthood" of the New Covenant)? 1 Peter 2:1-12

LESSON-- Romans 15:4 tells us we can learn principles from the Old Testament.

1. God demanded discretion from the priests regarding their marriages. (priests) Leviticus 21:7 (High priests) 21:13-14 (I know of Christian priests who will allow infatuation and passion for a "stranger" to override their discretion.)

2. Their children were expected to have discretion, also. Leviticus 21:9, 15

3. What about the morals of priests?
   
   1. Eli did not restrain the iniquity of his priestly sons. 1 Samuel 3:10-14
      
   2. Eli's sons engaged in sexual immorality, and extortion. 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22 25 (Compare 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 9-11.)
      
      1. Eli was told that his family would be removed from the priesthood by death and dishonor. 1 Samuel 2:29-36
         
      2. This prophecy was finally fulfilled many years later, during the reign of Solomon.
         
         1. Abiathar alone escaped the slaughter of the priestly seed of Eli by Saul, and went to help David. 1 Samuel 22:20-23
            
         2. He unwisely joined the conspiracy of Adonijah. 1 Kings 1:24-25
            
         3. He was removed from the priesthood. 1 Kings 2:26-27 "And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted. 27 So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto Jehovah, that he might fulfil the word of Jehovah, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh."
            
   3. Malachi the prophet indicted the priests of his day.
      
      1. They failed to offer lawful sacrifices. Malachi 1:6-14 (Matthew 7:21ff)
         
      2. They distorted the Word of God. Malachi 2:1-9 (Acts 20:29ff)
         
      3. They condoned immorality. Malachi 2:17-3:5, 13-15 (Ephesians 5:3-12)
         
      4. They "robbed God." Malachi 3:7-10 (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

C. But we have a High Priest who is our ultimate example of righteousness.
1.The righteousness of Jesus' High Priesthood compels us to follow in His footsteps. Hebrews 3:1-6, 4:14-16, 5:1-9, 7:23-8:2
2.This is what it means to be a "Royal Priesthood."

APPLICATION-- A large portion of the Levitical priesthood was righteous (Phinehas a good example), but those who were not righteous defiled their sacred trust as priests, causing God to bring heavy judgments on them. As priests under our High Priest, Christ, let us walk in integrity, realizing that our public image must reflect our private dedication to God, and to His cause.