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Christ has made the Old Testament priesthood obsolete.  There are no references to priest in the New Testament for the Church of Christ.  Christ has made the sacrifice sufficient, no priest is necessary.  In fact Christ puts the priesthood onto all believers. 

Listen to:

Hebrews 7:23-25:  “The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

1 Peter 2:5 “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 

Now that we have established that this passage can be applied to those who are in Christ, believers, we must be guarded against failure and produce fruit.  Let’s begin in verse 2.
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The Failure to Hear His Revelations v.2a 

(The voice of God can be drown out by the busyness of life or by sin.)
What does God say about busyness?  

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

How do we listen?  Bible reading, prayer, Sunday School, Sermons, Christian Friends, Christian Radio

Listening requires our hearts and our ears.  Leaders gravitate toward comfort, not conflict.  When God speaks it usually means change.  Change means conflict within and conflict with family, friends, etc.  What we do effects multiple generations.  If we do not listen we, effect multiple generations.

The Failure to Give Him Respect v.2b 

Pray that every breath would honor Christ!  That your heart would leap with joy for Christ!  That your passion would be making much of the glory of God!  

If there is failure here than God will do what is described in verses 3 and 4.  God is serious about His glory and obedience.  

The Fruit of Reverence v.5

a. Relationship= life + peace

b. Amazement of God

c. Revering the Might and Majesty of God

Reverence matters.  You will not be in awe of the glory of God if you do not see Him as the supreme sovereign Creator!

The Fruit of Biblical Reproof v.6

Reproof in this context means instruction.  What are the results of the fruits of biblical instruction? v.6b “and he turned man from iniquity.”  People get saved!  Romans 10:14-15; 17 days: “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

The Fruit of Biblical Reproduction v.7

2 Timothy 2:2

 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

The Failure of Biblical Reproof v.8

The result is here in this verse 

“…caused many to stumble by your instruction.”

Romans 2:21-22:  

“you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?  While you preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?  You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?”

James 3:1 

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

The Failure of Biblical Reproduction v.9

This passage says that they were showing partiality in teaching.  They were not teaching the whole Word, just the parts that would continue allowing the priest to get paid.  They were people pleasers.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Galatians 1:10 

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”