The PriesthoodJuly 10, 2010

Memory Verse“For the lips of a priest should

keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 2:7)

We are Soldiers in God’s Army

• There is a Battle that is between God and Satan!!

• What side are you on?

• If you are a soldier in God’s army who is guiding us to follow the orders ??

– Jesus is our General who gives the orders

– The priests are the captains who guide us and teach us to fight our spiritual enemy !!!

Who is the High Priest? (Hebrews 9:11)

• Our Lord Jesus Christ is the head of the church.

He chose the 12 apostles and set them apart from everyone else.

“He called His disciples to Him, and from them He chose

twelve whom He named apostles” (Luke 6:13)

He commanded them to go forth and baptize people everywhere and teach them to observe His commandments.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the

Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I

have commanded you.” (Matthew 28: 9,20)

The Apostles were given Power

• The power to forgive sins and withhold forgiveness – You are Peter, and upon this rock I will

build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16: 18-19)

• The power to work signs and wonders in His name. – So that even handkerchiefs (of Paul) or

aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:12)

What does Abouna do in Church?

• He is a “man of God” and a “man of prayer”• He is a leader set a side for the work of the Lord to serve

the people of God

Holy Liturgy on Sundays Handles Communion

We kiss Abouna’s hand because he touches the Body and Blood of Christ

Confessions

Prays for the forgiveness of our sins

He tells all about God’s Love for the World

• The Liturgy is the center of his service.

• He Leads his children TO CHRIST & Cares FOR THEIR SALVATION

How to send God’s Love• Helping the people– The poor– The needy– The sick

• Working for what is fair

• Supporting those who do the work of God

How does this man become a Priest?

• It’s a Sacrament! • The Bishop lays his

hands on the head of the elected Abouna.

• The Holy Spirit descend on him and grant him the priestly order.

Priest of the Lord• Ooab = coptic for priest – comes from ethoab = saintly / righteous – A righteous man, adorned by holiness

and purity.

It is an Honor to Serve the Lord

• To work for the salvation of the souls of the people of God.– “Let a man so consider us, as

servants of Christ and stewards of the Mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

(1 Corinthians 4:1,2)

Priesthood is …

• A calling from God• A choice made by God• A consecration• A stewardship – God put in his hands

a duty of caring for the people’s salvation.

Ranks of Priesthood

• The order of Deacons– Deacons = servants

• The order of Priests– Priests = teachers

• The order of Bishops– Bishops = overseers and shepherds

Deacon

• According to St. Paul in his 1st Epistle (letter) to Timothy (3:8-13):– “Likewise deacons must

be: • Reverent• Holding mystery of faith with

a pure conscience • Ruling their children and

their houses well• Should be tested first and

then proved and found blameless so they can be ordained.” (1 Timothy 3:10)

Priest

• An Intercessor – someone who prays on our behalf

before God on the altar (the Holies of Holy)

• A Teacher – Teaches the people the word of God – Leads them to Jesus Christ – the

Only Way to heaven:• Virtues • Mysteries of the sacraments• Explaining the word of truth of the

bible, and church traditions handed down from the apostles.

Bishop

• An overseer and pastor

• A shepherd pasturing the good sheep – Like the Lord Jesus, he is

teaches and defends the true faith in the church.

• He is responsible before the throne of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for

the sheep. (John 10:11)

Our Lord Jesus is the High Priest in heaven and on earth

He granted priesthood to His disciples and those ordained by them in the future generations by the Holy Spirit.

St. John Chrysostom said…

• It is the priests who can do baptism = our spiritual birth

• By priests we put on Christ, and are united to the Son of God, and become members of that blessed head.

• So we should honor them more than princes and kings, and give them respect even more than our parents!– Because our mom and dad gave us physical birth - of

blood and the will of the flesh– But priests are the cause of our spiritual birth - of our

true freedom and son-ship according to grace of God.

Questions ?