March 7, 2021

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE—A SPIRITUAL REBOOT

March 07, 2021

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Our children provide us with memories that we store up forever in our hearts! Can you share one of the favorite phrases of wisdom or laughter that your child delighted you with?

Reading through the Bible during the first six months of 2021, plus hearing sermons taken from the chapters from the week, is building a great discipline in our lives. This week we read of the reign of kings in Israel, in 1 and 2 Kings, reading the phrase “[the king] did evil in the sight of the Lord” over and over. Of the forty-three kings for Israel and Judah, only six were commended as “doing right in the sight of the Lord.” Today’s sermon will showcase one who received the highest praise from God as his accolade was 2 Kings 23:25: “Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his mind and with all his heart and with all his strength according to all the law of Moses, and no one like him arose after him.”

Focal Passage: 2 Kings 22, 23.

            A Spiritual Reboot 

  • Read 2 Kings 22:1. What are some of the normal expectations that one might assume from an eight-year-old boy? What do you think the citizens of Judah expected from a king who was only eight?
  • What kind of spiritual atmosphere did Judah have at this time? What were some of the sins Josiah would have observed in his first eight years?
  • Read 2 Kings 22:2. What do you think of when you hear the names of Ahaz, Amon and Manasseh? Why is this verse so incredible, considering Josiah’s age and environment?
  • Read 1 Kings 15:11, 14a; 1 Kings 22:43; and 2 Kings 14:1, 3-4a. What were the pivotal words in each of these verses? How did they differ from 22:2?
  • At the time Josiah was eighteen, his desire was to restore Solomon’s damaged temple. Read 22:10-11. What was the book the priest found? What was Josiah’s reaction?

        A Spiritual Refocus

  • In most circumstances, when you see life going in a bad direction, what do you do? Read verses 12-13. What did Josiah command his officers to do when he was read the Book? What words did he use that showed his heart was suffering?
  • Read 2 Kings 23:1-2. What was the complete refocus Josiah committed to as he endeavored to bring Judah into an obedient relationship with God?
  • How can you tell from the action phrases in 23:3 that Josiah was sold out to God?
  • What are some situations today that could be benefitted by the same amount of commitment? 

         A Spiritual Renewal

  • Why was it possible for God to do such an amazing change in Judah with one young boy? Can you think of another young boy who was one of faith?
  • If God could use a young child whose heart was open to His purposes then, is it possible He could use one person to initiate change in America in 2021?
  • Is there any possibility that one person could be you?

         Close

How many eight-year-old boys have you known who would have had the ability, desire, or determination to govern a kingdom? What is even more incredible is the fact that Josiah, at his young age, had a will to lead his country to follow God! He, as we read, was reared by his wicked father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manesseh, was exposed to idol worship, pagan rites, with possibly little or no direction in life, and may not have been taught knowledge of God.

It is encouraging for grandparents to note that we will see a very few verses in 2 Chronicles 33:12ff that reveal Manasseh turned his life completely around in his old age, and possibly, in those last few years before he died, had an impact on his young grandson!

The remarkable faith Josiah had was honored by God. For those years between his coronation at eight, and the desire at eighteen to restore the damaged temple, little is really known. However, without a doubt God put the desire in his heart to bring back some of the beauty of Judah’s house of worship, with the result that the Book of the Law was found by the priest and brought to the king. Can you imagine such a scene? And Josiah sat for some period of time, listening attentively as Shaphan the scribe read the book, resulting in a tremendous fear at the possibility of wrath from God.

This story of one of the last kings of Judah leads us to look at our own lives, asking ourselves, is our life impacting anyone today for the kingdom of heaven? Are we living our life sold out to God with such a complete faith that the purpose and works He created us for is being served? Will we eventually leave this world a better place than it was when we arrived? But the most probing question of all is, Will there be anyone in heaven because we lived? Proverbs 11:30 says “He who wins souls is wise.”

There are few prayers that we can pray with more fervency than to beg God for a heart like His to do His will, and to let our life result in the salvation of someone who has previously chosen Hell. Will you pray that way?

 

 

 

 

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