Missions-in-Focus - Keynote 2: Revival, not Survival - A look at Josiah

What this episode covers

Br. Paul Meijer Points to Consider WW Fereday in his book, Josiah & Revival said, “God prepared Josiah 2,650 years ago to teach us lessons today. He lived with faith and energy in a day of unbelief and moral decay. Every believer today would benefit greatly from these lessons on…reliance on God’s Word, repentance, worship, spiritual vigor, and spiritual dangers.“ Fereday was absolutely correct, there are many lessons that can be learned from this child king and the revival that the Lord brought through him. Josiah’s story can be found in 2 Chronicles 34-35 and 2 Kings 22-23. He was eight years old when he began to reign. At the age of sixteen, Josiah became very serious for the Lord’s things. By the age of twenty he began vigilantly attacking the high place where the worship of idols was practice and by twenty-six, he put his efforts in repairing the temple of the Lord. Even though Josiah’s father and grandfather, kings before him did evil in the site of the Lord, this young man did not flow with the current, nor was he influenced by the worlds thinking. What was it that gave Josiah strength to swing up stream against the tide of evil all around him? This young man had a deep desire to seek the Lord and to obey His Word. He allowed himself to be influenced by others who lived godly lives (2 Chronicles 34:22-33). One of the things which characterized this young man was his humility. Humility before God (2 Chronicles 34:1-13), humility concerning God’s Word (2 Chronicles 34:14-28), and humility before the people of God (2 Chronicles 34:29-33). The revival that the Lord brought about by using Josiah was marked by: The rediscovery of the Word of God (2 Kings 22:1-2, 8-10, 13; 23:3-25). A restored sense of the fear of God (2 Kings 22:11-17; Deut. 17:18-19; 4:23-24). A return to God through confession and repentance (2 Kings 22:18-20). A renewed spiritual commitment and accountability (2 Kings 23:1-3). A reformation of true piety or godliness (2 Kings 23:21-25; Deut. 18). Suggested focus: The influence a person can have from a very young age. Even children have enormous potential to live for God and to have great impact. A life fully committed and obedient to God is always blessed for it. Josiah properly responded to God’s Word. By the time he became king, the Scriptures had long been neglected, and Josiah’s heart was smitten by the failure of his people to honor God’s Word. Josiah had Scripture read to the people and made a commitment to live by it. A spiritual awakening is no more than God's people seeing God in His holiness, turning from their wicked ways, and being transformed into His likeness. - Lewis Drummond

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