Because your heart was tender and you humbled
yourself before God when you heard His words
against this place and against its inhabitants, and
you humbled yourself before me, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, says the Lord.
I also have heard you, and I also
have humbled myself before you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, says the Lord.
I also have heard you, and I also
have humbled myself before you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and I also have humbled
myself before you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, says the Lord.
I also have heard you, and I also
have humbled myself before you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and I also have humbled
myself before you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I
also have heard you, and you tore your
clothes and wept before me, I also have
heard you, and you tore your clothes and
wept before me, I also have heard you,
and you tore your clothes and wept before
me, I also have heard you, and you
tore your clothes and wept before me, I
also have heard you, and you tore your
clothes and wept before me, I
also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you,
and you tore your clothes and wept before
me, I also have heard you, and you
tore your clothes and wept before me, I
also have heard you, and you tore your
clothes and wept before me, I also have
heard you, and you tore your clothes and
wept before me, I also have heard clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I
also have heard you, and you tore your
clothes and wept before me, I also have
heard you, and you tore your clothes and
wept before me, I also have heard you,
and you tore your clothes and wept before
me, I also have heard you, and you
tore your clothes and wept before you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard you, and
you tore your clothes and wept before me,
I also have heard you, and you tore
your clothes and wept before me, I also
have heard you, and you tore your clothes
and wept before me, I also have heard
you, and you tore your clothes and wept
before me, I also have heard father being
a hard-hearted rebellious man the
Bible says of his father that he set
himself about to do evil, he
premeditated and
planned his wicked things that he did.
So Josiah was of this stock having a
father who had set himself against God determined
to utterly disobey him.
His grandfather was the same.
Josiah's father had simply followed in the footsteps
of his father doing the same evil.
They were fond of imitating the kings around
them, those kings who did not know God.
So just think of it, he was then
born of this stock from fathers who were
determined to disobey God and to copy what
the surrounding kings who did not know God
what they were doing.
But his great grandfather was a man of
God.
But Josiah never got to know him.
But he imitated him and he was more
like him.
It seems like they were of the same
group.
So at eight years of age he was
coronated king despite his heritage of such a
father and grandfather.
The
Bible
specifically says of Josiah that the moment he
was made king he feared the Lord God
and he sought to do good, good in
the sight of God like his father David.
Now David wasn't his direct father.
His own father and grandfather
were
wicked men but he was after David, said
that he was his father.
Now at eight years of age you can
excuse a child and say well they're ignorant,
they don't know what they're doing.
But
the Bible
says at that age he did good in
the sight of God like his father David.
Jesus scolded the scribes and the Pharisees and
the Sadducees and for they had said if
we had lived in the time and the
era of our ancestors we would never have
killed the prophets.
Jesus said you are lying, you are being
hypocritical for you would have done exactly the
same and kill the prophets.
He said the reason being that those who
were the murderers of the prophets you call
your ancestors.
He challenged them by saying but why do
you call yourself after the ancestors who killed
the prophets rather call your ancestors the prophets.
It shows that you have the same heart,
you would have David.
So God doesn't count Josiah's father or grandfather
wicked men who belong to hell.
He says his father was David.
So don't identify yourself with others dead or
alive who refuse to walk with God.
Seek rather the heroes of God those who
are true men of God and call them
your forefathers.
Today it's commonplace to find young people even
Christians who say well how can I be
a real Christian after all I'm surrounded by
all this and they learn their lifestyle from
the others around them instead of choosing men
of God and the ironical thing is that
even their parents will follow the wickedness which
their children do.
So Josiah at the age of eight he
grew up as a king who feared the
Lord.
He grew up like that he continued in
that way.
When he was 16 he sought
God in a very deep way.
At the age of 26 he brought about
a reformation turn things upside down even though
he had already been doing things like that
since the age of eight but there was
a new reformation and new changing of things
at the age of 26.
One has to ask the question that this
boy should be of this sort and grow
up in this manner where did he obtain
his strength and his uprightness in the Lord
how did he get it?
He listened to the Word of God.
You'd hear the word of the Lord keep
it and do it.
Now I still will be looking at that
in depth for these are just words of
was to be cleansed for it had become
dusty and old and unused and he sent
for the prophets and the priests and they
had to come and clean the temple.
Even the temple money had become decayed and
wasn't used anymore and
as they were busy cleaning the temple they
found under a pile of rubble the Word
of God and he said read it.
But let's rather continue with our text.
So this boy King though he didn't know
his grandfather and he only knew his father
and grandfather who were wicked he didn't know
his great-grandfather but God said nevertheless this
boy takes after his father David.
For these two were like flesh of the
same flesh bone of the same bone doing
the same thing.
Both of them David and Josiah had communion
with God.
They would speak to God the Lord would
speak to them they would listen and that's
where the Lord pronounced regarding them that these
are men with whom I'm well pleased.
With both of them if they notice something
in the temple in the house of God
which was wrong they would bring about changes
immediately
also
they were zealously committed to these changes
if there was something which needed change they
did it instantly with enthusiasm with the fire
of the Lord.
Also they were immediate in their obedience to
God they never wasted time.
Even though other kings had walked along an
evil path but these two said no this
is the way we go.
So this boy was exposed to God's dealing
from an early age in the midst of
an era of darkness and wickedness all around
him he stood up and said no this
is not the way to go.
This young boy was used of the Lord
there's nobody too young you might say I'm
too young or I'm too old I cannot
be used by God no whoever is available
to God will be used by the Lord
so if you just sit there and say
circumstances are beyond control it's because of you
that's why things are going rotten around you.
You have a direct connection to what goes
on around you if things are bad sin
is being eaten around you there's wickedness that
prevails then you are the cause this choir
if they are alive and full of spiritual
power then all will live.
If you find yourself surrounded by evil even
in the congregation if you become alive it'll
make the others around you to be alive.
Even at the college if things go wrong
those who are in leadership there those who
are meant to be alive are not alive.
Even if it's just a student it's because
of you you're not what you're supposed to
be.
Even at school in your girl's dormitory if
things go wrong about you it's because you're
not alive spiritually there will be thorough change
everything is turned around if you are alive
spiritually the same as you boys at the
school dormitory things will be different if you
become different.
It started with Josiah listen to what the
Lord says because your heart was tender
and you humbled yourself before God
when you heard his words against this place
and against his inhabitants and
you humbled yourself before me and you tore
your clothes and wept before me I also
have heard you says the Lord.
If the Lord had to speak today just
about you could he say something similar to
that.
The Lord seeks one through whom he can
work through whom he can display his power.
I think back of Gideon.
Just recently there was a certain celebration quite
far from here and I spoke about the
meaning the Hebrew meaning of Gideon.
Gideon meaning the tree feller the one who
cuts down large trees
indicating one who is a
mighty hero
and
that's what I said we need to be
that mighty heroes of God.
The Lord worked firstly in Gideon.
When the Lord had worked in Gideon's life
he began to work in the lives of
others.
He said Gideon your mother has a large
your father has a large pole an Asherah
pole in worship of that female that goddess.
Things need action needs to be taken.
One night he got his friends together and
they destroyed that idol and burnt it.
When the people got up that morning the
goddess was gone and the people were furious.
Fingers were pointed at the son of whoever
saying this is Gideon and so
they determined that he should be So
Gideon too was in the midst of a
crooked generation a murderous generation.
So they went to Gideon's father and they
said bring him out he's the one Gideon
is the one responsible for this crime.
He is the one who has taken down
this goddess and burnt it he is the
one who's cut down Baal.
The Lord had started
working
in Gideon's father's life he didn't turn on
his son and say how dare you do
this the whole community is against us.
He answered with wisdom saying well if these
gods the Asherah and Baal have been cut
down and you want to attack Gideon for
doing kill him for doing it why not
the gods themselves if they be deities let
them The
Lord
is
well able to defend you if you stand
on his side he can defend you don't
fall into fear and be a coward and
say I'm so scared I'm afraid lest they
pay their revenge on me they might try
and shoot me well the Lord can control
even that that the bullet kills them instead
of you.
The Lord used Gideon and just a handful
of men just 300 men to defeat a
whole nation the Lord doesn't need quantity he
can do it with just two or three.
The Lord said to Gideon you've got too
many warriors with you I can't work with
so many let those who want to go
home go home.
The Lord said to Gideon you've got too
many warriors with you I can't work with
so many let those who want
to go home go home.
10,000 of them returned home then the
Lord said there's still too many Gideon take
them to the river where I'll test them
those that lay on their bellies to drink
the water were sent back home but those
who drank water like a dog those were
alert and sharp just 300 of them the
Lord used them.
Josiah was of like spirit a zeal for
the Lord if he noticed any foreign gods
he would say let them be
chopped down.
When
he
noticed things were in a mess in the
temple he immediately set about to have things
changed that was before he had discovered the
scriptures the scrolls for he had the Lord
in his heart wonderful are those people who
have God in their hearts.
Josiah then commanded that the temple should be
thoroughly cleansed all the rubbish all the dirt.
If you want the Lord to work in
those around you to use you as an
instrument to reach those around you then be
cleansed let the Lord cleanse you for you
are a temple cleanse you even in your
body what have your hands your eyes your
thoughts being used for let it be thoroughly
cleansed.
Let me illustrate your home being like your
temple.
Have you been into your home and searched
through your home your books and things and
checked out if something is not glorifying to
God then it's a curse to your family
to your home let it be taken out
let it be burnt
even
if it's a schoolbook then tear out the
wrong places get rid of it.
If
you want the Lord to work
in those around you to
use you as an instrument to reach those
around you.
Search your home you go through things if
your wife is blunt you as a husband
do it should the husband be blunt you
wife deal with it tear out get rid
of what is wrong.
If your husband threatens you with divorce let
him do as he will rather that he
does that and you go to heaven and
probably he won't divorce you he'll repent.
Any defiled thing any thing that's wicked let
it be removed from your home maybe you
saying Lord bless our home but no blessing
comes upon it instead it's one mess after
the other it might be that you have
some secret fetish that you keep there some
occult object whatever it might be let it
be cleansed.
Pray and ask the Lord what to do.
Maybe you say but my husband is the
obstacle well pray seek the Lord's wisdom otherwise
you are weakening yourself.
So look in the cupboards under the beds
there are many things hidden in homes.
Some men and
even children keep pornographic things unclean things
children who have that that spirit and instinct
of a dog they will keep things like
that If
you're seeking for revival and you're allowing defiled
things you are playing around out with those
things and secondly also in yourself in you
the temple of God see if there are
defiled things in you don't stay with these
things even if you're a missionary here out
of it outside the gate outside the camp.
We don't need you here.
What's the matter?
You're in the wrong place.
Go to the place where the Son of
Peace is.
This was the spirit of Josiah who zealously
zealously commanded them to clean the temple and
eventually they discovered the words of the Lord
the scriptures and it says Josiah was shocked.
He was frightened.
He humbled himself.
He was cast down low because of the
holiness of God.
Immediately he assembled all the inhabitants and said
this is how things have to go.
Why?
Because the Lord said of him his heart
was tender.
Is your heart tender or is it hard?
And he sincerely humbled himself before the Lord.
Don't just humble yourself before people and bowing
and scraping before them because then it can
be hypocritical.
You may weep and mourn because you're caught
red-handed not because you're truly sorrowful.
Josiah said these things must be done and
he determined that it should be done in
his day.
He said how can this happen while I'm
alive?
If I'm dead it might happen but not
while I am here.
So firstly he directed things at himself secondly
the temple and thirdly the inhabitants.
The king tore his own clothes.
The Bible says that God said he wept
before him.
God said I've heard you.
Are you of like spirit?
Are you going forward and there's always more
maturity, a proof of going forward?
At eight years of age we've seen him
at 16 at 26 always taking a new
step forward.
And the Lord spoke about what he felt
regarding him.
What does God say about you?
If you have a tender heart you'll repent.
You'll admit that you were being pharisaical.
You'll admit that you're being hypocritical before people.
Can God say you're a co-worker together
with me?
God is at work and so are you
doing his work.
Let's stop messing around.
Let's make decisions.
Time is over for messing around, taking it
easy and bluffing.
You've got into a relationship with the devil.
You're his worker.
Listen to this the Lord.
The king stood in his place and made
a covenant before the Lord to follow the
Lord and keep his commandments.
He made an
agreement
with God, a covenant.
He stood in that place saying Lord from
now on I make a covenant to obey
you to the end and to keep your
testimonies and your commandments and your statutes with
all my heart and with all my soul.
To perform the words of the covenant that
were written in this book.
This is a hero.
When he read the Bible and was convicted
of sin, right there and then he made
his decision.
He said Lord right now I make this
covenant with you to obey you and all
your commands right to the end.
Having made that covenant he said
all those found in Jerusalem and
of the tribe of Benjamin let them do
likewise.
And so the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according
to the covenant of God, the God of
their fathers.
I
often
preach and there's a book written overseas with
the title saying revival begins with you and
that is displayed in this King Josiah.
Revival began with him, started with sin in
himself and continued to deal with the sins
of others.
Then in verse 33, thus
Josiah removed all the abominations from all the
country that belonged to the children of Israel.
This Josiah removed the abominations for these detestable
things, even if they are things that you
do secretly, they are an abomination before God.
And made all who are present in Israel
diligently serve the Lord their God.
All his days they did not depart from
following the Lord God of their fathers.
In another translation it says that the people
did not veer to the left or the
right all the days of their lives.
Have you made a covenant with God?
Week after week you get preached to every
Sunday, you hear from this book.
Have you ever though made an agreement, a
covenant with God that you will obey what
he says?
Let's stand to our feet.
I invite you who haven't made this covenant
with God come to the front here.
That covenant with the Lord, in other words,
agree with him that all those things that
are detestable before the Lord you will remove
and deal with.
In you, in the temple and around you
in the world.
If you haven't made that covenant I may
give you the opportunity to come forward, make
that covenant before the Lord.
Lord we've heard of this child who was
appointed as king at only 8 years of
age.
Did not follow in the ways of his
father and grandfather.
Went out of that direction and chose specifically
to serve the Lord of Lords.
The creator of heaven and earth.
Saying I don't want to be like other
children or other kings.
I want to be like my heavenly father.
Lord here are your souls.
Making that covenant to serve you, to turn
away from your sins.
To obey your commandments, your statutes right to
live.
Lord write the name of each and everyone
who bowed here before us in the front.
Record them Lord as you recorded Josiah.
That on this day, the 8th of February
2004, I have made my covenant with God.
Till that day when I see you, when
you read the books before heaven and earth.
When you say he who is unashamed of
me, I will never be ashamed of him.
Lord record them.
Record this contract as they sign in humbling
themselves before you.
Write down Lord and sign to this day,
this covenant with you.
That you would be the witness to this.