The Revival Kings #5: The Revival the Wasn't Late

Introduction: History

Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, Josiah

Reason for Historical Books: Give us a picture of what things look like if we follow those foundational principles God gave us and what it looks like if we don’t.

The Revival That Wasn’t Too Late.

Introduction

I want a mighty revival to sweep across our land. I’m willing to do anything for it - short of sin.

This morning we come to the last great revivals under Josiah. He was the last of the Revival Kings.

That revival begins right here in my heart. and it begins in yours.

Asa - Jehoshaphat - Joash - Hezekiah - and now Josiah

I believe the day is coming - and it could be soon - that Christ will come again and it will be too late for many.

This particular revival is something like that.

Introduction 2: Set the Stage

The hour is late in the history of Judah - it is 5 minutes before midnight in the history of the nation and yet God is about to send Revival.

The reign of King Josiah follows the reigns of Manasseh and Amon, two of the wickedest kings that Judah had. They had plunged the nation deep into idolatry and sin.

Josiah was the great, great grandson of Hezekiah - one of the godliest kings of Judah.

Josiah was also the grandson of Manasseh - the wickedest king of Judah.

( the story of Manasseh is a wonderful story, it is the story of a wicked king that found grace, but that’s another sermon.)

You might think that after the evil reigns of Manasseh and Amon that there would be no hope for the nation, but there is always hope in God. God is a God of hope.

Remember - God is still sovereign in the matter of revival. Revival always begins with God. We may think that it begins with us but in reality it begins when God begins to move in the hearts of man.

This morning open your Bible to  (quickview)  and . Keep your finger on each passage because we will be back and forth between them.

Remember - The books of Kings presents a historical account of the histories of Judah and Israel.

The books of Chronicles presents the events from "God’s viewpoint".

This morning I want us to notice several things about Revival.

Revival is Personal and Individual

The boy king vs 1: 8 yrs old

Three things said here of young Josiah. Vs. 2

2. Three things said here of young Josiah. Vs. 2

He did that which was right "in the sight of the Lord".

a. He did that which was right "in the sight of the Lord".

Not in the sight of man but in the sight of God.

1.) Not in the sight of man but in the sight of God.

We could learn from that today

2.) We could learn from that today.

Not in the sight of "political correctness"

Not in the sight of "political correctness"

Not in the sight of "intellectual pressure"

Not in the sight of "intellectual pressure"

Not in the sight of the "world"

Not in the sight of the "world"

He walked in the ways of David his father.

b. He walked in the ways of David his father.

Remember, David was the standard by which God measured the kings. David was a "10"

Remember, David was the standard by which God measured the kings. David was a "10"

c. He walked the straight line. He didn’t waver.

He walked the straight line. He didn’t waver.

3. At age 16 - He began to seek the Lord.

At age 16 - He began to seek the Lord.

In the first 8 years of his reign he probably reigned through a regent or advisor - a godly one. It was probably the priest, Hilkiah, but the Bible doesn’t say. PARENTS - GODLY INFLUENCE MATTERS.

In the first 8 years of his reign he probably reigned through a regent or advisor - a godly one. It was probably the priest, Hilkiah, but the Bible doesn’t say. PARENTS - GODLY INFLUENCE MATTERS.

4. At age 20 - He began his reforms - He came into his own. Vs. 3b

At age 20 - He began his reforms - He came into his own. Vs. 3b

Josiah’s Reforms

True revival has two sides. It means turning to God -AND- it means turning from some things. There is a positive side and a negative side to true revival.

THE NEGATIVE SIDE

He destroyed the altars of Baal and its idols Vs. 4,5

He destroyed the idols so completely that he ground them to dust so they could never be used again.

He destroyed the idols so completely that he ground them to dust so they could never be used again

He polluted the altars with the bones of the dead priests of Baal to make them unfit for worship’

He polluted the altars with the bones of the dead priests of Baal to make them unfit for worship’

2. He was thorough - all the land that he had control over Vs. 6,7

He was thorough - all the land that he had control over Vs. 6,7

3. How thorough was he - II kings 23

How thorough was he - II kings 23

Vs. 7 - He destroyed the houses of the homosexual temple prostitutesb.)

a.) Vs. 7 - He destroyed the houses of the homosexual temple prostitutesb.) Vs. 9 - He did away with child sacrificec.) Vs. 24 - He did away with those who dealt with unclean spirits’Psychics, Astrology , Mediums, "white witches",He closed the "doorways" to the occultTHE

Vs. 9 - He did away with child sacrificec.)

Vs. 24 - He did away with those who dealt with unclean spirits’Psychics, Astrology , Mediums, "white witches",He closed the "doorways" to the occult

THE POSITIVE SIDE

Josiah repaired the temple.

2He raised money of repairs3. The men worked faithfully4. Honesty II kings 22:7 (quickview) III. Josiah’s Discovery - The Word of God -17While cleaning out the Temple they found something long forgotten - The Word of God.It’s interesting where God’s Word had been lost -- In the Temple.Could the Word of God be lost and forgotten in the church today. Programs - Quarterlies - Rituals.IV. Josiah’s Response1. Repentance - He humbled himself. Vs. 18,192. He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21V. God’s Response ,231. Justice - Vs. 24,252. Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-283. Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one. Vs. 31VI. The Passover Kept II Chron. 35The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.VII. Josiah’s Death - Feet of ClayJosiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years. He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

He raised money of repairs

The men worked faithfully

Honesty II kings 22:7 (quickview) 

Josiah’s Discovery - The Word of God

2 Chronicles 34:14–17 NIV

While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the temple of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the Lord that had been given through Moses. Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan. Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported to him: “Your officials are doing everything that has been committed to them. They have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the supervisors and workers.”

While cleaning out the Temple they found something long forgotten - The Word of God

While cleaning out the Temple they found something long forgotten - The Word of God.It’s interesting where God’s Word had been lost -- In the Temple.Could the Word of God be lost and forgotten in the church today. Programs - Quarterlies - Rituals.IV. Josiah’s Response1. Repentance - He humbled himself. Vs. 18,192. He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21V. God’s Response ,231. Justice - Vs. 24,252. Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-283. Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one. Vs. 31VI. The Passover Kept II Chron. 35The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.VII. Josiah’s Death - Feet of ClayJosiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years. He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

It’s interesting where God’s Word had been lost -- In the Temple.

Could the Word of God be lost and forgotten in the church today. Programs - Quarterlies - Rituals.

IV. Josiah’s Response1. Repentance - He humbled himself. Vs. 18,192. He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21V. God’s Response ,231. Justice - Vs. 24,252. Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-283. Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one. Vs. 31VI. The Passover Kept II Chron. 35The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.VII. Josiah’s Death - Feet of ClayJosiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years. He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

Josiah’s Response

Repentance - He humbled himself Vs. 18,19

He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21

2. He inquired of the Lord. Vs. 20,21

God’s Response

2 Chronicles 34:22–23 NIV

Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the New Quarter. She said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me,

,

Justice - Vs. 24,25

24-25

2 Chronicles 34:24–25 NIV

‘This is what the Lord says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people—all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and aroused my anger by all that their hands have made, my anger will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.’

Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-28

2 Chronicles 34:26–28 NIV

Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Now I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place and on those who live here.’ ” So they took her answer back to the king.

2 Chr 34:

2. Mercy and grace - Vs. 26-28

Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one.

2 Chronicles 34:31 NIV

The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book.

3. Josiah’s resolve and Covenant. God to be number one. Vs. 31

The Passover Kept 2Chr 35

2 Chronicles 35 NIV

Josiah celebrated the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon. “Stand in the holy place with a group of Levites for each subdivision of the families of your fellow Israelites, the lay people. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves and prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites, doing what the Lord commanded through Moses.” Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand lambs and goats for the Passover offerings, and also three thousand cattle—all from the king’s own possessions. His officials also contributed voluntarily to the people and the priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, the officials in charge of God’s temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred Passover offerings and three hundred cattle. Also Konaniah along with Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites. The service was arranged and the priests stood in their places with the Levites in their divisions as the king had ordered. The Passover lambs were slaughtered, and the priests splashed against the altar the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to the Lord, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. They roasted the Passover animals over the fire as prescribed, and boiled the holy offerings in pots, caldrons and pans and served them quickly to all the people. After this, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat portions until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the Aaronic priests. The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king’s seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them. So at that time the entire service of the Lord was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord, as King Josiah had ordered. The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign. After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. Archers shot King Josiah, and he told his officers, “Take me away; I am badly wounded.” So they took him out of his chariot, put him in his other chariot and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers commemorate Josiah in the laments. These became a tradition in Israel and are written in the Laments. The other events of Josiah’s reign and his acts of devotion in accordance with what is written in the Law of the Lord—all the events, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

VI. The Passover Kept

The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.

II Chron. 35The Passover is symbolic of the death of Christ. The people had returned to the Word of God and the knowledge that there must be redemption made for sin.Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.VII. Josiah’s Death - Feet of ClayJosiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years. He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

Vs. 18 This was the greatest Passover since the days of Samuel. It was greater than David’s or Solomon’s, or Hezekiah’s.

Why? It’s sincerity. When facing judgment or tragedy, we often seek God the most sincerely.

Josiah’s Death - Feet of Clay

Josiah is killed in battle after reigning for 31 years.

He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect. They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them. Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use. Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

He failed to heed the warning of God and went foolishly into a battle that wasn’t his.

One thing about all five of these Revival Kings, they weren’t perfect.

They all had flaws and imperfections in their lives, and yet God still used them.

Sometimes we think that we aren’t worthy enough or perfect enough for God to use.

Yet if we seek God with sincere hearts, he will use us.

Conclusion

What do we as Christians need to learn from these Revivals?

Revival is first of all Individual and Personal.

2. Revival involves both taking something out of our lives - SIN

and putting something back into our lives - DEDICATION TO GOD

Revival involves a return to the Word of God.

3. Revival involves a return to the Word of God.