Preparing for Josiah Declaration Sunday

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   I Corinthians 10:1-22

I.       Idolatry can keep you out of the promised land

          A.      Israel had come out of a land of open idolatry

          B.      Israel had been delivered from Egypt to serve the living God

          C.      Israel sinned by turning back to the practices of Egypt

D.      Israel provoked the Lord to jealousy because they chose to participate in idolatry

E.      Israel was destroyed in the wilderness

II.      The summary:  We are to flee idolatry

          A.      What is idolatry?  Idolatry is the worship of other gods.

B.      Idolatry includes involvement and participation with things associated with idolatry (art, artifacts, souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, books, magazines, movies, toys, games, computer software, etc.)

          C.      The Bible talks about the thing that provokes the Lord to jealousy

1.       Deuteronomy 32:16  “They provoked Him to jealousy with foreign gods: with abominations they provoked Him to anger.”

2.       Ezekiel 8:3  Speaks of the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy

3.       James 4:4-5  “Adulterers and adulteresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself and enemy of God.  Or do we think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us years jealously?’”

D.      I Corinthians 10:22  “Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  Are we stronger than He?”

III.    The Story of Josiah (2 Kings 22-23)

A.      Josiah was eight years old when he became king of Judah.  The kings before him had been very wicked and had left the God of Israel to serve idols.  There was a mixture of worship in worshiping God and worshiping idols.  The land was filled with idolatry, witchcraft, and sorcery.  Even the temple of God was being used to sacrifice to idols.

B.      At age 18 Josiah decided to have the temple restored.  He had not yet understood how far Israel had drifted from her God.  But as the temple was being restored, the Book of the Covenant was discovered in the temple.  This was most likely the book of Deuteronomy.  The king had the book read to him.  In it was the laws and commandments of God along with the blessings and the curses.  When Josiah heard the laws of God which had been broken and the curses that were coming upon the land, he tore his clothes and wept.  What followed was the greatest revival in the history of Judah.  There was nothing like it before and nothing like it after.

C.      This revival was characterized by a complete return to God and the cleansing of the land from idolatry.  Josiah gathered the elders, priests, prophets, and people and read the Book of the Covenant to them.  Afterward Josiah acted upon the word of the Lord.

1.       Everything that was associated with idolatry was burned and destroyed. 

2.       The idolatrous priests were removed and even killed. 

3.       The temple was cleansed of its idols and things associated with idolatry.

4.       The high places were profaned.

5.       Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, and all the abominations that were in the land of Judah.

D.      After the land was cleansed, the people were instructed to keep the Passover as was written in the Book of the Covenant.  There had never been a Passover like this since the days of the Judges.

E.      Judgment was delayed in Judah until the next generation.

F.      This was the epitaph written of Josiah in 2 Kings 23:25:  “Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.”

IV.     Next week is Josiah Declaration Sunday

A.      "Josiah" is the best name for this, because of all the kings of Israel, he is best known for his ruthless cleansing of idolatry and witchcraft and all things related to them out of the midst of the people of God. The Word of God gives us a wealth of details as to how to do this in 2 Kings 22-23.

B.      Next Sunday we will gather to renew our heart to the Lord by breaking any allegiance and association of our lives with idolatry, sin, and things that provoke the Lord to jealousy.  We will bring things from our home or anywhere else where we have allowed sin and idolatry to cohabitate with us.

C.      How do I prepare for Josiah Declaration Sunday?

1.       Ask the Lord to show you things that provoke Him to jealousy or compromise our covenant with Him.

2.       Do not protect valuable or sentimental objects from the Lord’s scrutiny.

3.       Walk throughout your home, closets, drawers, shelves, closets, etc.  Look for the following:

a.       Things that are have demonic or false religion symbolism or wording.

b.       Worldly music, videos, pictures, posters, calendars, books, magazines, jewelry, worldly clothing, games, toys, computer software, symbols of rebellion, etc.

c.       Questionable souvenirs from other places

d.       Books and other artifacts that promote other religions

e.       Other items associated with sin and sinful habits

f.       Anything through which satan and demonic forces may find avenue into your life

g.       Principle:  If in doubt, throw it out!

          4.       Bring them to the church to be burned and discarded.

                   a.       A symbol of our decision

                   b.       Wrap them up in newspaper etc. if needed

5.       Take time to prepare yourself spiritually through fasting and prayer.

D.      Next week we will have a time of repentance, renewal of our hearts to the Lord, and to take the Lord’s Supper.

E.      It just may usher in a renewal of the Lord’s blessing in our lives, family and church.