Written for Our Learning - Young But Capable

WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING YOUNG, BUT CAPABLE 2 Chron. 34-35 While God has no grandchildren, Manasseh did. And that grandchild’s name was Josiah. He became king when he was only eight years old, upon the assassination of his wicked father Amon. When he was 16 years old, Josiah felt a tugging at his heart from God, and followed that tugging. His life was never the same. Two Excuses We Need to Ignore. 1. ________ _________really can’t make a difference. That is an absolutely false statement! Age and experience are valuable. We can’t count young men and women out, ______ because of their age. Besides, it’s the ________ that matters. 2. An unsaved family, or a troubled family background, ________ a person from making any ___________ contribution. Another completely false statement. If it were true, many people would be eliminated from serving God because they did not grow up in a Christian home. A dysfunctional family or past life don’t ________ a believer from serving God. A Man We Can’t Help But Respect 1. What He Did – and When When Josiah was 16, he made a __________ decision to learn about God, His ways, and to give God top priority on his life. It was this conscious quest that strengthened Josiah to make the reforms he did. A rich relationship with God ________ any type of great things anyone does for God. After four years, Josiah started his task of bringing the country back to God. And he did this without the benefit of any of the scriptures in front of him. Rather, Josiah kept a _______ _______ and allowed God to direct him in his activities. 2. Why He did It- And How There seem to be three reasons why Josiah did not follow his father and his grandfather. 1. A Godly __________. 2 Kings 22 briefly mentions Josiah’s mom: Jedidah. In all likelihood, it was Jedidah that had a ________ influence on Josiah and his desire to seek the Lord. Moms, don’t ever think your role or your influence is unimportant. Those first four or five years before a child goes to school are _________ to the development and training and love for God. 2. A discovered_________. After Josiah purged the nation of these idols, he went to work on the Temple. During this renovation, one of the priests found a copy of the Law of Moses. When Josiah ______ what it said, he knew that the nation had ___________ God in any ways over any years. 3. A tender Heart. Our text doesn’t list the characteristics of a tender heart, but here are four signs that would indicate one: 1. A _________ for God’s truth. Only a hard heart rejects the Word of God, or hears or reads it without being ___________. 2. A genuine ______ of God. This means more that a casual relationship. It means a heart that is still _________, brimming with awe and reverence for our God. 3. A willingness to ________. When we hear or read a truth in God’s Word that we see we fall short on, we need to make that change fully and immediately. 4. A strong commitment to God’s standard of _________. This means dealing radically with sin, and getting rid of whatever hinders our walk with God.