Changing Your World
Read 2 Kings 22: 1-2
This passage is about one of the greatest kings in the Old Testament. Josiah was born into an evil environment. Wickedness surrounded him as his grandfather and father disobey the Lord during their reigns. But the Lord crowned Josiah, and he used the authority God gave him to change the world around him. Josiah is a type and a shadow of what God has purposed for us. Through Jesus, God has made us priests and kings with all authority.
Josiah was the grandson of Manasseh. Manasseh’s father was Hezekiah, also a great king. Hezekiah walked with the Lord and obeyed His precepts. He taught Manasseh the truth of God. But Manasseh rebelled. He turned against all godly leadership of his father and became more wicked than the pagan nations surrounding Israel. For 55 years he reigned as king. He openly defiled the word of God and brought idols, perversions, prostitution, abortion and child sacrifice into Israel. He hated the Word of God so much that he hid all the manuscripts, leading Israel into a horrible state of apostasy. Josiah’s father Amon also openly defiled the Word of God. He caused so many problems that someone assassinated him two years into his reign. After this, Josiah became king in accordance with the authority of God’s law. He was only eight years old at the time.
Josiah was a righteous king. He removed idols, cleansed the culture, repented for the people and himself, humbled himself to God and even sought out a prophetess to learn about his purpose. He sought God’s face. Josiah destroyed the wickedness which his father and grandfather had sown.
There is so much we can learn from the life of Josiah. But one of the main lessons is that neither the circumstances we’re born into, nor the environment which surrounds us, determines our path. Some people believe they are helplessly doomed to a life of despair because addictions, perversions, and wickedness run in their family. This is true only if you let it be. If you sit around and do nothing, you will get nothing. But if you’ve received the saving grace of God, Revelation 1: 6 says you’ve been made a priest and a king! Your two responsibilities are to love your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Once you’ve allowed yourself to do the first, only then will you be able to do the second.
There is no autopilot in the life of a king. Just as Josiah aggressively repaired Israel thru his appointed authority, so must we take the authority given to us and use it in our lives and our homes. If we’re going to see any changes in the world around us, God’s people have to exercise their authority! You are not supposed to change the entire world, so don’t let the idea of that hinder you. But you can change your world, the world your life is a part of. Wake up knowing your purpose. Set your day in order and prepare for battle. And, as 1 Corinthians 9:6 says, do not fight like someone who beats the air. Take the full spiritual authority God has given you and use it to change your world!
God bless y’all! We love you and we’re saving you a seat at Community Family Church!
Pastor Tom
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