Praise The Lord

The Pastor's Pen

Words Of Inspiration From Our Pastor

And the king (Josiah) stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.
(2nd Chronicles 34:31)

Surely the year of 2008 has gone by so swiftly. This Wednesday evening we will have another Watch Night Ser-vice at 10:00 P.M. We will celebrate the ending of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. We will be in God's house praying, singing, and praising God for his goodness and mercy to-ward us. When we look back over the year that is almost over, we can see a lot of things to be grateful for. We have lost some battles, but we have also won many victories. We have had a lot of sickness; and death claimed some of our dear saints, but we have had a lot of God's people healed. We have had some bad days but we have had some good days too. Satan has oppressed the saints of God, but we still have joy. Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church, Zion Tem-ple Christian Academy, and Phillips Bible Institute are still here and doing well. "To God be the glory for the things he has done!" And so it is with a grateful heart that we give thanks to god for his goodness and mercy toward us. And before I begin to write about Josiah, the last good king of Judah, I would like to take this time to say, "Happy New Year" to Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church and to all who read this article!
Our theme for 2008 is Reactivate, Regenerate, and Re-dedicate in 2008," I know you have read our banner in the church, and you have heard this theme discussed, and preached, and taught throughout the year of 2008, but it con-tinues to stay on my mind. And so for my last article of 2008 I want to write about it one more time. I still see a need to reactivate, and regenerate, and rededicate ourselves to the Lord and his work. We need a continual renewal of our covenant relationship with our God. I have chosen King Josiah, the last good king of Judah to illustrate what I am writing about. The first king of Judah (the southern kingdom) was Rehoboam, Solomon's son. There were a total of twenty kings who reigned over Judah. They were all from one fam-ily: the house and lineage of David. The last king of Judah (the southern kingdom) was Zedekiah. Only six of these kings were good kings namely Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah. Josiah was the last good king of Judah; the other fourteen kings were evil in the sight of the Lord. When Josiah began his reign over Judah he was only eight years old and for fifty-seven years previous to this time, evil had prevailed in the land of Judah. This evil was caused by his father, Amon, and his grandfather, Manasseh. But Josiah did not pattern his life after them, he sought to be like his father, David (2nd Chronicles 34:1, 2) (2nd Kings 22:1, 2). When he began the eighth year of his reign (age: sixteen years old), Josiah begins to seek after the God of his father, David, and to purge the land of Judah and the city of Jerusa-lem of idol gods 2nd Chronicles 34:3 - 7). Then in the eight-eenth year of his reign (age: twenty-six years old) he re-builds, repairs, and restores the house of his God (2nd Kings 22:3 - 7) (2nd Chronicles 34:8 -13). When they were rebuild-ing God's house they found a book of the law of God given by Moses. They read the book of the law of the lord to King Josiah, when he heard the words of the law he rent his clothes. He asked them to go and inquire of the Lord for me. Judgment is hanging over our heads. Huldah, the prophet-ess said tell the man that sent you to me, thus saith the Lord, behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabi-tants there of, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah (Deuteron-omy 28:15 - 68)". Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might pro-voke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah who sent you to in-quire of the LORD, so shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, concerning the words which thou hast heard. Tell him, Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king (Josiah) word again (2nd Kings 22:8 - 20) (2nd Chroni-cles 34:14 - 28). Josiah saw that it was time to reactivate, regenerate, and rededicate the people to their God. He sent and gathered together all of the elders of Judah and Jerusa-lem. And he went up into the house of the LORD and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And he caused all that were present in Jerusa-lem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jeru-salem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers (2nd Kings 23:1 - 3) (2nd Chronicles 34:29 - 33). Josiah was a good king who had done a great work for the Lord, but yet he saw a need for rededication for himself and for the people of Judah. We need to rededicate ourselves to the Lord too! The word REDEDICATE means to return back to a previous state and to devote oneself to the special task of working for God and promoting his kingdom in the earth.
Josiah, the last good king of Judah did three things which are outstanding in this scripture text and are also applicable to God's church:
1. We must seek God for our help and guidance
2. We must get rid of sin and sinful practices
3. We must rededicate ourselves to the Lord.
We need to renew our covenant relationship with him and commit ourselves to obey his word and make it the govern-ing force in our lives! We only have four more days before the end of 2008, but it is not too late, to get it straight!

May God Bless You!