The man on a mission was on the mission until the end of the man. Josiah was ancient Israel’s version of the Energizer Bunny who never seemed to run out of ways to lead Israel into deeper faithfulness to God. In this closing chapter of Josiah’s life, we see him cement his testimony as the godliest king ever to sit on Israel’s throne. At the end of his life, Scripture records his testimony that sets him above all his predecessors. Yet, with all of Josiah’s glory, we see at the end of his life that he was still a mere human as one hasty decision brought him to the end of his life. Only one King is perfect, and his name isn’t Josiah.
A Large-Scale Burst of Joy
May 2, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
One of the marks of a great leader is that he or she understands the importance of celebration. For some leaders, it’s only about mission, hard work and accomplishment. They grind our success after success but rarely stop to enjoy what has taken place. When King Josiah finished his large-scale reformation work in Israel, he sought to honor what God had accomplished with a massive commemorative celebration. He planned the festival in a way that blessed everyone, both great and small. This message highlights that often-ignored part of God’s heart which calls His people to cease their hard work for a moment and to joyfully celebrate His goodness and favor.
Revival & The Sanctity of Life
April 25, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
Abortion is, perhaps, the most divisive topic that is frequently discussed in the United States. Well educated people will find themselves on the polar opposite side of the spectrum concerning their views on the topic of how they regard the lives of the unborn. In Josiah’s day, the people of Israel had adopted the pagan practices of sacrificing the lives of their babies and children. Why did they do this? How did their God respond? What must we learn from them? King Josiah took a stand and left no room for doubt concerning the heart of God as it pertains to the sanctity of life in the womb. Today, we stand in great need for the Church to be the primary voice on this polarizing issue.
A Deep Cleanse
April 18, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
Valid faith will always result in action. We only truly believe those things upon which we act. If there is no fruit of works, there is no root of faith. Josiah had his heart pierced when we rediscovered the Word of God. Knowing what was right was not enough for the young King of Israel. He had to act upon the revelation of God. This message reveals the dramatic steps that Josiah initiated in order to honor the God that his forefathers had shunned. This is what reformation looks like.
The Dangers of Biblical Ignorance
April 11, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
When King Josiah heard for the first time what God’s word had to say, he was seized with fear. Why would such a strong reaction come from something as beautiful as the Bible? Well, for 57 years no leaders in Israel had been aligned with the scriptures, and Josiah had just heard the consequences for that kind of negligence. What you don’t know can not only hurt you, it could possibly kill you. This message continues the study in Josiah’s life and reveals both the curses for disobeying God’s Law and the blessings for obeying it. We all get to choose which side of the equation we get to experience. As for me and my house, we are going after the blessing.
Something’s Not Right Here
March 7, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
When we use the word “church” we are often referring to the place where a local group of believers gather as one in order to worship, pray and serve together. There is a lot of activity that goes on in a local church. It requires vision, volunteers, money and organization. Yet a church can have all of those things and more, but if it is lacking one specific component, that church will not last long for the glory of Jesus. Josiah found out what that one missing component was and, when he did, the young king of Israel made some immediate & sweeping changes.
The Boy King
February 28, 2018 • Jeff Lyle
Very few things in ancient politics could be as frightening as the reality of a third-grader reigning as the king over God’s people. Yet, in His sovereign plan, God exalted an eight year old named Josiah to Israel’s throne. It would prove to be one of the most amazing reigns that ancient Israel was ever privileged to experience. In this first message on the life of King Josiah, we will take a panoramic view of this amazing and godly legacy of the boy who became a king. May our hearts all be stirred to live for the same excellence that characterized young Josiah’s life.
