Rising Up: The Call of the Josiah Generation

Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the concept of the "Josiah Generation," inspired by the story of King Josiah from 2 Chronicles 34. Josiah became king at the tender age of eight and led a significant spiritual reformation in Judah. Despite his youth and the wickedness surrounding him, Josiah sought God earnestly and initiated a revival that eradicated idolatry and restored true worship. This message is a call to all generations, especially the young, to rise up with a spirit of boldness, reformation, and renewal. We are reminded that no matter our age or the circumstances we are born into, we can choose to serve God wholeheartedly and make a profound impact.

Josiah's story teaches us that true leadership and spiritual renewal require a commitment to God's Word and a willingness to confront and destroy idolatry in all its forms. Josiah didn't just remove idols; he pulverized them, ensuring they could never return. This level of commitment is what God is calling us to today. We need to be a generation that doesn't just rearrange idols but completely annihilates them, making way for genuine revival and renewal.

We also discussed the importance of staying focused on our God-given mission and not getting distracted by battles that aren't ours. Josiah's downfall came when he engaged in a conflict that God had not called him to, leading to his untimely death. This serves as a warning to us to stay on mission, seek God first, and yield to His voice in all things.

As we prepare to go back to our daily lives, especially for the young people returning to school, we are encouraged to be bold, stand firm in our faith, and be part of the Josiah Generation that God is raising up to bring about reformation and renewal in our communities and beyond.

### Key Takeaways

1. Commitment to God's Word: Josiah's reformation began with a rediscovery of God's Word. He didn't just read it; he acted on it, leading to a national revival. This teaches us the importance of not just knowing the Bible but living it out daily. True transformation starts with a deep commitment to God's Word. [39:57]

2. Destroying Idolatry: Josiah didn't just remove idols; he destroyed them completely, ensuring they could never return. This level of commitment is necessary for true spiritual renewal. We must identify and eradicate the idols in our lives, whether they are material possessions, relationships, or habits that take precedence over God. [55:01]

3. Staying Focused on God's Mission: Josiah's downfall came when he engaged in a battle that wasn't his to fight. This serves as a warning to us to stay focused on our God-given mission and not get distracted by peripheral issues. Our primary focus should be on seeking and saving the lost and making disciples. [50:19]

4. Youthful Leadership: Josiah was only eight years old when he became king, yet he led a significant spiritual reformation. This shows that age is not a barrier to being used by God. Young people are called to rise up, seek God earnestly, and lead with boldness and integrity. [39:23]

5. Renewal Through Repentance: Josiah's renewal of the covenant involved genuine repentance and a return to God's original standards. Renewal in our lives and communities begins with repentance and a wholehearted return to God's ways. We must be willing to humble ourselves, seek God's forgiveness, and commit to living according to His Word. [57:01]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[11:16] - Greeting and Announcements
[12:14] - New People Party Announcement
[13:13] - Financial Giving Information
[14:11] - Senior Saints Lunch Announcement
[15:02] - Indefinite Vote Announcement
[15:50] - Staff Transition Announcement
[16:33] - Pastor Jordan's New Role
[17:25] - Discipleship Focus
[18:26] - Need for a New Kids Pastor
[19:30] - Hannah's New Role
[20:32] - Prayer for New Roles
[21:24] - Prayer for Jordan and Hannah
[23:07] - Transition Back to Worship
[35:37] - Introduction to the Josiah Generation
[36:13] - Jesus Encounters Announcement
[37:16] - Josiah's Early Life
[39:23] - Josiah's Leadership at a Young Age
[41:34] - God's Call for a New Generation
[50:19] - Josiah's Reformation Efforts
[55:01] - Destroying Idolatry
[57:01] - Renewal Through Repentance
[01:03:17] - Warnings for the Josiah Generation
[01:09:04] - Prayer for Young People
[01:11:29] - Closing and Dismissal

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Josiah Generation

#### Bible Reading
- 2 Chronicles 34:1-7 (NIV)
> Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year, he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols. Under his direction, the altars of the Baals were torn down; he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them and smashed the Asherah poles and the idols. These he broke to pieces and scattered over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and so he purged Judah and Jerusalem. In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles and crushed the idols to powder and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.

#### Observation Questions
1. How old was Josiah when he became king, and what significant actions did he take during his reign? (2 Chronicles 34:1-3)
2. What did Josiah do to the idols and altars in Judah and Jerusalem? (2 Chronicles 34:4-5)
3. According to the sermon, what was the key to Josiah's successful reformation? ([39:57])
4. What was Josiah's downfall, and what lesson can we learn from it? ([50:19])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is Josiah's age significant in the context of his leadership and the spiritual reformation he led? ([39:23])
2. What does Josiah's complete destruction of idols teach us about the level of commitment required for true spiritual renewal? ([55:01])
3. How does Josiah's story illustrate the importance of staying focused on God's mission and avoiding distractions? ([50:19])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of young people in spiritual leadership and renewal? ([39:23])

#### Application Questions
1. Josiah was committed to God's Word and acted on it. How can you deepen your commitment to reading and living out the Bible in your daily life? ([39:57])
2. Josiah destroyed idols completely. Identify one "idol" in your life (e.g., material possessions, relationships, habits) that you need to eradicate. What steps will you take this week to address it? ([55:01])
3. Reflect on a time when you got involved in a "battle" that wasn't yours to fight. How can you stay focused on your God-given mission and avoid unnecessary distractions? ([50:19])
4. Josiah led a significant reformation at a young age. How can you encourage and support the young people in your community to take on leadership roles and seek God earnestly? ([39:23])
5. Renewal through repentance was a key part of Josiah's reformation. Is there an area in your life where you need to repent and return to God's ways? What steps will you take to seek God's forgiveness and change your behavior? ([57:01])
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of not just rearranging idols but completely destroying them. How can you apply this principle to ensure lasting spiritual renewal in your life? ([55:01])
7. Josiah's downfall was engaging in a battle that wasn't his to fight. How can you discern which battles are yours to engage in and which ones to avoid? ([50:19])

Devotional

Day 1: Living Out God's Word
Josiah's reformation began with a rediscovery of God's Word. He didn't just read it; he acted on it, leading to a national revival. This teaches us the importance of not just knowing the Bible but living it out daily. True transformation starts with a deep commitment to God's Word. Josiah's actions remind us that the Bible is not just a book to be read but a guide to be followed. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture and allow it to shape our lives, we can experience profound personal and communal renewal. [39:57]

2 Chronicles 34:19-21 (ESV): "And when the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, 'Go, inquire of the Lord for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do according to all that is written in this book.'"

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to not just read but actively live out a passage of Scripture in your daily life?

Day 2: Eradicating Idolatry
Josiah didn't just remove idols; he destroyed them completely, ensuring they could never return. This level of commitment is necessary for true spiritual renewal. We must identify and eradicate the idols in our lives, whether they are material possessions, relationships, or habits that take precedence over God. Josiah's thoroughness in destroying idolatry challenges us to examine our own lives for anything that competes with our devotion to God and to take decisive action to remove those idols. [55:01]

2 Chronicles 34:4-5 (ESV): "And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem."

Reflection: Identify one "idol" in your life that distracts you from God. What steps can you take today to remove or reduce its influence?

Day 3: Staying Focused on God's Mission
Josiah's downfall came when he engaged in a battle that wasn't his to fight. This serves as a warning to us to stay focused on our God-given mission and not get distracted by peripheral issues. Our primary focus should be on seeking and saving the lost and making disciples. When we stay aligned with God's mission for our lives, we avoid unnecessary conflicts and remain effective in our spiritual journey. [50:19]

2 Chronicles 35:20-22 (ESV): "After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him. But he sent envoys to him, saying, 'What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.' Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of Megiddo."

Reflection: What distractions are currently pulling you away from your God-given mission? How can you refocus your efforts on what God has called you to do?

Day 4: Youthful Leadership
Josiah was only eight years old when he became king, yet he led a significant spiritual reformation. This shows that age is not a barrier to being used by God. Young people are called to rise up, seek God earnestly, and lead with boldness and integrity. Josiah's example encourages young believers to step into leadership roles and make a difference in their communities, regardless of their age. [39:23]

1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV): "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Reflection: If you are young, how can you step up and lead in your community or church? If you are older, how can you support and encourage the young leaders around you?

Day 5: Renewal Through Repentance
Josiah's renewal of the covenant involved genuine repentance and a return to God's original standards. Renewal in our lives and communities begins with repentance and a wholehearted return to God's ways. We must be willing to humble ourselves, seek God's forgiveness, and commit to living according to His Word. True renewal is marked by a sincere turning away from sin and a renewed commitment to follow God's commands. [57:01]

2 Chronicles 34:31-33 (ESV): "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 the covenant that were written in this book. Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the Lord their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the Lord, the God of their fathers."

Reflection: What areas of your life need repentance and renewal? How can you take steps today to return to God's ways and seek His forgiveness?

Quotes

1. "We want to be careful that we don't just become that church that's event-driven. We have a mission. Our mission is to make disciples. Not to create huge events and huge crowds. Our main objective is to make disciples. To make disciples who make disciples who make disciples. That's the great commission as laid out in Matthew chapter 28, verse 18 through 20." [16:33] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Just in the past two weeks alone, we've had 30 people give their lives to Christ. Praise God. I want to tell you, we now have a responsibility to disciple those people. And so we have to put systems in place. That facilitate discipleship." [17:25] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You can't be weak and anemic in this. When you stand up and square your shoulders and say I'm going to serve God, you better mean it with your whole heart. Because you're talking to a generation that's going to think you're peculiar. They're going to think you're crazy. They're going to think you're different. And you've got to be okay with that. You've got to be okay with that. Because your generation desperately needs you." [44:58] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You can do it through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You can do all things. And that includes living a life that's sold out, reckless abandoned to God Almighty. You don't have to look like the world around you." [45:34] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We need another reformation to hit our nation. We need another revival that brings the people of God to their knees and the people of our cities to their knees to look to the one true God again. We need desperately a Josiah generation that says I'm gonna rise up in the midst of pervasive wickedness and I'm going to have something to say about it." [51:15] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "The heart is deceiving and deceptive above all things. The heart will mislead you. The heart will get you married to somebody you don't want to be married to. Come on somebody. The heart will get you in trouble. The heart will get you off in a foreign land you don't need to be in." [01:07:49] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You better be careful, Josiah, that you don't get to the place in your life that you think you got it figured out. You know the word of God so well, you know the Lord so well, that you can make decisions based on your own judgment. There's a lie that says follow your heart. Don't follow your heart. Follow God's word. Follow his voice." [01:07:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "You got one mission. Stay on mission. Y'all ready? One mission. Stay on mission. Seek and save that which is lost. Make disciples. And do it quickly. Because the Lord's getting ready to come back. That's our marching orders. Not just young people, but Josiah generation as a whole. Church, listen to me. That's what we're about." [01:05:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You say well it's so hard I can't do it. You can do it through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You can do all things. And that includes living a life that's sold out, reckless abandoned to God Almighty. You don't have to look like the world around you." [45:34] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Josiah generation, also brings renewal. How many of y'all know we need something new up in here? We need some renewal in our churches, in our homes, in our nation. We need renewal. And that's exactly what happened with Josiah. Because after sending a delegation, after he's now setting up the kingdom of God in Judah, he sends a delegation to repair the temple. And as they're going through the temple, they find the scroll of the law." [57:01] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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