Young and Committed to Ministry

2 Chr. 34:1-21

Josiah at the age of 8 made a decision to commit his life to God through ministry, which provided him the power to influence his generation.

Josiah could have chosen to follow his wicked father, Amon king of Judah, or his wicked grandfather Manasseh also king of Judah, but, he chose God over his biological family.

Josiah could have followed the culture of his generation which rejected God and embraced the sin of idol worship and immorality.

Josiah could have lived a selfish, self-centered life and enjoyed the life of being king; he has everything the world says that we are to set as our goals:
  • He has power.
  • He has position.
  • He has privilege.
  • He has possessions.
But he chose to commit to God over fame and fortune, God is more important than popularity and prestige.

Because of his commitment at the young age of 8 God blessed him with grace and made him king of Judah vs. 1

Josiah responds to God’s grace in verse 2 by living a life of commitment to God at an early age.
  1. He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD.
    1. He lived to please God.
      1. Who are we living to please?
        1. Are we trying to please ourselves?
        2. Are we trying to please our peers?
        3. Are we trying to fit into this world?
  2. He walked in the ways of David his father.
    1. He lived the life of a disciple of God.
    2. Walking in the ways of David is walking in the ways of God.
    3. Discipleship is a godly lifestyle.
      1. Who are we following?
      2. Who are we mimicking?
      3. Are we imitating Kodak Black, Dababy, Cardi B, Lil Baby, Young Boy, or Young Thug.
      4. Josiah wanted to be like Jesus!
  3. Josiah declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
    1. He followed God’s word exactly.
    2. He did not detour, defer, decline.
    3. Whatever God said do that’s what he did.
    4. Whatever God said don’t do he didn’t do it.
    5. We cannot follow Kodak Black and God at the same time.
The sooner one choose to commit his life to God, the greater the power to influence others to follow God.

Josiah uses his power, his position, his privilege, and his possessions to influence his generation to follow God.

There is steady progression of a commitment to discipleship in the life of Josiah as he grows older physically, he grows spiritually, and his ministry is expanded.

Notice all that he did while he was young to influence others to commit to following Christ.
 
  1. Josiah began to seeks after God while he is young- vs. 3
  2. Josiah began to purge Judah and Jerusalem while he was young- vs.3b.
  3. Josiah began to repair the house of the LORD his God – vs.8

A disciple is one who is busy and focused on the LORD, notice three powerful verbs that describes the action to influence his generation to commit to following God: to seek after; to purge, and to repair.


I.       Josiah began to seek after God while he is young- vs.3
“While he was yet young he began to seek after the God of David his father”
 
Young is the Heb. word naar means teenager, a youth.
Seek is the Heb. verb darash means to follow, to worship.
  1. Josiah is 16 years old, and God is on his mind.
  • His mind is not consumed with girls.
  • His eyes are not fixed on stuff and things.
  • His focus is not on TikTok.
  1. To seek after the LORD is to be a disciple of the LORD.
  • Josiah’s desire is to know God personally.
  • Josiah’s desire is to experience fellowship with Jehovah.
  • Josiah’s desire is to follow God and become more like Christ.
  1. To seek after the LORD is to worship God.
  • Every disciple of God lives to worship God.
  • Worship is to come into the presence of God and express our love to Him.

Listen young people you have the power of influence to draw other young people to the God who loves them.

Nobody can win a 16-year-old to Christ like a 16-year-old, you have the power of influence to change the culture of this church, you have the power to change the culture of your schools, and you have the power to change the culture of this world

You can do what Josiah did!!!


II.     Josiah began to purge Judah and Jerusalem while he was young- vs.3b.
“And in the 12th year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images and the molten images”
  • At the age of 20 he gives us an example as young adults how to whole heartedly commit to the ministry of a disciple of Christ
Purge is the Heb. verb taher means to purify, to cleanse
  1. Not only did Josiah seek after God while he was young, but he also eradicated sin from his life. 
  2. Josiah did all he could to remove the temptation of sin from his circle of influence.
  • High places are places for pagan worship.
  • Groves are wooden images.
  • Carved images of idols.
  • Molten images of gold.
  1. Young people, we can’t change the world from sinning, but we can influence our surroundings by not sinning.
  • Don’t use drugs, alcohol, crime and sex outside of marriage.
  • Don’t fall for Satan’s trap of selling drugs for quick money.
The word of God will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from the word of God.

Josiah commitment to God is not only concerned about influencing his generation to follow God in righteous living, but also the repair the house of God for ministry and worship.
 

III.     Josiah began to repair the house of the LORD his God- vs. 8
“Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city and Joash the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.”
  1. At the tender age of 26 he is more concerned about the house of God than his personal house
  2. Josiah’s commitment influences others to join in the effort of repairing the Temple.
  • The same people who had defiled the Temple now have a renewed since of commitment to worship.
  1. Josiah influenced the leaders to use the money that had been given in the Temple to repair the Temple- vs.9
  2. The money was given to the people who had the oversight of repairing the Temple- vs. 10
  3. Josiah’s commitment influenced the men to work faithfully.
  4. While they were working on the house of God, Hilkiah the priest found the Word of God- vs. 14
  5. Shaphan the scribe read the book, the Word of God, that was found in the Temple to Josiah- vs. 18

Josiah heart is broken, and his spirit is trouble when he hears what God says in his word.
  • He realizes that his people have failed in following God as true disciples. 
  • He repents of his sin and is more determined than ever to live a life of commitment to God.
  • He recommits and dedicates himself to God.

The sooner we commit our lives to God, the sooner God will bless our lives!