Best Supporting Actor: Josiah - Break the Cycle

2015-08-09 
Scott Randlett 

Have you ever wondered why you continue to repeat the same mistakes over and over?  Why the struggles you deal with are the same ones your family dealt with? Will you ever be able to make the changes you know you need to make? There is hope.  You can break the cycle of sin and live the life God always intended for you to live.  Discover the secrets to creating a new legacy through the life of a king named Josiah.

2 Kings 22:1-13 (NLT)

“1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. 2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. 3 In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent Shaphan, the court secretary, to the Temple of the Lord. He told him, 4 ‘Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the Lord’s Temple. 5 Entrust this money to the men assigned to supervise the restoration of the Lord’s Temple. Then they can use it to pay workers to repair the Temple. 6 They will need to hire carpenters, builders, and masons. Also have them buy the timber and the finished stone needed to repair the Temple. 7 But don’t require the construction supervisors to keep account of the money they receive, for they are honest and trustworthy men.’ 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, ‘I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!’ Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it. 9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, ‘Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.’ 10 Shaphan also told the king, ‘Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.’ So Shaphan read it to the king.
11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser:  13 ‘Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.’”

1. Believe God’s power is greater than your limitations.
*2 Kings 22:1-2

I John 4:4 – “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

God is not Limited by:  a) your age b) your past c) your insecurities

2. Surround yourself with trustworthy people.
* 2 Kings 22:3-10

Are we trustworthy:  a) How do we handle His money? B) How do we handle His Word?

Proverbs 13:20 – “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get into trouble.”

I Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be misled:  bad company corrupts good character.”

3. Respond to the Truth of God’s Word
*2 Kings 22:11-13

“You find that the things you let go of while following Jesus were the things that were going to destroy you in the end.” – Francis Chan