09/11/11

We need a Josiah today

Matthew 1:11 - And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:

In the Bible we have the 2 genealogies of Jesus. In Matthew is the genealogy through Joseph whose father was Jacob and in Luke we the genealogy of Jesus through Mary whose father is Heli and given as father in law of Joseph. Both have their common ancestor as David, so in worldly manner Jesus was a descendant of David since officially according to civil records Joseph was called the father of Jesus. And in the real way also Jesus was a descendant of David through Mary.

In reality Jesus was born even before the official marriage of Mary and Joseph, for according to Jewish tradition and according to the Bible a marriage commences when the husband and wife come to know each other (have physical relationship) since the actual marriage of Mary and Joseph happened only after Jesus was born, as documented in Matthew 1:25.

In today's message we see one of the ancestors of Jesus was King Josiah. Josiah is one of the great heroes of the Bible. When he came to know the people were doing things against the Commandments of the Lord and which angered God, he turned their world upside down. All the things they did in the name of tradition which included those borrowed from the pagans and also those by distorting the actual instructions of the Lord.

This church had priests and so called men of God but they too were directly or indirectly hand in hand promoting this corruption. They had the Book of Law with them but did not follow it. It was when the King read it and was heartbroken on knowing what they were doing he sent a few to inquire of Lord (confirm) through the Woman of God Huldah.

After hearing the words of Huldah, King Josiah gathered and woke up the people by explaining them the scriptures. He then nearly destroyed each and every object connected to the rebellious belief against the Lord. All things of Baal and of goddess Asherah, and those in the name of being in Heaven, all these he gathered and burnt them outside the city and threw the ashes on the graves of the ancestors for it was because of the ancestors ignorance and stubbornness they were doing all this practices.

Today too, not much has changed, the churches today also practices pagan celebrations and still do the very same things which are connected to worship of Baal and the goddess Asherah, but in names of people or things connected to Jesus Christ.

King Josiah also broke down the house of (male) prostitutes connected to these worships; similarly even today we have church leaders who sell the Truth due to their fleshy desires like the male prostitutes did to their bodies.

Today we need people like King Josiah who can have courage to challenge these systems and practices which are leading the people of God to destruction. I pray someone's heart would burn with grief on hearing these words like King Josiah heart did on hearing the words of Huldah. Even a few can bring a great change in the House of God. Let us not wait for someone else but like King Josiah who was very young at the time he did this have courage and lead the people to the Truth.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, the things that are written in your Word and things which You warned against and are done by people even today. Like in those days the people were far from knowing your Word even today they are deceived due to their lack of knowledge and understanding of your Word. They practice traditions and rituals which have nothing to do with You or your Kingdom. They do not realize they are actually directly or indirectly worshiping Satan and the Beast. Open the eyes of your people and bring a burden on their hearts of your chosen to bring a change...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Matthew 1:16 - And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Luke 3:23 - And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son [son in law] of Heli,

Matthew 1:24-25
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Read 2 Kings 22 and 23

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)