Mimi in Second Kings Chapter 22, and let's give our attention to
this wonderful chapter. I've been looking forward to
coming to this text again and continuing in the study,
especially because the last time we were together, we just begun
exploring the inspirational biography of this wonderful man,
one of the greatest kings in Judah's history, King Josiah.
And if you recall, we did not advance beyond verse 2 of this
chapter. And the reason is we included
details from Second Chronicles chapter 34 to help us get a full
picture of what this young man was able to accomplish
spiritually in the early stages of his career.
And now tonight we arrive at a new timestamp in his reign, and
it's found there, verse 3. And we get the impression that
this particular year of Josiah's reign is of great importance.
Why? Because the rest of this chapter
will detail what took place in that one year.
So naturally we should ask what was it that took place at that
point that merits such attention?
And the answer initially is the repairing of the temple, the
restoration of the central place of worship.
Now let me begin by asking a question, and if you know the
answer, you can actually give your answer.
Does anybody recall at what point in Josiah's reign that he
began to purge the land of idolatry?
Who remembers? It was 2 weeks ago, but
hopefully we still what year of his reign?
Not his age? Well, the answer is according to
Second Chronicles 34, verse 3, in the 12th year of his reign.
In the 12th year of his reign, he began to bring reformation
not just to the Kingdom of Judah, but to the entire land of
Israel. And now we come to the 18th year
of his reign, which tells me at least one thing, just how deeply
entrenched the people of God were in falsehood.
I mean, it took that long for Josiah and his leaders to
cleanse the country before he could shift his energy and his
efforts to the House of God and restore it.
That's remarkable to me, and as significant as the cleansing of
the temple may be, that's actually not the focus of this
passage. There's going to be a discovery
that is made in that process within the temple.
That will be the central theme of this text because the
discovery of this item is so astounding that it will actually
serve as a catalyst and launch a fresh reformation for the people
of God. I'm eager to get to that, but
I'll let you know from now. We're not going to go there just
yet. We have to pick up where we left
off in Second Kings 22, verse 3, and we will read down to verse
7. And that will be the focus of
our Bible study this evening. So let's read these verses in
one sitting and then we'll begin to explore them in detail.
Are you with me here? Second Kings 22 verse 3 In the
18th year of King Josiah, the king sent Chiffon the son of
Azalea, son of Meshulam the secretary, to the House of the
Lord, saying, Go up to Hill Kai the high priest, that he may
count the money that has been brought into the House of the
Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from
the people. And let it be given into the
hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the House of the
Lord. And let them give it to the
workmen who are at the House of the Lord, repairing the house,
that is, to the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the
Masons. And let them use it for buying
timber, and queried stone to repair the house.
But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is
delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.
Let's pray together, Lord, you promised for the man or the
woman who delights in your law and who meditates on a day and
night. They will be like a tree planted
by streams of water, and they will bear fruit in its season,
and their leaf will never, ever wither.
And all that he or she does, they will prosper.
We claim this promise as we choose tonight as your church,
to deepen our roots in the truth.
May the SAP of life that comes from your Word be felt and known
this evening, and may you receive glory as we sense our
souls being fed. We ask these things in the
precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
It's a sobering sight, isn't it? To see the very House of God
that was designed to host the glory and the presence and the
majesty of God, to be reduced to such destitution, to be so weak
and desolate and deteriorated by the people of God and their
neglect. And though the fragile condition
described here refers to the physical structure of the
temple, it is equally possible for God's spiritual house to be
impoverished. Paul makes this incredible
commentary about the church. He makes many of them.
But one of them that is dripping with Old Testament allusion and
parallel is in Ephesians 221 to 22 where he says that the church
is a temple in the Lord being built up to be a dwelling place
for God by the Spirit. That is shocking because up to
this point the only thing that could be said was hosting the
glory of God. The presence of God was the
Tabernacle and then the temple, and then now in the new
covenant, Paul says by the Spirit that it's not a physical
building that does such a thing. It's the gathering of the people
of God in community that has such a privilege.
God's address for His glory to be manifest is when blood bought
Christians come together and function as the church.
Amazing. And many of us in here are
honest enough and familiar enough with the church to humbly
confess that it's possible for the House of God today to be
lifeless and to actually be littered with idolatry in the
same way the temple was on so many occasions.
But I believe the verses that we just read, those 5 verses,
provide a recipe for wisdom and insight of how the House of God
can know vitality and rejuvenation.
Again. In other words, there is a set
of principles here that can instruct the church today, I
believe, of how they can be redirected to be the place of
worship the way God intended it to be, to host the glory of God,
to bring life to the people of God, to be that place of
strength and joy and exuberance. Once again, There's something
here, and for the sake of organizing our thoughts, I want
you to take note mentally or on paper or whatever screen you're
holding, of three things that we find in these verses that are
absolutely necessary, not limited to them, but absolutely
essential in order for any local assembly.
Again today being the House of God that hosts the glory of God,
to be redirected, re strengthened, realigned to be
the house that God intended it to be. 3 things.
What is required? The first thing that I want us
to see is found in verse 3. We need godly leaders.
Any ministry, any church, no matter the size, if it wants to
be the true temple of God in the new covenant requires the right
kind of leaders. Now who is the one who is
initiating this construction and cleansing project for the
temple? No, other than King Josiah, he
was the one who delegated and dispatched different officers
and even the high priest to gather the money that was
donated, to count it and to distribute it in order for this
project to ensue. And what's so wonderful about
Josiah here is that he's yet another reminder for us.
I hope you and I've studied carefully the books of Kings to
come to the conclusion of how important leaders are in
influencing and inspiring others towards godliness.
It's a thread throughout the Bible.
Even in the New Testament we read that God gifts the church
leaders for the sake of their furnishing and maturing.
No matter what you feel about leaders, and I know many
disappoint people, you also have to understand that God raises
them up, gifts them so that they can be extensions of His grace
to the people of God. And if you hold any position of
leadership within the body of Christ, no matter the number, no
matter what your ministry looks like, take note of Josiah's
helpful example. Before he can make any
significant impact in the House of God, he first developed a
rich and real personal relationship with the Lord.
Hopefully you remember what we studied 2 weeks ago.
Does anybody recall what we learned about Josiah in the
eighth year of his reign when he was 16 years old?
What are the chronicles say about the king at 16?
That at 16 he began to seek the God of his father's?
At 16, he owned his faith. At 16, he began to seek the face
of God. At 16, he began to experience
God for himself. And I'm persuaded that that
pattern is not accidental, that in the eighth year he developed
a relationship with God, and in the 18th year he was able to
bless the House of God. You and I can't even begin to
hope to make any kind of impact on the community of believers
unless we first cultivate a deep personal fellowship with the
Lord Jesus, and that's especially true for leaders.
There has to be this awareness that I must allow myself and my
convictions and my character to be shaped by His presence and by
His truth in private when no one's looking.
It has to be real for me before it's real for anybody else.
Lasting influence can only be the overflow of intimacy with
Christ. There is no shortcut.
Doesn't matter how many degrees you get, doesn't matter what
kind of books you stuff in your library.
Nothing will ever replace true intimate relationship with
Christ that's based on His Word. That's shaped by the truth here
and that's sought after with intentionality and even
intensity. Josiah was such a man.
He was a man who knew how in secret to know God, received
from God. And then the overflow again of
that was now the House of God being blessed, being blessed.
You know, these old preachers that a lot of them who are dead,
they had marvelous insight into not just the Scriptures, but
personal piety and true ministry.
And there was one who had said that the greatest contribution
that a leader can make to his church is personal holiness.
His life. Being consecrated will be the
greatest thing that he can offer to the people that have been
entrusted to him. Now listen.
The importance of not just leadership, but quality
leadership is emphasized From Genesis to Revelation.
It's found throughout. And when I was meditating on
Josiah, my mind went to a set of verses that the apostle Paul
gave to a young pastor by the name of Timothy.
And there's something that he said in these rapid fire
exhortations that will help any leader that would give the
secret ingredient to being of great impact to others.
And listen, lest you clock out and think, though this is not
applicable to me because I don't hold any authoritative role.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and it's beneficial to every
single one of us to mature as men and women of God.
So I want just I want us to see these verses in First Timothy
chapter 4. Look at them.
They're precious, they're powerful.
He tells Pastor Timothy and First Timothy 4 beginning in
verse 14, what are we studying here?
What is necessary for the House of God to operate as it should
with the glory of God and the life of God?
We need godly leaders. And listen, even if you're not a
leader in God's house, you have the choice of submitting your
life to leaders. That's your responsibility.
What kind of leaders are you going to give yourself over to
husbands, fathers? What kind of leaders are you
going to allow your wives and your children be instructed by?
So this is, this is not a one-dimensional point here.
It's multifaceted. Here's what Paul told Timothy in
First Timothy 414. Do not neglect the gift you
have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of
elders laid their hands on you in that interesting verse, verse
15. Practice these things, immerse
yourself in them so that all may see your progress.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.
Persist in this, for by doing so you will save both yourself and
your hearers. Now can I give you a side point
that blessed me? I'm encouraged by this because
it shows that even leaders have room for growth.
Did you see that? Look at the end there of verse
15 so that all may see your progress.
Implying what? Nobody begins in ministry with
Immaculate abilities. Nobody begins in ministry with a
perfect attitude. Don't you wish?
If you are a leader in this place or you're aspiring to be a
leader, can Ioffer you some counsel?
Be patient with yourself and be patient with God's work in your
life. And let me say this to those who
have leaders over their lives. Be patient with your leaders and
understand that they're human. They're not cherubim, they're
not seraphim, they're human, and they need the same truth and the
same power of the Holy Spirit to conform them as you do.
But that's not the main take away.
The main take away from these verses is this, that Timothy's
public growth and influence among the broader body of
believers would only be possible if he first chose to be fully,
fully, fully absorbed in his calling and his personal
devotion. Can I say that again, any
observable growth or impact would only be possible if this
man first chose to be completely consumed in his calling and his
personal devotion? Or else what else does Paul mean
when he says immerse yourself in them?
Do you see that in the middle of verse 15?
Practice these things, Timothy, Immerse yourself in them.
In what? What's the context suggesting
your gifts, your duties, your personal consecration?
Look at verse 16. Keep a close watch on yourself
and your overall calling as a leader in God's house.
Don't have divided devotion, Timothy.
Don't treat your position or your ministry as a job.
Be absolutely immersed in these things.
Any leader who wants to be of great impact needs to regularly
do some inventory and ask, am I immersed in what God's called me
to do? Am I immersed?
A lot of things go wrong for leaders when they get distracted
by the things of this life or they're pulled in different
directions. No, no, you have to be
completely immersed because as the leader grows, so will the
church to a certain degree, but if he's lazy or again, if he's
distracted, the church entrusted them will inevitably suffer.
So what we find with King Josiah, I believe, based on what
we've been given about him, is that as a man of God, he was
consumed by God. And the result of that is he can
contribute greatly to the House of God.
Godly leaders, I've said this before.
Would you permit me to say it again then when people tend to
come up and ask questions like what should I look for in a
church? How do I know if something or
some place is the right assembly or ministry that I should yoke
myself to? My go to answer is always the
same. Look to the leadership.
Look no further. How do they handle the word of
God? How do they apply the Word of
God? How do they share the Word of
God? Because whether you like it or
not, the pulpit and who stands behind it is sitting in the
driver's seat of that church. And the Scripture tells us that
over and over again. Josiah knew God for himself.
And the overflow of that is that he wanted others to worship the
God that he worshipped, and he did so with great zeal and
passion. But that's not the only thing.
Can we come back to our main text?
That's just the first thing. The second ingredient that is
required for the House of God to host the glory of God and to
function the way that God designed it to be with the life
of God and the impact that it was designed to give to people
and to worshippers. You also need what we find here
in verse 4. Go up to Helkai the high priest,
that he may count the money that has been brought into the House
of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected
from the people. And let it be given it to the
hand of the workmen who have the oversight of the House of the
Lord. And let them give it to the
workmen who are at the House of the Lord, repairing the house,
that is, to the carpenters and to the builders and to the
Masons. And let them use it for buying
timber and courage stone to repair the house #2 you have to
have, yes, godly leaders, but you also need sacrificial
people. Sacrificial people.
Notice how many kinds of people are involved in this work.
You had those who gave money, you had those who had oversight
over the House of the Lord, managers, if you will, leaders,
and finally you have workmen who are repairing the house.
You had carpenters and builders and Masons.
And throughout every stage of redemptive history you find this
truth. All of God's people are invited
to actively participate in His work, especially in His house.
And that is true even in the Old Testament, where it seems to be
more restricted to priests who operate and function and are
active in the House of God. So I have a question for you
tonight, a Bible study, and you are free to answer if you are
confident to answer. Besides sacrifices and
offerings, in what way? At least one way where the
people of Israel called to contribute to the House of God.
Any idea besides offerings, besides bringing and honoring
the feast? And what other ways?
Anything come to mind? This is where if you were with
us in the book of Exodus, you would have answers.
I'll wait a few minutes, maybe not minutes.
Any idea? OK, music and praises.
Yes, we find that more in the temple.
Let's go back. Let's go back.
Let's talk about the Tabernacle. When things first started.
Any instructions that God gave to the people?
Not really the priest. Let me give you what came to
mind for me. Exodus 27.
Let's turn there. It's worth it.
And look at verse 20 of Exodus 27.
What are we doing here? We're looking at sacrificial
people who are called to support the House of God for it to be
the house that God called it to be.
Exodus 27, verse 20. What the Lord says to the
nation, you shall command the people of Israel that they bring
to you. Pause.
Who are we talking about here? The priest?
No, no, the people of Israel. What are they to bring?
Pure beaten olive oil for the light that a lamp may regularly
be set up to burn in the tent of meeting outside the veil that is
before the testimony. Aaron and his sons shall tend it
from evening to morning before the Lord.
It shall be a statute forever to be observed throughout their
generations by the people of Israel.
Have you ever thought about this?
Has anybody remember this, that one of the things that the
people were to regularly bring to the House of God was not a
lamb, not a bull, not a goat, not just those things, but
actually olive oil. Well, there it is, olive oil,
because we know that there are particular furnishings in the
household of God, and one of them was a lamp.
Why was this important? Two reasons.
Number one, that lamp was symbolic.
It was symbolic of God's continuous presence and guidance
and awareness in the midst of God's people.
And it was to continually burn. Do you know why?
To represent how God never slumbers or sleeps.
He's always awake. The lights are always on.
So that message had to be protected as it reflected God's
character. The people would bring the oil,
the priest would tend it and watch over it to ensure that at
no point, even at night, would it be extinguished.
It must continually burn. But there's a practical purpose.
Question again. Not the temple.
The Tabernacle didn't have any windows.
OK, so there is no light. So the only source of
illumination was this lamp. Can you imagine the priest
operating as mediators without light?
The stumbling and the tripping and the falling?
It would be problematic. So this would offer light to the
priest so that the priest can function as they were called.
Now what's beautiful about that point is, in God's wisdom, both
the message and the function of the lamp depended on the
participation of God's people. It was the people who are
responsible of bringing the fuel for that lamp.
And what's so beautiful about this, you can easily miss this,
is that that kind of contribution would actually be a
blessing to the people. Why?
Because these priests stood in the gap.
They represented the people as well as representing God.
They were mediators. So without the light, they would
not be serving the way they were called, and the people would not
benefit from that kind of poor service.
So it was a return of investment.
They would come with the oil, it would help the priest, it would
give the right message, and the people would be blessed as they
walk away from that place. Is it any different for the
church today? What do I mean by that?
Will the testimony of God shine as brightly?
And will leaders in God's house be able to serve with the
effectiveness that they are able to offer unless the people of
God show support and are ready to come with their hands full
and not just to receive? Here's another detail that we
might miss. What kind of oil were they
supposed to bring? Look at again verse 20.
Bring pure beaten olive oil. Don't just bring any kind of
oil. God says I want the cleanest and
the costliest oil that you can get.
And the way that you were able to retrieve this kind of oil is
by taking those olives and crushing them.
It's a tedious process, and you would extract the substance free
from contamination in a way that would preserve its purity and
its natural properties. What's the message behind that?
People of Israel, when you come and contribute this oil that
will help the church function as it is called to function, Bring
your best, bring the highest quality oil you can bring.
And the danger is people sometimes, often times may bring
something, but it's not the highest quality.
In fact, it's in danger of being contaminated or diluted.
It's not what God deserves. And this gives us a wonderful
lesson for believers today. He doesn't want us to just give
anything. You and I are to give our
highest dedication and wholehearted commitment to His
cause. Anything less than that will not
do. Fortunately, people are too
content and fail to recognize that God is after mindful
investment and genuine sacrifice.
I mean you got to understand that that took time.
They didn't have machinery like we do.
So to gather those olives. Remember, the average citizen
was supposed to do this. Gather a cluster of olives,
bring it back home, crush it, finally protect it from anything
else spoiling it and just doing that over and over to comes with
something worthy to bring to the House of God.
The next time you would go to it, the Lord says that's what
I'm after. So here's how this applies to
you and I Whatever you do in God's house, give the best
version of it. Do you do the graphics for your
church? Do those graphics make those
graphics copy, paste Photoshop with excellence in
intentionality? Do you gather lessons and put
together teachings for Sunday school?
Do it with your heart and don't think to yourself you know it's,
it's not really worth my energy and my effort.
They're just kids anyway. They won't really retain it.
No, no, that's not pure beaten olive oil.
Give your best musicians, hone your craft, develop your skill.
Don't just show up week after week just to go through another
service that's not pure beaten olive oil.
The lesson here in Exodus 27, whatever you do for God in this
place or whatever place you represent, give the best version
of it. Again, nothing else would do.
So let's, let's extend and let's brought in this application the
sacrifice and the sweat and the time and the energy that would
be required to crush that set of olives, that cluster of olives.
Only that would do for the light to shine in the Tabernacle.
In the same way, only sacrifice and only the willingness to
offer the best will make God's house shine.
Lesser quality will will dim the light.
It will impact the way leaders are called to govern and plan
and direct. So we see the marriage, I'm sure
here, right? Godly leaders, but sacrificial
people. It's found even in an obscure
passage like this where yes, the leaders are supposed to watch
over that lamp, but the people are responsible for the fuel.
They both need each other. The parallel account to 2nd
Kings 22 emphasizes on that point in Second Chronicles 34.
Let me read it to you from Second Chronicles 34 verse 11.
It sounds almost identical, but it's expounded.
It says in Second Chronicles 3411 they gave it to the
carpenters. That is the money.
They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried
stone and timber for binders and beams for the buildings that the
kings of Judah had let go to ruin.
And the men did work faithfully. Highlight that they worked
faithfully, the men did. Over them were set Jihad and
Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Murari and Zechariah and
Meshulam of the sons of the Koathites to have oversight.
The Levites, all who are skillful with instruments of
music. We're over the burden bearers
and directed. All who did work in every kind
of service highlight that. And some of the Levites were
scribes and officials and gatekeepers.
So do you see this? There was faithfulness and every
kind of service between the leaders and the workers.
And let me add something else. Do you get any hint in this
collection of people that there is rivalry, competitiveness,
dissatisfaction with what God has given to me in His
Providence? Any jealousy here?
Is there any indifference? Absolutely not.
Harmony. You have Josiah, you have these
officials, you have the high priest, you have Levites who
were sub leaders, overseers. You have the workers, you have
those who can't. It's just this beautiful sight
of godly leaders and sacrificial people who are making the House
of God what it was supposed to be.
I have one more point for us tonight.
As challenging as it might be to get people to do, to serve, to
offer, and as needful as that might be, none of what was just
said matters. And this may be a little
redundant, but it's it's noted here in Second Kings.
The third and last thing that is needed for the House of God to
be what it's called to be is integrity and holiness.
Let's look at the last verse of our study in Second Kings 22,
verse 7. It's this interesting note that
is made by the author, Josiah says, But no accounting shall be
asked from them for the money that is delivered into their
hand, for they deal. Honestly, whenever a verse seems
maybe out of place or supposedly random, take the time to ask the
question why? And that's what I spent my time
doing. Why?
Why do I need to know that the people who were in charge of the
finances and the donations did not have to give a detailed
report of what came in, what was going out, because they were
honest? Well, if we're sticking with the
theme of God's house being restored with life and vitality
and glory, then it makes total sense.
Because character matters. Can you imagine the blow that it
would have been to the people of God in terms of their morale or
the momentum to this entire campaign if it had been
discovered that those who were in charge of the money were
misusing the funds or dipping their hands in the donations for
personal gain? That would be devastating.
That would be absolutely tragic, but instead, the opposite is
true. And thankfully, it's true.
You have transparency, you have honesty, you have
trustworthiness. Marking the culture of this
group under Josiah's leadership. Can you imagine?
You don't need to record what came in and what's being
distributed. Because these men are honest, we
can trust them. We don't have to review
anything. That tells me something else, by
the way, some of the fruit of Josiah's reformation, right?
Because remember, we're here in the 18th year.
He began to reform in the 12th year.
So there's some change now. It wasn't as impactful and as
deep as it should have been because Jeremiah, we remember,
came in like a lot of you are hypocrites actually, But there
is some fruit, there's some kind of budding, which makes me
happy. There was a level of integrity
that was inspired. So listen, as vital as donations
are, as necessary as practical service was, none of it would
have mattered if godly character was not intact.
Is it any different for the Church of Jesus Christ today?
No, it's no different. In fact, when meditating on
this, my mind, as it usually does when I study the Old
Testament, went to another New Testament passage, again with
Paul, who is instructing not Pastor Timothy, but Pastor
Titus. And what he said in a set of
verses there, I believe, makes what we're learning here in
Second Kings 22 a wonderful illustration of a consistent
truth relating to the necessity of holiness and integrity in the
House of God if it's going to really shine with God's power
and his warmth. Here's our final passage in our
Bible study. Let's go to Titus chapter 2.
This is going to wrap up our study perfectly.
So listen, Titus is receiving in Titus chapter 2, at least the
first part, instruction after instruction of how he was to
exhort different demographics in his church, older men, older
woman, younger woman, younger men.
And he comes to the conclusion of those exhortations by dealing
with bond servants in the church.
Translation slaves. So there were people in Titus's
congregation and multiple congregations really, who were
Christians and were slaves. Now that's a whole different
discussion for a whole different Bible study.
But in many cases, these slaves, though treated differently,
could be also seen as employees. And notice what he says to them
in verse 9 of chapter 2. Bond servants are to be
submissive to their own masters in everything.
They are to be well pleasing, not argumentative, not
pilfering, but showing all good faith so that in everything they
may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
What's pilfering? Anybody have an idea?
Pilfering, stealing. But it's not the same as theft.
It's kind of like petty theft. It's taking small things that
may not seem of great value in a casual manner.
And the reason why Paul is saying this to servants is
because it was common at this time for servants bond servants
and slaves to steal from their masters.
In this way. It was like the norm.
In fact there was ongoing saying such as the more servants 1
inherits the more thieves he gets.
It was it was just a known thing of this time where bond servants
would just casually take things in their masters homes, put them
in their pockets, eat of it, save it, give it to others
family. And Paul approaches the
believers in this situation in life and says, don't be like the
rest of those bond servants. Don't be pilfering, don't take
advantage. Even if it's small, even if you
think in your mind it's not a big deal.
Your master is rich and wealthy. They're not going to notice.
No. And you can imagine how bond
servant and Paul's day might have viewed themselves as
insignificant and disadvantaged, right?
But he reminds these believers, listen, He reminds these
Christians who are in lowly positions that they have a
golden opportunity to do what? To make an impact.
For the glory of God, notice what he says.
You bond. Servants are able to adorn the
doctrine of God, our Savior. He's not speaking to elders.
He's not speaking to evangelists, He's not speaking
to prophets. He's Speaking of the lowest of
the low. And he says you, yes, you
servants with unbelieving bosses who mistreat you, who maybe even
abuse you. Do you understand that you in
the Kingdom of God have a purpose.
You're not nothing. You're not marginalized in God's
eyes. You have the ability to adorn
the doctrine of God. Do you know what the word adorn
is in the Greek? Tell me if it sounds familiar,
Cosmio. That's where we get the word
cosmetics. And we shouldn't believe here or
think for a second that Paul is implying that the gospel message
or any Christian truth needs improvement or a little bit of
makeup. That's not what he's implying.
What he is saying is you and I as truth bearers, as followers
of this Christ, can make the word of God more attractive.
In what way? Your eloquence, how you can
debate and argue with your illustrations, with philosophy?
No, what did you say? Don't be pilfering, be honest,
be men and women of integrity, and in doing so you will adorn
the doctrine of God our Savior. So in great part, Paul was
saying what we're seeing there in Second Kings 22, that these
men who are overseers contributed not just in their
management abilities, not just in the way they were able to
direct others because they were men of integrity, they won the
trust of others. They were men of good rapport.
They were men who had testimonies.
There were men who could be relied on.
And Paul wants the same for servants.
More important than a renovated building or a wide range of
church programs is the virtue of God's people.
Beyond these meetings is Paul instructing these bond servants
to be faithful and honest in the church?
No. When you go to work, when the
elders aren't there and the music isn't there and the people
aren't there and the Christianese isn't there, there
you have an opportunity to adorn the doctrine of God, and it's
going to be through your conduct.
Youth servants that will make the church more attractive.
There's no way around it. So these are the lessons that we
can take for ourselves. Pray for your leaders that they
would be true, that they would be immersed in their calling.
And if there's any leadership that you want to put yourself
and your family under, it's leadership that are absolutely
on fire for what God has called them to do.
Beware of those who handle their position or the church as a way
of income, as job security. Now look for somebody who walks
with God and you don't need much discernment to understand this
is a person who really believes what they're preaching, who
really takes the word of God seriously.
They have to be immersed, sacrificial people.
I praise God for the people of this church.
I mean, even in God's Providence, yesterday was our
clean up day and 60 people came with oil, if I can use that
analogy. But let me ask you this for
those who may be visiting here every week, and we're so glad
that you do, what kind of oil do you bring to the church?
And whatever you do bring, is it pure?
Is it developed from sacrifice and intentionality and priority
in God's Kingdom, or is He second?
Third, God wants pure, beaten olive oil.
Whatever you do for God, give him your best.
And lastly, all of that can crumble unless it is maintained
by holiness and integrity. And so May God help us know how
to adorn the doctrine of God as much as preaching the gospel is
necessary. And there's no other way for
people to be saved but to hear the truth.
How we walk, how we talk, how we interact, how we do business are
all sermons. They're all messages.
They would either make the gospel more attractive or less
attractive. That's what Paul is getting at.
May we make it more attractive. Let's pray.
Father, You never cease to amaze us of how every portion of
Scripture can be a heavenly morsel for our souls.
It is astounding and breathtaking to be reminded week
after week of how you can make Your Word so applicable,
historical texts and records from thousands of years ago that
can instruct us today. We praise you for your wisdom,
your beauty, your power. There is no doubt in our minds
that this is indeed your book. Would you, Lord, preserve the
leadership of this ministry and every ministry that's
represented here? Would you inspire the people of
God to live sacrificially? Remind us with all the business
and the plans of our lives that the Kingdom of God comes first?
And Lord, may we never fall into the trap of justifying sin
because we are involved in some kind of ministry.
Lord, may we understand that true ministry comes from
holiness and integrity. That is the shield, Lord.
Integrity is the shield to our service.
For these truths we say thank you.
From the bottom of our hearts we say we love you.
Receive our praise now and may the light of your glory continue
to shine. And may we know greater
illumination and warmth as the dwelling place of God continues
to manifest the presence of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen. If you need to stay seated to do
business with God, do business with God.
If you want to stand and give him glory and song, you're free
to do that as well. Well, let's let's take the next
few moments here to really, really engage ourselves and to
seek the Lord and and commune with him as his people.