2 Kings 22 (Part 2) Bible Study (Josiah Repairs the Temple) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

Mimi in Second Kings Chapter 22, and let's give our attention to

2 Kings 22 · chapter mention

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

2 Chronicles 34 · chapter mention

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.

2 Chronicles 34:3

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

2 Kings 22:3

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

2 Kings 22:3

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

1 Timothy 4 · chapter mention

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

Exodus 27:20

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.

2 Chronicles 34:11

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,

2 Kings 22:7

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.

Titus 2 · chapter mention

This is going to wrap up our study perfectly.

So listen, Titus is receiving in Titus chapter 2, at least the

Titus 2 · chapter mention

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.