When a building is demolished, it is a highly technical, planned out operation. Explosives are strategically placed to knock out internal load-bearing sections so the building collapses into itself. The goal is to demolish the building without damaging surrounding structures.
When temptations abound and sin presents itself as an option, the goal of the devil is to demolish a man and his faith, and cause as much damage as possible to all those around him. Dads are charged to have a highly practical, spiritual plan of operation to stand against attacks.
Then the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest and the priests of the second rank … to bring out of the Lord’s temple all the articles made for Baal, Asherah and the whole heavenly host. – 2Kings 23:4. Can you imagine your church providing access to pornographic material, gambling and alcohol on the church grounds? That is essentially what was going on in the temple of the Lord courtesy of Ahaz, Manasseh and other kings preceding Josiah. Josiah cleared out the temple and reestablished it as a place of worship for the One True God. Furthermore, he did away with idolatrous priests, ‘influencers’ of their day, promoting worship of the whole heavenly host; he defiled Topheth – the location for child sacrifice to Molech; he defiled high places set up to worship foreign gods of Solomon’s wives – a testimony to Solomon’s lust for women; and, he tore down the altar at Bethel built by Solomon’s son Jeroboam, who took Israel’s eyes off of God and opened the door to sinful behaviors. Josiah listened to the word of God when the book of the Law was found in the temple; he discerned what God was saying by consulting the prophetess Huldah; he discipled his nation by reading the book to the people and established a covenant with them to follow God and obey His commands; and then he demolished all worship of other gods across the kingdom. Wow! Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did – with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. - 2Kings 23:25. In the New Testament, Paul charges men to – Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2Corinthians 10-5. Demolish like Josiah and let the heart-turning begin.
Tips to Demolish Like Josiah:
- Read 2Kings 22 & 23 and 2Chronicles 34;
- Practice self-discipline to defile the influence of all media;
- Demolish little ‘g’ gods and secular ideologies present in the home;
- Establish battle buddies to be vulnerable with and accountable to;
- Lead spiritually by example.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and the example of Josiah. I confess I have granted little ‘g’ gods and secular ideologies influence in my home. Forgive me. It is my responsibility to demolish like Josiah, to not give the devil a foothold. Help me be a Josiah for my family - to discern, disciple and demolish in a way that glorifies You. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad my kids need to see. Amen.
A faithful father discerns, disciples and demolishes like Josiah.
