Sermon Central
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Revival That Should Have Been
Contributed by Craig Benner on Jun 17, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: A fabulous start does not guarantee a fantastic finish.
Almost Winning is still Losing
2 Kings 11; 12:1-16
Jehoash - the king who could have been miraculously great.
IL.: Frank Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball manager, is credited to be the first one to coin the phrase, "almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades". It was his response to a reporter after losing a game at 12-11. It may have been close, but it was still a loss.
Joash was a toddler who was rescued when Athaliah attempted to destroy all the royal seed. This wicked woman intended to reign over Israel. Howbeit, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, snatched up the child and hid him in the house of the Lord. There, in that protected and holy place, Joash was raised and trained the first six years of his life.
What a blessing! How miraculous!
Then the priest staged an upraising against Athaliah, to place Joash in his rightful place as king on the throne.
The wicked queen was terminated and with the guidance of Jehoida, the king Joash reinstated sabbath worship in the house of the Lord. The altars of Baal were destroyed, even killing the priest of Baal.
Jehoash decreed that money be brought to the house of the Lord to make repairs and maintenance of the temple.
If that was the end of the story, we could all shout and go home happy.
But look at the end of Joash:
2 Kings 12:18-20
18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
19 And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.
Today, we are in a similar scenario. There are great signs of the makings of a revival, but will it end there? Let us endeavor to learn from the mistakes of this tragedy.
1. Get it for Yourself
Joash did well as long as he followed the instructions of Jehoiada. He had a strong godly leader, but he never got a spiritual backbone for himself.
2 Chr. 24:17-18
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.
Joash was a follower without convictions, which made him a weak leader.
The miracles of your past and your pedigree are not enough to assure you of a true revival.
Joash may have loved the things of the Lord, but he failed to hate sin and evil.
IL.: There is a story of a child who showed up at school dirty every day. Some said that his parents must not love him. Another stated that his parents really did love him, but they didn't hate dirt. That is the problem.
II. Don't Gamble with Concessions (Compromise)
Joash decided not to bother with those who practiced idol worship in the farther regions of his kingdom. After all, it way out there amongst those he rarely rubbed elbows with.
It speaks of an area of laziness and willingness to appease.
Maybe, in his own personal life, he liked to sneak off and dabble in some of these shady practices.
In our church world today, too many are willing to dabble with the devastating.
-too many excuses for missing church, for not being faithful in different areas of life.
III. Get a Grip on the Holy
In 2 K. 12:17,18 we see where Joash went into the temple and gathered all of the hallowed things and sent them to the king of Syria.
When trouble came his way, he failed to fast and pray. He simply made a hasty decision to give up the holy and the dedicated. He somehow believed that giving those things up would get the enemy off of his back.
Don't back up on your time, your talents, and your treasures. They were given to you by God and for His glory.
IV. Grieving the Holy Spirit
2 Chr.24:20
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
