The only way people can go back to God is through destroying idols. As we study the history of Israel and Judah, they had many kings. Revival came after they destroyed idols and gave up themselves. If people hold onto idols, revival will not come. When King Josiah destroyed the idols, revival took place in Israel and Judah.

King Josiah became king when he was eight years old. He fell in love with God’s commandments at this young age. He wanted to do anything, just to please God. He destroyed the idols. The first king of Israel, King Jeroboam, brought many different idols, but God used King Josiah to destroy idols in Israel, Samaria, and Judah. God was pleased with King Josiah. He started to have revival in his land. After he destroyed the idols, he started rebuilding, decorating, and fixing the Temple.

2 Chronicles 34:1-33

King Josiah brought revival to his land. First, he destroyed the idols in the land. He let the devil know that he hated him. He started to clean up Israel and Judah. Then he started rebuilding the Temple. When they were repairing the Temple, the found the book of the law given to Moses by the Lord. The whole nation repented for not obeying the law, not celebrating the Lord’s feast and Sabbath days. They humbly bowed down and wept for their ignorance.

King Josiah put his whole heart into obeying the law of God and His covenant. Because the king was seeking God, the Jewish people also obeyed God. They did not leave God during his reign. King Josiah kept the Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. Everyone in Judah celebrated this Passover. He was a very faithful king. Because the king was faithful to God, the whole nation was faithful to God. If you have a strong spiritual leader in the nation, that land will have peace and prosperity. But if the leader of a nation does not follow God’s commandments, that whole nation will suffer.

2 Chronicles 34:31-33

We need to pray for the leaders of our nation. Pray they can hear the voice of God and keep the commandments of God. Pray they have an intimate relationship with God. The nation that serves God will never perish. Just like as long as King Josiah reigned over Judah, they prospered and had peace. We need to have a leader like King Josiah in our land, someone who hates idolatry and is faithful to God all the way to the end. Someone who loves the Lord with all of their heart. If the king tears his clothes, repents, and gives all to God, the peace of God will overflow in the land.

America, we need to have this type of leader. We need to go to Mizpah and repent. We need to give all to God. The only way people can come back to God is by first destroying their idols. They must give up themselves.

The Mizpah revival was a gathering of people together, bringing unity to Israel. For a long time, Israel did not have unity but separation. The people were scattered everywhere. Disunity is from the devil. Unity means peace and victory. God was about ready to bring victory to Israel. When Israel started coming together, God started to prepare victory for them. When they left God and worshipped idols, the devil beat them. God used Mizpah to bring unity and religious reformation to Israel.

Religious reformation is:
1. When people repent for losing fire and not honoring and worshipping God in spirit and in truth.
2. When people destroy the idols

The prophet Samuel preached to Israel; he traveled from town to town, telling them to destroy their idols and come back to God. He knew that was the only way God would deliver them from the hands of their enemies. Samuel’s message was very anointed and powerful. Israel truly repented and started to destroy their idols.

America needs to be like Israel during the time of Samuel and destroy every idol and idolatry in our land. We need to destroy every statue. If America leaves God now, we will have more crime. The crime rate will climb higher and higher. People’s consciences will die. Love will dry up. This country will be filled with strife, violence, anger, and murder. That will be a disaster. We will also lose sharp discernment and not know the difference between good and evil.

God hates sin. If America doesn’t turn to God, the wrath of God will come to our land and to our lives. God’s judgment and punishment will wake up America. God is speaking to America. His heart is with us. He looks at the White House. He calls every king, every great leader by name and says, “Can you let Me in to your meetings? If you let Me come to this meeting, I will give you the solution to every situation. But first, let Me in. Then I will bless you.”

It doesn’t matter how many times God calls our names, if we don’t respond to His calling we will miss that chance. God wants to use everyone. He will use small vessels, but He will not use dirty vessels. It is just like when we serve food to company. We will not use plates that are dirty to serve. But if we find a small, clean plate we will find a use for that plate to serve our company and make them feel welcome and warm.

When we repent, America, God will:
1. Forgive us
2. Give us a new beginning
3. Give us pity
4. Heal our diseases
5. Give us new hope
6. Give us victory

Spiritual movement will come with repentance and through prayer. Spiritual blessing and gifts come to those who live a prayer life. Prayer always gives birth to powerful ministries; powerful ministry causes people to have fear of the Lord. Samuel’s ministry caused Israel to have the fear of the Lord. Priest Eli failed because he did not have fear of the Lord. He did not teach his children to have fear either; they did not know what fear of the Lord was. When he children sinned, he did not take strong action to discipline them. This tells us his relationship with the Lord was not very strong. If people have strong fire for God, when their children commit sin, they will take action to discipline them. But priest Eli did not have strong fire for God; therefore, he did not discipline them. The result of their lack of discipline was lukewarmness. The result of their lukewarmness was the death of all of his children and Israel’s loss of a great battle.

Pastor Sun Hui East

---Excerpt from the book Under God, pt 3