Welcome to
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Sunday Sermon – To Be Truly Effortless, Come Out From Childhood Trauma

Sunday, 4^th February 2024

Pastor Anna (Guest Speaker)

II Chronicles 24:1-25

1. View everything from the perspective of the Tree of Life

So King Ahab was not a good king, he killed all his brothers and married a wicked woman from the north. He did wicked things and worshiped idols. So God sent Elijah to talk to the king in II Chronicles 24 that if he didn’t turn back to God, then the curse of the sin will come to him and his generations. His son Ahaziah was also killed, left only a young son, Joash, who was protected by his aunt, Jehoshabeath, the wife of the priest Jehoiada. She hid Joash for six years, all his brothers were killed and his grandmother wanted to kill him, until he turned 7 years old, and became the king. When Joash was old enough to take over, he decided to rebuild the temple, but the priests didn’t listen to him, so he went back to Jehoiada.

Joash had a perspective of a hurtful youth, and his life was oppressed and fearful. But he could choose the perspective of the Tree of Life, because God has been protecting him and saving him. It depends on how he wants to see his life, because even though the environment was difficult, he learnt perseverance, gentleness, and other good characters.

2. Do not rule while still in the hurts of childhood

Joash did not hold onto God, and he did not hold on to the Temple of God. God had protected him all his life, but he did not share his testimony with the people. He had a hurtful perspective, even when God sent all the prophets to come and talk to him, but he chose not to listen. The prophets and priests came to Joash and told him not to follow what the people say, but to follow the Word of God. But Joash did not listen and killed Zachariah, the son of Jehoiada, who saved Joash’s life when he was young. We must not underestimate the perspective of hurtful youth, because the fruits we produce may destroy us.

God’s judgement finally came to Joash, the enemies came to attack him, his subordinates came up against him, he fell ill, and even when he died he could not be buried in the tomb of the kings. He had the favours from God, God protected him while everyone in his family was killed, but when he didn’t see this, and when he chose to not listen to God, the curse of sin continued to stay with him, and was even passed down to his future generations.

The way we see our environment determines our fruits. God continues to help us and to talk to us, are we willing to listen and are we willing to turn back?