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The Child in the Temple

II Kings 11:1-12

The life of Joash is a type of the Man-Child company -- TheOvercomer (the Bride of Christ). The age-long battle between godly and satanicforces has a thrilling history which began with God's first promise of a royalseed. The fulfillment of this promise, through the redeeming grace of Christ,makes it possible for the believer to become a partaker of the Divine Nature.

II Pet. 1: 4 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and preciouspromises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature…"

Like the devil, Athaliah attacked and tried to, "… destroy all the Seed Royal ."

II Kings 11: 1--3 "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her sonwas dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, thedaughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, andstole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse , in the bedchamber from Athaliah,so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORDsix years. And Athaliah did reign over the land."

Joash Selected

"…From among the kings sons…"

Only God could have made this selection. He was of the "SeedRoyal" like the believer. The believers have the "Royal Seed" within. They have been born of God into the Divine Family.

The Selection was the Result of a Death

Ahaziah the King died. Ahaziah is a type of Christ the Kingthat died to make it possible for the "Seed Royal" to be chosen. Christ diedto make it possible for those born of God to be part of the Overcomers; chosen(selected) to reign and rule with Him on His Throne.

Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in MyThrone, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne."

As long asChrist (as with Ahaziah) was alive there was no opportunity for a selection.

There was Opposition to the Selection

As soon as Athaliah saw that her son Ahaziah was dead, shearose and destroyed all the seed royal.

It has always been satan's desire to destroy all the "SeedRoyal." This is a spiritual battle, a spiritual war, that we are in for life .

II Cor. 10: 3--6 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after theflesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through Godto the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and everyhigh thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing intocaptivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readinessto revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
Eph. 6: 12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but againstprincipalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of thisworld, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Joash in Training

Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah,took Joash, the son of Ahaziah, and hid him with his nurse in the house of theLord six years.

The Time of His Training

The time of his training was during the reign of evil.

II Kings 11: 3 "…Athaliah did reign over the land."

This was the only woman that ever reigned over Judah. She reigned all six years during the time that Joash was in the temple beingtrained. Six is the number of man. The Bible calls Athaliah a wicked woman.

II Chron. 24: 7 "For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman… (Her sons,her offsprings) had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicatedthings of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim."

We are living in a time when evil is reigning in the land.

Rev. 2: 20 "Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, (the spirit of Jezebel)which calleth herself a prophetess to teach, and to seduce My servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Inspired by demons, false prophets are seducing His servantsby teaching false doctrines.

I Tim. 4:1 "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times someshall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines ofdevils."

The Place of His Training

Joash was "hid in the House of the Lord… " with his nurse for six years. (II Kings 11: 2, 3)

The House of the Lord is a type of the Church where the"Overcomer" (the Man-Child) is being trained.

Rev. 12: 2 "And she (the Woman -- the Church) being with child cried,travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."

During the days of his training, Joash was hid in the Lord'sHouse unseen and unknown. So also the "Man-Child" is hid in the Church duringthe time of his training and development until the time of his revealing.

Rom. 8: 19 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for themanifestation (revealing) of the sons of God."

"Huios" -- Fully developed sons -- mature -- grown up -- fullgrown

Believers get into the Royal Family by birth. Believers getinto the Church (the Body of Christ) by baptism. Believers get into the Brideof Christ (the Man-Child) by maturity, growing up, Overcoming.

Rev. 3: 21 "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in MyThrone, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His Throne."
Rev. 12: 5 "And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nationswith a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His Throne."

The Agent of His Training

Joash was trained by his nurse in the House of the Lord. The nurse is a type of the Holy Ghost who is nursing the child unto fullgrowth.

Gal. 4: 1, 2 "The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from aservant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father."

The Holy Ghost is nursing the "Man-Child" to full maturityby the revelation of the Word of God.

I Cor. 2: 9, 10 "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither entered intothe heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. ButGod hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

Jesus said:

Jn. 16: 13--15 "…When He the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide youinto all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shallhear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shallglorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you… thereforesaid I, that He shall take of Mine, and shew it unto you."
Rev. 2: 17 "… Eat of the hidden manna …" (concealed -- secret)

Jehoash (Joash) received instruction from Johoiada thepriest.

II Kings 12: 2 "And Johoash did that which was right in the sight of theLord all his days wherein Johoiada the priest instructed him."

Johoiada (a type of the Ministry) is instructing andteaching the believer to be an Overcomer.

The Overcomer is being tutored for the throne. Kings sonsact differently than others because of their training. They talk differently --they walk differently -- they dress differently -- they are different. They arebeing prepared for the throne.

Eph. 4: 11--16 "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some,evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints,for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till weall come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried aboutwith every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may growup into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the wholebody fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makethincrease of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

III. JoashOn The Throne

Joash was seven years old when he went to the throne. Thenumber seven speaks of completion, perfection.

II Kings 11: 21 "Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign."

The Training was Complete

Before Joash went to the throne and began to reign, histraining was complete. He was seven years old when he began to reign. Sevenis a complete number. Joash had six intense years of careful tutoring andtraining in preparation for the throne. So likewise, the "Man-Child" will haveintense training.

Rev. 12: 5 "And she brought forth a man child (Huios -- mature), who was torule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, andto His throne."

The Throne was Gained Amidst Conflict

The child went from the temple to the throne in the midst ofconflict.

II Kings 11: 12--15 "And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crownupon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him;and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king. And when Athaliahheard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into thetemple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar,as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all thepeople of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent herclothes, and cried, Treason, Treason. But Jehoiada the priest commanded thecaptains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Haveher forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword.For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD."

All this took place under armed guard. The guards stoodround about the king, each having his weapon in his hand.

When the "Man-Child" goes to the throne, it will also bewith conflict.

Rev. 12: 7--9 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels foughtagainst the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not;neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon wascast out, that old serpent, called the devil, and satan, which deceiveth thewhole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out withhim."

The dragon will contend with the "Man-Child" to keep thechild from going to the throne. Michael and his angels will aid the"Man-Child" in the defeating dragon. The "Man-Child" will be positioned onChrist's Throne, reigning and ruling with Him.