Starting Off Right, but Ending Wrong! Text: II Chronicles 14: 2-5
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”
2.Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord God, 3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. 4 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. 5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord! Many times we are quilty of taking vs. 16 out of context. It could be a wonderful word of encouragement, but it was a word of sorrow. We have to make the decision to do what is right in the sight of the Lord daily. It is foolish to lean on a broken reed, when we have the Rock of ages to rely upon Redemption is wonderful, but God still expects us to flee from the very appearance of evil. II Cor. 7:1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Just as God told Moses to get the smell of Egypt out of their cloths in Lev. 20:26. We are to wash ourselves. We are not to leave it to the Lord!
I. One Christian song goes like this: Christians go to counselors, Christians have family problems, and Christians become alcoholics.
A. I Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, How do we do this? I Cor. 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
B. Jesus supplies the grace for our sanctification, but we must cooperate by cleansing ourselves through the power of that grace.
C. Asa did what was right in God’s sight, and God slew Asa’s enemies. Look at II. Chronicles 14: 8-12 And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor. 9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. 10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. 11 And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” 12 So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
D. As we live for God we should just expect God to give us more than our share of victories! II. Chronicles 15: 1-2 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.
E. God never leaves His children He just leaves them at (their business!) What is man, when God leaves him to himself! If you leave God out of your affairs don’t expect Him to be in your affairs! (As one man always said, “Bless your darling heart and stupid head!)”
F. Asa listened unto this Prophet called Obed and destroyed even more idols; he also proclaimed if any person would not seek and serve the Lord they would be killed. For example, He even took his own mother out of office because she had an idol!
G. Somewhere Asa lost his loyalty and faithfulness unto God. II. Chronicles 16: 7-10,12 (Read) 7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the LORD your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.
G. End service as you are lead!
