The Search for the Fully Committed
Summary of the Message
2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the Lord relentlessly searches the earth to give His strength to those who are fully committed to Him. What does it look like to be one of those who the Lord will find to be whole-heartedly committed? The 41 year reign of King Asa recorded in 2 Chronicles 14-16 helps answer that question by providing helpful examples of both faithfulness and failure that are worth examining.
2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us that the Lord relentlessly searches the earth to give His strength to those who are fully committed to Him. What does it look like to be one of those who the Lord will find to be whole-heartedly committed? The 41 year reign of King Asa recorded in 2 Chronicles 14-16 helps answer that question by providing helpful examples of both faithfulness and failure that are worth examining.
Key Sermon Points
1. Act 1 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 14:1-8)
2. Act 2 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)
An enormously superior army wages war against Judah. King Asa’s immediate response is not to come up with a plan or to panic, his instinctive response is to pray. With a proper perspective of Judah’s humble deficiencies and of God’s matchless strength, he cries to the Lord for help and God delivers the enemy into their hands.
3. Act 3 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 15:1-19)
After a miraculous military victory, God sends the prophet Azariah to tell Asa that much like God just acted on their behalf in battle, God will always be with them while they are with Him and will always be found when they seek Him. Asa responds with even greater earnestness and initiates further reforms. Judah worships together at the Temple with huge sacrifices and Asa demonstrates God’s heart for showing no partiality by expelling his own grandmother for idol worship.
4. Act 4 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 16)
After 35 years of blessing from the Lord, Asa responds foolishly in his final season as king. Instead of seeking the Lord, 1) he bribes the king of Syria for military help, 2) he rejects an opportunity to repent offered by the seer Hanani who he jails instead, and 3) he seeks physicians to cure his foot disease instead of asking God for help.
1. Act 1 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 14:1-8)
- He REMOVED foreign altars, high places, pillars and Asherim dedicated to idols and foreign dieties.
- He COMMANDED Judah to seek the Lord and follow His commandments.
- He BUILT fortifications throughout Judah to keep his people safe.
- GOD PROVIDED Rest and Peace for 10 years.
2. Act 2 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 14:9-15)
An enormously superior army wages war against Judah. King Asa’s immediate response is not to come up with a plan or to panic, his instinctive response is to pray. With a proper perspective of Judah’s humble deficiencies and of God’s matchless strength, he cries to the Lord for help and God delivers the enemy into their hands.
3. Act 3 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 15:1-19)
After a miraculous military victory, God sends the prophet Azariah to tell Asa that much like God just acted on their behalf in battle, God will always be with them while they are with Him and will always be found when they seek Him. Asa responds with even greater earnestness and initiates further reforms. Judah worships together at the Temple with huge sacrifices and Asa demonstrates God’s heart for showing no partiality by expelling his own grandmother for idol worship.
4. Act 4 of King Asa's Reign (2 Chronicles 16)
After 35 years of blessing from the Lord, Asa responds foolishly in his final season as king. Instead of seeking the Lord, 1) he bribes the king of Syria for military help, 2) he rejects an opportunity to repent offered by the seer Hanani who he jails instead, and 3) he seeks physicians to cure his foot disease instead of asking God for help.
Discussion Questions
- God is searching for disciples who are fully committed to Him. How do Asa’s actions above demonstrate the kind of heart that the Lord is searching for?
- God is searching for disciples who are fully committed to Him. How would you diagnose and describe the underlying heart problems leading to each of Asa’s three failures listed above? Do you share any of these struggles and how might the Holy Spirit be leading you to pivot?
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