Fully Committed To Him (Pt.3) Series

“Fully Committed to Him (Pt.3)”

Sermon – 22 August 2004

We have been in a series entitled “Fully Committed to Him”, and in this series we have been looking at the life of King Asa.

King Asa was a very interesting character for we can see in his life some of the paradoxes of a life of service to the Lord.

We have seen the danger of compromise – even in seemingly small things. Asa tore down the altars to Baal and the Asherah poles – even deposing his own grandmother, yet he failed to remove all of the high places – the foundations of idolatry in Judah.

Last week we came to the second part in this series entitled “Fully Committed to Him”. After having looked at the things that occurred in Asa’s life that caused him to die under God’s judgment in week one, we looked last week at the positive aspects of Asa’s life.

It is important that we remember that, as we discussed last week, Asa was still known as a king who “did right in the eyes of the Lord” and was fully committed to Him.

Therefore we have been looking at the different aspects of Asa’s life as a man fully committed to God.

Last week we looked at two qualities of Asa that we can learn a lot from…

1. He Sought The Lord – 2 Chron 14:7

7 "Let us build up these towns," he said to Judah, "and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

Asa understood the necessity of seeking the Lord and he led the people of Judah in seeking Him. – As we discussed, when we talk about the need to seek the Lord we often think of those who do not know Him and therefore must seek Him.

However, as we saw in Jeremiah 29:13, it is God’s people who are called on to seek the Lord with all our heart and soul.

That was how Judah had sought the Lord under Asa’s leadership…

2 Chronicles 15:12

12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.

We must seek the Lord with all our hearts!

Hebrews 11:6

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

2. He was Strong in the Lord – 2 Chron.15:7

7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

Asa was strong in the Lord and their “work” was rewarded. God gave them rest on every side from their enemies.

It is important that we see in these passages of scripture that God is not looking for people who are perfect before He will strengthen them.

Simply people who are committed – fully committed to Him.

Ephesians 6:10-12

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We must be strong in Him and in His mighty power!

Main text: 2 Chronicles 14:2-6

Asa Sought The Lord and that he was Strong In The Lord…

3. He Served The Lord – 2 Chron 14:2-3

Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

Asa understood what it meant to serve the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:22

"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Not only did Asa do what was right in the eyes of the Lord but he led the people of Judah in doing so as well.

2 Chron 14:4

He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.

NKJV

The people of God had way of often serving God when they were led by a good king or judge.

As the leaders were so were the people of God.

Judges 2:7

The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.

But when Joshua and the elders died…