Fully Committed To Him (Pt Iv) Series

“Fully Committed to Him (Pt.3)”

Sermon – 29 August 2004

(From sermons 2 and 3)

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.

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."

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.

4. He Was Satisfied By The Lord – 2 Chron 14:6,7

…he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest…He has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

NKJV

Part IV

5. He Sacrificed Before The Lord – 2 Chron 15:11

At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back.

Asa led his army in the destruction of the detestable idols that existed throughout the land of Judah and Benjamin, he also took towns in Ephraim.

It was plunder from these victories that they sacrificed before the Lord when they returned to Jerusalem.

God had given them victory – the first thing they did was honor him for what he had done.

2 Chron 15:10

They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign.

Having defeated the enemies of Judah – in particular those who were practicing the idolatrous worship of Ba’al and Asherah the first thing they did was assemble at Jerusalem for worship.

They had just seen what happens to a people who worship false gods.

Psalm 97:7

All who worship images are put to shame,

If people were true to the first commandment, obedience to the remaining nine would follow naturally. It is because they are unsound in this that they break the others.

—D.L. Moody

Worship is very powerful in renewing or maintaining our focus upon the Lord.

Worship causes us to take our focus off the things around us – off ourselves and focus on Him – who He is, His attributes and His mighty works.

Psalm 86:9-10

9 All the nations you have made

will come and worship before you, O Lord;

they will bring glory to your name.

10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;

you alone are God.

Asa had just led the people of Judah in a rousing victory and cleansing of the land. Now they honored God, knowing that He had given them the victory and He was with them.

We too must worship the Lord…

God is looking for worshippers…

John 4:23-24

A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

The matter of worship is one that has divided churches.

Even within local congregations there is division over worship – churches having “contemporary” and “traditional” worship services.

There is a lot that passes for worship but in reality sets aside truth in the interest of being trendy.

Worship should be a time when we commune with God in Spirit – our spirit with His. And a time when we declare the truths of who He is and the mighty things He has done on behalf of His people.

Psalm 145:3-6

3 Great is the LORD

and most worthy of praise;

his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation will commend your works to another;

they will tell of your mighty acts.

5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,

and I will meditate

on your wonderful works.

6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,

and I will proclaim your great deeds.

So, as Asa and Judah offered sacrifices before the Lord their God – worshiping Him for who He is and for what He had done on their behalf…

Hebrews 13:15

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Asa Sought The Lord and he was Strong In The Lord – he Served The Lord and he was Satisfied By The Lord – He Sacrificed Before the Lord and…

6. He Shouted Before the Lord – 2 Chron 15:14-15

They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.