It Is Time To Seek The Lord

(Revival Under Asa)

Introduction — God Works in Every Season

Good morning, church family.

Open your Bible with me to 2 Chronicles chapters 14 through 16.

Before we even read a verse, let’s set our hearts on one truth: God is not limited.

He isn’t tied to the economy, or politics, or the weather, or the news cycle.

God can bring revival in any season—in drought or harvest, in war or peace, in inflation or abundance.

He can work now.

The story before us today proves that.

It’s about a revival that happened during prosperity.

Think about that.

Most of us assume revival comes after a disaster—after a prodigal hits rock bottom, or a nation trembles under judgment.

But the revival of King Asa came when things were good.

Let’s read a few verses from 2 Chronicles 14.

(2 Chronicles 14:2–7)

> “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God… He commanded Judah to seek the Lord… and the kingdom was at rest under him.”

That’s the headline: “The kingdom was at rest.”

No famine. No invasion. No panic in the streets.

And yet God sent revival.

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I. Reformation and Revival — Close but Not the Same

Now we need to pause on two words that show up again and again in Scripture: reformation and revival.

Reformation is when God’s Word shapes your life and habits.

You tune out the noise and start obeying Scripture in practical, daily ways.

It’s when a nation tears down idols and puts the law of God back in the center.

Asa did that. He removed the pagan altars, cut down the Asherah poles, and cleaned house.

But revival is different.

Revival is when God’s Spirit breathes life into the soul.

It’s when the heart is pierced with conviction and filled with joy.

Reformation is what you do in response to God’s Word.

Revival is what God does in response to your surrender.

You can have reformation without revival—people can clean up habits and still have empty hearts.

But you cannot have revival without reformation.

When the Holy Spirit brings life, He always brings obedience with it.

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II. Asa’s Heart — A Life of Seeking

So what made Asa different?

The key word is right there in the text: seek.

Nine times in forty-eight verses, the chronicler says Asa “sought the Lord.”

That’s nearly once every five verses!

God raised up three prophets to drive this home:

Shemaiah, during Rehoboam’s reign, saying: “Humble yourself.” (12:6–7,12)

Azariah, during Asa’s reforms, saying: “Seek the Lord and you will find Him.” (15:2–7)

Hanani, near the end of Asa’s life, saying: “Rely on the Lord, not on human alliances.” (16:7–9)

Humility. Seeking. Reliance.

That’s the prophetic rhythm of Asa’s life.

And that explains why, when the Ethiopian general Zerah marched toward Judah with an army described as a million men, Asa didn’t panic.

He prayed.

Listen to his simple, strong prayer (14:11):

> “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on You.”

And the Bible says the Lord struck down the Ethiopians.

The victory belonged to God.

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III. What It Really Means to Seek the Lord

But let’s dig deeper.

What does it mean to seek the Lord?

Scripture gives us a rich picture:

> “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.” (1 Chr 16:11; Ps 105:4)

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” (Isa 55:6)

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13)

Seeking isn’t casual.

It’s like looking for a loved one’s face in a crowded airport.

Your heart pounds until your eyes meet.

That’s the intimacy God invites.

Seeking involves:

Turning from sin and idols

Setting your heart to obey

Praying with perseverance

Longing for God’s presence more than His gifts

It’s wholehearted or it’s not seeking at all.

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IV. Three Fruits of Wholehearted Seeking

1. Peace — Rest on Every Side (2 Chr 14:2–7)

When a nation or a soul genuinely seeks God, peace follows.

Not just political peace, but that deep inner rest Jesus called “My peace I give unto you.”

Judah enjoyed a long season of calm.

Walls were rebuilt, gates secured, communities strengthened.

And the chronicler is clear about why:

> “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.”

Seeking the Lord brings peace that programs and policies can never manufacture.

2. Power — Victory Beyond Human Strength (2 Chr 14:9–15)

Next came power.

When the Ethiopian host advanced, Asa didn’t trust his fortifications or count chariots.

He prayed.