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WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STRENGTH?
AUGUST 19, 2007 Jay Robison 2 CHRONICLES 14:11-13,
16:2-3, and 7-10
Have you ever wanted to just stay in bed?
Sunday a.m. alarm rang, sleepy eyed man hit snooze
Third time he did so, wife said honey time to get up for church
I don’t want to go to church. You have to go.
What do you mean, I don’t like them and they don’t like me
I’ll give you 2 reasons have to go, I’m going and you’re the pastor
Some days you just don’t want to get out of bed
Life can be overwhelming sorrow and suffering, sadly there are
People who are at each other’s throats, personal life can be rough
Where do you get your strength to live?
Carl Lundquist, former president of Bethel Mn. College & Seminary.
1988, doctors told him had a rare cancer called mycosis fungoides,
which invaded the skin over his entire body 3 yrs later killed him.
He wrote day after diagnosis: I picked up my Bible when Dr left.
I turned to joy verses of Philippians, thinking one might stand out. What leapt from pages was Phil 1:20-21 I eagerly expect & hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ & to die is gain.
Discovered a vs I had lived by in good health also vs I could live by
in bad health. But by life or by death, it’s all right either way ...
So I simply trust that [God] in His own way will carry out for me His will which I know alone is good acceptable & perfect.
By life or by death. Hallelujah!
How can we find such strength to live?
Obscure character in Chronicles stories of kings
When Asa became king, Israel divided into 2 nations
Israel, which was 10 of the tribes and smaller Judah
Asa over Judah
1. God’s MIRACLE for Asa
Soon as Asa became king instituted many reforms in Judah
He listened to what God was saying. It emboldened him.
Asa had a good start. Asa began to clean up Ch 14
HE TORE DOWN ALTARS TO OTHER GODS
Judah was worshipping other Gods
SMASHED IDOL STONES,
TORE AWAY ASHERAH POLES
Similar to totem poles as worship to idols
TURNED THE PEOPLE’S HEART TO GOD
Asa said this is the real God worship him
10 years into his rule after reforms in place Sudanese King Zerah
king brought a vast army toward Judah. Some say a million in army Asa’s army was half that size On top of #s problem, Zerah’s army
had best war technology War Chariots, which provided shielding
and mobility for archers troops arrived at front fresh and rested.
Severe test of Asa’s leadership
Look what Asa did had army lot of worldly resources at his disposal.
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 people prevail against you!” 14:11 NKJV
Asa was on his face before God saying armies not the decisive thing
in battles but only the Lord. Asa says “We’re not trusting, in our
army [our resources] but in you Lord.”
Asa’s prayer indicated in terrible situation of his life, but also his
willingness to hope and trust in God’s resources for the outcome. Think of it in terms of going to Dr. Going to the Dr. for medical
problem is not wrong. Armies are not necessarily wrong.
But banking all your hope & trust in the doctor (or the army) and
not praying the way Asa prayed here is foolishness.
And did Asa pray! He humbled himself and hoped in God
A fresh turning to God’s heart in prayer admits human helplessness
Asa recognized that whether have a lot or a little depend on God
14:12 So the Lord struck the Sudanese before Asa and Judah
And they fled, chased them for miles. Zerah’s army finally
broken up scattered in fear overpowered by Lord
Great victory for God and the people, gathered plunder
If you have followed God long and prayed
Seen similar miracles in your life, kids, home,
2. Watch out for STARTING STRONG BUT FINISHING WEAK
25 years later ch 16 Asa and Judah threatened again
This time Israel is advancing on Judah great army threatening
Similar situation to what he faced before
Now what did Asa do? 2 Chron 16:3 the Message Asa took silver & gold from the treasuries of The Temple of GOD & the royal palace & sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Aram who lived in Damascus, w\this message: "Let’s make a treaty like the one between our fathers. I’m showing my good faith with this gift of silver & gold. Break your deal w\Baasha king of Is. so he’ll quit fighting vs. me.
Some people cannot handle prosperity, success and blessing
Asa had all those things, because he sought God
But now he was trying to work out his problems on his own
And you know what? It worked, Asa and Ben-Hadad advanced
Baasha retreated and Asa was able to break Israel got more plunder
Everybody was happy, well not everyone
16:7 Soon after that happened, Hanani the prophet went to Asa &
said: You depended on the king of Syria instead of depending on
the LORD your God. & so, you will never defeat the Syrian army. 8 Remember how powerful the Sudanese and Libyan army was,
with all their chariots and cavalry troops! You trusted the LORD
to help you then, and you defeated them.
10When Asa heard this, he was so angry he put Hanani in prison.
Asa was also cruel to some of his people. CEV
Then Asa had a foot disease that eventually took his life
Even in his last days did not turn to the Lord for help
How did the change take place?
Ch 14 trust in God when all on the line
Ch 16 trust only in self, turn away from God
I wonder if Asa began to take God for granted,
Began to think God lucky to have him, stopped praying,
Wonder if began to congratulate self for successes
What can we learn from this story?
We may start strong and finish weak, no longer pray
Can happen in a nation, US founded on Christian principles
9/11 one of our largest prayer meetings ever on Tuesday
But what about now, As a nation trusting in $$ or bombs not God
As a church 60 years ago a revival birthed Trinity
We have lost building to arson, pastor to heart attack
Did we pray then? You bet we did!
We welcomed all races when no one else was
Started a ministry with exceptionals, loved divorced persons
Were demonized for those things did we pray? Of course we did
How is your prayer life today?
Has God answered some of your prayers so many you forget him
Have you gotten the girl, or the job, or the home, now no need God
Is your passion for prayer now gone, oh you’ve heard it all before
Listen to the words Hanani words of promise for us
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you
have been! From now on you will be at war 16:9 NLT
Listen to your HEART
Reflect on the experiences of your life, what’s going on
While on your KNEES
Come to God in prayer an invitation to
Relying on THE WORD OF GOD
Faith means are trusting God to keep his word
Prayer is not to God will hear us but that WE HEAR GOD
An unknown soldier wrote:
I asked God for strength that I might achieve
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey
I asked for health that I might do greater things
I was given infirmity that I might do better things
I asked for riches that I might be happy
I was given poverty that I might be wise
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life
I was given life that I might enjoy all things
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything I had hoped for
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered
I am among all men most richly blessed.
To Pray is to change. Prayer is central ave God uses to transform us.
If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a
noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire
to be conformed to Christ” Foster, “Celebration of Discipline.”
Mid-20th C preacher Leonard Ravenhill, "Poverty stricken as the church is today in many things, most stricken in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few prayers; many singers but few lingerers; lots of pastors but few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, but little passion; many interferers, but few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere."
“Why Should leaders Pray?" Blackaby Spiritual Leadership pg 153:
1. Prayer is an essential leadership (Christian) activity.
2. Prayer brings the Spirit’s filling.
3. Prayer brings God’s wisdom.
4. Prayer accesses God’s power.
5. Prayer relieves stress
6. Prayer reveals God’s agenda
Is there anything in your life now that you know will limit God…
that will limit God’s ability & desire to bless you… your family… your ministry… your friends?
Do you desire to have God’s blessings on your life, on your family, ministry, on your friends?
Come let us pray today, God is looking over all the earth
For people with a sincere heart seeking him
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR STRENGTH?
AUGUST 19, 2007 Jay Robison 2 CHRONICLES 14:11-13,
16:2-3, and 7-10
Have you ever wanted to just stay in bed?
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21 TNIV
1. God’s for Asa
Asa began to clean up
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 people prevail against you!” 14:11 NKJV
A fresh turning to God’s heart in prayer admits human helplessness
2. Watch out for
Asa took silver & gold from the treasuries of The Temple of GOD & the royal palace & sent it to Ben-Hadad, king of Aram who lived in Damascus, with this message: "Let’s make a treaty like the one between our fathers. I’m showing my good faith with this gift of silver & gold. Break your deal with Baasha king of Israel so he’ll quit fighting against me. 16:3 The Message
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war
16:9 NLT
Listen to your
While on your
Relying on
Prayer is not to God will hear us but that
