Motto Text 2003
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him
In this text we see the Lord actively running to and fro, looking to act through his power on behalf of his people. The text shows us that he will act towards those whose ‘heart is perfect towards him.’
This scripture is not advocating sinless perfection, in fact the person referred to here was King Asa and when the Lord was blessing him he wasn’t sinless. As the next verse shows.
2 Chron. 15:17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
What does a perfect heart mean?
How can you and I have a heart that is such that the Lord will show himself strong on our behalf?
Surely that’s the tonic we need for 2003
Surely that the help we want for 2003
After Solomon’s reign Israel had divided into two different kingdoms. The northern ten tribes called Israel who were ruled initially by king Jeroboam, followed by King Nadab and then King Baasha.
Meanwhile the southern tribes called Judah had king Reheboam [Solomon’s son] his son Abijah then ruled. These two men were bad kings and Judah was led away from the Lord. Then came King Asa, he reigned for 41 years and was a good king. He led a mighty revival. King Asa’s heart is described in verse 17 of chapter 15 as being perfect.
2 Chron. 15:17 But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
Let’s look at this king and see what marked his heart as being perfect.
· A Cardiograph of his Heart.
2 Chron. 14:1-2 So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. [2] And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God:
Let’s see what he was concerned about.
“Doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord his God”
Asa wasn’t concerned with pleasing men.
Asa wasn’t concerned with not rocking the boat
Asa’s only concern at this time was doing that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.
He didn’t trust his own eyes.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
He would see things from God’s viewpoint. He looked upon things with a heavenly perspective.
Does that describe your heart?
Are you concerned about what the Lord thinks?
If you have something to say, somewhere to go or something to do, are you concerned what the Lord would think?
We are looking at a cardiograph of Asa’s heart.
A perfect heart in the context is one that fully relies on God. Let’s look at some of Asa’a actions and see if we have anything in common with a man who has a perfect heart.
Concern
Cleansing
2 Chron. 14:3-5 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: [4] And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. [5] Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
Asa cleared out anything that was taking the place of the one true God. He urged his people to seek the Lord God of their fathers. He wanted them to turn to the Lord.
As we examine our hearts, do we need a clearout?
Is there some habit, some pleasure, some person, some job or some desire that has become an idol and needs to be dethroned from our heart?
Are we like Peter, who said.
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
You cannot say, “Not so,” and “Lord,” it’s contradictory.
Is Christ on the throne of our hearts?
Do we want a perfect heart? Do we want to be someone who experiences the strength of God in his or her life?
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Look next at his contemplation.
2 Chron. 14:5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
Notice there was a quiet time. What would Asa do during this quiet time?
2 Chron. 14:6-7 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest. [7] Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
Asa built walls, towers, gates and bars. Let’s apply these personally.
Walls for protection
Towers to see any approaching dangers.
Gates that make us approachable
Bars because there are things that need to be locked out of our lives.
Dear believer that’s what happens when we study and meditate on God’s word.
Walls. we protect ourselves.
Towers, we can see dangers approaching.
Gates, we understand the needs of others and reach out.
Bars, we see the dangerous things that we must say no to.
Have we a quiet time? Do we use it wisely?
Let us also see his calling.
2 Chron. 14:8-9 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. [9] And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
If we use our quiet time wisely then when trouble comes we will be prepared for battle. Notice how Asa is out numbered but God is on his side.
Look what he does.
2 Chron. 14:11 And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
A perfect heart is a heart that cries out to God in time of need. It is a heart that seeks God’s help when adversity comes. How important it is to get strengthened during the quiet times.
A perfect heart is a careful heart.
After winning this victory God sends a prophet to speak to Asa. God knows that after victories we are open to the devil and we can become slack.
2 Chron. 15:1-7 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: [2] And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. [3] Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law. [4] But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them. [5] And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. [6] And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity. [7] Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
Azariah reminds Asa of who really won the victory. He brings him a word from God. What will a perfect heart do with the word of God?
2 Chron. 15:8-9 And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the Lord, that was before the porch of the Lord. [9] And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.
Asa was a hearer and a doer of the word. He was careful to listen and careful to obey God’s word.
What is your heart like?
Do you want the Lord to show himself strong on your behalf?
Are you concerned about the Lord in all your actions?
Have you cleared out every idol in your life?
Do you contemplate during a quiet time day by day?
Do you cry unto God in time of need?
Are you careful to listen and obey God’s word?
Are you consistent in your living?
2 Chron. 15:16 And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
Notice how Asa dealt with his granny. It didn’t matter that she was family. Asa was consistent and didn’t bend the rules when it suited him.
Is that what you heart and mine are like?
When Henry Rolls was walking through his factory in its early days, he overheard a lathe operator say, "Oh, that’ll do," as he tossed a part into a basket. The part looked all right to the casual observer, but Henry Rolls expected his workmen to use a micrometer and be satisfied with nothing less than precision and accuracy. So when Mr. Rolls heard that comment, he reprimanded the man, "That may do for anyone else, but it will not do for Rolls Royce."
Are we saying, “Oh we are okay and better than most? It will do ok?
Asa wasn’t like that and the Lord said his heart was perfect.
Gill said this
To show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards him; or, as in the margin, "Strongly to hold" with such, to be on their side, take their part, strengthen them, support and supply them, and to protect and defend them who are sincere and upright in heart; whose graces are sincere and unfeigned, though not complete, nor are they free from sin, and who, with the heart, sincerely believe in God
· The Cardiograph
The Consequences.
Victorious.
2 Chron. 14:12-13 So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. [13] And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the Lord, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
Even though Judah was out numbered. God won a great victory for Asa and his people. The Lord was showing himself strong on their behalf.
Do you see that having everything in order in our lives doesn’t prevent battles?
Having our hearts perfect, being close to the Lord and obeying his word doesn’t mean no battles. It means that God will fight our battles for us.
Victorious
Prosperous
2 Chron. 14:14-15 And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the Lord came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them. [15] They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
Judah had the spoils of war as God also enriched them.
Spiritually we shall be victorious and prosperous if we have hearts that are perfect.
Isn’t that what we wish for a New Year?
A spiritually victorious and prosperous new year.
We will not have a year free from battles but we can have one free from defeat.
What a year we would have if our hearts was such that God would show himself strong on our behalf .
1. God is for you, with you, and promises ultimate victory.
Psalm 118:6-7 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? [7] The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
2. God knows everything about you personally and highly values you.
Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? [7] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
3. Nothing that happens, no matter how traumatic, can separate you from God.
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
4. God’s plans cannot be thwarted.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.
5. God’s got his eye on you - forever!
Psalm 121:8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
6. We don’t have to battle alone.
1 John 5:4-5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. [5] Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
7. God never leaves us.
Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The Lord is actively and urgently looking for men and women to bless abundantly. He wants us to be victorious and prosperous
That’s what he found in King Asa but sadly it didn’t last.
· Look at his Compromise.
2 Chron. 16:1-3 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. [2] Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, [3] There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
King Asa bribes the King of Syria into taking sides with him instead of King Baasha of Israel.
2 Chron. 16:4 And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
Asa’s plan worked. Do you see what Asa did? Instead of relying on God he relied on the very enemies of God.
2 Chron. 16:7-8 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. [8] Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.
Hanani asks Asa, “Did you not experience victory from God against a greater foe and yet you have compromised instead of conquering.”
Asa’a heart was no longer perfect it was no longer fully relying on God.
We have looked at the wonderful blessings he enjoyed but now let’s think of the cost of this compromise.
Reaching.
2 Chron. 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
Instead of conquering Syria they co-operated with them. Had they conquered Syria perhaps that land could have been reached with the word of God?
Instead they had compromised and collaborated and failed to reach the enemy.
If our hearts are not right then we will not be able to reach. We will reach no one effectively with the Gospel without God’s strength.
Resting.
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Now instead of the peace that God would have wrought for him, his own solution would result in further wars. The devil knows he cannot defeat your God but he can defeat you. We will have no peace and no rest if our hearts are not right with God.
Reacting.
2 Chron. 16:10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
The man with the perfect heart had now become a rebel and is fighting against the God whom he once served so dearly.
Do you see what compromise does?
Revealing.
2 Chron. 16:12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.
What a way to end, he sought not the Lord. Notice his feet were diseased, obviously physically, his walk was affected. Spiritually our walk is affected if we haven’t perfect hearts.
Dear believer when we compromise then our walk will not reveal our saviour.
Do you see how things went so badly wrong for Asa?
We have in this text a wonderful promise from God
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Are you concerned about the Lord in all your actions?
Have you cleared out every idol in your life?
Do you contemplate during a quiet time day by day?
Do you cry unto God in time of need?
Are you careful to listen and obey God’s word?
Are you consistent in your living?
Asa was and God stepped in and was strong on his behalf.
Asa was victorious and prosperous.
Alas Asa compromised and got mixed up with ungodly king Benhadad of Syria and it cost Asa so dearly.
This text carries a great encouragement for 2003
But it brings a great warning compromising will cost us dearly.
What do you want for 2003?
Will we look back over this year and say?
2 Chron. 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Or will the Lord say of us, “Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
What will it be this New Year?
Like Paul, forget those things, which are behind and press forward.
Like David, lift my eyes to the hills from which my help comes.
Like Abraham, trust my god implicitly.
Like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my heavenly father.
Like Moses, suffer rather than enjoy the pleasure of sin for a time.
Like Job, be patient and faithful in all circumstances.
Like Joseph, turn my back on all evil advances.
Like Gideon, advance even when my friends are few.
Like Andrew, strive to lead my brothers to Christ.
I came to the teacher with trembling lips, my task undone.
”Have you a new sheet for me, teacher, I’ve soiled this one”
She took the old sheet, stained and blotted and gave me a new one all unspotted.
And looking into my eyes she sighed, “Do better this time, my child.’"
"I came the master with trembling lips, my task undone
”Have you a New Year me master, I have soiled this one.”
He took the old year, stained and blotted and gave me a new one, all unspotted
and looking into my heart he cried, "Do better this time, my child."
We can do better -
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
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