Started Good Ended Bad

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you remaining in the LORD?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To prove that remaining in the LORD will give us endless victories.

IV. TEXT:

2 Chronicles 14:2 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God.

2 Chronicles 16:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.

V. THESIS:

Remain in the LORD GOD for fruitfulness.

VI. TITLE:

Started good ended bad

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: uncertain, thought to be edited by Ezra

B. Date written: Between 450 B.C. and 430 B.C.

C. Distinctive features: Deals almost exclusively with the history of Judah

D. Purpose: Provide spiritual perspective of events from David's reign to the decress of Cyrus in 538 B.C.

E. Intended audience/reader: Nation of Israel

F. Main theme: Sovereignty of GOD

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. King Asa's beginnings: He did what was good and right in GOD's sight.

"Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the Lord his God."

It was a glorious beginning for King Asa, GOD is with Him that's why he's successful. Good start.

B. The LORD gave him rest

2 Chronicles 14:5-6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace.

During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the Lord was giving him rest from his enemies.

An effect of our experiential and closeness to GOD is we will have peace.

Colossians 1:20 (New King James Version)

and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

C. He defeated larger army than his.

2 Chronicles 14:8-12 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men.

Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah,

so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah.

Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”

So the Lord defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled.

Small or large soldiers did not matter with GOD for He is at our side, fighting His battles. When GOD is with us, we are the majority.

D. Asa removed idolatries in his land.

2 Chronicles 15:6 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem.

Idolatries take our love off the real FATHER GOD and placed it on worthless idols.

1 Corinthians 8:4 (Amplified Bible)

In this matter, then, of eating food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing (has no real existence) and that there is no God but one.

E. Yet he was not loyal to GOD, instead trusted man

He did not remained in GOD.

John 15:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

2 Chronicles 16:7 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)

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.”

Psalms 56:4 (Amplified Bible)

By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?