Introduction: Last time we looked at the power that comes from giving our hearts, our futures and our cares to the Lord. Today, we will see the testing that invariably follows such a move!
1.
As with all of us, God makes and communicates the standards of life. God sought
out the King to make sure he knew what God’s expectation was (15:1-2). His
Divine expectation for Asa was no different than for us, and can be stated in
five principles (15:3-7):
- Reciprocation Principle: The Lord stands with
you when you stand with Him (2a) and allows you to discover Him when you
search for Him (2b). The Lord will turn His face from one who turns away
from Him first (2b).
- Absence Principle: God dwells in the
truths He has proclaimed. When the truth is not faithfully taught, God is
not represented, and is “gone” from the scene (3).
- Sincerity Principle: Even when things are
dark, a sincere search for God will be met with open arms and a
sympathetic ear! (4).
- Deterrence Principle: When the truths of
God are pushed aside, the fabric of the society wears thin, and troubles
rise (5). One of God’s penalties for denying His truths was to allow
turmoils and political infighting (6).
- Witness Principle: God’s intent was for
the believer to emerge from the dark days to courageously stand by the
truth of the Word in spite of it all. The result was the reward of the
Father (7).
2.
As with any obedient believer, Asa acted on God’s Word (15:8-19) by following
an Eight step “Progression of Obedience”:
- Removing the things
that cause sinful influence comes first (15:8a).
- Putting time, effort
and money into things that please God comes next (15:8b).
- Gathering with others
who want to follow after God follows shortly after (15:9).
- An emphasis on worship
and celebration comes next (15:10).
- Sacrificial and
heartfelt giving follows this (15:11).
- Firm and public stands
to follow God at all cost develops in God’s people as they experience the
power of standing together in truth! (15:12-15a).
- Often, God honors the
people with a time of peace and prosperity (15b).
- The test of compromise
comes amid the time of rest, and it must be carefully passed (16-18).
The Magnificent Obsession, p. 93 by David Swartz concerning the Apostles and
the Book of Acts:
These men did not make “acts of faith,” –they
believed; they did not “say their prayers,” they really prayed. They did not
hold conferences on psychosomatic medicine - they simply healed the sick… No
one can read this book without being convinced that there is Someone here at
work beside mere human beings, Perhaps because of their very simplicity,
perhaps because of their readiness to believe, to obey, to give, to suffer, and
if need be - to die. The Spirit of God found in them what He must be seeking- a
fellowship of men and women so united in love and faith, (so committed to the
truth of His Words) that he could work in them and through them with the
minimum of… hindrance.”
Such
the Father seeks: “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to
strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chron 16:9).
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