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What defines us?What defines us?Do we have any say in it?Do we have any say in it?

Moses: StuttersMoses: Stutters

Did God do it?Did God do it?

What defines us?What defines us?

Our past does not define usOur past does not define us

Your past does not define youYour past does not define you

Unless you let it…Unless you let it…

What people say about youWhat people say about youdoes not define youdoes not define you

It's not what they call you… It's not what they call you…but what you answer tobut what you answer to

We all have "if onlys"We all have "if onlys"

Jesus is your "even now"Jesus is your "even now"

““If you had been here, If you had been here, my brother would my brother would not have died…"not have died…"

"But I know that "But I know that even noweven now God will give God will give you whatever you ask.”you whatever you ask.”

What defines usWhat defines us

Enslaves usEnslaves usOr sets us freeOr sets us free

Worship: Worship: to ascribe worth or value to to ascribe worth or value to an object or personan object or person

Idolatry: Idolatry: to ascribe worth or valueto ascribe worth or valuereserved for God reserved for God to someone or to someone or

something other than Godsomething other than God

Remember middle school?Remember middle school?

High school?High school?

Fitting in…Fitting in…

Trying to find where you belongTrying to find where you belongBeing told where you fit or don't fitBeing told where you fit or don't fit

We still have a tendency toward We still have a tendency toward defining ourselvesdefining ourselves

By the people in our lifeBy the people in our life

Strong, cool, successful, laid-backStrong, cool, successful, laid-back

Pretty, uncaring, toughPretty, uncaring, tough

What does it say about us?What does it say about us?

What is God's purpose for our What is God's purpose for our relationships?relationships?

Is it to get all our needs met?Is it to get all our needs met?


Do they define us and give us value?Do they define us and give us value?


Is it just pleasure and fun?Is it just pleasure and fun?

ThermometerThermometerTake the temp and reflect itTake the temp and reflect it

ThermostatThermostatSet the tempSet the temp

ThermostatThermostat

Asa did what was good and right Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. in the eyes of the LORD his God.

He removed the foreign altarsHe removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the and the high places, smashed the

sacred stones sacred stones and cut down the and cut down the

Asherah polesAsherah poles


Never a great idea to upsetNever a great idea to upsetyour peopleyour people

Esp. in matters of religionEsp. in matters of religion

He commanded Judah to He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their seek the LORD, the God of their

ancestors, and to obey his laws and ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. commands. He removed the high places He removed the high places

and incense altarsand incense altars in every town in in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace Judah, and the kingdom was at peace

under himunder him

Removed idolatryRemoved idolatry

And restored proper worshipAnd restored proper worship

He built up the fortified cities of Judah, He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. since the land was at peace.

No one was at war with him during No one was at war with him during those years, for those years, for the LORD the LORD

gave him rest.gave him rest.

and the kingdom was at peace and the kingdom was at peace under him…the LORD gave him rest…under him…the LORD gave him rest…

WarWar= our default= our defaultPeacePeace= common grace= common grace and provisional grace and provisional grace

When conflict comes:When conflict comes:

God, thank you that I've experienced God, thank you that I've experienced peace up until nowpeace up until now

Give me wisdom for how to Give me wisdom for how to handle thishandle this

There are six things the LORD hates, There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him… seven that are detestable to him…

a man who stirs up dissension a man who stirs up dissension among brothersamong brothers

- Proverbs 6- Proverbs 6

Blessed are the peacemakersBlessed are the peacemakers- Jesus- Jesus

God, help me to be a peacemakerGod, help me to be a peacemaker

““Let us build up these towns,” he said to Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with Judah, “and put walls around them, with

towers, gates and bars. The land is still towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, ours, because we have sought the LORD because we have sought the LORD

our God; our God; we sought him and he has we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.So they built and prospered.

Asa had an army of three hundred Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped thousand men from Judah, equipped

with large shields and with spears, and with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and Benjamin, armed with small shields and

with bows. All these were with bows. All these were brave fighting menbrave fighting men

Zerah the Cushite marched out against Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, thousands and three hundred chariots,

and came as far as Mareshah. Asa went and came as far as Mareshah. Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle out to meet him, and they took up battle

positions in the Valley of Zephathah positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshahnear Mareshah

Outgunned, outmanned…Outgunned, outmanned…

In troubleIn trouble

Peace treaty?Peace treaty?Alliance with foreign king?Alliance with foreign king?

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. help the powerless against the mighty.

Help us, LORD our God, Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on for we rely on you,you, and in your name we have come and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are against this vast army. LORD, you are

our God; do not let mere mortals prevail our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”against you.”

Worship!Worship!

The LORD struck down the Cushites The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah…before Asa and Judah…

for the terror of the LORD for the terror of the LORD had fallen on themhad fallen on them

The LORD struck down the Cushites The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah…before Asa and Judah…

for the terror of the LORD for the terror of the LORD had fallen on themhad fallen on them

Faith is NOT beliefFaith is NOT belief

Faith is Reliance UponFaith is Reliance Uponand Actionand Action

"We're not enough""We're not enough"

God is enoughGod is enough

When God allows fightingWhen God allows fighting

He's giving his childrenHe's giving his childrenAn opportunity to trust himAn opportunity to trust him

Judah prevails, Azariah speaks:Judah prevails, Azariah speaks:

The LORD is with you The LORD is with you when you are with himwhen you are with him

They entered into a covenant They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their to seek the LORD, the God of their

ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the LORD, who would not seek the LORD,

the God of Israel, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, were to be put to death, whether small or great, whether small or great,

man or womanman or woman

They took an oath to the LORD They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting with loud acclamation, with shouting

and with trumpets and horns. and with trumpets and horns.

All Judah All Judah rejoicedrejoiced about the oath about the oath because they had sworn it because they had sworn it

wholeheartedly. wholeheartedly. They sought God They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every sidethe LORD gave them rest on every side

All Judah All Judah rejoicedrejoiced about the oath about the oath because because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. they had sworn it wholeheartedly.

When you seek GodWhen you seek GodBecause you want toBecause you want to

There's great joyThere's great joy

When you seek himWhen you seek himBecause you have toBecause you have to

There's hope, but not much joyThere's hope, but not much joy

Seeking God means Seeking God means defining ourselves defining ourselves

by Himby Him

Saying, "He's enough"Saying, "He's enough"even when I'm noteven when I'm not


King Asa also King Asa also deposed his grandmother deposed his grandmother

Maakah from her position as queen Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a mother, because she had made a

repulsive image for the worship of repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it broke it up and burned it

in the Kidron Valley. in the Kidron Valley.

I want a new god…one that does what I want a new god…one that does what he shouldhe should

In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent

anyone from leaving or entering the anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judahterritory of Asa king of Judah

People are scaredPeople are scared

Judah is cut-offJudah is cut-off

What should Asa do?What should Asa do?

ThermometerThermometer

Asa then took the silver and gold out of Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and and

of his own palace and sent it to of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, Ben-Hadad king of Aram,

who was ruling in Damascus. who was ruling in Damascus.

““Let there be a treaty between me and Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending father and your father. See, I am sending

you silver and gold. Now break your you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he

will withdraw from me”will withdraw from me”

I am not enoughI am not enoughI need YOU to make me strongI need YOU to make me strong

Worship:Worship: to ascribe worth or value to ascribe worth or value

Idolatry:Idolatry: to ascribe worth or valueto ascribe worth or valuereserved for God reserved for God to someone to someone or something other than Godor something other than God

When we're not enoughWhen we're not enough

It's there to remind usIt's there to remind usThat God That God isis enough enough

Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces sent the commanders of his forces

against the towns of Israel. They against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all

the store cities of Naphtalithe store cities of Naphtali

When Baasha heard this, When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah he stopped building Ramah

and abandoned his work. and abandoned his work.

It worked!It worked!

I'm part of the cool team!I'm part of the cool team!I'm seen as toughI'm seen as tough

I'm one of the pretty onesI'm one of the pretty onesI'm accepted by the right peopleI'm accepted by the right people

They know I'm successfulThey know I'm successful

Getting the right resultGetting the right resultThe wrong wayThe wrong way

Is still…wrongIs still…wrong

At that time Hanani the seer came to At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: Asa king of Judah and said to him:

Because youBecause you relied onrelied on the king of Aram the king of Aram and not on and not on

the LORD your God,the LORD your God, the army of the army of the king of Aram has escaped the king of Aram has escaped

from your handfrom your hand

By definition,By definition,trusting someone other than Godtrusting someone other than God

means not trusting Godmeans not trusting God

= Idolatry= Idolatry

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of mighty army with great numbers of

chariots and horsemen? chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD,Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand.he delivered them into your hand.

God is enoughGod is enough

Every timeEvery timeGod is enoughGod is enough

For the eyes of the LORD range For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen throughout the earth to strengthen

those whose hearts those whose hearts are are fully committed fully committed to himto him

Fully committedFully committed= singular, undivided= singular, undivided

You have done a foolish thing, and from You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.now on you will be at war.

God's hand of protectionGod's hand of protectionis liftedis lifted

God's judgment= opportunity for God's judgment= opportunity for repentancerepentance

Asa was angry with the seer because of Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally in prison. At the same time Asa brutally

oppressed some of the peopleoppressed some of the people

He stopped being defined by GodHe stopped being defined by GodAnd it ended badlyAnd it ended badly

You and me…You and me…

Do we define ourselves byDo we define ourselves bythe people we hang with?the people we hang with?

We will love people and use thingsWe will love people and use things

Or we will use people and love thingsOr we will use people and love things(comfort, security, image)(comfort, security, image)

I need them toI need them to

Give me valueGive me valueMake me feel secureMake me feel secureDefine meDefine meBe happyBe happyComplete meComplete me

My GodMy God

Gives me valueGives me valueIs my securityIs my securityDefines meDefines meGives me joyGives me joyCompletes meCompletes me

My GodMy God Does Not ChangeDoes Not Change

Will Never ForsakeWill Never Forsake

My GodMy God Defines MeDefines Me

OtherwiseOtherwiseit's Idolatryit's Idolatry

They exchanged the truth of God for They exchanged the truth of God for a a lie, lie, and and worshiped and servedworshiped and served created created

things rather than the Creatorthings rather than the Creator- Romans 1:25- Romans 1:25

When I am defined byWhen I am defined byMy relationship with GodMy relationship with God

It changes all other relationshipsIt changes all other relationships

How great is the love the Father has How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we lavished on us, that we

should be called should be called children of God! children of God! And that is what we are!And that is what we are!

- 1 John 3:1- 1 John 3:1

We We representrepresent God God

How great is the love the Father has How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we lavished on us, that we

should be called should be called children of God! children of God! And that is what we are!And that is what we are!

- 1 John 3:1- 1 John 3:1

We We representrepresent God God

We become…We become…TheromostatsTheromostats

What is God's purpose What is God's purpose for relationships?for relationships?

For fellow believers:For fellow believers:

……Encourage one anotherEncourage one another

…Spur one another on toward …Spur one another on toward love and good deedslove and good deeds

…Speak the truth in love…Speak the truth in love with the goal of helping them with the goal of helping them

become like Jesusbecome like Jesus

In other words,In other words,Be a Be a thermostatthermostat pointing pointing

toward Jesustoward Jesus

Changes how I approach relationships:Changes how I approach relationships:

- What I can give, but get- What I can give, but get

- Not about me- or you-but- Not about me- or you-but us us in Christ in Christ

- Words become vitally important- Words become vitally important

- As do our actions- As do our actions

Is this how I approachIs this how I approach

My relationships with my My relationships with my Christian family?Christian family?

(Do they come away challenged and (Do they come away challenged and encouraged to live more for God?)encouraged to live more for God?)

What is God's purpose What is God's purpose for relationships?for relationships?

For non-Christian friends: For non-Christian friends:

We are therefore Christ’s We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,ambassadors, as though God were as though God were making his appeal through us. We making his appeal through us. We

implore you on Christ’s behalf: implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to GodBe reconciled to God

We want them to knowWe want them to knowthe Love of our Godthe Love of our God

More thanMore than we want we wantTo make them pleased with usTo make them pleased with us

We are We are thermostatsthermostatsNot thermometersNot thermometers

For a real child of GodFor a real child of GodRelationships are alwaysRelationships are always

God-centeredGod-centered

Not our desiresNot our desiresNot our causesNot our causes

Not even our politicsNot even our politicsor denominationsor denominations

Just GodJust God

If I am complete in God If I am complete in God (worship)(worship)

I don't have to be complete in youI don't have to be complete in you(idolatry)(idolatry)

And I have the freedomAnd I have the freedomTo seek your bestTo seek your best

Instead of my ownInstead of my own

EvaluateEvaluate

AskAsk

Pray and ChoosePray and Choose

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