Under the Under the Water BucketWater BucketCommittingCommitting

ReviewReview

God wants to give good gifts God wants to give good gifts to his childrento his children

How I handle my relationships How I handle my relationships with the people in my life with the people in my life determines my experience determines my experience with God- and the blessings with God- and the blessings he wants to givehe wants to give

ReviewReview

The basis of my fellowship The basis of my fellowship with God is following by faithwith God is following by faith

Without faith it is impossible Without faith it is impossible to please Godto please God

Faith is the key that opens the Faith is the key that opens the door to God's work in my lifedoor to God's work in my life

I gotta splitI gotta split

And Abijah rested with his And Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the fathers and was buried in the City of David. Asa his son City of David. Asa his son succeeded him as king, and succeeded him as king, and in his days the country was in his days the country was at peace for ten years.at peace for ten years.

Asa did what was good and Asa did what was good and right right in the eyes of the LORD in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. and commands.

Asa did what was good and Asa did what was good and right right in the eyes of the LORDin the eyes of the LORD

What is good is contingent What is good is contingent upon who sets the standardupon who sets the standard

"God understands that…""God understands that…"

Me and God, we have a deal Me and God, we have a deal that…"that…"

A God in my image is not God, A God in my image is not God, but rationalized delusionbut rationalized delusion

……He removed the foreign He removed the foreign altars and the high places, altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah and cut down the Asherah poles. poles.

He commanded Judah to seek He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. and commands.

He removed the high places and He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. peace under him.

He built up the fortified cities He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with peace. No one was at war with him during those years, him during those years, for for the LORD gave him rest.the LORD gave him rest.

Peace is a gift of God's gracePeace is a gift of God's grace

Common GraceCommon Grace: Available to all: Available to all

Provisional/Special GraceProvisional/Special Grace: : God's blessings outside of and God's blessings outside of and in addition to Common Gracein addition to Common Grace

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

The land is still ours, because The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our we have sought the LORD our God; God; we sought him and he we sought him and he has given us rest on every has given us rest on every sideside.” So they built and .” So they built and prospered.prospered.

Good start?Good start?

Asa had an army of three Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and armed with small shields and with bows. All these were with bows. All these were brave fighting men.brave fighting men.

Zerah the Cushite marched out Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with a against them with a vast vast army army and three hundred and three hundred chariots, and came as far as chariots, and came as far as Mareshah.Mareshah.

Asa went out to meet him, and Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.near Mareshah.

When conflict comes, it's When conflict comes, it's always an opportunity to always an opportunity to trust God and act in faithtrust God and act in faith

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

Help us, O LORD our God, for Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on youwe rely on you, and , and in your in your name name we have come against we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man are our God; do not let man prevail against you.”prevail against you.”

……powerless against the powerless against the mighty…mighty…

I may be strong, but there's I may be strong, but there's always someone stronger. always someone stronger. That's why I don't rely upon That's why I don't rely upon my strengthmy strength

Help us, O LORD our God, for Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on youwe rely on you

Faith is not belief, but relianceFaith is not belief, but reliance

The LORD The LORD struck down the struck down the Cushites before Asa and Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army pursued Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. them as far as Gerar.

Such a great number of Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were not recover; they were crushed before the LORD and crushed before the LORD and his forces- 2 Chronicles 14:1-his forces- 2 Chronicles 14:1-13a13a

God gave the victory, but Asa God gave the victory, but Asa had to fighthad to fight

Faith is always an action word Faith is always an action word and will always involve and will always involve obedience as God leadsobedience as God leads

The Spirit of God came upon The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. and Benjamin.

The LORD is with you The LORD is with you when you when you are with himare with him. . IfIf you seek him, he you seek him, he will be found by you, but will be found by you, but ifif you you forsake him, he will forsake you forsake him, he will forsake you - 2 Chronicles 15:1-2 - 2 Chronicles 15:1-2

LawLaw= Blessings and cursings = Blessings and cursings based on actionsbased on actions

GraceGrace= Blessings based on = Blessings based on gracegrace

−Discipline is not punitive, but Discipline is not punitive, but out of loveout of love

−By my faith and my actions, I By my faith and my actions, I can position myself outside the can position myself outside the blessings of Godblessings of God

When Asa heard these words When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. took courage.

He removed the detestable He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple- portico of the LORD’s temple- vs. 8vs. 8

They assembled at Jerusalem in They assembled at Jerusalem in the third month of the the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa’s reign…fifteenth year of Asa’s reign…

They entered into a covenant to They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their their fathers, with all their heart and soulheart and soul. All who would . All who would not seek the LORD, the God of not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or whether small or great, man or woman. woman.

They took an oath to the LORD They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah and horns. All Judah rejoicedrejoiced about the oath about the oath because they because they had sworn it wholeheartedlyhad sworn it wholeheartedly. . They sought God eagerly, They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. and he was found by them. So So the LORD gave them rest the LORD gave them rest on every side.on every side.

All Judah All Judah rejoicedrejoiced about the about the oath oath because they had sworn because they had sworn it wholeheartedlyit wholeheartedly. They . They sought God eagerly…sought God eagerly…

Seeking God out of Seeking God out of desperation may bring desperation may bring rescue. Seeking God out of rescue. Seeking God out of desire brings joy desire brings joy andand can can bring rescuebring rescue

King Asa also deposed King Asa also deposed his his grandmothergrandmother Maacah from Maacah from her position as queen mother, her position as queen mother, because she had made a because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. repulsive Asherah pole.

Asa cut the pole down, broke it Asa cut the pole down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron up and burned it in the Kidron Valley…There was no more Valley…There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa’s reign- vs. 10, 12-16, of Asa’s reign- vs. 10, 12-16, 1919

In the thirty-sixth year of In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Asa’s reign Baasha king of Baasha king of IsraelIsrael went up against Judah went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.Asa king of Judah.

What should Asa do?What should Asa do?

Asa then took the silver and Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of gold out of the treasuries of the LORD’s temple and of his the LORD’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. was ruling in Damascus.

““Let there be a treaty between Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father there was between my father and your father. See, I am and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me” will withdraw from me” - 2 Chron. 16:1-3 - 2 Chron. 16:1-3

Asa chooses to rely on:Asa chooses to rely on:

−His planHis plan

−His resourcesHis resources

−The King of AramThe King of Aram

It is impossible to rely on my It is impossible to rely on my wisdom, my plans and my wisdom, my plans and my ways and still be trusting ways and still be trusting GodGod

Faith is not faith until it's all Faith is not faith until it's all you're hanging on toyou're hanging on to

Trust in the LORD with all your Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your him, and he will direct your paths- Proverbs 3:5-6paths- Proverbs 3:5-6

Why did Asa choose this Why did Asa choose this course of action?course of action?

Why did Asa choose this Why did Asa choose this course of action?course of action?

−FearFear

−Forgot the pastForgot the past

−Thought he "could handle this Thought he "could handle this one on his own"one on his own"

Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali.store cities of Naphtali.

So Asa made an agreement with So Asa made an agreement with a man who breaks a man who breaks agreements…?agreements…?

When Baasha heard this, he When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work- 2 abandoned his work- 2 Chron. 16:4-5Chron. 16:4-5

The circumstances say Asa did The circumstances say Asa did a wise thing- that he wona wise thing- that he won

But winning isn't winning if I But winning isn't winning if I have to compromise truth in have to compromise truth in order to get thereorder to get there

Put another way…Put another way…

If I get the right result the If I get the right result the wrong way, it's still wrong. wrong way, it's still wrong. And, there are usually And, there are usually consequencesconsequences

At that time Hanani the seer At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “and said to him: “Because Because you relied on the king of you relied on the king of Aram Aram and not on the LORD and not on the LORD your God, the army of the your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped king of Aram has escaped from your hand. from your hand.

Were not the Cushites and Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots great numbers of chariots and horsemen? and horsemen? Yet when you Yet when you relied on the LORD, he relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your delivered them into your handhand. .

Faith is: Faith is:

−Backward- rememberBackward- remember−Upward- see and believeUpward- see and believe

before it is ever Forward- trust before it is ever Forward- trust and obeyand obey

Asa failed because he refused Asa failed because he refused to remember the past and to remember the past and use it to build his faith for use it to build his faith for the presentthe present

For the eyes of the LORD For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to hearts are fully committed to him.him.

God supernaturally empowers God supernaturally empowers "fully committed" believers"fully committed" believers

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

When God gives a rebuke, we When God gives a rebuke, we have a choice:have a choice:

•Humility and repentanceHumility and repentance

•Pride and hard-heartednessPride and hard-heartedness

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

The events of Asa’s reign, from The events of Asa’s reign, from beginning to end, are written beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Judah and Israel.

In the thirty-ninth year of his In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, disease was severe, even in even in his illness he did not seek his illness he did not seek help from the LORDhelp from the LORD, but only , but only from the physicians. from the physicians.

Then in the forty-first year of Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers- 2 Chron. with his fathers- 2 Chron. 16:7-1316:7-13

Anyone can start well. Only by Anyone can start well. Only by staying committed to God staying committed to God regardlessregardless of circumstances of circumstances can I finish wellcan I finish well

TakeawaysTakeaways::

•What about this applies to What about this applies to me?me?

•What has God been saying to What has God been saying to me as we read through this? me as we read through this? Will I follow by faith?Will I follow by faith?