SERIES: THE REVIVAL KINGS OF JUDAH
TEXT: 2nd CHRONICLES 14:1-16 (14-16)
It is never good to assume things- don’t assume. A story is told of a newspaper photographer who needed to get close pictures. His newspaper agreed to hire a plane for him at the local airport. When he arrived at the airport, there was a plane waiting. He jumped in and yelled “take off”. The pilot died.
Once in the air the photographer yelled to the pilot to make two or three low passes over the fire. The pilot asked “why”? He answered, because I am a photographer! Photographers take pictures. I am going to take photos of the fire. The pilot replied, “You mean you are not the flight instructor?”
The photographer had assumed he was in the right plane. The pilot had assumed the man was his flight instructor.
It is never good to assume things. King Asa in our text had been a very good and godly king. He made the mistake of assuming things that displeased God. “Asa is a story of a king who assumed too much.” In Rom. 15:4- “For whatsoever things were written a foretime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of scriptures might have hope.”
God’s purpose for giving us the Old Testament with all its stories and teachings is to give us hope in Him. Today let us receive hope comfort of this scripture, as we look at the story of King Asa.
A brief history of the Old Testament is in order.
- King David was King over all Israel, his son Solomon took over from King David after 40 years of rule. Solomon ruled for 40 years and passed the kingdom to his son Rehoboam.
- Under Rehoboam the kingdom was divided into two nations.
- The Northern kingdom of Israel- 10 tribes of the 12 tribes of Israel.
- The Southern kingdom of Judah- two tribes Judah and Benjamin.
- The history of the two tribes are very different.
- Judah had a total of 20 kings- 8 of the Kings were godly.
- Israel had 19 kings- all of these kings were ungodly.
- Of the 8 kings of Judah, 5 were very godly and were used of God to bring revival to the nation.
- The five revival Kings were; Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Hezekiah and Josiah.
- Asa was the first of the Godly kings of Judah.
- 2nd Kings 15:11- “And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.”
- David was the standard that every king was held up to. The standard of what a king should be. On God’s scale, David was a “Ten.”
- David was the great, great grandfather of Asa.
- The book of 2nd Chronicles is a revival.
- Let us learn about the revival of king Asa.
FOUR KEYS TO REVIVAL- 2nd Chronicles 14
- First key- Asa was a man who sought God in his own life- 2nd 14:2-3- humility.
- It takes humility for a man to seek God.
- It takes even greater humility for a king to seek God.
- Second key- Asa was a man who led others to seek God- 2nd Chronicles 14:4-5. Spiritual leadership.
- Third key- Asa was a man of peace yet he prepared for battle against the enemies of God- 2nd Chronicles 14:7-8. Spiritual courage.
- Fourth key- Asa was a man of prayer- 2nd Chronicles 14:9-11.
- Asa “cried”- V.11.
- Asa was direct “unto the Lord.”
- Asa’s prayer was to the point “help us.”
- Asa’s prayer was faithful “we rest in Thee.”
- Asa’s prayer was answered- 2nd Chronicles 14:12-15.
Asa recognised God’s ability and man’s inability.
FOUR BRIDGES ON THE ROAD TO REVIVAL- 2nd Chronicles 15-16.
- First bridge- knowledge of the word of God- 2nd 15:1-3.
- Second bridge- turning to God- 2nd 15:4-7.
“Trouble is the servant of God.
- Third bridge- turning from sin- 2nd 15:8, 16.
Turning to God is turning from sin.
- Fourth bridge- faith in God- 2nd Chronicles 16:1-6.
Here, Asa failed. He turned to man instead of turning to God- 2nd Chronicles 16:7-9.
ASA’S FAILURE
- For 36 years Asa wholly turned to God but here he failed. The first five years of his reign were a failure.
- He turned to man rather than to God.
- He turned against God’s messenger- 16:10.
- These revival Kings were not perfect men, they were weak but they surrendered to God and His mercy.
- We don’t have to be perfect to be used by God. God is looking for obedience.
ASA’S FOLLY- 2nd Chronicles 16:11-12.
- Even in his sickness and under the chastening hand of God, he did not seek the Lord for help.
- It is foolish thing not to turn to God in our troubles and stress.
CONCLUSION
- In 1995 in U.S.A, there are three young dynamic preachers Billy Graham, Chuck Templeton and Bron Clifford. Chuck and Clifford were greater than Billy Graham.
- In 1n 1950 Chuck Templeton left ministry. He no longer believed God- he died a sinner.
- In 1954 Clifford lost his family, his ministry, his health and then he lost his life. He died backsliding.
- Like king Asa, Templeton and Clifford started well but did not finish well.
- 2nd Chronicles 16:13- he died backsliding. “He sought not the LORD.”
- How about you? May God help us not to become like king Asa.
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