Please read the story of King Asa from 2 Chronicles 14,15,16

1. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God,
   ³ for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images.
   ⁴ He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.
   ⁵ He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
2. When he was in trouble he cried out to the Lord (14:11) and the Lord rescued him 14:13-14

We have seen how God gave Asa two warnings. He reacted positively to one but in a displeasing manner to God in the second.

1^st Warning: 15:2-7

15 Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. ² And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

³ For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; ⁴ but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. ⁵ And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. ⁶ So nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every adversity. ⁷ But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!”

Asa’s reaction:

• Took courage and removed the abominable idols 15:8
• Restored the alter of the Lord and offered sacrifice 15:11
• Entered into a covenant with God 15:12
• whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel was to be put to death 15:13
• the heart of Asa was loyal all his days 15:17
• He brought silver and gold that was dedicated into the temple 15:18

Result:

God’s favor was on Asa

¹⁹ And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.

2^nd Warning:

When the king of Israel came against him, he bribed the king of Syria and asked him to attack Israel. The plan worked but God was not pleased because he did not rely on the Lord 16:7

God reminded Asa how He helped him in the past because:

⁹ For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

Asa’s reaction:

He did not repent but put the messenger in prison

Result:

The favor of God was lifted and there was war

Got foot disease and died 5 years after the warning

King Asa had peace in his kingdom for 35 years. He became complacent, He became confident. He became comfortable in what he has accomplished that he forgot to seek God. Even though his strategy succeeded he displeased God.

God’s favor was lifted and war returned! And he died soon after. He did not finish well. This is our warning. This is our word for 2016:

But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” – 2 Chr 15:7

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him - 2 Chr 16:9

In light of the word given to us, it is important for us to take stock, review what we have done well and where we have slipped. That is why we reviewed the InHisGrip timeline with you. It is not to boast or feel good. It is not to puff ourselves up and feel great that we are not like other fellowships.

But it is to serve as a reminder, a warning that if we run a good race most of our life but falter in the end, we lose! Paul reminds us to be disciplined, to beat our bodies, to condition and train so as to finish the race and win the prize.

God has desired that none of us will be left behind and that we would all finish the race.

Time is short Jesus is coming soon.

He is coming soon. What will He find when He comes?

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:7

When anything in our lives competes with God’s agenda, we need to prioritize His ways, His direction, His goals, over our own.

We are all familiar seen Yield signs on the road. What does it mean? The vehicles (goals and priorities) on the highway (God’s will) will have precedence over our car (goals and priorities). We all know what will happen if we don’t yield.

Then we will be made perfect, to the measure and fullness of Christ. Let us be diligent, disciplined, not wasting our time.

May God help is to be good and faithful servants!