I have lived long enough to see the outcomes of people relying on God in all types of circumstances. I’ve seen widows, with very few resources, who trusted God and came through the tough times blessed. I have watched businessmen face major challenges depending on God, and God enabled them to make good decisions and prosper. I have seen pastors and missionaries depend on God when facing major challenges in ministry and later watched them experience God’s blessing and favor.
I’ve learned that the promises of Scripture work. What Jesus said is true.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33).
Put God first and he will honor and bless you. This does not eliminate all challenges and trials from our lives, but it does guarantee the final outcome will be good.
Asa, an Old Testament Jewish king illustrates the principle. He became king at a precarious time but God enabled him to turn the nation around.
DO RIGHT AND EXPERIENCE GOD’S BLESSING
God’s people are not guaranteed problem-free living, but they are assured that God’s blessing and favor will rest on them. The final outcome is always certain.
The Bible indicates that Asa was about 12 when he begn to reign over Judah. From the start, he did that which was good in the eyes of the Lord. Though he was young, he purposed to please God. He knew God was watching him and he determined to do right in the eyes of his Lord.
Asa was a reformer. He brought change. He was not afraid to tackle evil and false leadership. He was fearless and courageous and had a deep faith in God.
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the Lord gave him rest. (2 Chronicles14:3-4).
During Asa’s reign, the land had peace as the people again began to seek the Lord. No one was at war with them, for the Lord gave them rest. During this time of peace, Asa wisely planned for the future. Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. (2 Chronicles 14:7).
When people seek God, there is peace; when people forget God, there is turmoil and tension. This is true for a nation, a family and an individual. It was true in Bible times and it is true today.
EXPECT TESTS AND OPPOSITION
Serving God does not mean we live on easy street. Nor does it mean the absence of problems and opposition. The life of serving God wholeheartedly is a life of challenges.
God tested King Asa, his kingdom and his leadership. After a number of years of peace, God permitted the Ethiopian army to invade the country.
It was trying time for Asa. What kind of a faith did he really have? It was also an opportunity for God’s power to be demonstrated. Every test of faith is an opportunity for God to work.
Picture the scene. One million trained and well-equipped Ethiopian soldiers invaded the country. Judah only had 580,000 soldiers. The battle was set for the Valley of Zephathah. As the battle was about ready to begin, King Asa and his men were outnumbered, almost two to one Shields, bows, horses and chariots were all ready for action.
How did King Asa respond to the situation? What were the emotions swirling around inside him? His nation had been at peace, he had built up fortifications and towers and verse 8 says his men were “mighty in valor” and his men were prepared, courageous and brave.
How do you handle a situation when you have done all you can but you are still are out-numbered and the odds are against you? You can do what young Asa did. You can pray.
ASK GOD FOR HELP
Asa did what any smart person should do. He prayed.
Though Asa had well-trained troops, he knew he was outnumbered. but King Asa was not cocky or self-confident. Asa went aside from the troops and called out to God.” His prayer was short and to the point. There were no fancy phrases. He went right to the heart of the matter. His prayer reveals the character of King Asa and teaches us all a great lesson.
Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11-12).
These words apply to each of us. They apply when we travel. They apply to us as we face challenges in our homes and ministries. They apply to our churches as we seek to apply the unchanging Bible to our constantly changing world.
Look carefully at this prayer. We need to pray this prayer in difficult circumstances.
Acknowledge God’s greatness.
Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. The King James Version says, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many or with them that have no power.
Asa knew Jehovah was the God of creation. There was no one like him! Today, many have made God too small and limited him in their thinking. But there is no problem beyond the grasp of his power, there is no bondage beyond the power of his touch and there is no situation beyond the reach of his love and mercy. You cannot sink so low that the love of God cannot reach down and pick you up.
Your problem is not a big deal for God!
Ask God for help.
Asa prayed, Help us, O Lord our God. The crux of Asa’s request is summed up in two words: Help us. Asa was specific and straight forward. Prayers don’t need to be long and complex; they just need to be sincere, specific and straight from the heart. You don’t need flowery language or King James vocabulary to reach God. You don’t need to educate God about your predicament; he already knows all about it.
What’s your situation? Ask God for his help and he will answer you.
Affirm your relationship with God.
Help us, O Lord our God. Asa not only cried out for help, he affirmed his covenant relationship with God. He said, Our God.
Asa and his people belonged to God. There was a covenant relationship. They were God’s people and he was their God.
We’re reminded of this each month at the communion table. The cup we hold is a symbol of the covenant relationship we have with God. God has put his reputation on the line: he’s going to look after his people.
Express dependence on God.
Asa said he depended on God. Even though he had an army of well-trained men, he expressed his dependence on God. He said, for we rely on you. The King James Version says: We rest on thee. There was total reliance on God. If God didn’t come through, there was nothing or no one else to lean on.
Whatever your situation, learn the principle of relying on the Lord. It is not a sign of weakness to rely on the Lord; it’s a sign of faith.
Remember God’s Name.
A person’s name has great significance and meaning. God’s name represents his character, power and authority. Repeatedly in Scripture we are reminded to pray, live and minister in the power of God’s name.
Asa knew the power of God’s name. He prayed, and in your name we have come against this vast army.
No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. (Jeremiah10:6).
But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. (Malachi 4:2).
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20).
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:14).
God’s character gives his name credibility. God’s love gives his name compassion. God’s power gives his name force and impact.
Be concerned about God’s reputation.
God’s name is on the line in how you handle your situation. How you respond to the situation is a reflection on God’s character.
Asa was concerned about God’s reputation. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.
Asa did not say, “Do not let me be defeated.” He said, “God, I don’t want you to be defeated.” Asa was more concerned about God’s reputation than his own. Asa was saying to God, If I lose, you lose, and I don’t want that to happen! He prayed, God, for your sake, bring victory. He prayed, It’s not so much what happens to me as what happens to you.
It’s amazing how often we look at life from our point of view rather than God’s. The issue is: how does your situation affect God? How does your inactivity affect God?
When you face a problem, you are not the only one involved, God’s reputation is at stake in the outcome!
EXPERIENCE VICTORY
God brought victory to Asa and Judah. The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah … the men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder… The Cushites fled. (2 Chronicles 14:12-13).
Asa did his part in preparing his army for battle but his ultimate trust was in God and his ultimate concern was God’s reputation.
Victory is not always what we expect it to be, but it is always something that will bring glory to his name.
The hymn, We Rest On Thee, is based on this biblical story.
We rest on thee – our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe.
Strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,
We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling
And needing more each day thy grace to know.
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing
We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.
We rest on thee – our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor
Victors – we rest with thee, through endless days!
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