Becoming a Man God can Use – Asa
2 Chronicles 14-16
Do you want to be used? Do you want to be in God’s service? The apostle Paul tells the Corinthians, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Since mankind has not changed and God has not changed, we can take a look back in history and see what it takes to be someone whom God can use.
Let’s take a look at King Asa – 2 Chronicles 14-16 – and draw some principles from him that will help us abound in the work of the Lord as New Testament Christians.
DO WHAT IS RIGHT – 14:2-8:
Verse 2 – “Asa did good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.” That is the basic description of King Asa’s reign. At least at the beginning. He did what was right.
Then, the historian gives us some examples of Asa’s doing the right thing…
To be a man God can use, we’ve got to do what is right – James 4:17. We need to give glory to God by making our actions, our behavior to be consistent with what is right in His word – 1 Cor. 10:31. When we “put on” the new man at baptism, we start doing what is right – having compassion, being kind, humble, gentle, patient, tolerating one another’s mannerisms, forgiving, and loving (Col. 3:12-14).
We saw in verse 7 where Asa says they sought the Lord and that’s the next point in our text…
SEEK GOD’S WILL – 14:9-15:
The Ethiopians came up against Judah and King Asa. Zerah had an army that was twice as large as Judah’s – 1 million men. Now, the historian tells us that Judah had large shields, spears, and bows. Ethiopia had chariots – 300 of them. So they had mobility that Judah did not have.
But, verse 11 tells us that Asa had a weapon that Ethiopia did not have – prayer. He called to God and recognized his absolute dependence on the God of heaven.
That’s why Asa experienced 10 years of rest in the early years of his reign.
It is clear that Asa sought God’s will and if we want to be victorious, if we want to be a man/woman God can use, if we want to abound in the work of the Lord in our lives, we’ve got to seek God’s will – Matthew 7:7-8; Eph. 5:17.
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REMOVE THE WRONG – 15:8-15:
Motivated by words of a preacher (15:;1-7), Asa goes even further in his efforts to be useful to God. He institutes more reforms…
Again, if we want to be a man/woman God can use, we’ve got to remove the wrong – 1 Thess. 5:22. Putting off the “old man” would include no longer worshiping falsely, no longer believing things that cannot be supported with Scripture. It would also mean putting off anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, lying, stealing, etc.
In Asa’s position, he had to go one step further in his efforts…
DO NOT FOLLOW YOUR PARENTS – 15:16-19:
Asa’s own mom was in a false religion and she was trying to bring that religion into Israel so Asa had to put a stop to it. He removed his mother from being queen and destroyed the unique idol that his own mom had set up.
If you want to be a man/woman God can use, do not follow your parents in what they do that is wrong – Luke 14:26; Ephesians 6:1.
ASA FORMED AN ALLIANCE WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE – 16:1-14:
But, things were not completely right and perfect for King Asa. The king of the northern tribes of Israel, King Baasha decided to wage war against King Asa. He was losing people to Asa’s country. Asa was doing well and prospering and Baasha does not like what he sees so he attacks. Two decades or so earlier, with the Ethiopians, King Asa sought God’s will.
This time, the thing Asa does is form an alliance with King Ben-hadad of Syria with things that he himself had dedicated to God and put into the temple of the Lord. He formed a treaty with King Ben-hadad who then fought against Baasha, who then retreated.
But God was not pleased with Asa’s decision to seek an alliance with the enemy of God’s people.
If you want to be man/woman God can use, do not make alliances with the wrong people – Eph. 5:11.
Yes, you want to be of use to God. You want to be of service to Him. You want to abound in His work. Asa was used by God to implement a religious and spiritual reform in Israel. He was not perfect, but God used him.
Asa teaches us: Do what is right; seek God’s will; remove the wrong; do not follow your parents’ example (if it is wrong); stay faithful until death.
–Paul Holland
