0350 Golden Times

The Golden Times

2 Chr.14:2-7; 15:12-13; 16:7,12

ASA: Sought after God Radical standards: if someone wouldn’t seek God they would kill them Seek the Kingdom. God rewards those who seek Him Seeking is more than living Christian life or passive existing – how does seeker looks like? Pursue vs. no fights God was offended that Asa didn’t seek God, Asa didn’t commit sin Excuses for not seeking God: “It’s just not me” – you were created to seek God. Who’s image on the coin. You can seek other things “I matured” – maturity is not absence of passion but acceleration of it “I’m balanced” – half to God and half to the world, it’s betrayal not balance David was after God’s heart; he didn’t have God’s heart but was after it. What are you after?

ASA: Succeeded without God The cost of not seeking God is costly When you stop seeking God treasures like fear of God, holiness, compassion, brokenness will be gone World says: if it works it must be right, Bible says if it’s right it must work (drug dealer is prosperous) It’s not about if it works but it’s about worship (Satan offered fulfillment to dreams – but Jesus refused it) Just because it worked it doesn’t indicate your passion or relationship with God David’s plan worked but God wasn’t pleased

ASA: Started well but finished poor In the court, in the swimming pool – what counts is how you finish not how you start The statute – the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the clay – rock destroyed the clay and everything fell Kingdom’s started with gold and finished with clay When were your golden years? Gideon and Solomon were turned into clay If your passion for God is not growing then it’s shrinking Loveless Church – works can’t replace passion. Repent and do the first works or I will remove your lampstand

ASA: Scorned rebuke Whom the lord loves he rebukes The way you respond to rebuke reveals your heart (it’s not about the issue but about your heart) The way you respond to rebuke determines your future (Prov.1:23, 9:8, 13:1, 13:18, 29:15) Saul – ignored rebuke by making excuses (killed prophets that he needed, his son died) – sin wasn’t that bad David – listened to rebuke by repenting (God redeemed and restored him) – sin was horrible Asa – rejected rebuke by silencing the prophet Jesus rebuked cities that didn’t repent. It will be worse for them then for Sodom