Embracing God's Guidance: Lessons from King Asa
Summary
### Summary
Happy Father's Day, everyone! Today, we delved into the life of King Asa from the Old Testament, exploring the theme "Bro, You Got This." Asa's journey teaches us about the importance of mentorship, obedience, embracing God's promises, and learning from our failures. Asa, despite not having a good role model in his father, looked up to his great-great-grandfather David and sought God's guidance. This mentorship from God and the legacy of David helped shape Asa into a king who initially did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
Asa's obedience was evident as he took immediate action to remove idolatry from Judah, leading his people by example. His obedience brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom, showing that true peace comes from aligning our lives with God's will. Asa's story also highlights the power of God's promises. When Asa faced overwhelming odds, he called on God, who delivered him and his people, reaffirming that God is faithful to those who seek Him.
However, Asa's story also serves as a cautionary tale. In his later years, Asa relied on human wisdom rather than God's guidance, leading to his downfall. This failure reminds us that we must continually seek God and repent when we stray. Asa's life encourages us to identify our "this"—the challenges or sins holding us back—and surrender them to God.
In conclusion, Asa's life is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, obedience, embracing God's promises, and learning from our failures. As we navigate our own journeys, let's remember that God has a plan and purpose for each of us. By seeking Him and following His guidance, we can experience the fullness of life He has for us.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Mentorship: Asa's life was profoundly influenced by the legacy of his great-great-grandfather David. Despite his father's failures, Asa sought God and found guidance in David's example. This highlights the importance of having mentors who can guide us in our spiritual journey. Seek out mentors who exemplify Christ-like qualities and be a mentor to others, sharing the wisdom and experiences God has given you. [45:13]
2. Obedience Brings Peace: Asa's immediate actions to remove idolatry and lead Judah in obedience to God brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom. Obedience to God's commands is the first step to experiencing His peace. It requires actively removing anything offensive to God from our lives and aligning our actions with His will. This peace extends to our relationships and even our communities. [56:59]
3. God's Promises Are Faithful: When Asa faced overwhelming odds, he called on God, who delivered him and his people. This demonstrates that God's promises are faithful and true. There are thousands of divine promises in Scripture that we can hold onto. Identify a promise that speaks to your current situation and activate it in your life through faith and obedience. [01:07:06]
4. Learning from Failures: Asa's later years were marked by a significant failure when he relied on human wisdom instead of God's guidance. This led to his downfall and serves as a reminder that we must continually seek God and repent when we stray. Failure is not the end; it's an opportunity to turn back to God, learn, and grow. [01:11:23]
5. Surrendering Our "This" to God: Each of us has a "this"—a challenge, sin, or burden that holds us back. Asa's story encourages us to identify our "this" and surrender it to God. By doing so, we allow God to work in our lives, bringing transformation and renewal. Trust in God's plan and purpose for your life, and let Him guide you through every challenge. [01:12:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[36:50] - Introduction and Personal Story
[38:24] - The Dream and God's Prompting
[40:43] - Accepting the Challenge
[42:05] - Prayer and Introduction to Asa
[43:49] - Asa's Mentorship and Legacy
[45:13] - The Role of Grandfathers
[46:45] - Personal Grandfather Story
[48:07] - Importance of Mentorship
[49:35] - Apostle Paul's Guidance
[50:52] - Inviting Children into Your Life
[52:21] - Who is Your Mentor?
[53:46] - Asa's Obedience
[55:25] - Obedience Brings Peace
[56:59] - Removing Offenses to God
[58:28] - Obedience Gets Others Involved
[59:43] - Obedience Activates the Holy Spirit
[01:01:05] - Personal Story of Obedience
[01:02:42] - Asa's Promise from God
[01:04:07] - Asa's Courage and Faith
[01:05:27] - Asa's Zeal for God
[01:07:06] - Embracing God's Promises
[01:08:15] - Personal Promise from Scripture
[01:09:41] - Asa's Failure
[01:11:23] - Learning from Asa's Mistakes
[01:12:57] - Identifying Your "This"
[01:14:36] - Personal Story: The Roller Coaster
[01:17:11] - Experiencing God's Plan
[01:18:50] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Kings 15:9-15 - Asa's Reign in Judah
2. 2 Chronicles 14:2-7 - Asa's Reforms
3. Philippians 4:8-9 - Paul's Guidance on Living a Godly Life
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Asa take to remove idolatry from Judah, and what was the result of these actions? (2 Chronicles 14:2-7)
2. How did Asa's relationship with his great-great-grandfather David influence his reign as king? (1 Kings 15:9-15)
3. According to Philippians 4:8-9, what qualities should we focus on, and what is the promised result of doing so?
4. What was the significance of Asa's failure in his later years, and how did it impact his legacy? [01:09:41]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is mentorship important in our spiritual journey, and how did Asa benefit from looking up to David as a mentor? [45:13]
2. How does obedience to God's commands lead to peace in our lives, as demonstrated by Asa's actions? [56:59]
3. What does Asa's reliance on human wisdom in his later years teach us about the importance of continually seeking God's guidance? [01:11:23]
4. How can we identify and surrender our "this"—the challenges or sins holding us back—to God, as encouraged by Asa's story? [01:12:57]
#### Application Questions
1. Who is a mentor in your life that exemplifies Christ-like qualities? How can you seek their guidance more intentionally? [49:35]
2. What are some "idols" or distractions in your life that you need to remove to align more closely with God's will? How can you take immediate action to address them? [55:25]
3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in a challenging situation. How can you hold onto God's promises in your current circumstances? [01:07:06]
4. Asa's failure in his later years serves as a cautionary tale. How can you ensure that you continually seek God's guidance and repent when you stray? [01:11:23]
5. Identify a specific "this" in your life that is holding you back. What steps can you take this week to surrender it to God and allow Him to bring transformation and renewal? [01:12:57]
6. How can you be a mentor to someone else, sharing the wisdom and experiences God has given you? What practical steps can you take to invest in their spiritual growth? [50:52]
7. Asa's obedience brought peace to his kingdom. How can you practice obedience in your daily life to experience God's peace in your relationships and community? [56:59]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Mentorship
Mentorship plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth and development. King Asa, despite the negative influence of his father, found guidance and inspiration in the legacy of his great-great-grandfather David. This highlights the importance of seeking out mentors who exemplify Christ-like qualities and can guide us in our spiritual journey. Mentors provide wisdom, support, and encouragement, helping us navigate the challenges of life and grow in our faith. Additionally, we are called to be mentors to others, sharing the wisdom and experiences God has given us to help others grow in their faith. [45:13]
1 Corinthians 4:15-16 (ESV): "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me."
Reflection: Who in your life exemplifies Christ-like qualities and can serve as a mentor to you? How can you seek their guidance and support in your spiritual journey?
Day 2: Obedience Brings Peace
King Asa's immediate actions to remove idolatry from Judah and lead his people in obedience to God brought peace and prosperity to the kingdom. This demonstrates that true peace comes from aligning our lives with God's will and actively removing anything offensive to Him. Obedience to God's commands is the first step to experiencing His peace, which extends to our relationships and even our communities. By following Asa's example, we can experience the fullness of God's peace in our lives. [56:59]
Isaiah 32:17 (ESV): "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever."
Reflection: What are some areas in your life where you need to remove idolatry or anything offensive to God? How can you take immediate action to align your life with God's will and experience His peace?
Day 3: Trusting in God's Promises
When King Asa faced overwhelming odds, he called on God, who delivered him and his people. This demonstrates that God's promises are faithful and true. There are thousands of divine promises in Scripture that we can hold onto in times of need. By identifying a promise that speaks to our current situation and activating it in our lives through faith and obedience, we can experience God's faithfulness and provision. Trusting in God's promises gives us the courage and strength to face any challenge. [01:07:06]
2 Peter 1:4 (ESV): "By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
Reflection: What is one promise from Scripture that speaks to your current situation? How can you activate this promise in your life through faith and obedience?
Day 4: Learning from Failures
King Asa's later years were marked by a significant failure when he relied on human wisdom instead of God's guidance. This led to his downfall and serves as a reminder that we must continually seek God and repent when we stray. Failure is not the end; it's an opportunity to turn back to God, learn, and grow. By acknowledging our mistakes and seeking God's forgiveness, we can experience His grace and continue to grow in our faith. [01:11:23]
Proverbs 28:13 (ESV): "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent failure or mistake. How can you turn back to God, seek His forgiveness, and learn from this experience to grow in your faith?
Day 5: Surrendering Our "This" to God
Each of us has a "this"—a challenge, sin, or burden that holds us back. King Asa's story encourages us to identify our "this" and surrender it to God. By doing so, we allow God to work in our lives, bringing transformation and renewal. Trusting in God's plan and purpose for our lives, we can navigate through every challenge with His guidance and strength. Surrendering our "this" to God is a step towards experiencing the fullness of life He has for us. [01:12:57]
Psalm 55:22 (ESV): "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Reflection: What is the "this" in your life that you need to surrender to God? How can you take a step today to cast this burden on the Lord and trust in His plan and purpose for your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Bro, I got this life for you. I got this plan for you. I got this purpose for you. I don't want you to be hurt anymore. I want you to be whole and renewed. I want you to live the life that I have for you. All the best things God has for you. That's what He wants. Our God has got this incredible life for you. All you have to do is reach out and take it." (24 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus has got this new life for you. He's got this life for you. He's got this life for me. It's a plan, a purpose. You're going to love it. If you haven't accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I would encourage you to do so. I would encourage you to do it. Experience it for yourself. Don't take my word for it. And definitely don't take the word for it. People who have never ridden the ride but just want to tell you about it, tell you what they think, ride it for yourself. It's an amazing, incredible experience." (30 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Obedience is the first step to peace. You want peace in your life, step into obedience. Obedience leads to peace with God, peace with others, and even national peace. You see, God's peace can't just be obtained by going through the motions. You have to actively be active about getting rid of the things in your life that are holding you back, that are holding you down." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Why would you fly with the crows when you could soar with the eagles? And I don't know who this is for today, but you're flying with some crows. You need to be soaring with eagles. There are people in your life that are bringing you down. And you need to be looking to people who are achieving great things in life. And I'm not talking about the things that money can do for you. I'm talking about the things that are priceless, that money can't buy." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What promise do you need to activate in your life? What promise of God do you need to activate in your life today? One of the things that my youth pastor told me when I was 16, he said, you need to find yourself a promise. Because back in those days, I was incredibly lost. I'd just become a Christian. I didn't know what I was going to do with my life. And he was like, you just need to find yourself a promise and hold on to that promise." (28 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the foreign altars in the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, 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." (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Obedience gets others involved. They saw the king. They saw the king commanding and serving the Lord. And then they got involved. And guess what? The obedience of their involvement, they prospered because of it. And God brought together the entire community. And God is doing that. Here, God is doing incredible things through our community." (25 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time, Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress, they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him. And he was found by them." (20 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Obedience is an activator of the Holy Spirit. I want you to think about something. Pastor Jim and Tara were obedient. And had they not been obedient, God wouldn't be moving in our midst. We wouldn't be here this morning. One act of obedience activates the Holy Spirit. It activates the Holy Spirit in your life." (23 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Asa's this blinded him, his failure to honor God. He didn't honor God when he had the opportunity. Now look, I think if Asa would have just repented and turned around like King David did with Uriah the Hittite, we would be having a completely different conversation about Asa. Everything was going great. Everything was going great in Asa's kingdom until this, until he wouldn't repent, until he wouldn't turn around." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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