WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 We're reading in 2 Chronicles chapter 14. 00:00:04.620 --> 00:00:06.900 And we read again at verse 11. 00:00:08.500 --> 00:00:11.419 And Asa cried to the Lord his God, 00:00:12.140 --> 00:00:15.220 O Lord, there is none like you to help 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:17.219 between the mighty and the weak. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:20.620 Help us, O Lord, our God. 00:00:21.260 --> 00:00:23.960 For we rely on you, and in your name 00:00:23.960 --> 00:00:26.980 we have come against this multitude, O Lord. 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:28.660 You are our God. 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:32.600 And let not man prevail against you. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:38.799 We're continuing maybe a little on our theme 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:40.980 that we had last week when we were thinking 00:00:40.980 --> 00:00:43.060 about the need of prayer. 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:47.679 This evening we were looking at a prayer of this man, Asa, 00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.140 who cried out to the Lord in this time of need. 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.840 And have you been blessed in prayer 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:56.400 since we met last week? 00:00:56.399 --> 00:01:00.780 Have you found yourself continuing in the construction work 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:03.060 of God's kingdom and building, 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:06.700 being part of that building work, that construction work, 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:08.980 by crying out to the Lord in prayer? 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:11.840 Many of you will have been maybe refreshed 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:13.560 and blessed in times of prayer. 00:01:14.340 --> 00:01:17.859 Many of you, like myself, would be encouraged in prayer, 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.000 but also finding ourselves maybe struggling in prayer as well. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:24.560 I'm wondering what our prayers are doing. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.620 We go through so many different emotions 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.859 and the ups and downs when it comes to being a people 00:01:30.859 --> 00:01:33.280 who are praying to God. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:37.960 But I trust above all that you are all a praying people, 00:01:38.700 --> 00:01:39.680 praying for one another, 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:42.219 praying for the cause of Christ, 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:45.260 praying for God's people far and wide, 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:47.439 for his kingdom to come. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:50.459 But imagine this for a moment. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:54.019 If all of your prayers that you've offered up to God 00:01:54.019 --> 00:01:56.359 were written down in a book 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:01.319 and it was free for anyone to come and read this book, 00:02:01.819 --> 00:02:06.340 to read your prayers as you've offered them up to God, 00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:10.180 how comfortable would you be with that? 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:13.040 How comfortable would you be with other people 00:02:13.040 --> 00:02:17.740 hearing or reading the prayers that you've offered up to God? 00:02:18.599 --> 00:02:20.900 At a prayer meeting, we come together, 00:02:20.960 --> 00:02:23.980 we gather together for public worship of God 00:02:23.980 --> 00:02:26.620 and we hear prayers offered up in public. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:28.080 You'll hear ministers praying, 00:02:28.700 --> 00:02:32.719 you'll hear men being called upon to pray. 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:37.740 But is that the way we always pray? 00:02:37.740 --> 00:02:40.200 When you hear a minister praying, 00:02:40.740 --> 00:02:42.719 do you think that's the way he prays 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:44.700 when he's at home by himself? 00:02:45.320 --> 00:02:47.780 When you hear others come up to pray, 00:02:47.960 --> 00:02:50.200 do you think, well, that's how they must pray at home? 00:02:51.040 --> 00:02:52.280 And you're wondering to yourself, 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:55.560 maybe that's the way I should pray in my own quiet times 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:58.200 and maybe not to be quite as open as I am. 00:02:58.900 --> 00:03:01.760 And if you've ever prayed with someone else, 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:03.280 maybe just two of you together, 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:06.020 you pray maybe in a different way, 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:08.980 a very different way to what you pray 00:03:08.980 --> 00:03:11.159 in your own quiet time. 00:03:11.860 --> 00:03:13.660 In your own times when it's, 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:16.580 the word says when you go into your closet, 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:18.360 you close the door behind you 00:03:18.360 --> 00:03:20.640 and you offer up your prayer to God. 00:03:20.860 --> 00:03:22.420 I'm sure for most of us, 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:24.219 that quiet time of prayer 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:26.640 will be quite different in many ways 00:03:26.640 --> 00:03:28.560 to praying in public. 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:31.560 It will be far more personal, 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:34.080 far more honest, 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:36.979 far more open with God 00:03:36.979 --> 00:03:38.479 in our quiet time of prayer. 00:03:38.780 --> 00:03:42.000 The things that we dare and utter to anybody else 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:44.099 will offer up to God. 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:48.439 We'll pour out our hearts more readily before him. 00:03:48.520 --> 00:03:49.640 So how would you feel 00:03:49.640 --> 00:03:52.500 if someone saw those prayers? 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:56.560 You may be afraid of people seeing them, 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:00.599 but no doubt if somebody else saw your prayers written down, 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.199 it would be an encouragement to think, 00:04:03.400 --> 00:04:04.979 it's not just me. 00:04:05.539 --> 00:04:08.580 I'm not the only one who has these thoughts 00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:10.240 or who struggles in these ways. 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:11.719 I'm not alone. 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:15.759 And that's the wonder of reading the scriptures 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:19.079 and reading through God's word 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:24.039 and how many personal prayers you see recorded for us. 00:04:24.759 --> 00:04:26.079 Very open prayers, 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:27.839 very honest prayers, 00:04:28.039 --> 00:04:30.120 prayers offered up in times of joy, 00:04:30.740 --> 00:04:34.819 prayers offered up in times of sorrow and struggle 00:04:34.819 --> 00:04:38.759 and all of these different kinds of situations. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:41.759 Many of the Psalms that we sing, 00:04:42.299 --> 00:04:44.259 they are prayers offered up to God 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:45.459 and you read through them. 00:04:45.839 --> 00:04:48.219 And the reason we love the Psalms often so much 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:50.800 is because we relate to them. 00:04:51.480 --> 00:04:54.240 They speak to us in a very personal way 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:58.940 where you see the Psalmist honest and open before God. 00:04:59.820 --> 00:05:03.380 And it's amazing just how many prayers you read 00:05:03.380 --> 00:05:04.860 throughout the scriptures. 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:06.440 Just even as we read here, 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:07.640 this one verse, 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:10.000 a prayer offered up by Asa. 00:05:10.220 --> 00:05:11.760 It's not a long prayer. 00:05:12.380 --> 00:05:14.940 It's not full of big words. 00:05:14.939 --> 00:05:20.319 And yet it's such a powerful and appointed prayer as well. 00:05:21.259 --> 00:05:25.279 You think of some of Jesus's prayers recorded for us 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:25.959 in the scriptures. 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:29.560 And sometimes we may be surprised by them. 00:05:30.279 --> 00:05:31.959 And when we see his humanity, 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:35.019 you think of the prayer he offered up in Gethsemane 00:05:35.019 --> 00:05:37.399 when he was praying to his father, 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:39.560 that if it'd be possible, 00:05:39.560 --> 00:05:41.839 this cup would pass him by. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:43.060 But he said, 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:44.180 but not my will, 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:45.879 but yours be done. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:50.920 And you start seeing just the battle that was there, 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:53.000 the conflict that was there, 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:55.680 even for our Lord Jesus Christ and his humanity. 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:58.480 And there's such a blessing in us, 00:05:58.840 --> 00:05:59.240 for us, 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:00.840 in these for us to read 00:06:00.840 --> 00:06:04.360 and to see the reality and the power of prayer. 00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:08.939 And as we continue to go forward here 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:10.280 as a people of God, 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:13.180 as we continue to look around us 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:15.579 and as we continue to seek to go forward 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:17.660 in the work of God's kingdom, 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.600 resuming many of the things 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:22.759 that have been put on hold the last while, 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:25.120 great encouragement when we see things 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:26.659 starting up once again. 00:06:27.159 --> 00:06:28.620 As we continue to go forward, 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.500 continuing with the ongoing work of the gospel 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:33.180 in many different ways 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:35.719 that didn't stop the preaching of the word 00:06:35.719 --> 00:06:37.759 and prayerful people. 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:40.819 As we think of going forward to 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:42.659 and reaching out maybe in new ways 00:06:42.659 --> 00:06:44.000 with the gospel, 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.800 none of these things will be blessed 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.500 apart from our praying people. 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:54.160 That is key to everything that we do. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:57.160 The most important part of our work 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:58.240 in the kingdom of God 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.620 is to make sure our relationship with God 00:07:01.620 --> 00:07:02.860 is right, 00:07:03.480 --> 00:07:05.839 individually and collectively. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:07.319 We see that as you read on 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:09.660 into chapter 15 here. 00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:14.040 When Azariah came to Asa 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:14.939 and said to him, 00:07:15.060 --> 00:07:16.100 Hear me, Asa, 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:17.879 unto all Judah and Benjamin. 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.060 The Lord is with you 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:22.259 while you are with him. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.699 If you seek him, 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:27.259 he will be found by you. 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:29.180 But if you forsake him, 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:31.519 he will forsake you. 00:07:32.339 --> 00:07:34.800 So there's real challenge 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:36.459 and encouragement there for us 00:07:36.459 --> 00:07:37.259 to be a people 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:40.879 who always keep our focus towards God, 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:44.139 to seek the Lord always in this way. 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.000 As somebody once said, 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:49.519 we don't pray for the work of the church. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:53.360 Prayer is the work of the church. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:54.819 They're not separated. 00:07:55.479 --> 00:07:57.800 They go hand in hand. 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:00.500 And we are to labor in prayer, 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.579 to go on in prayer, 00:08:02.939 --> 00:08:03.939 in perseverance, 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:06.560 even through the great challenges 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.579 and the times we feel maybe discouraged in prayer 00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:10.740 and we struggle in prayer. 00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:11.879 It is a labor, 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:14.340 but we are to go on in that. 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:15.060 We're remembering, 00:08:15.280 --> 00:08:16.680 as Asa says here, 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:19.240 that our God reigns. 00:08:19.740 --> 00:08:21.139 He cried out to the Lord, 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:21.740 O Lord, 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:24.519 there is none like you to help. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:27.920 And that is why we come to him. 00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:30.180 So as we see Asa here, 00:08:30.860 --> 00:08:32.060 success or otherwise, 00:08:32.180 --> 00:08:33.879 and it's not dependent on him 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:35.860 or the powers of the people 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:36.700 or the armies, 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:38.800 but the power of the Lord 00:08:38.800 --> 00:08:40.879 who reigns with them. 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:43.320 We see in verse two 00:08:43.320 --> 00:08:44.779 at the beginning of this chapter 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:45.940 that Asa's reign 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:49.480 began with getting his priorities right. 00:08:50.620 --> 00:08:53.100 Just the beginning of the first seven verses 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:53.960 in this chapter 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:55.259 just gives us an overview 00:08:55.259 --> 00:08:59.399 of the initial 10 years of Asa's reign. 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.659 It was a time of peace. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:04.839 It was a time when he got rid of everything 00:09:04.839 --> 00:09:06.299 that was wrong in the land, 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.639 all the different idols 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:09.860 and false worship that was there. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:11.240 He put it away. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:13.360 And there's a time of peace 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.259 because the Lord was with them. 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:18.659 The land is still ours, 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:19.059 it says, 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:21.019 because we have sought the Lord, 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:21.699 our God, 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.219 it says in verse seven, 00:09:23.219 --> 00:09:25.379 and he has given us peace 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.279 on every side. 00:09:28.179 --> 00:09:29.179 The Lord gave them 00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:31.079 this time of peace. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:32.799 But then as we go on, 00:09:33.199 --> 00:09:34.379 and as you see in 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:38.139 beginning at verse nine and 10 there, 00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:40.159 you see Sarah, 00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:41.039 the Ethiopian, 00:09:41.159 --> 00:09:42.239 came out against them 00:09:42.239 --> 00:09:42.899 with an army 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:45.099 of a million men 00:09:45.099 --> 00:09:47.399 and 300 chariots. 00:09:48.059 --> 00:09:49.479 So an army arises 00:09:49.479 --> 00:09:50.599 against their nation. 00:09:51.799 --> 00:09:53.399 And when trouble comes, 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:55.379 he, Asa, 00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:56.179 and the people, 00:09:56.919 --> 00:09:58.139 they are ready to trust 00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:59.340 in God. 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.120 Even when in maybe their eyes 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:02.600 initially, 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:04.059 victory would seem 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:05.480 so far removed 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:07.179 because of the great numbers 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:08.799 they're coming up against. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:11.100 Almost two against one 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:11.779 and they've got 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:13.939 300 chariots as well. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:15.720 They were a powerful army. 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.019 Asa had, 00:10:18.439 --> 00:10:18.960 as it says, 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:20.440 mighty men of valor. 00:10:21.279 --> 00:10:22.259 But even in that, 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:23.320 there would have been fear 00:10:23.320 --> 00:10:24.600 going up against 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.120 these Ethiopians. 00:10:27.080 --> 00:10:29.040 But he's ready to trust God 00:10:29.040 --> 00:10:30.220 and he's ready to lead 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:31.040 the people 00:10:31.040 --> 00:10:32.240 in this way 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.020 of trusting 00:10:33.020 --> 00:10:33.740 and committing 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:35.020 their ways 00:10:35.020 --> 00:10:35.860 to God. 00:10:36.680 --> 00:10:37.620 And as a people, 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:39.180 that is what we want 00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:39.740 to do 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:40.640 going forward 00:10:40.640 --> 00:10:41.240 as well. 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:43.120 To be a people 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:44.580 who are trusting 00:10:44.580 --> 00:10:45.620 in God 00:10:45.620 --> 00:10:46.120 and looking 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:47.320 towards God. 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:48.380 We do not do anything 00:10:48.380 --> 00:10:50.380 in our own strength. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.880 And so as we look 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:52.820 to God's help 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.939 and blessing, 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:55.439 we continue 00:10:55.439 --> 00:10:56.460 to go forward 00:10:56.460 --> 00:10:58.100 praying unto God. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:11:00.259 Praying as Asa 00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.820 here prays 00:11:01.820 --> 00:11:02.840 to the God 00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:03.759 who reigns, 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:04.879 to the God 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:05.519 who is good, 00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:06.220 to the God 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.139 who is powerful. 00:11:07.720 --> 00:11:08.799 He cried to the Lord 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:09.439 his God, 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:10.100 O Lord, 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:11.360 there is none 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:12.340 like you. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:13.620 That is 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:14.580 dependence 00:11:14.580 --> 00:11:16.480 upon God. 00:11:17.440 --> 00:11:18.019 And so we look 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:18.779 at this passage 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.519 this evening 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:20.480 and three things 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:22.259 to see about Asa 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:23.699 and the prayer 00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:24.419 that he offers 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:25.079 up here. 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.620 First thing is 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:27.860 there's a sense 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.759 of him feeling 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.579 powerless. 00:11:30.939 --> 00:11:32.179 And the second thing 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:34.000 is he cried 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:34.620 out. 00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.559 And the third thing 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:38.220 is he went 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.279 to battle. 00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:41.259 So these three things 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.419 just want to see. 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:42.980 He felt, 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:44.199 first of all, 00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.279 powerless 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.919 in many ways. 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:48.620 And maybe 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:49.279 you would see 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.339 this as a sign 00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.860 of weakness. 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:53.500 When you think 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:54.219 of people, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.919 even God's people 00:11:55.919 --> 00:11:56.639 in the scriptures 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.620 having a sense 00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.699 of feeling 00:11:58.699 --> 00:11:59.500 powerless, 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:01.519 it's not 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:02.279 a weakness 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:04.679 because it is 00:12:04.679 --> 00:12:05.099 a great 00:12:05.099 --> 00:12:05.819 acknowledgement. 00:12:06.959 --> 00:12:07.620 And when we 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.959 feel weak, 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:10.379 when we feel 00:12:10.379 --> 00:12:11.319 powerless, 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:12.779 it's not a 00:12:12.779 --> 00:12:13.360 weakness in 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.379 ourselves to say, 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:14.579 well, 00:12:14.580 --> 00:12:16.360 now I have 00:12:16.360 --> 00:12:17.000 to go to 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.060 God because 00:12:18.060 --> 00:12:18.560 I cannot 00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:19.240 deal with 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:19.660 this by 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:20.240 myself. 00:12:21.400 --> 00:12:22.139 It's more 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.660 a weakness 00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:23.300 to have that 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:24.139 kind of attitude 00:12:24.139 --> 00:12:25.240 because it 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:25.879 shows we're 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.840 not depending 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.620 on God 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.379 from the 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.120 first place. 00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.460 If we are 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:31.080 thinking we 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:31.660 can deal 00:12:31.660 --> 00:12:32.500 with things 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.600 ourselves 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.000 and in 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:34.560 our own 00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.080 strength, 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:35.879 and then 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:36.360 if need 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:36.780 be, 00:12:37.080 --> 00:12:37.720 go to 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.120 God, 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:38.740 we've 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:39.480 got things 00:12:39.480 --> 00:12:40.759 the wrong 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:42.040 way around. 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.959 And what 00:12:43.959 --> 00:12:45.199 Asa teaches 00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:45.959 us here 00:12:45.959 --> 00:12:46.319 is that 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:46.879 even when 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:47.259 there is 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.419 great times 00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:49.179 of peace 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:50.339 and great 00:12:50.339 --> 00:12:51.539 times of 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:52.079 blessing, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.319 when that 00:12:53.319 --> 00:12:54.019 is interrupted 00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:54.679 as it is 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.219 here for 00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:55.759 Asa and 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:56.159 the people 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:56.679 of Judah 00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.480 as the 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.099 Ethiopian 00:12:58.099 --> 00:12:59.039 army arises 00:12:59.039 --> 00:12:59.919 against them, 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:01.000 it goes from 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.079 peace to 00:13:02.079 --> 00:13:03.699 imminent war. 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.719 And what 00:13:05.719 --> 00:13:06.620 do they do? 00:13:07.459 --> 00:13:08.399 What do they 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.139 do in this 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.980 situation? 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.019 outnumbered 00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.580 and the 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.360 task of 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:13.659 gaining 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.320 victory in 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:14.840 this battle 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.639 may seem 00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.960 a long 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:17.700 way away. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:19.820 What can 00:13:19.820 --> 00:13:20.340 I do? 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.399 Is maybe 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:22.320 what Asa 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:22.700 would be 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:23.120 asking. 00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:24.800 Well, 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.539 he knows 00:13:25.539 --> 00:13:26.899 what to 00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.220 do. 00:13:28.220 --> 00:13:29.000 He knew 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:29.700 what he 00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:30.100 needed to 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:30.279 do. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:30.680 He knew 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:31.800 what his 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.019 people needed 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:33.720 as well. 00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.100 He went 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:35.940 to God 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:37.159 in prayer. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:37.199 prayer. 00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:39.860 One person 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.279 put it 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.899 like this, 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:42.500 he grasped 00:13:42.500 --> 00:13:43.600 at God's 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:45.279 skirts and 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:45.879 prayed. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.299 There's an 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:47.959 image there 00:13:47.959 --> 00:13:48.399 of just 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.199 coming and 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:50.500 bowing before 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.100 God. 00:13:52.079 --> 00:13:52.759 Coming and 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.159 right down, 00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.179 kneeling before 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:56.139 God, grasping 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.059 at his skirt 00:13:57.059 --> 00:13:58.500 and pleading 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.519 with God. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:13:59.860 And that's 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.339 what made 00:14:00.339 --> 00:14:01.480 all the 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.079 difference. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.179 John Bunyan 00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.000 once said, 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.000 you can 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.580 do more 00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.299 than pray 00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.720 after you 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:09.379 have prayed, 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:10.500 but you 00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.080 cannot do 00:14:11.080 --> 00:14:11.659 more than 00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:13.120 pray until 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.779 you have 00:14:13.779 --> 00:14:14.240 prayed. 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.600 It's about 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.460 getting things 00:14:16.460 --> 00:14:17.460 the right 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.059 way around. 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.059 If you 00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:19.539 look in 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:20.120 the New 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:20.740 Testament, 00:14:21.080 --> 00:14:21.179 there's 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:22.220 that account 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:23.220 when the 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.700 woman who 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.059 had an 00:14:24.059 --> 00:14:24.639 issue of 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.039 blood, 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:25.480 who had 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.440 for 12 00:14:26.440 --> 00:14:27.179 years been 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.159 struggling on 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:28.519 with this, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.600 trying everything 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.379 that she 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:30.980 could think 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.820 of herself. 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.620 She'd spent 00:14:33.620 --> 00:14:34.080 everything, 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:34.660 she'd given 00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:35.060 everything, 00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:35.660 trying to 00:14:35.660 --> 00:14:36.800 find healing 00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:37.400 for this 00:14:37.400 --> 00:14:37.879 issue. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.300 But what 00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:39.620 did she 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:39.840 do? 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:40.259 Where did 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:40.800 she find 00:14:40.800 --> 00:14:41.220 healing? 00:14:41.980 --> 00:14:42.300 It was 00:14:42.300 --> 00:14:42.920 by coming 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:43.600 and touching 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.620 the hem 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:44.960 of the 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.340 garment 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:45.800 of the 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.020 Lord 00:14:46.020 --> 00:14:46.480 Jesus. 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.060 Why? 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:49.780 Because 00:14:49.780 --> 00:14:51.040 she knew 00:14:51.040 --> 00:14:51.900 he had 00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:52.400 power. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:54.680 And that 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:54.980 is how 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:55.940 we are 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:56.480 to come. 00:14:57.220 --> 00:14:57.740 When we 00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.120 feel 00:14:58.120 --> 00:14:59.100 powerless, 00:14:59.200 --> 00:14:59.520 as we 00:14:59.520 --> 00:15:00.200 often do, 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.060 we are 00:15:01.060 --> 00:15:01.840 reminded that 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.520 coming to 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:03.560 God is 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:03.919 where we 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:04.479 will find 00:15:04.479 --> 00:15:05.619 help and 00:15:05.619 --> 00:15:06.500 strength and 00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.639 peace and 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.199 comfort. 00:15:10.099 --> 00:15:11.119 Asa says, 00:15:11.859 --> 00:15:12.319 Lord, 00:15:12.739 --> 00:15:13.239 there is 00:15:13.239 --> 00:15:14.599 none like 00:15:14.599 --> 00:15:15.039 you. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.879 There is 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:17.539 no one 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:18.779 who compares 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:20.259 to you. 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:21.619 And that 00:15:21.619 --> 00:15:22.399 is still 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.639 the case 00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.159 today. 00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.679 There is 00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:26.859 none who 00:15:26.859 --> 00:15:27.479 can help 00:15:27.479 --> 00:15:28.679 us like 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.199 the Lord 00:15:29.199 --> 00:15:29.679 can. 00:15:31.359 --> 00:15:31.639 It's a 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.579 beautiful song 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.160 of faith, 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:33.560 the hymn 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.480 It Is 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:34.940 Well 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:35.500 With 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:35.759 My 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.200 Soul. 00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.040 It was 00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:38.580 written by 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.200 Horatio 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.000 Spafford. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.400 And you 00:15:42.400 --> 00:15:42.820 think to 00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.480 yourself when 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:44.379 you sing 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.379 this hymn 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:45.639 or when 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.120 you hear 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:46.820 this hymn, 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:47.480 it is 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.759 well with 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.540 my soul. 00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:50.860 That it 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:51.280 must have 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:51.740 been written 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.139 in a 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.780 situation 00:15:52.780 --> 00:15:53.120 where 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:53.900 everything 00:15:53.900 --> 00:15:54.460 was going 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:54.900 well. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.080 Well, 00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:57.340 it was 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:58.120 far from 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.019 it for 00:15:59.019 --> 00:15:59.639 Horatio 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.360 Spafford. 00:16:01.419 --> 00:16:02.039 Spafford 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.560 lived in 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.080 America. 00:16:04.419 --> 00:16:04.639 He was 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.460 an acquaintance 00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.580 of D.L. 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:06.879 Moody. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.560 He was a 00:16:08.560 --> 00:16:09.220 successful 00:16:09.220 --> 00:16:10.220 lawyer. 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:11.940 And he 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.320 got on 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:12.919 well in 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.360 life. 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:13.960 Much 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:14.659 went well 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.560 for him 00:16:15.560 --> 00:16:15.960 initially. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:17.779 But his 00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.519 faith was 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.899 tested on 00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.240 many 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:20.960 occasions. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:23.019 First in 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:24.000 1870, 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:25.379 when he 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:25.700 and his 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:26.799 wife lost 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.639 a son at 00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:28.000 the age 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.579 of four 00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.819 to scarlet 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:30.159 fever. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.359 Then a 00:16:32.359 --> 00:16:33.000 year later, 00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.399 they were 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.059 wiped out 00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.819 financially 00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:36.179 by the 00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:36.559 great 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:37.299 Chicago 00:16:37.299 --> 00:16:37.959 fire in 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:39.000 1871. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:40.519 In a 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.099 very short 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:41.639 space of 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.079 time, 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.339 his and 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:43.719 their 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.319 family's 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.599 life was 00:16:45.599 --> 00:16:45.939 turned 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:46.339 upside 00:16:46.339 --> 00:16:46.899 down. 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:49.139 In 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:49.819 recovering 00:16:49.819 --> 00:16:50.539 from these 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:51.259 tragedies 00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:51.539 that had 00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:52.079 come upon 00:16:52.079 --> 00:16:52.339 them, 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.199 Horatio 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:54.120 decided that 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:54.819 they needed 00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:55.120 to get 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:55.679 away for 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.139 a time. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:57.579 He decided 00:16:57.579 --> 00:16:57.879 to take 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:58.439 his family 00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.419 on holiday 00:16:59.419 --> 00:16:59.959 to England 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:00.299 and that 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:00.899 later on 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.699 he would 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.339 join up 00:17:02.339 --> 00:17:02.519 with 00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:03.539 Dwight 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:03.799 Moody. 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:04.139 He was 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:04.639 on an 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.480 evangelistic 00:17:05.480 --> 00:17:06.159 tour there. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:08.220 They planned 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:08.899 to go 00:17:08.899 --> 00:17:10.139 away as 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:10.599 a family 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:10.859 but at 00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.359 the last 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:11.759 minute, 00:17:12.519 --> 00:17:13.079 a business 00:17:13.079 --> 00:17:13.839 situation 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:14.460 prevented 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.339 Horatio from 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:15.980 going away 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.740 with his 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:17.159 wife and 00:17:17.159 --> 00:17:17.599 his children. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:17.940 So he 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.539 sent them 00:17:18.539 --> 00:17:19.559 ahead and 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:19.859 that he 00:17:19.859 --> 00:17:20.399 would join 00:17:20.399 --> 00:17:20.899 them soon 00:17:20.899 --> 00:17:21.259 after. 00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:22.899 So they 00:17:22.899 --> 00:17:23.539 boarded a 00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:23.839 ship, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.559 his wife 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:25.480 and his 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.899 daughters. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:28.339 And they 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:28.639 went on 00:17:28.639 --> 00:17:29.279 ahead without 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:29.819 him but 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.379 the ship 00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:30.740 that they 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.220 were on, 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:32.720 it collided 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:33.859 with another 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:34.579 ship and 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.059 sank. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:36.519 And it 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:36.960 claimed 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:39.139 226 00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:39.919 lives, 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:41.720 including 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.399 the lives 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:43.279 of all 00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:44.539 four of 00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.059 their young 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:45.539 girls. 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.539 His wife 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.440 survived and 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.259 sent a note 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.700 to her 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.799 husband simply 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.359 saying, 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:53.559 saved 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.579 alone. 00:17:54.579 --> 00:17:56.740 she'd 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.179 made her 00:17:57.179 --> 00:17:57.679 way to 00:17:57.679 --> 00:17:58.000 England, 00:17:58.119 --> 00:17:58.299 she'd 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.460 been 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:58.759 picked 00:17:58.759 --> 00:17:59.139 up. 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.439 Horatio 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:00.919 boarded 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:01.240 another 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.779 ship to 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.099 go and 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:02.599 meet his 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:02.980 wife. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.460 And as 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:04.679 they were 00:18:04.679 --> 00:18:05.159 passing 00:18:05.159 --> 00:18:06.679 through the 00:18:06.679 --> 00:18:07.839 seas where 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.419 the ship 00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:09.059 had sunk, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.759 being aware 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.579 of the 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.359 tragedy that 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.539 had unfolded, 00:18:13.919 --> 00:18:14.439 it was in 00:18:14.439 --> 00:18:15.419 that situation 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:15.899 that he went 00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.639 back to his 00:18:16.639 --> 00:18:17.879 cabin and 00:18:17.879 --> 00:18:18.539 wrote these 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.419 words of 00:18:19.419 --> 00:18:19.879 the hymn. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.900 the tragedy 00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.800 he'd 00:18:22.800 --> 00:18:24.020 experienced in 00:18:24.020 --> 00:18:24.520 that he was 00:18:24.520 --> 00:18:24.960 able to 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:25.920 pen the 00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.340 words, 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.000 when peace 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.440 like a 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:27.680 river 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:28.440 attendeth 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.020 my way, 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.360 when sorrows 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:31.160 like sea 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:31.560 billows 00:18:31.560 --> 00:18:32.000 roll, 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.420 whatever my 00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:33.840 lot, 00:18:34.040 --> 00:18:34.360 there has 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:34.960 taught me 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:35.540 to say, 00:18:36.080 --> 00:18:36.480 it is 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:36.860 well, 00:18:37.300 --> 00:18:37.720 it is 00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.260 well with 00:18:38.260 --> 00:18:38.900 my soul. 00:18:39.900 --> 00:18:40.680 To be 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.080 able to 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:41.660 say that 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:42.000 in the 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.020 midst of 00:18:43.020 --> 00:18:44.000 such tragic 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.040 circumstances 00:18:45.040 --> 00:18:46.140 shows a 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:46.860 real power, 00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:48.060 a dependence, 00:18:48.059 --> 00:18:48.539 and a 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.819 faith in 00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.259 God. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.019 Do we 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:53.279 have that 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:53.919 faith to 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:55.000 come to 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.539 God in 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:55.940 prayer? 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:58.179 Asa could 00:18:58.179 --> 00:18:58.879 easily look 00:18:58.879 --> 00:18:59.379 and say, 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:00.519 look at the 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.119 battle we 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:01.500 are in, 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.639 look at the 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.500 numbers in 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.099 our army, 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.099 they are 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.339 double our 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:06.940 army's 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.460 strength, 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.879 we are so 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:09.539 small, 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.720 they are so 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:11.319 vast, 00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.159 but no, 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.119 in his 00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:14.579 powerless 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.200 feeling, 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:16.619 he comes 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.799 to God 00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:19.180 what could 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:19.819 he possibly 00:19:19.819 --> 00:19:20.279 do, 00:19:20.619 --> 00:19:21.460 the same 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:21.759 as what 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.259 we can 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:22.539 do, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.619 come to 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:24.919 him, 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.180 and that's 00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.500 what we 00:19:27.500 --> 00:19:27.759 see. 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:28.240 Secondly, 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.639 he cried 00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:31.079 out to 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:31.559 God, 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:32.440 feeling 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:32.940 helpless 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.639 and powerless 00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.079 in verse 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:34.440 11, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.480 Asa's 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:35.940 prayer is 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.539 a prayer 00:19:36.539 --> 00:19:37.879 of faith, 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.319 not long 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.960 as I said 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.480 before, 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.799 but just 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.759 a dependence 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.619 on God 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.019 in these 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.399 words. 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.339 Asa cried 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:45.700 to the 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.180 Lord is 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.619 God, 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.579 O Lord, 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.419 there is 00:19:48.419 --> 00:19:49.139 none like 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.579 you to 00:19:49.579 --> 00:19:49.919 help. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.659 Between 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.239 the mighty 00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:51.599 and the 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:51.919 weak, 00:19:52.459 --> 00:19:53.259 help us, 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.219 O Lord 00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:54.779 our God, 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.379 for we 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:57.439 rely on 00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:57.819 you. 00:19:58.879 --> 00:19:59.539 There is 00:19:59.539 --> 00:19:59.919 a real 00:19:59.919 --> 00:20:01.419 sense of 00:20:01.419 --> 00:20:02.179 dependence 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.419 in these 00:20:03.419 --> 00:20:03.759 words. 00:20:03.899 --> 00:20:04.219 Lord, 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.019 there is 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.719 none like 00:20:05.719 --> 00:20:05.939 you. 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.679 We depend 00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:08.059 on you. 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.459 Maybe it 00:20:09.459 --> 00:20:09.859 doesn't come 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.639 across as 00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:12.019 clearly here 00:20:12.019 --> 00:20:12.739 before us, 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.599 but what 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:14.319 Asa is 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.099 saying here 00:20:15.099 --> 00:20:15.380 is, 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.680 Lord, 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.240 in the 00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:17.660 scheme 00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.460 of things, 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.740 this is 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.599 nothing to 00:20:20.599 --> 00:20:20.900 you. 00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.279 We may 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.279 be outnumbered 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.940 two to 00:20:23.940 --> 00:20:24.299 one, 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:25.700 but Lord, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.120 I know 00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:26.559 who I'm 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.140 coming to. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:28.380 I know 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:28.799 what you 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.299 have done 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.180 and I 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:30.700 know what 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:30.960 you are 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.500 able to 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:31.779 do. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:32.779 And I 00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:32.920 am 00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.380 coming 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.620 recognizing 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.039 that. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.480 There is 00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:35.960 none 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.140 like you, 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:37.480 O Lord. 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.440 We rely 00:20:38.440 --> 00:20:39.759 on you 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.420 because you 00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:41.920 are able. 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:43.960 And the 00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.740 reality is 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.740 we come 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:46.240 to God 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.480 and we 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.140 see things 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.580 through our 00:20:47.580 --> 00:20:48.299 own eyes. 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.700 We see 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.320 things as 00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:51.299 impossible. 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:52.740 We see 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:53.400 things that 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:54.120 we cannot 00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.019 change. 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:56.559 And rightly 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.039 so, 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.519 because there 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.100 are things 00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:58.900 that only 00:20:58.900 --> 00:20:59.580 God can 00:20:59.580 --> 00:21:00.160 change. 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.740 And that's 00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.380 why we 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:02.940 come and 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:03.779 cry to 00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.100 God, 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.519 saying, 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.460 just like 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:05.779 Asa, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.539 there is 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.200 none like 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.220 you who 00:21:08.220 --> 00:21:08.960 is able 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:09.420 to help 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:09.900 between the 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:10.440 mighty and 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:10.799 the weak. 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.839 Help us, 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:12.779 O Lord, 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.319 our God, 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:14.039 but we 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.680 rely on 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:14.920 you. 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.380 A short 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:17.900 prayer, 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.039 but a 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.539 powerful 00:21:19.539 --> 00:21:20.100 prayer. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.500 John Knox 00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:24.079 is credited 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.600 as saying 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.000 this, 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.380 a man 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.120 with God 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.600 is always 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:29.319 in the 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.860 majority. 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:31.740 And here 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.500 is Asa, 00:21:32.740 --> 00:21:33.539 he may be 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.319 outnumbered 00:21:34.319 --> 00:21:34.720 two to 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.220 one with 00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:35.740 his army 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.039 as he 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.700 looks around, 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:38.120 but with 00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.640 God, 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.400 he's in 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.120 the majority. 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:41.860 With God 00:21:41.860 --> 00:21:42.460 on his 00:21:42.460 --> 00:21:43.000 side, 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:43.880 he is 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:44.960 able to 00:21:44.960 --> 00:21:45.759 go forward. 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.059 John Knox, 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:47.900 though he had 00:21:47.900 --> 00:21:48.759 many supporters 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.400 during the 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:50.279 Reformation in 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.759 Scotland, 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.059 he so often 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.000 seemed to 00:21:53.000 --> 00:21:54.059 stand alone 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.200 at crucial 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.880 times. 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:56.940 But he was 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.440 able to 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.120 say that 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.380 a man 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.100 with God 00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.519 is always 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.440 in the 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:02.960 majority. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:04.600 and we 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.120 remember 00:22:05.120 --> 00:22:06.100 as God's 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:06.640 people, 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.539 we have 00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:07.960 him on 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:09.000 our side. 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.759 Romans 8 00:22:10.759 --> 00:22:11.819 was mentioned 00:22:11.819 --> 00:22:12.500 in prayer 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.039 earlier. 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:14.340 Romans 8 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.140 is such a 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.680 wonderful 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.559 passage that 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.140 reminds us 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.279 of God 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.120 with us 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:20.880 in every 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.700 circumstance. 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:23.039 The 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.779 Christian's 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.319 confidence 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.620 is there. 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.920 Just read 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.059 verse 31 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.140 of Romans 8. 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.360 What then 00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:30.820 shall we 00:22:30.820 --> 00:22:31.360 say in 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:32.160 response to 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.880 these things? 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:34.259 If God 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:34.860 is for 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.280 us, 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:36.460 who can 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.080 be against 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.480 us? 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.380 He who 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:38.780 did not 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:39.460 spare his 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.220 own son, 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.200 but gave 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.560 him up 00:22:41.560 --> 00:22:42.040 for us 00:22:42.040 --> 00:22:42.380 all, 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.220 how will 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.500 he not 00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:44.280 also along 00:22:44.280 --> 00:22:44.880 with him 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.220 freely give 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.460 us all 00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.200 things? 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.040 God 00:22:50.040 --> 00:22:51.259 with us. 00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:53.460 That is 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.900 our cry 00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.759 to the 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:56.259 Lord of 00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.000 the impossible. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.600 With us 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.480 it is 00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.059 impossible 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.000 so often, 00:23:01.399 --> 00:23:02.219 but with 00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:03.419 God it 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.259 is possible. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.619 We don't 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.439 just teach 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:07.659 our children 00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.639 these things. 00:23:08.959 --> 00:23:09.519 We don't 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:10.119 just share 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.959 stories from 00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:11.459 the Bible 00:23:11.459 --> 00:23:12.419 with young 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.199 people saying 00:23:13.199 --> 00:23:14.139 you believe 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.539 that. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:16.359 We share 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:16.719 it with 00:23:16.719 --> 00:23:17.219 them saying 00:23:17.219 --> 00:23:18.000 this is 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.399 what I 00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:18.879 believe. 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.879 This is 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.480 the God 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:21.740 I know. 00:23:23.139 --> 00:23:23.519 Asa 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.699 says we 00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:25.899 rely on 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.459 you and 00:23:26.459 --> 00:23:27.279 your name. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:28.740 God 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.299 is that 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.859 what we 00:23:29.859 --> 00:23:30.240 do? 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.119 Is that 00:23:31.119 --> 00:23:31.940 the confidence 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.960 that we 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:33.500 have as 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.059 we come 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.039 to God 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.639 in prayer? 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.359 Back in 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.240 the 16th 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.680 century, 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.859 the man 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:40.519 Walter 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:41.019 Raleigh, 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.200 he once 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:42.660 made a 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.740 request to 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.279 Queen Elizabeth 00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.779 I. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.700 They had 00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:47.920 a good 00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.359 working 00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:49.059 relationship 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.779 apparently. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:50.639 Now, 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.359 without going 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.759 into the 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.319 details of 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:52.680 everything that 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:52.940 they were 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.200 doing, 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:53.440 whether it 00:23:53.440 --> 00:23:53.879 was right 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.720 or wrong, 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:55.380 this story 00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:55.920 was said 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:56.480 that once 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:56.980 he came 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.780 to the 00:23:57.780 --> 00:23:57.980 Queen 00:23:57.980 --> 00:23:58.480 making a 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.080 request, 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.460 and the 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:00.680 Queen 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.760 replied to 00:24:01.760 --> 00:24:01.920 him, 00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:02.700 Raleigh, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.760 when will 00:24:03.760 --> 00:24:04.460 you stop 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.340 coming to 00:24:05.340 --> 00:24:06.080 me begging? 00:24:07.660 --> 00:24:08.140 Walter 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.300 replied to 00:24:09.300 --> 00:24:09.600 her and 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:09.840 saying, 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:10.780 when your 00:24:10.780 --> 00:24:11.340 majesty 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.260 stops 00:24:12.260 --> 00:24:12.780 giving, 00:24:14.060 --> 00:24:14.960 and his 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.560 request 00:24:15.560 --> 00:24:16.960 was granted. 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.600 But when we 00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:20.780 think of 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.240 God, 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.180 is God 00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.799 ever going 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.279 to say 00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:25.000 to us, 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.099 when will 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:26.680 you stop 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.879 coming to 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.420 me begging? 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.420 Because he 00:24:30.420 --> 00:24:30.940 will never 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.319 stop giving. 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.000 He gives 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.839 us abundantly 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.379 more than 00:24:36.379 --> 00:24:37.700 we ask or 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.160 imagine. 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.559 So we 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.379 don't stop 00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:40.859 coming. 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.059 We come 00:24:42.059 --> 00:24:42.899 begging, 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:44.039 knowing we 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.839 can depend 00:24:44.839 --> 00:24:45.859 on him. 00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:48.180 Asa cried 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.819 out to 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.319 the Lord, 00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:50.659 and that 00:24:50.659 --> 00:24:50.980 is what 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.899 we are 00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.359 to do. 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.099 The final 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.639 thing we 00:24:54.639 --> 00:24:55.259 see here 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.299 is what 00:24:56.299 --> 00:24:56.759 he did. 00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.439 He went 00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:59.619 to battle. 00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.480 It's not 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:02.019 enough to 00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.839 just cry 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.879 and to 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:04.099 have 00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.779 confidence. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.500 We have 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.159 courage 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.159 to go 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.740 forward. 00:25:09.899 --> 00:25:10.419 Asa's 00:25:10.419 --> 00:25:11.299 confidence 00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.539 is seen 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.460 in what 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.139 he does. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.679 He cried 00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:16.039 out to 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:16.480 the Lord 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.220 pleading 00:25:17.220 --> 00:25:18.500 for help. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.819 and then 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.599 he went 00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:21.579 in to 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.019 battle. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.220 And so 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.640 the Lord 00:25:23.640 --> 00:25:24.140 it says 00:25:24.140 --> 00:25:24.559 in verse 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.000 12, 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:26.000 defeated 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.579 the 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.339 Ethiopians 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:28.160 before Asa 00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:28.680 and before 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.140 Judah, 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.240 and the 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.099 Ethiopians 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.539 fled. 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.920 And Asa 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:33.180 and the 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:33.740 people who 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.059 were with 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.299 him pursued 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.640 them. 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.559 They went 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.200 forward. 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.880 Asa's 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:41.539 confidence 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.259 in God 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.819 leads to 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.460 courage. 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.140 help us 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:46.779 O Lord 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.340 our God 00:25:47.340 --> 00:25:47.779 for we 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.440 rely on 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.579 you and 00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.680 in your 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.860 name we 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.680 come against 00:25:52.680 --> 00:25:53.660 this multitude. 00:25:54.220 --> 00:25:54.779 He is 00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:55.799 depending 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.319 on God. 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.539 Never mind 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:58.980 though it is 00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.779 two against 00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.240 one. 00:26:00.620 --> 00:26:01.200 We come 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.000 against this 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.980 vast army 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:04.259 as part 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.180 of your 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.660 battle. 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:07.759 Are we 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.299 ready to 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:09.559 believe in 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:09.980 what we are 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.900 asking God 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:11.640 for and to 00:26:11.640 --> 00:26:12.680 go and 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.519 fight for it 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.099 ourselves. 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:15.339 If we 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.039 have God 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.839 with us, 00:26:17.299 --> 00:26:17.960 let us be 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.240 bold going 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.940 forward. 00:26:20.639 --> 00:26:21.299 Bold in 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.740 prayer but 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.879 also bold 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.720 in all that 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.019 we do in 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.700 his name. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.139 Remembering 00:26:28.139 --> 00:26:28.920 that he 00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.660 will help 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.099 us. 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.119 And just 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.639 notice what 00:26:32.639 --> 00:26:34.220 Asa's prayer 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:34.960 says. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:36.440 Again, this 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:36.859 is how we 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.539 are to see 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.759 the cause 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.559 of God. 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.200 He says 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.379 at the end 00:26:42.380 --> 00:26:42.680 of his 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.400 prayer, 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:45.600 let not 00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:47.420 man prevail 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:49.600 against you. 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.920 This is his 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.400 prayer to 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:52.700 God. 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.020 Let not 00:26:54.020 --> 00:26:55.100 man prevail 00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.920 against you. 00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.380 You see, 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.800 Asa's not 00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:01.940 concerned about 00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:03.480 himself losing 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.260 this battle. 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.400 He's concerned 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:07.340 about the 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.340 cause of 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:08.760 God. 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:08.799 God. 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.519 And that's 00:27:10.519 --> 00:27:11.119 our greatest 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:12.240 concern too. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.759 Not that 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.819 we'll win 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.379 victory. 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:16.640 Not that 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:17.259 we'll do 00:27:17.259 --> 00:27:17.819 anything that 00:27:17.819 --> 00:27:18.160 will give 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:18.960 us glory. 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:20.279 But that 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.019 we see the 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.700 cause of 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:23.200 Christ and 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.879 his name 00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:25.079 lifted up. 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.440 Let not 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.859 man prevail 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:29.220 against you. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.720 We may 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.240 fall. 00:27:31.819 --> 00:27:32.160 We may 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:32.819 fail in 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.220 the things 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.480 that we 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:33.779 do. 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.099 But we 00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.740 still cry, 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:36.139 Lord, 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:37.359 let not 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.180 man prevail 00:27:38.180 --> 00:27:39.200 against you. 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:40.879 May your 00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:42.339 cause go 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.700 on. 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.899 And you 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.359 think of 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:44.960 people, 00:27:45.399 --> 00:27:46.200 many people 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.599 who have 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:47.399 suffered in 00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:47.920 the name of 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.420 Christ. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.960 Whether it's 00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:51.200 covenanters or 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:51.960 missionaries, 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.759 people have 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.539 gone far and 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.059 wide in the 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.440 name of 00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:54.759 Christ. 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.139 And many 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.639 people look 00:27:55.639 --> 00:27:56.279 and say, 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.460 but they 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:58.000 failed. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.319 They were put 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:00.899 to death. 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.299 They lost 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:03.099 their lives. 00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:03.879 They made 00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:04.719 no impression 00:28:04.719 --> 00:28:05.480 in the 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.179 land that 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:06.579 they went 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:06.879 to. 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:08.159 And yet 00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:08.759 how often 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.639 over time 00:28:09.639 --> 00:28:10.559 you see 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.539 their sacrifice 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.179 blessed. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.119 It's not 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:14.619 about 00:28:14.619 --> 00:28:16.319 ourselves or 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.359 anyone of 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.179 God's people 00:28:18.179 --> 00:28:19.119 getting glory, 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.539 but that 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:21.319 glory be 00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.439 to God 00:28:22.439 --> 00:28:23.459 in his 00:28:23.459 --> 00:28:23.919 time. 00:28:24.879 --> 00:28:25.240 So are 00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.699 we willing 00:28:25.699 --> 00:28:27.139 to fight? 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.359 Are we 00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.539 willing to 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.379 go forward? 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:31.779 Let me 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.179 leave you 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:32.759 with this 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.980 illustration. 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.539 A preacher 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.220 was once 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.599 watching a 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.259 stonemason 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.059 working away 00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.740 on a large 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.460 slab of 00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:40.879 marble. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.140 And he 00:28:42.140 --> 00:28:42.799 was amazed 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.140 how the 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:43.619 hammer and 00:28:43.619 --> 00:28:43.980 chisely 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.720 used didn't 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.660 destroy this 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.619 piece of 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:47.000 marble, 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.720 but instead 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.920 brought something 00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.359 beautiful from 00:28:50.359 --> 00:28:51.279 something so 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.700 hard and yet 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:53.460 so delicate. 00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:54.859 As the 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:55.619 preacher watched 00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.359 the stonemason, 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:56.900 he said, 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:58.160 I wish I 00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:58.780 could deal 00:28:58.780 --> 00:29:00.200 such life 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.700 changing 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.480 blows to 00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.340 many stony 00:29:02.340 --> 00:29:03.019 hearts that 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.519 I see 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.240 around me. 00:29:05.580 --> 00:29:05.820 The 00:29:05.820 --> 00:29:06.480 stonemason, 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:07.940 whether it 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.500 was through 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.700 his wit 00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.920 or through 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.800 his understanding 00:29:12.800 --> 00:29:13.340 of the role 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:13.960 of the preacher, 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.420 said, 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:15.940 maybe you 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.840 could if 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:17.320 you work 00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:17.880 like me 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:19.100 on your 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:19.580 knees. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.380 It's a 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:23.040 challenge. 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:25.099 And I 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.539 rebuke 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.220 probably to 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:26.920 that preacher 00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:28.599 a reminder 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.839 about where 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:30.399 our work 00:29:30.399 --> 00:29:31.000 is done, 00:29:31.639 --> 00:29:32.399 on our 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:32.859 knees 00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:34.519 before God. 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.039 Asa 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:37.480 cried out 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:38.000 to the 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.619 Lord his 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.099 God, 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.299 O Lord, 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:40.740 there is 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.519 none like 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:41.920 you to 00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.200 help. 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:43.759 And that 00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.279 is where 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.079 we cry 00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.639 to. 00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.000 For Asa 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.500 says, 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:48.859 we rely 00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.139 on you 00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:51.000 and in 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.659 your name 00:29:51.659 --> 00:29:52.420 we have 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:52.740 come 00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.160 against 00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:53.480 this 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.059 multitude. 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.359 So may 00:29:55.359 --> 00:29:56.400 we go 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:56.880 forward 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.740 with Asa's 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.180 prayer 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.220 and our 00:29:59.220 --> 00:29:59.880 dependence 00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:01.279 on God, 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.200 trusting in 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:03.279 him that 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:04.140 he is able 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:05.500 to help. 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.539 May God 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.839 bless his 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.640 word to 00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:08.960 us. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.180 We'll sing 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:12.900 to God's 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.579 praise in 00:30:13.579 --> 00:30:14.720 Psalm 70.