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II CHRONICLES 16:9

I. ASA'S EARLY REIGN AND POWER.
        A. Began his reign with reforms and exhorted people to seek
           Jehovah.
        B. Ethiopian army of 1 million.
                1. Asa'a prayer.
                        a. Acknowledged God's power - "it is nothing for
                           thee to help us, O Jehovah."
                        b. Asked God's help -"
                        c. Rested on God.
                        d. Went forth in His name.
        C. After victory met by prophet Azariah. D. Sought the Lord with
           all the people.
        E. Deposed the Queen Mother and destroyed her idol. Stamped and
           burned.

II. ASA'S ERROR.
        A. Baasha, King of Israel began to build cities that were a
           potential threat to Judah.
        B. Asa sent to Ben-Hadad King of Syria.
                1. Why did he not call on God?
                        a. Not nearly so serious a threat as the
                           Ethiopians
                        b. "I can handle this myself"
                2. Asked pagan king to break a treaty.
                3. Paid him with God's money.

III. GOD'S MESSAGE TO ERRING KING.
        A. God's faithful messenger.
                1. Easy to carry Azariah's message.
                2. Hanani's message difficult. Tempted to temper.
        B. God's reasons.
                1. Because reliance on King of Syria, not on God.
        C. God's reminders - his former deliverance.
        D. God's search.
                1. How God gives - man's 3 types:
                        a. Convince thru persuasion.
                        b. Make need known.
                        c. Man looking for investments.
                2. God's search for the perfect heart.
                        a. Complete heart - not divided.
                        b. Complete trust in Him.
                        c. Complete love for Him (not divided affection)
                3. God still searches today.