Bayside Community Church
In case, that doesn't work, I will give you a synopsis of my notes of Dr. Bramer's sermons.
10:00 a.m. Service:
Scripture reference: 2 Chronicles 14-16
Dr. Bramer opened with a true story about Cliff Young, an Australian Marathon Race Winner. A marathon race requires endurance, not speed. Trust in and obedience to the Lord also requires endurance. King Asa began well, but did not endure the race set before him.
God granted rest to the nation of Judah when they were faithful to Him, protecting them from war with their enemies.
In Chapter 14, King Asa did what was right in the sight of the Lord, removing the pagan idols and places of worship of false gods.
When the Ethiopian Zerah came to fight them with an army of a million men, he outnumbered Asa's 300,000 soldiers. King Asa prayed, "Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let no man prevail against You."
The Lord routed the Ethiopians.
In Chapter 15, the prophet Azariah encouraged King Asa to continue relying on the Lord. "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but I you forsake Him, He will forsake you." The king further cleansed the land of the false idols and entered into a covenant with God.
There was no war for thirty-five years.
In Chapter 16, King Asa began to fade spiritually in the thirty-sixth year of his reign. He compromised his trust in God. Instead of praying when King Baasha of Israel came against Judah, he used silver and gold from the temple treasuries to bribe the king of Aram to make a treaty with him against Israel.
The Lord removed His protection of peace and rest. King Asa died of a disease that afflicted his feet.
Here are 3 applications to this lesson:
1) We must characterize our lives with always trusting the Lord
2) Expect to be tested. Trials will come to test or strength our faith.
3) Plan to end well. Continue to pray, study His word, and encourage other Christians.
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11:00 a.m. Service:
Scripture reference: 2 Chronicles 17-20
In Chapter 17, Asa's son Jehoshaphat became king. He trusted God and followed the example of King David, having a whole heart for the Lord. King David was the standard for leadership. Jehoshaphat brought in teachers and prophets to teach the word of God to the people. He knew that obedience could not be forced, so the teachings gave them a desire to be obedient to the Lord. Even the nearby nations feared God.
In Chapter 18, compromised his faith when he made an alliance with King Ahab of Israel. Of all the prophets in Israel, only one named Micaiah told the truth. The others four hundred were false prophets who told King Ahab only what he wanted to hear. Ahab knew the word of the Lord, but refused to obey. He died in battle.
In Chapter 19, Jehoshaphat returned to Jerusalem in safety. The prophet Jehu rebuked him for his unfaithfulness. The king repented and brought the people back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges and admonished them to render judgment not for man but for the Lord.
In Chapter 20, the Ammonites and Meunites came to declare war against Jehoshaphat. He turned to the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. He then prayed, "O Lord, the God of our fathers, are you not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You." Jehoshaphat continued with his prayer and praise to the Lord.
The Lord took possession of the battle to prove to Jehoshaphat that he could trust Him to defeat the enemies without Judah's army. God caused the Ammonites and Meunites to destroy themselves.
Here are 3 applications to this lesson:
1) Let us desire the statement, "The Lord is with him" to be said about us.
2) Avoid alliances with ungodly people. Live for eternity, not for the present.
3) Reliance and trust in God should be evident in our daily lives. We can praise God in advance of our victories!
Let us win the marathon race of life with endurance.
