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King Asa of Judah relied only on God

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[ 2 Chronicles 14:11]

Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O LORD, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."

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During Rehoboam son of Solomon, Israel was divided into two nations: Judah in the south and Israel in the north. In the southern kingdom of Judah, the descendants of David continued as kings, as God had promised.

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The king who succeeded Abijah son of Rehoboam was King Asa. King Asa wanted to do what was right in God's eyes. King Asa decided to remove all the things that God hates in the kingdom of Judah.

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He destroyed the altars and high places built to worship idols. He also smashed the pillars of stone to commemorate vain gods and stamped idols of Asherah.

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King Asa's grandmother Maakah was also an idol of Asherah. King Asa acted justly enough to cast an idol-serving grandmother out of her place. King Asa commanded all people to keep God's teachings and commandments.

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God peacefully guarded Judah under King Asa, who ruled correctly. The people of Judah enjoyed peace because of their believing King Asa.

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King Asa did not settle for peace. He strengthened his military by building strong castles and fortifications with his people in order to better protect themselves from the nations around them that were trying to break the peace God had given.

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Baasha, king of Israel, attacked to destroy King Asa's peace, but he could not defeat Asa. Asa had a large military force of 300,000 tribes of Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 courageous Benjamin tribes with small shields and bows.

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However, a great test came upon King Asa, who has good faith. This is because Ethiopia's "Zerah" has invaded Judah with a million troops. At the time, he led 300 chariots, the most advanced weapons.

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Judah's soldiers were not half their number, and they had no chariots. Asa's army was unable to win this war by winning this army. King Asa, however, was not afraid and prepared to fight them.

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King Asa believed that the victory or defeat of the war was determined by God. King Asa prayed to God: “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”(2 Chronicles 14:11)

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After the prayer, Judah's army, led by King Asa, began to attack. The Judah army, which had depended on God, did not fear one million troops. Because they believed in God with them.

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God answered Asa's prayer. God defeated the Ethiopian army. One million troops were not able to attack the army of Judah. The chariots they boasted were of no use.

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The Ethiopian soldiers were driven away by Judah. Many Ethiopian soldiers died and the surviving soldiers lost their power to fight. Ethiopian soldiers were destroyed by God and the Jewish army.

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King Asa and Judah, who defeated the Ethiopian soldiers and triumphed, returned with joy. God listened to King Asa's prayer and gave them victory. King Asa and the people of Judah experienced firsthand that the battle of Ethiopia depended solely on God.

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King Asa wanted to do what was right for God. King Asa commanded all people to serve only God. God gave peace to King Asa's kingdom. King Asa did not try to settle for himself when he met a big enemy. He won the war by relying only on God and praying. Like King Asa of today's Word, a man of God is a man who humbly prays knowing that nothing can be done without God's help. May you be a friend who triumphs by faith in the Triune God, even under difficult circumstances.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)