Two Kings, two hearts, two test’s with two very different outcomes.
Perhaps the greatest test that you and I will ever take will not be taken in a classroom setting, sitting at a desk or administered to us by a teacher on-line. Where will it be taken then? It will be a test of the heart, taken as we go through everyday life. “This “Open Heart Test” my friend, may be one that you are right in the middle of taking right now, and not even aware of.
Emboldened by his past successes and pumped with pride, King Asa impatiently motions for Hanani the seer to approach him in the Throne Room. Expecting an accolade from The Lord for his latest building projects of the cities of Geba and Mizpah, King Asa sits smugly with his arms folded in front of him, lifting his finely chiseled chin he stares down his regal nose at the awaiting seer.
Hanani knows in his heart that there are great risks to this assignment of The Lord, yet as it is with every true voice of God, he has counted the cost and lives for no earthly reward. Indeed, much damage had been done to The Kingdom of God because of King Asa’s rebellion to enter into a league with Ben-hadad King of Syria; now it had to be dealt with! Undergirded by prayer, fasting and a bold love for God, the courageous seer opens his mouth, instantly The Penetrating Word of The Lord shoots forth as a Blazing Arrow of Holy Righteousness, hitting the target, “King Asa’s hardened heart of rebellious pride!”
Un-surprisingly delivering the Word and Judgement of God to an enraged King brings a swift repercussion to Hanani, yet he has no regret for his obedience to The Lord! Indeed Hanani’s confident assurance for the outcome of his life, is secure in the fact that these crucial words of truth and the judgements given are not of his own manufacturing, they belong to The Lord.
Rather than receive the rebuke of The Lord and repent for his spiritual adultery, King Asa hardens his heart even further and foolishly chooses with one quick decision to jail Hanani. Tragically, King Asa fails this, “Open Heart Test,” without realizing that you cannot jail the truth! The repercussions for his actions would live on!
II Chronicles 16:1-10 (AMP) is the astounding account of this dramatic story;
“In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign, Baasha King of Israel came up against Judah, and built (fortified) Ramah intending to intercept anyone going out or coming in to Asa King of Judah.” “Then Asa brought silver and gold out of the treasuries of The House of The Lord and of the King’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad King of Syria, who dwelt at Damascus, saying,” “Let there be a league between me and you, as was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending you silver and gold; go, break your league with Baasha King of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” “And Ben-hadad hearkened to King Asa and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.” “And when Baasha heard it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease.” “Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah.” “At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa King of Judah and said to him, Because you relied on the King of Syria and not on the Lord your God, the army of the King of Syria has escaped you.” “Were not the Ethiopians and Libyans a huge host with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied then on The Lord, He gave them into your hand.” “For the eyes of The Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars.” “Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in prison [in the stocks], for he was enraged with him because of this. Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.”
“When leadership fears truth, corruption begins.” This word given to me by The Lord several months ago, applies so well to the life of King Asa, as it does to ours today, if we choose the way of hard hearted rebellion as he did.
You see my friend, the corruption of King Asa’s heart and reign over Judah began long before God sent Hanani the seer to confront him. The corruption of King Asa’s heart began the moment he disconnected from God as his “True Source,” and looked to the, “strength of man” the King of Syria for his deliverance. What is so devastating about this true life account of epic self destruction, is that King Asa takes “the silver and gold out of the treasuries of The House of The Lord and of the King’s house,” treasuries that he once valued with his “Whole Heart” and uses them to bribe the King of Syria with!” In essence, “King Asa deifies himself” above The One True God as a source of provision and protection to another “man!” Oh how far he had fallen and didn’t even know it!!!
How could this happen? Why did it happen? King Asa had so much going for him, how could he so easily forget the past victories that God had given him when he sought The Lord with his “Whole Heart;” and now think that, “the strength of man,” could deliver him?
There is something so deep happening here my friend! When I went to The Lord in the middle of writing this blog and asked Him these questions, He quickly brought King Asa’s mother to my thoughts, the former Queen Maacah, whom King Asa had removed from position as Queen Mother earlier in his reign. The Lord then shared this startling revelation with me:
“HE REMOVED HER FROM POSITION, BUT NOT FROM INFLUENCE”!!!!!!!
Instantly my spirit was open to The Word of the Lord!
Friends, I want to share this revelation with you exactly in the same manner in which The Lord shared it with me.
II Chronicles 15:16-17 (AMP) “Also Maacah, King Asa’s mother, he removed from being Queen Mother, because she had made an abominable image for [the goddess] Asherah. Asa cut down her idol, crushed it, and burned it at the brook Kidron.”
Here in verse 16 is where King Asa, “REMOVES HIS MOTHER FROM POSITION.”
“But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was blameless all his days.”
“However, here in verse 17 is where King Asa, “RETAINS HER INFLUENCE.”
The demonic influences from King Asa’s mother had been planted like poisonous seeds in King Asa’s heart, when he did not take, “the high places out of Israel.”
Though he had removed her from position of Queen Mother, he did not remove the, “influence” of her position from his heart or from his eyes, still leaving the nation of Israel defiled. He allowed those poisonous seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride to have a place in his heart. When King Asa came under pressure in the natural realm, those seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride, that were sown in the spiritual realm, came to fruition as a harvest of death and self destruction! Inevitably it would cost him everything!
1. My friend, are there any demonic influences that you need to remove from holding a “position” in your life?
2. Have these seeds of “influence” been allowed to remain or grow in your heart?
If so, uproot any leftover seeds of corruption from the past. You don’t want any residue from any evil influence that could catch your eyes, or change your heart.
You see my friend we are not playing a game called life we are walking out a, “God Planned Purpose” for our lives! “Everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” in our hearts and lives must be taken down or they will take us down! Ref. 2nd Cor. 10:5.
I am prompted by the The Holy Spirit as I am writing this, that some of you, like King Asa, have removed from “position” a source of evil from your lives. However, their “influence” is still “active” in your life, therefore the enemy is just waiting for an opportunity to bring a harvest of self destruction to pass in your life! My friend, my prayer for you is that you will take this word “to heart”, and quickly make the necessary adjustments spirit, soul and body that are needed in order to remove and eradicate every, “influence of evil” that has been sown by these sources from your life and heart!
Please pray the following prayer with me:
Dear Heavenly Father, I submit my life and heart to You. Please show me any evil seed that has been planted in my life and heart that would cause me and others to stumble and fall short of the plans and purposes of God. I ask You Father God that every one of those seeds of rebellion, idolatry and pride be uprooted in Jesus Name! I now make a fresh commitment to Plant Your Word in the soil of my heart today, Father God, realizing that You Alone Are THE Source, and Final Authority of my life. I repent of placing myself and others above You in any way Lord, and I receive Your Divine Forgiveness Now in Jesus Mighty Name! Amen and Amen!
Now my friend you can,
“Be Strong and Live Free…………..Boldly For Him!”
Proverbs 4:23 (TPT);
“So above all guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.”
*Next months blog will be part two of this message.”
© 2020 Clare Matthews – Boldly For Him. “All Rights Reserved.”
Photo by : Antonino Visalli
Boldly For Him 