de·fine /di ' fīn/

1. de·fine/di'fīn/ What defines us? Do we have any say in it?

2. Moses: Stutters Did God do it?

3. What defines us?

4. Our past does not define us

5. Your past does not define youUnless you let it…

6. What people say about youdoes not define you It's not what they call you…but what you answer to

7. We all have "if onlys"

8. Jesus is your "even now"

9. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died…"

10. "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

11. What defines usEnslaves usOr sets us free

12. Worship: to ascribe worth or value to an object or person

13. Idolatry: to ascribe worth or valuereserved for God to someone or something other than God

14. Remember middle school?High school?

15. Fitting in…Trying to find where you belongBeing told where you fit or don't fit

16. We still have a tendency toward defining ourselvesBy the people in our life

17. Strong, cool, successful, laid-backPretty, uncaring, tough

18. What does it say about us?

19. What is God's purpose for our relationships?Is it to get all our needs met?

20. What is God's purpose for our relationships?Do they define us and give us value?

21. What is God's purpose for our relationships?Is it just pleasure and fun?

22. ThermometerTake the temp and reflect it

23. ThermostatSet the temp

24. ThermostatAsa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles

25. ThermostatNever a great idea to upsetyour peopleEsp. in matters of religion

26. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him

27. Removed idolatryAnd restored proper worship

28. He built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. No one was at war with him during those years, for the LORD gave him rest.

29. and the kingdom was at peace under him…the LORD gave him rest…War= our defaultPeace= common grace and provisional grace

30. When conflict comes:God, thank you that I've experienced peace up until nowGive me wisdom for how to handle this

31. There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him…a man who stirs up dissension among brothers- Proverbs 6Blessed are the peacemakers- JesusGod, help me to be a peacemaker

32. “Let us build up these towns,” he said to Judah, “and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered.

33. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men from Judah, equipped with large shields and with spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin, armed with small shields and with bows. All these were brave fighting men

34. Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of thousands upon thousands and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathahnear Mareshah

35. Outgunned, outmanned…In troublePeace treaty?Alliance with foreign king?

36. 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, 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.”Worship!

37. The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah…for the terror of the LORD had fallen on them

38. The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah…for the terror of the LORD had fallen on themFaith is NOT beliefFaith is Reliance Uponand Action

39. "We're not enough"God is enough

40. When God allows fightingHe's giving his childrenAn opportunity to trust him

41. Judah prevails, Azariah speaks:The LORD is with you when you are with him

42. They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman

43. They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.

44. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side

45. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. When you seek GodBecause you want toThere's great joyWhen you seek himBecause you have toThere's hope, but not much joy

46. Seeking God means defining ourselves by HimSaying, "He's enough"even when I'm not

47. Thermostat King Asa also deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down, broke it up and burned it in the Kidron Valley. 

48. I want a new god…one that does what he should

49. In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah

50. People are scaredJudah is cut-off