2026 NEW YEAR MESSAGE

TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 15:1-19

Last Year Recap

● We looked at the journey of faith and obedience of Isaac.

● Faith and obedience led him to a place of wide open spaces—Rehoboth.

● That grace was on us too, and there are testimonies of how people enjoyed wide open spaces.

Word Of The Year

● This year God has spoken to us through 2 Chronicles 15:1-19.

● The story begins from chapter 14:9.

● Judah was invaded by Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million men.

● Asa had 580k men: 300k from Judah and 280k from Benjamin.

● Asa also had God on his side. If God be for us, who can be against us?

● Asa knew how to call on the name of God.

✔ He prayed in verse 9.

✔ 2 Chronicles 14:11

✔ And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.”

✔ That God can help with many.

✔ God can help those without power.

● He acknowledged that he had no power and that he was totally relying on God’s help.

● Asa was a righteous man (14:2)

● 2 Chronicles 14:2

● And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

✔ The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

● Zerah was utterly destroyed.

Chapter 15.

Asa and the team are now returning from the battleground with victory, and the prophet Azariah meets them and gives them a message from God.

● The Lord is with you while you are with him.

● If you seek him, he will be found by you.

● If you forsake him, he will forsake you.

Is this a New Testament contradiction?

● Hebrews 13:5

● Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Let us look at these scriptures:

● James 4:7-10

● Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your

joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

● John 15:4-5

● Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

● Luke 9:23.

● And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

● Colossians 3:1-2

● If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

These scriptures clearly speak of our part to do as believers.

● In 15:7, the prophet tells Asa to be strong and not let his hands be weak.

● Even in victory the word of God comes to us and demands responsibility.

● In essence the prophet is telling Asa congratulations, but this is not going to be automatic.

● There is what is expected of you.

● Do not relax.

● Ephesians 6:13

● Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Encouragement

● These words encouraged King Asa.

● He was encouraged because

✔ He knew he would do his part of the bargain.

✔ God would not fail to do his part of the bargain.

✔ He knew that was the truth.

▪ Even a rebuke becomes encouragement when you receive it as the truth.

● We need to relate with God in the understanding of our covenant relationship.

✔ Be encouraged God is

▪ for you.

▪ Not against you.

5-fold ministries

These offices are given for equipping the saints for the work of ministry.

● Your pastor is an encouragement to you.

● There is a place for men of God in our lives.

● Those that are called to the 5-fold offices have a Rhema word for our lives and our assignments.

After encouragement

After Asa was encouraged, he did the following:

● Confronted sin.

● Established worship.

● Encouraged people.

● Strengthened fellowship.

● Renewed covenant.

● Restored what was taken away.

There was rest.

● Matthew 11:28-30.

● Christ guarantees rest to those who come to him, but there are responsibilities.

✔ Learning of him

✔ Take your yoke.

● These responsibilities are not easy to take; that is why we have to receive encouragement.

Courage comes when we receive the Rhema word.

2026 IS OUR YEAR OF COURAGE!

Major themes:

● Prayer.

● Hearing the word

● Building relationships.

● Consecration.

● Worship.

● Covenant.

● Restoration.

We need courage to walk in these graces.

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