The Secret of Victory
Base Text: 2 Chronicles 14:1–15
Introduction
The Christian life is a constant battle; there is no rest in the spiritual struggle. Victories do not come by chance, but through preparation, spiritual discipline, and complete dependence on God.
King Asa of Judah experienced a great victory against an enormous, seemingly overwhelming army because he did what was right and prepared himself according to God's will.
Likewise, our personal and corporate victories depend on following the divine principles that we will see in this passage.
The secret to Asa's victory lies in three essential requirements: Purification, Preparation, and Confidence in God.
I. There Must Be Purification (2 Chronicles 14:1–5)
1. Asa Did What Was Good and Right in the Eyes of the Lord (v. 2)
God honors the one who lives in righteousness. Enoch walked with God because he lived doing what was right (Gen. 5:24). Being good is not enough; we must be both good and right (righteous).
• Examples:
◦ Judas was seen as a good disciple but was not morally right in his heart.
◦ The elder brother of the prodigal son was outwardly right but lacked inner goodness (mercy and love).
• We must strive for what is good and right before both God and men (2 Cor. 8:20–21).
2. The People Were Directed to Seek God (v. 4)
There is no victory without sincerely seeking God. Jesus said, "apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Moving away from God guarantees spiritual defeat. Seeking Him must be a priority.
3. There Must Be Total Cleansing
There can be no lasting victory if the heart is not clean and fully surrendered to God. Spiritual purification is the foundation of all victory. If the base is corrupted, the structure will fall.
II. There Must Be Preparation (2 Chronicles 14:5–8)
Victory is not accidental; Asa prepared in four key areas that relate directly to our spiritual lives:
1. He Removed the Altars and Everything That Offended God (v. 5)
To win, we must remove spiritual obstacles. We must put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (1 Pet. 2:1). Christ demands radical renunciation (Luke 14:26–27, 33). To run well, we must lay aside every weight, and sin (Heb. 12:1).
2. He Built Up (v. 6)
Spiritual edification is essential to standing firm. We are God's building (1 Cor. 3:9). We must build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11). A spiritually built-up church lives in victory (Acts 9:31). This speaks of structure, doctrine, and corporate strength.
3. He Fortified the City with Walls (v. 7)
Walls protect against external attacks. Our spiritual wall is the armor of God (Eph. 6:10–17). Specifically, the shield of faith extinguishes the flaming darts of the enemy. Protection requires effort and intention.
4. He Built Towers (v. 7)
Towers are used for watching and vigilance. Our strong tower is the name of the LORD (Prov. 18:10). We must watch and pray lest we fall into temptation (Matt. 26:41). Spiritual vigilance is vital against the enemy (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:18).
III. There Must Be Confidence in God (2 Chronicles 14:9–15)
1. Asa Faced an Enemy Superior in Number (v. 9)
He faced Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a million men and 300 chariots. The enemy seemed humanly invincible. This is often how our trials appear—too big to handle.
2. Asa Was Prepared, But He Prayed First (v. 11)
He did not trust in his own strength, strategy, or training, but in God. He understood that the battle belongs to God (cf. 1 Sam. 17:47). Preparation is necessary, but dependence is mandatory.
3. Victory Depends on Trusting God, Not Man
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jer. 17:5–8). Jesus called us to confidence: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with Him, we can do all things (Phil. 4:13).
4. God Was the One Who Defeated the Enemy (v. 12)
It was not human strength or clever strategy; it was the hand of the Lord. Our victories are entirely dependent on God's intervention. Asa called on God, and God struck down the Ethiopians.
See also
- Why should we look to God?
- It is Time to Wake Up Spiritually
- How to stay motivated even in the face of difficulties?
Conclusion
This passage encourages us to fight the spiritual battle with courage, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12).
We must prepare ourselves:
• By Purifying ourselves and living righteously.
• By Laying aside sin and building up our spiritual lives.
• By Vigilantly watching against the enemy.
Above all, we must fully trust in God, who alone gives the victory. If we follow Asa’s example, we too will see the powerful hand of God granting us victory in every battle.
