✍️ Taking the Spoils — A Biblical Strategy for Victory
“So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled… and they carried away very much spoil.”
—2 Chronicles 14:12–13
The story of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14–16 presents a powerful illustration of what it means to walk in obedience to God, prepare in seasons of peace, and trust Him in the face of overwhelming battles. The reward? Victory and spoil.
I. The Path to Peace Begins with Obedience (2 Chronicles 14:1–7)
Asa inherited a kingdom and immediately began cleansing the land. He removed pagan altars, high places, and images. He didn’t just tolerate evil; he tore it down. This bold obedience was honored by God.
Asa commanded Judah to seek the Lord and to obey His law. As a result, God gave him ten years of peace. But Asa didn’t waste that peace. He used it to build—fortified cities, walls, towers, and an army of valiant men. He understood that peace is not a time for complacency but a time for preparation.
Personal Application:
Have you torn down the spiritual idols in your life—bitterness, fear, pride, or unforgiveness? Peace comes when our hearts are wholly turned toward the Lord.
II. When the Enemy Returns (2 Chronicles 14:8–15)
Peace doesn’t last forever. The enemy always returns—just as Satan returned to tempt Jesus again after the wilderness. Asa faced an invading army of a million Ethiopians with 300 chariots. But instead of panicking, Asa prayed:
“Help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude” (v.11).
He acknowledged his weakness and fully relied on God. The result? The Lord Himself defeated the enemy. Asa and his army pursued them and gathered great spoil—livestock, riches, and goods. This is more than just winning; this is taking ground.
Spiritual Truth:
When you fight in God’s strength, He not only brings victory but also increases your spiritual inheritance. Like Asa, you can take the spoils of healing, restoration, and deliverance when you overcome by faith.
III. The Danger of Forgetting God (2 Chronicles 15–16)
God sent Azariah the prophet to warn Asa: “If you seek Him, He will be found. If you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (15:2). Asa listened—for a time. For thirty-five years, he reigned in peace and prosperity. But he failed to completely remove all idol worship.
In Asa’s thirty-sixth year, a new threat arose. But this time, Asa relied on a foreign king rather than God. He used the temple’s gold to bribe Ben-Hadad of Syria for military help. It “worked”—temporarily. But God sent another prophet, Hanani, to rebuke him:
“Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and not on the Lord your God, therefore… you shall have wars” (16:7–9).
Instead of repenting, Asa became angry, imprisoned the prophet, and oppressed the people. His spiritual decline continued until his death. He died diseased, having trusted physicians over God (16:12).
Warning for Today:
When we stop seeking God and begin relying on human solutions—whether psychology, medicine, or worldly strategies—we forfeit the spiritual victories and spoils we could have gained through faith.
IV. Spoils from the Lord Throughout Scripture
This biblical principle of “taking the spoils” is not isolated to Asa:
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Israel in Egypt: God gave the Israelites favor and they “spoiled the Egyptians” as they departed (Exodus 12:36, Psalm 105:37).
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David and Goliath: After David’s faith-filled victory, Israel took the Philistines’ goods (1 Samuel 17:53).
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Jehoshaphat: Surrounded by enemies, he turned to God and collected so much spoil it took three days to gather it all (2 Chronicles 20:25).
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Paul and Silas: Imprisoned but praising, they took the “spoil” of salvation in the form of the jailer and his entire household (Acts 16).
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Jesus Christ: The ultimate victor. Through the cross, He “spoiled principalities and powers” (Colossians 2:15) and now divides the spoils with the strong (Isaiah 53:12).
V. How Believers Today Can Take Spoil
You were not called to just survive life. You were called to conquer—then take spiritual spoil:
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Overcome the world by faith in Jesus (1 John 5:4–5).
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Overcome demonic opposition by the Spirit of God and truth (1 John 4:4).
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Be more than a conqueror—take what the enemy tried to steal and use it for God’s glory (Romans 8:37).
Every trial you overcome becomes a testimony. Every healing you receive is a weapon against future attacks. Every deliverance is a spiritual spoil that strengthens your walk and helps others.
With love and truth,
Teresa Morin
President of Touch of God Int’l Ministries
🌐 https://www.touchofgod.org
Of Healing and Deliverance, Ordained Minister, Public Speaker
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Discover how King Asa turned peace into power and overcame overwhelming odds. God wants YOU to not only win but take the SPOIL!
📌 Three Alternative Titles
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Victory and Spoil: How King Asa's Faith Defeated the Enemy
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Peace, Battle, and Spoils: What We Learn from 2 Chronicles
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Take the Spoils: Winning God's Way in Spiritual Warfare
