"BETTER SOONER THAN LATER"
Intro: Manasseh had come from a good background. His father Hezekiah was
one of the greatest kings in Judah. Many good reforms.
I. MANASSEH REBELLED AGAINST JEHOVAH GOD.
A. His was not just careless indifference.
B. His was an open defiance.
1. He rebuilt the high places, used in the vile rites,
which his father had broken down.
2. He reared up altars for Baal.
3. He worshipped all the hosts of heaven.
4. He became a very religious ungodly man.
C. He profaned the Holy Temple.
1. He made altars within it to the pagan gods.
2. He even put an idol, a carved image, in it.
D. He caused his own children to participate in pagan religious
rites.
E. He went into spiritism.
1. Followed astrology.
2. Used witchcraft, spells and amulets.
3. Received a spirit guide.
F. He led the nation into worse abominations than the
Canaanites who God had disposed from the land because they were
so evil.
II. THE LORD BEGAN TO DEAL WITH HIM.
A. Jehovah spoke unto Manasseh, but he would not listen.
1. It's dangerous to ignore the voice of God.
2. When God begins to deal with a person, He is very
gentle, He speaks.
3. If I seek to ignore Him, He has ways of getting my
attention.
4. I sometimes wonder just what it is going to take before
some yield fully to God.
5. I know this, that with all the prayers that have gone
up for you, He is not going to let you go.
a. Sooner or later you will come around.
b. Better sooner than later.
B. Some may complain against the severity of God's methods.
1. Our training in life saving techniques.
III. GOD'S METHODS IN REACHING MANASSEH.
A. He brought against him the captains of Assyria.
1. They took him in the thorns.
2. They bound him with fetters.
3. They took him captive to Babylon.
B. And when he was in affliction he sought Jehovah.
1. Deep inside he knew the right path.
2. He humbled himself greatly.
3. He prayed unto Him.
a. He would not listen to God, but now he wants
God to listen to him.
C. God is more gracious than man.
1. Though Manasseh had ignored His voice, He did not
ignore Manasseh's cry.
a. "He was intreated of him."
b. "He heard his supplication."
c. He brought him again to Jerusalem and to his
kingdom.
2. And Manasseh knew that Jehovah was God.
a. His conversion was genuine.
b. He instituted many reforms.
c. He was a changed man (Josepheus).
IV. THE SAD RESULTS OF HIS YEARS OF FOLLY.
A. His children followed him into evil but not in his conversion.
B. Why better sooner than later?
1. All the joys you're missing now.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.