The Help Program

Intro

When is it hopeless?

hopeless because of what you’ve done

can’t save the relationship because you’ve lied so many times

can’t save your job because you’ve missed so many days

can’t pass the class because you had repeated chances to turn in the assignment, but didn’t

or hopeless not because of what you’ve done, but because the circumstances are so bad

got laid off, and the repo man is not coming, but already backing up his tow truck

We want to look at a man who is is a hopeless situation, because of what He’s done, AND because the circumstances

But he enrolled in God’s Help Program

Hezekiah was a good king who sought to serve the Lord. And we are going to look at the son of this good king. His name was Manasseh.

the Book of Chronicles, always gives a summary of a King’s reign, and then the details of the king’s reign.

2 Chronicles 33:1–2 NLT

1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

Summary: Manasseh became king at 12 years old, and reigned for 55 years. And even though his father sought to please the Lord, he is not concerned with serving God at all.

Manasseh was determined not to be tied down by his father’s religion

Based on the following verses and another account of Manasseh’s reign in 2 Kings, let me summarize what he did.

He rebuilt the places of idol worship that his father Hezekiah and torn down.

He raised up new places of idol worship, and new statues of false gods.

He also built altars to astrological gods in the temple of the Lord. He put a carved wooden image of a false god in the house of the LORD

Manasseh sacrificed some of his own sons to the Canaanite god Molech

Manasseh was into the occult, he practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft . . . consulted mediums and spiritists (trying to talk to the dead)

He shed the blood of innocents (anyone who stood in his way)

and thus Manasseh led Judah to do more evil than pagan nations.

but God in his mercy sent warnings to King Manasseh and the people of Judah

2 Chronicles 33:10 NLT

10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings.

warnings came, but they paid no attention to God’s prophets:

yeah whatever . . . don’t want to hear that one true God stuff . . . serve the God that brought us over . . . fairy tales about Moses

we are going to celebrate every god

2 Chronicles 33:11 NLT

11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.

uh-oh, the price of sin, the price of ignoring the warnings.

Manasseh was captured by Assyrian army

they put a ring in his nose (not a jewelry like nose ring, but a hook like an animal)

they put his body in chains

they took him from his capital city of Jerusalem to Babylon as a prisoner

Assyrians were known for their brutality, they would parade the people they conquered like a wild animals in a zoo or circus

Manasseh is being tortured and humiliated

He has gone from king to inmate

this situation is hopeless because of what he has done

he ignored the example of is father

he ignored the warnings

and those false gods are nowhere to be found

this situation is hopeless because of the circumstances

already captured now

already in chains

already taken away to a far land

no army to help him . . . there is no escape

the situation is hopeless . . . but is it?

2 Chronicles 33:12 NLT

12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.

While in deep distress

Are you in distress?

because of a situation you brought on yourself?

or because the circumstances are to bad

or both?

are you facing troubles that are overwhelming?

in a situation and you don’t see a way out?

Some of us are in deep distress.

You might even look alright on the outside, be yet you are in deep distress

I have a theory that has not been tested, but I believe that everyone you see is at least going through three times more trouble than you think (4x, 5x)

many of us can say . . . if you only knew what I was really going through

rich, poor, black, white, male, female, young, old . . . people are in distress

and Manasseh is in deep distress

but while he was in deep distress, the BIble says

He sought the Lord his God

defeated, captured, tortured, and humiliated, but he had one final play

he sought the Lord his God

his whole life he ignored God, but now he turns to the Lord

he asked God to help him

if you are in distress, whether you caused it, or because the circumstances are so bad, or both . . . . as long as there is breath in your body, you can turn to the Lord! . . . .God has a help program!

but you must apply to the program (Manasseh sought the Lord)

you have to put in your application

you have to submit your request!

good news is that it doesn’t take a lot of paperwork

God already has your information

don’t even have to fill out your name

all you have to do is pray, seek his face, ask

Have a little talk with Jesus

Think of all of the things that are distressing you. When was the last time you prayed about each and every of those things

truth be told, some of us have stopped praying and are just trying to live with it . . . deal with it

you can push it down for a while, but distress has a way of popping up

some of you are grumpy, not because you are mean, but because you are in deep distress

some of you are snapping on people, not because you have a short temper, but because you are in deep distress

let me encourage you to do like Manasseh and apply for the help program

I challenge you to take everything that distress you to the Lord

and don’t say “I probably don’t qualify because of what I’ve done in the past”, If Manasseh can apply, we all can apply

don’t say, “this problem is too difficult”, if Manasseh believed God could help him under his circumstances, you should believe that God can help you

and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors

yeah, he went back to the God of his daddy, Hezekiah

he recognized that daddy knew what he was talking about

He sincerely humbled himself . . . that means that he meant it . . . he was not playing a game with God

What does it mean to humble yourself before God?

When you humble yourself before God, you become a servant of God

in other words, Manasseh said, “God I will serve you!”

I don’t look at myself as a king anymore

I look at myself as a servant, who just so happened to be sitting on the throne

For when you apply to God’s help program, you are not just applying for help . . . you are applying for the program . . . applying to join the program

In other words, you are going to get with the program

you are not playing games

you are asking God to be your friend, and you are going to be His friend

you are asking God to walk by your side, and you are going to stay by his side

Don’t get it twisted, This is not a way of earning a blessing . . . this is not bargaining with God for a miracle

you have nothing to bargain with

it is simply being sincere

I’m going to serve you . . . you are my God, I will trust in you

I am yours God, and however you help me

help me through deliverance

or help me with strength

or help me through peace of mind

I sincerely humble myself before you

if you are in distress you need to join God’s help program, call on God and humble yourself before him

2 Chronicles 33:13 NLT

13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

Despite all he had done, the Lord was moved by his humbleness . . . and restored him

not just freed him, but made him king again

the Bible doesn’t say how, but God did it

then Manasseh really understood that the Lord alone is God

he trustted God and God showed out

no more trying to put all the gods together . . . there is only one God

And we see Manasseh’s sincerity at work when he made reforms back ion Jerusalem

Conclusion

ARe you indistress, apply to the help program, call on God and humble yourself as a servant to God

Some don’t apply because they don’t have faith

Some don’t apply because they don’t think they qualify

Some of you are already part of the program, don’t withdraw from the program

Warning There is a deadline, but it is not published

Manasseh got many years, his son got two

there is a salvation program!

just apply, for whosoever calls on the name . . .