Untitled Sermon (3)

Even the Worst Get the Best

10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no aion. 11 So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. 10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

How much sinning is too much sinning? How bad is too bad for someone to be and to lose hope of a future with God? How late is too late to come to oneself and reconcile with God? How simply disgusting and awful is it possible to be and turn to God?

THE proper way for a sinner to be brought to God is, for God to speak to him, and for him to hear. Manasseh would not come that way: “The Lord spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.” Therefore, as God determined to save the rebellious king, he fetched him back by a rougher road; he sent the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took him among the thorns.

Manasseh (/məˈnæsə/; Hebrew: מְנַשֶּׁה Mənaššeh; Akkadian: Menašši (written me-na-si-i); Greek: Μανασσῆς; Latin: Manasses) was a king of the Kingdom of Judah. He was the only son of Hezekiah with Hephzibah. He became king at the age of 12 and reigned for 55 years (; ). Edwin Thiele has concluded that he commenced his reign as co-regent with his father Hezekiah in 697/696 BC, with his sole reign beginning in 687/686 BC and continuing until his death in 643/642 BC.[1] William F. Albright has dated his reign from 687–642 BC.[citation needed]

Everybody who finds their way to Jesus Christ, comes with the realization somewhere along the line, they failed miserably in their relationship to God. They come to God, not with a bold list of demands, but in a humble spirit in need of a second chance. I do not fully understand where we got the image of God being an old angry man with a long beard ready to zap us from out of space for each error we make, but it did not come from the Bible.

For the bible informs me that our God is a Second chance God. He took a murderer by the name of Moses, and turn him into a great national and spiritual leader. He took a liar and deceiver by the name of Jacob, and made him the cornerstone of a nation. He took an adulterer and murderer like David, and used him to write many of the Psalms to strengthen and encourage the people of God. He took a woman who had been married and divorced five times and was now living with a sixth man and turned her into the first evangelist to go into Samaria. He took some of us, who know what we were, and turned us into to what we are becoming today.

In our Old Testament reading, we met King Manassah. Manassah had the opportunity to have the greatest impact on the nation of Judah because hew was the longest reigning king. He ruled for 55 years. His father had been a king who loved the Lord and did a lot in leading the nation back to serving God.

As soon as Manassah got the opportunity, he undid everything his father had spiritually tried to do for the nation. Manassah spent most of his 55 years doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. He worshiped idols, tried talking to dead people through witches and sorcerers, he sacrificed his sons as human offerings to idols, he put to death innocent people who challenged what he was doing. The account of Manassah in 2 Kings tells us he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood.

There’s a story about a pastor who got a call from the bus station.

The caller was a young man who had grown up in a church that the pastor had served some years before. This young man had gotten off the track. He had been experimenting with drugs, had lost touch with his family, and was out of work and hungry. Could this young man’s former pastor give him some help on this cold, winter night? The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

had served some years before. This young man had gotten off the track. He had been experimenting with drugs, had lost touch with his family, and was out of work and hungry. Could this young man’s former pastor give him some help on this cold, winter night? The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

had been experimenting with drugs, had lost touch with his family, and was out of work and hungry. Could this young man’s former pastor give him some help on this cold, winter night? The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

out of work and hungry. Could this young man’s former pastor give him some help on this cold, winter night? The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

some help on this cold, winter night? The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

The pastor went to the bus station. When he saw the young man, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

couldn’t believe his eyes. He was filthy and tattered, emaciated in body and broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

broken in spirit. The pastor brought him home. As the young man ate supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

supper, the pastor asked him if he had ever asked God to help him. “No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

“No”, the young man answered, “but when I get myself together and start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

start coming back to church, then I am going to ask Christ to help me.” “My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

“My friend”, said the pastor, “it will never happen that way. If you think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

think that you have to get yourself together on your own and then come to

Christ, you will never do it. You’re going to have to come to Christ as you are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

are at this moment, and then he will give you the strength to start getting

things together.” So, Manasseh did this. He called upon God and God

forgave him and restored him and allowed him to have a few good years left in his kingdom. Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

in his kingdom.

Unfortunately, for half a decade he has been a evil influence on his son Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

Amon and when he takes the throne he will undo whatever good Manasseh may have done.

may have done.

There were consequences to what he had done even though he had repented. Manassah was full of pride. He did not have to answer to anyone. He did not apologize to anyone for anything he did. He could care less about God. But one day, God decided enough was enough. God sent the King of Assyria to invade Jerusalem. Manassah was captured, and they put a hook in his nose and chains on his hands and feet and led him away as though he was some wild animal.

he had repented. Manassah was full of pride. He did not have to answer to anyone. He did not apologize to anyone for anything he did. He could care less about God. But one day, God decided enough was enough. God sent the King of Assyria to invade Jerusalem. Manassah was captured, and they put a hook in his nose and chains on his hands and feet and led him away as though he was some wild animal.

This former king was thrown into some Assyrian prison. All the riches and power of which he had boasted now meant absolutely nothing. None of the many idols he had made and created could do much to help him. His situation was hopeless, and he was helpless.

How many Manassah’s are with us today, who are just waiting for some circumstance in life to come and humble them. Oh you may be on top now, and the future may look bright, and you see no need of God in your life. But God is going to send an Assyrian king into your life, because God hates pride and he will bring down all those who are proud of heart. But God’s purpose in humbling us, is to bring us to our senses that we might make a change.

It was in the dark of the prison, that Manassah remembered, that the God of Israel, was a second chance God. This murderous, lying, abuser of people, had the audacity to think God that if he humbled himself, God just might here his prayer. I’m amazed at the people who do not understand how big the heart of God is. They actually believe they have done something so bad, that God could not possible love or forgive them. My friend when this evil man humbled himself before God, God had a plan for his Life.

The Scriptures tell us in 2 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

A person’s whose life had been a complete moral and spiritual disaster, got a second chance from a second chance God and he spent the rest of his life attempting to lead his people back to God. There’s not a soul here who can go back into the past and change what was said or what was done, but all of us have the opportunity in God to make a positive difference in what takes place from here on out. So what if you’ve blown it for the past two years, past twenty years, or past 40 years. You don’t have to end up that way.

One thing we have in our favor, is that nothing we do catches God by surprise. Jesus is praying for us. Another thing which is encouraging, is that Jesus does not consider failures along the way, as a failure of our faith. He prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail, knowing full well Peter would soon be making a major blunder. Jesus is saying, "Yes, I know you’re going to really blow it, but after you have, simply turn back and strengthen everybody else."

God knows where each one of us is today. He knows which of us really blew it this past week. He knows which of us have been pretending for a long time. Today is the day to stop abusing your wife. Today is the day to let go of the drugs. Today is the time to get rid of everything which entices you to pornography. Today is the day to get rid of your little secret sin, and humble yourself in the presence of God. God’s not going to be shocked by your confession. He’s been waiting for a long time for you to get serious about your problem. He’s the Second Chance God, and He’s offering you a second chance to make things right in your life. He is offering you a Fresh Start right her, right now.

.9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

10 The LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the LORD brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.