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II CHRONICLES 33:11-13

"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.