Sun. Jan. 31/93 II Chron. 33:1-17
RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION
A.W. TOZER
Saying over enthusiasm is a problem of the church
Is like sending a police squad to a cemetery at midnight in case of a demonstration by the residents.
Where is the fire for holiness & righteousness?
What has happened to our passion for the Lord?
Our enthusiasm for Christ and people has left
for SUPERBOWL XXVII
Have you ever wondered about a wormy apple?
Did the worm start from the outside and bore in or bore from the inside out?
Science tells us that egg is laid in the blossom and hatches in the core and the worm eats it way out to the skin.
Sin operates the same way -- from the inside out.
- George Verwer -- Decision Mag. Oct. 90
3 reasons that SUPERBOWL XXVII has more
enthusiasm than Christ
3 reasons for worms crawling around inside God’s people.
1. Materialism
2. Self-sufficiency
3. Apathy
It just takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch.
Ec. 9:18..... one sinner destroyeth much good.
One man brought sin into the world - Adam
" " " a nation to defeat - Achan
" " " people into decay - Manasseh
" " " conquered the world - A.the Great
" " " the world into WW II - Hitler
" " --- has frustrated the US - Hussain
" " -- brings the world to end - Antichrist
Ec. 9:18..... one sinner destroyeth much good.
Lets take Manasseh for a Moment.
v.1 - A Man that had a Godly heritage
2 Chronicles 32:32-33:1 (KJV)
32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:
v.2 - Looking around instead of looking up
2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.
v.3-7 - A progression of getting worst & worst
- v.3 - things - Materialism
3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.
- v.4-5 - My way - Self-sufficiency
4 Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
- v.6-7 - Total uncaring disregard for God
- OCCULT - Apathy had set in
6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:
v.9 -- Ec. 9:18 ....one sinner destroyeth much good.
2 Chronicles 33:9 (KJV)
So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.
v.10 - Warning comes
10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.
- II Ki. 21:10-15,16
10 And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,
11 Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:
12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.
13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.
14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;
15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.
16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.
v.10 - BUT they would not harken
Hos.8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they
shall reap the whirlwind:
Tom M.Olson - prominent photographer
- Few photogenic people
- most do not see their flaws
- motion hides the defects
- so with ourselves our business in self- righteousnes and sufficiency, wanting things,
uncaring for the Spirit of God
Hos.8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they
shall reap the whirlwind:
v.11 - Manasseh reaps
- defeated
- captured
- humbled -- NIV carried off by nose hooks
- imprisoned
11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
NIV
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.
There is a way out of the downward spiral
We can have the joy of our salvation restored
300 years earlier Solomon given a formula that
would work
II Chron 7:14
If my people, which are called by my
name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and
seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.
v. 12 When He was in affliction
12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
- Does it have to come to this point in
our lives to bring us back to
Christ?
v.12 He sought the Lord’s face
v.12 He humbled himself
12 In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
v.13 He prayed
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.
v.15-16 He turned from his wicked ways
15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the LORD, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city.
16 Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.
V13-14 God stayed to His promise
- Heard
- Forgave
- Healed
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.
One man can make a difference for good.
Under God Manasseh brought about a Revival
" " Moses lead slaves into a nation
" " Elijah brought fire from Heaven
" " Jesus Christ brought salvation
" " Paul brought the gospel to the Roman’s
" " Wycliffe brought about an English Translation
" " Luther brought about a reformation
" " Wesley brought about a revival to England
" " Finney " " " " U.S.
" " We can bring about the glory of God
1. Into our lives
2. To those that surround us
3. Within this church
