Holiness is a gift, offered to us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But once God has made us holy, we are then called to pursue holiness in our lives!

Last week we ended our study time looking at a great king of Judah, Hezekiah. Today we start with one of the worst kings of Judah, Manasseh, Hezekiah's son. Manasseh reigned from 697-642 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 21:1-18 and 2 Chronicles 33:1-20.

Manasseh reigned 55 years. He reigned longer than any other king and did more damage than any other king. He did evil in God's eyes. It is a disgusting and tragic story. He destroys everything good his father had done.

King Manasseh
⁃ Apostasy and Idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:33
⁃ Sacrificed his children - 2 Chronicles 33:6
⁃ Innocent blood shed including the blood of prophets - 2 Kings 21:16. (Hebrews 11:37 - ancient Jewish tradition that says it was during Manasseh's reign that Isaiah was sawn in half by Manasseh)
⁃ Captivity in Babylon - Manasseh was taken prisoner by Assyria and taken to Babylon - 2 Chronicles 33:11
⁃ Repentance and return to Judah- while in prison Manasseh had a change of heart, humbling himself greatly before God and praying. The Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so God brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom, proving to Manasseh that He is the true God - 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

What we learn: God is a gracious God and hears the cries of those who humble themselves before Him. He responds to a repentant heart.

In the final years of his life, Manasseh worked to redo things but to no avail as his son, King Amon takes the throne. Amon reigned from 642-640 B.C. and his story is found in 2 Kings 21:19-26 and 2 Chronicles 33:21-25. Amon did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

King Amon
⁃ Return to idolatry - 2 Chronicles 33:22-23
⁃ Conspiracy and Assassination - 2 Chronicles 33:24-25 - Josiah, Amon's son was then made king.

King Josiah
Josiah is just a boy when he begins his 31 year reign and in Pastor's opinion, the greatest king of Judah. Josiah reigned from 640-609 B.C. His story is found in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30 and 2 Chronicles 34-35.

During his reign there were many prophets: Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Huldah. God is working to bring the nation back to Himself.

During King Josiah's reign, Judah experienced three of its happiest decades: peace, prosperity and revival.

King Josiah
⁃ Young King seeks the God of David - he followed in the ways of David - 2 Kings 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 34:3
⁃ Spiritual cleansing of Jerusalem - 2 Chronicles 34:4-5
⁃ Book of the Law of God written by Moses (possibly the original Torah) is discovered - 2 Chronicles 34:8, 2 Chronicles 34:14, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:22. In 2 Chronicles 34:27 we read of Huldah who tells the king that God says that judgment is coming, but because he (Josiah) had humbled himself before God, wept and torn his robes, that Josiah will not live to see the destruction. Josiah recognizes the Lord's graciousness and he sets forth to bring revival.
⁃ Revival happens 2 Kings 23:2-3 - God's people pledge themselves to the covenant of God.
⁃ Revival and reform go beyond Judah - 2 Kings 23:15, 17

Josiah was a bright, brilliant, incredible and godly leader, a man bold in his faith and one who trusted God. May we learn from his example.

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Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary!

Join us as we explore Growing Gracefully in our relationship with Jesus Christ through obedience to Him and His Word. Obedience does not save, but neither is it optional. God desires not simply outward actions, but inner obedience to His Word.

Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths:

1. Obedience does not save - Jesus saves
--Grace of God - eternal life - is a gift - it is neither earned nor
deserved.
--We cannot be good enough for a holy, perfect God.
--He is a just God and our sin must be paid for. Therefore, He sent us His Son.
--Jesus did what we cannot. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father's will. Then, He willingly went to the cross for each one of us, paying for our sins so we don't have to fear the judgement of God.
--What Jesus did is available to all through faith.
--Faith is not mere intellectual assent. It is not simply believing that God exists. The devil knows that God exists!
--Faith means trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and the one who offers us forgiveness and new life.
--Not just life with Him in the future, but life with Him now.

2. Obedience is not optional
--Faith and obedience go hand in hand with one another.
--In a culture where evil is accepted, lauded and touted, how do we behave like followers of Jesus?
--How do we discern what is right?

--Ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it help me?
2. Does it control me?
3. Does it hurt others?
4. Does it glorify God?

Scripture sources: 1 Samuel 15:22-23, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Peter 1:1-2, Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 8:13.

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Despite the most rigorous physical exercise and training regimen, our bodies will age and, eventually, die. But there is a training - training in godliness - that lasts into eternity.

The spiritual diet we eat, the spiritual exercise we do and the spiritual training we choose affects our ability to grow graceful as Jesus' disciples.

Training ourselves for godliness has benefits for today, tomorrow and for eternity. Spiritual training is timeless.

Train to be godly - Christianity is not a spectator sport. We can't be a couch potato. We must be in training to be godly. This is training with eternal rewards - a crown of life.

Train yourself to be godly - What does godly training look like and how do we accomplish it?

1. DIET - We are what we eat - this truth is both physical and spiritual. Concentrate on what is true, good, honorable and noble and be in God's word. Fill up on the food that truly nourishes, the food of His Word. We are to seek Him with our whole heart and that begins with our diet, as we take in God's Word and allow that word to fill us up for the work He has given us to do. How's your diet? Fill up on the good things of God.

2. EXERCISE - we need to exercise our faith, to practice what we preach, to live out what we believe, to put into practice what God has said. As we practice our faith we grow stronger. It's like strength training with weights; the more we exercise and practice, the stronger we get. As we practice our faith we become stronger in our commitment to Christ: that is training in godliness.

3. A TRAINER - A personal trainer can really help with preparing to participate in a race and God provides a personal spiritual trainer for each and every believer, that personal trainer is the Holy Spirit, our Advocate. The Holy Spirit, our Personal Spiritual Trainer, helps to strengthen, encourage and equip us for godliness.

Why live a couch potato life as a follower of Jesus? Why be just a weekend warrior? Why not live as dedicated disciples, committed to Jesus and who are training ourselves in His strength for godliness? Let us finish the race well!

Training in godliness is the natural follow-through for a follower of Jesus.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:3-8, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 9:25, Ezekiel 33: 31-32

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Even in the most difficult of times, believers such as the apostle Paul have known contentment, an inner peace, a certainty that God is in control. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we know that, through faith in Him, we will live forever. That certainty brings true contentment!

Luke 22:7-8 'Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.""

What we know about the Passover during the time of Jesus, is that the Passover meal had to be celebrated in Jerusalem itself. The lambs were killed at the Temple and the priests worked hours and hours to slaughter all the lambs needed for the meals - as many as a quarter million lambs were killed. The people came to the temple to pick up their lambs. This is where Jesus was sending Peter and John.

Let's take a closer look at what the slaughtered lambs were distributed.

Joseph Tabory, Ań Israeli scholar wrote in the "Jewish Quarterly Review 86:3-4" (1996): 395-406 and tells us this: "An examination of the rabbinic evidence…seems to show that in Jerusalem the Jewish paschal lamb was offered in a manner which resembled a crucifixion."

Justin Martyr, (lived in the early 100's) in "Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, 40: tells us this: "For the lamb, which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of a cross. For one spit is transfixed right through from the lower parts up to the head and one across the back..."

When the lambs were picked up they were handed out via the cross they were dressed on.

In the time of Jesus before the destruction of the temple in 70AD, the practice shows us that even the lambs were crucified. Even the smallest of details declare the glory and plan of God! Remarkable details that come to fulfillment in the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God IS in the details and it all gives glory to HIM!

Worthy is the lamb that was slain, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The humility modeled for us by Jesus is not only refreshing, it is life-changing and God-pleasing! Pride, on the other hand, makes us nauseating not only to others, but to God as well.