A Burden for Sin (Nehemiah 1)

Burden - to oppress with any thing that is grievous.

The Bondage of the Jews (vs.2)

Sin is detrimental - hurtful, causing loss or damage

The Jews had been brought into Babylonian captivity for their sins of idolatry and rebellion against God.

The born-again child of God can have detrimental effects to their fellowship with God if not took care of and looked after.

Drinking isn’t that big of a deal

Lying isn’t that big of a deal (it’s just a white lie)

Missing church just one time isn’t a big deal. (You shouldn’t find excuses to miss church, church should be the excuse to miss everything else!)

Having a very small concern of sin in one’s life leads to a small concern of sanctification in one’s life.

The Burning of Jersualem (vs.3)

Sin destroys

Because of Israel’s sins, Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed.

2 Kings 25:8–10 “And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.”

The born-again child of God has no temple in Jerusalem to worship in, but our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Sin won’t make us lose our salvation, but it could make us lose our physical life here on earth.

Drinking effects the liver, organs, ability to think clearly.

Proverbs 23:29–34 “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it giveth his colour in the cup, When it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, And thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.”

Fornication

1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.”

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 “Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.”

The way to keep a fire from never catching is to never put anything that will burn on it. (MEN, DON’T TOUCH A WOMAN IF YOU AIN’T MARRIED. WOMEN, DON’T TOUCH A MAN IF YOU AIN’T MARRIED.

Matthew 5:27–28 “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

Looking and thinking is just as bad as committing the sin.

Woman and men should dress modestly to not provoke others to commit adultery in their heart.

Lying

The first lie that we see in the Bible is given by Satan. (Thou shalt not surely die)

Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight.”

The Burden of Nehemiah (vs.4)

Sin should discomfort us.

His Sitting (sat down) Nehemiah was astonished at what had happened because of sin. (just as we here bad news and have to sit down because it’s so overwhelming)

His Sorrow (wept and mourned) Nehemiah expressed his grief.

His Starving (fasted) Nehemiah was in so much grief that he couldn’t eat. (Whether intentional or not)

His Supplication (prayed before God) the only thing Nehemiah knew to do was ask God for his with his burden.

The Beseeching of Nehemiah (vs.5)

Beseech - to ask or pray with urgency

His Bragging on God (vs.5)

His Begging to God (vs.6a)

His Burden to God (vs.6b-7)

Confessing of Sin

If we want to see God do something for sinners, we need to get a burden for their sin, our sin, any sin.

Corruption of Sin

the state being putrid, Depravity; wickedness; perversion or deterioration of moral principles; loss of purity or integrity.

If we want a burden for sinners, we must first have a burden for sin. We should see how bad sin really is.

The Benevolence of God (vs.9-11)

God’s Purchasing (vs.10)

God’s Prospering (vs.10)

to favor, render successful

God’s Pity (vs.11)

Lamentations 3:22–23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Ephesians 2:1–6 “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”