Overcoming habitual Sin

INTRODUCTION

Parenting has been a gift. Because kids mess up constantly. Just like me.

TENSION

We have things in our life that we keep going back to. Sins and addictions. The people of Israel now are being tempted to fall back into the same sin.

What is the sin, that you are thinking of right now?

CONTEXT

God supernaturally took care of them. Everything should be good. They should have lived happily ever after.

MAIN IDEA: Your willpower is not enough, you must make plans to avoid sin and follow God.

Your sin often sneaks in when things are going well.

NEHEMIAH 13:15-22 - Sabbath

NEHEMIAH 13:15-16- The people sinned

Nehemiah 13:15–16 ESV

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!

In those days - after everything.

treading winepress on the Sabbath -

bringing in heaps of grains

Tyrians also, who lived in the city - They had foreigners living in the city. (unsaved people in the church?. Things in your life that shouldn’t be there)

NEHEMIAH 13:17-22 - Nehemiah responds

Nehemiah 13:17–18 ESV

17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

Nehemiah reminds them what happened last time.

We know what will happen when we sin. We know. Yet we still go and do it.

Nehemiah 13:19–22 ESV

19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

The walls and gates were now keeping the sin out. They thought it was for protection, God used .... MAKE INTO A POINT!!!

So they stayed just outside - How we handle sin, we keep right on the edge, just in case!

Lay hands on them - (kids illustration) Probably not right response. But he was the governor. So similar to police threatening to kick you out

Remember this also in my favor - Nehemiah was determined to be following after God even if your the only one.

Who and what you surround yourself with will determine who you and will become.

Satan knows our weakness, but Christ is strongest in our weakness.

NEHEMIAH 13:23-31 - Marriage

NEHEMIAH 13:23-27 - The People Sinned

Nehemiah 13:23–27 ESV

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

v24 - if you don’t even know the language there is no way they know the religion. To this day, Hebrew kids learn Hebrew.

v25 - Probably not the right response again.

Take an oath - they already gave an oath.

NEHEMIAH 13:28-31 - Nehemiah Responds

Nehemiah 13:28–31 ESV

28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Sanballat - Sanballat was the bad guy! That wanted to kill them. This whole time this was inside the walls while they are making these big grand statements of commitments. What is hiding in your life?

Never liked the song, I surrender all....Because I don’t want to cause us to lie.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the answer. They had everything, but they can’t get over it, until Jesus comes.

Sinning against the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:15-18)

Nehemiah 13:15–18 ESV

15 In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them on the day when they sold food. 16 Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself! 17 Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

They were doing work on the Sabbath day.

Sabbath was a day of rest and a day to honor God.

They were additicted to work - We thankfully don;t know anything about that haha

v18 - They are doing the same things that their father’s did.

Nehemiah 13:19–22 ESV

19 As soon as it began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.

Nehemiah 13:23–27 (ESV)

23 In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people. 25 And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”

Generational curses - aren’t real. They are learned.

cursed them, beat some of them and pulled out their hair - not recommend.

Nehemiah 13:28–31 ESV

28 And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; 31 and I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

When everyone else is sinning, you still obey.