The Problem is Not the Problem

Notes: The Problem is Not the Problem 
Pastor Tim Harding
Nehemiah 13
Harvest OC
Valor Men’s Study
1/30/2018
http://podcast.harvestlive.net/mbf/2018/OCM180130.mp3

Many survival experts say the key to surviving in the elements is keeping the fire going.

Nehemiah had been gone about a year.

He comes back and many have fallen away from their vow to God.

Nehemiah 13:21 NLT
[21] But I spoke sharply to them and said, "What are you doing out here, camping around the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you!" And that was the last time they came on the Sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:25 NLT
[25] So I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear in the name of God that they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people of the land.

Where did they fail:
1. Relationships
2. Rules
3. Restraint 

1. Relationships 

With Tobias.

Nehemiah 13:10-12 NLT
[10] I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields. [11] I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, "Why has the Temple of God been neglected?" Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. [12] And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms.

We need to cut it out, throw it out, and replace it with what was supposed to be there.

1 John 1:9 NLT
[9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Proverbs 28:13 NLT
[13] People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT
[16] So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Ephesians 4:22-26,28 NLT
[22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. [25] So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. [26] And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, [28] If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

Replace idle time with serving. It keeps the fire in you burning.

2. Rules - Take drastic steps: Close the gates.

Nehemiah 13:15-21 NLT
[15] In those days I saw men of Judah treading out their winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys, and bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on that day. [16] Some men from Tyre, who lived in Jerusalem, were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise. They were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah-and in Jerusalem at that! [17] So I confronted the nobles of Judah. "Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?" I asked. [18] "Wasn't it just this sort of thing that your ancestors did that caused our God to bring all this trouble upon us and our city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!" [19] Then I commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be shut as darkness fell every Friday evening, not to be opened until the Sabbath ended. I sent some of my own servants to guard the gates so that no merchandise could be brought in on the Sabbath day. [20] The merchants and tradesmen with a variety of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice. [21] But I spoke sharply to them and said, "What are you doing out here, camping around the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you!" And that was the last time they came on the Sabbath.

Nehemiah 13:30-31 NLT
[30] So I purged out everything foreign and assigned tasks to the priests and Levites, making certain that each knew his work. [31] I also made sure that the supply of wood for the altar and the first portions of the harvest were brought at the proper times. Remember this in my favor, O my God.

When we fall off track, we need to take drastic steps.

Compromise always starts slow before it takes over.

When we sin, we are putting ourselves above God. Saying we know better.

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 NLT
[13] The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. [14] So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.

3. Restraint - Shot to the Heart

Zerubba = Temple
Ezra = God’s Word
Nehemiah = The Walls

Nehemiah ends and then 400 years of silence.

Matthew 15:18-20 NLT
[18] But the words you speak come from the heart-that's what defiles you. [19] For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. [20] These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you."

The “problem” is never the problem, the problem is the heart. 

Sin is the symptom, but not the disease.

We don’t need more temples, walls or religion; e need more Jesus.

Psalm 51:10 NLT
[10] Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT
[22] The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. [23] Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.