How bad do you want it?

Nehemiah 9:28–29 (NIV)

28 “But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.

What does it take to WIN in life?

THE WORLD AROUND US FILLED WITH A MULTITUDE OF GREAT STARTERS, YET FEW WHO ARE GREAT FINISHERS

Nehemiah leads his nation back into a “WINNING” season. He calls a nationwide time of remembrance and repentance.

His Message:

Vs 6 Our God is Yahweh

Vs 8 Our God has kept every promise

Vs 9-11 Our God delivered from Egypt

Vs 12-20 Our God led us through the wilderness

21 “Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing.”

Vs 24-25 Our God brought us to the land He promised

But we…

vs 28 “as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

vs 29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.

Three Things Nehemiah teaches us about Winning the big game

1) YOUR GREATEST RIVAL IN LIFE IS NOT THE DEVIL, IT’S A TEAM LED BY COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Drift – to be carried away slowly by a current or wind

The greatest enemy we all have right now is NOT the devil. It’s our own positive surroundings or our own past successes.

The Drift Cycle

We became ARROGANT
We forgot your COMMANDS
We REBELLED against God

The longer you walk with Jesus, the greater the temptation to “push the big things to the back of the bus.”

2) GOD ALLOWS US TO ENTER DIFFICULT SEASONS TO AWAKENING SPIRITUAL DESPERATION

28 “as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time.

It usually takes one of two things to “fan” your spiritual desperation for more of God.

#1 = A CONSISTENT CHOICE

#2 = TOUGH TIMES

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region ( Matthew 8:28-34).

Our Problem… We want God to solve our problems, and we want to keep our pigs!

3. WINNING ISN’T DIFFICULT, IT’S JUST REQUIRES THE CHOICE TO BE CONSISTENT WHERE EVERYONE ELSE IS INCONSISTENT

‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’

When something ceases to cost you something big, it will soon cease to mean something big.