This document discusses the nature of sin as a spiritual addiction. It argues that sin is more than just an action, but rather a condition of being enslaved to harmful habits despite their negative consequences. Sin turns the heart from God and leads people to seek fulfillment in things other than God. The Israelites' craving of meat in the wilderness exemplifies how sin grows out of spiritual distress, turning to things other than God for help, and decreasing control. Ultimately, overcoming sin requires facing the evil parts of ourselves and finding fulfillment in God rather than in temporary things.

1. Foundations of Faith
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-20
Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church
8:15 am & 10:45 am
Is Sin a big deal?

2. “When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

3. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

4. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil
prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

5. The rabble with them began to crave other
food, and again the Israelites started wailing and
said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember
the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the
cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But
now we have lost our appetite; we never see
anything but this manna!”

6. Moses heard the people of every family
wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The
LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses
was troubled. He asked the LORD, “Why have
you brought this trouble on your servant?
What have I done to displease you that you
put the burden of all these people on me?

7. Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them
birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my
arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you
promised on oath to their forefathers? Where
can I get meat for all these people? They keep
wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I cannot
carry all these people by myself; the burden is
too heavy for me.

8. If this is how you are going to treat me, put me
to death right now—if I have found favor in your
eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

9. The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of
Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and
officials among the people. Have them come to the
Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with
you. I will come down and speak with you there, and
I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the
Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden
of the people so that you will not have to carry it.

10. “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in
preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat.
The LORD heard you when you wailed, “If only we
had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now
the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.

11. You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or
five, ten or twenty days, But for a whole month—
until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe
it—because you have rejected the LORD, who is
among you, and have wailed before him, saying,
“Why did we ever leave Egypt?”
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-20

12. Sin
What’s the Big Deal?

13. Ad·dic·tion
the condition of being enslaved to a habit to such an extent
that stopping it would cause psychological pain. Engaging
in persistent compulsive actions known to be harmful. The
most reliable sign of addiction is continued involvement in
the activity despite negative, life-damaging consequences.
Sin is an

14. Power
Sin is not just an action,
It is a
Why do we behave like this?
1. We know what we should/want to do!
2. We know the Consequences of not doing it!
3. We can’t stop doing the opposite!

15. “I have the desire to do what is
good, but I cannot carry it out.
For what I do is not the good I
want to do; no, the evil I do not
want to do—this I keep on doing.
Now if I do what I do not want to
do, it is no longer I who do it, but
it is sin living in me that does it.”
Romans 7:18-20

16. “Sin turns the heart into a fire.”
Jonathan Edwards

17. 1. Distress – a spiritual need / anxiety, fear, loneliness, identity
2.Device – turn to some agent, other than God, for help
3.Denial – cannot think objectively “remember Egypt”
4.Decrease – loss of control, “now we have lost our appetite”

18. “You will not eat it for just one day, …but for a whole
month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you
loathe it—because you have rejected the LORD.”

19. “I am unspiritual,
sold as a slave to sin.” Rms 7:14
Ad·dic·tion

20. Sin is a spiritual addiction
You cannot be truly good until you’ve face
up to the part of you that is truly evil”
GK Chesterton

21. If only...
If only I was more loved, popular,
secure, powerful, respected, important,
Influential ...
Your addiction is defined by
“If only…”
“If only we had meat to eat…”
Why did we ever leave Egypt?”

22. Your addiction is defined by
“If only…”
“And now, with the help of God, I shall become myself…”
St. Augustine

23. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
1 John 1:8

24. For I am not ashamed of the
gospel, because it is the power of
God that brings salvation to
everyone who believes: first to
the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Romans 1:16