Hungering and thirsting after righteousness!

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness!

• 3.
  Hungering & Thirsting AfterRighteousness! Mt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
• 5.
  There are 8“Beatitudes” record in (Mt. 5:3-12) ● Blessed are the poor in spirit ● Blessed are they that mourn ● Blessed are the meek ● Blessed are they which hunger & thirst ● Blessed are the merciful ● Blessed are the pure in heart ● Blessed are the peacemakers ● Blessed are the persecuted
• 6.
  Blessed from “μακάριος”makários = supremely blest, fortunate, well off ● Many modern translations translate this word “happy!” ●Mt 5:6 Happy are those whose heart's desire is for righteousness: for they will have their desire. (BBE) ●Mt 5:6 Happy they who hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be satisfied! (Oracl) ●Mt 5:6 `Happy those hungering and thirsting for righteousness--because they shall be filled. (YLT)
• 7.
  Have you everreally wondered what it is like to be hungry? ● Now, I know most of us say everyday “I am hungry” but I wonder if we would use the word so lightly if we really understood what being hungry was like? (See. Mt. 4) ●Imagine what hunger would mean to you if you had to go 4 days without eating, now imagine that times 10 = 40 days without food (by this point it is a matter of life & death!) ●I believe we would stop using the words hungry after 4 hours if we really understand what it means!
• 8.
  Hunger & ThirstAfter Righteousness! ● Hunger = a feeling or discomfort or weakness caused by lack of food, coupled with the desire to eat; a very strong desire (Oxford) ● Thirst = a feeling of needing or wanting to drink; lack of liquid needed to sustain life; a strong desire for (Oxford) ● As seen in both of these hunger & thirst has to do with our desires! They are also both needed to survive!
• 9.
  I. Proper Appetite! ●As we have seen in the definition of these two words, they both have to do with our “desires!” Strong desires or one might just say our “appetite!” ●Appetite = a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need, especially for food, a liking or inclination (Oxford) ●1 Pet 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ● There is also a danger in poor appetite! ●Heb. 5:12-14
• 10.
  It is notenough to hunger & thirst, we must be doing so for the right things! We need a “healthy appetite!” ● Many develop an appetite for the wrong things! ●2 Tim. 4:10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica... ● We need to have an appetite for God’s Word and for righteousness! ●1 Tim. 4:6-8 “nourished in the words of faith...exercise yourself toward godliness”
• 11.
  II. Proper Attitude! ●Have any of you ever heard someone say, “man he has an attitude?” ●What do they mean by this? They mean a “bad” attitude! ● The way we respond to the difficulties we face in life has a great deal to do with our attitude! ● Do you remember the story of Joseph? What kind of attitude did he have and did this help him or hurt him?
• 12.
  A God FirstAttitude! ● Joseph was always able to rise to the top because he had a “God first attitude!” ●Gen 45:5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” ●Gen 50:19-20 Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
• 13.
  What about theearly church? ● Why could Peter and the apostles go right back to preaching after being arrested? (Act. 4:1-4 cf. 23-37) ●Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ● Then arrested again and beaten (Act. 5:17-32 cf. 41-42) ●Ac 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.
• 14.
  III. Proper Acquaintances! ●I have often wondered just how many Christians take passage on this too lightly! ● Js 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ● 1 Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
• 15.
  The “Need” tobe Different! ● Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ● 2 Cor 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." ● We are called to be “holy” to be different! ●1 Pet. 1:15-16 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
• 16.
  We are “in”the world, but we are not to be “of” the world! ● Far too many have become so comfortable with sinners, that they have forgotten their need to show them the Savior! Everyone needs Jesus!!! ● Are we simply trying to be everybody’s friend or are we seeking to help them become a friend of God? ● “If you play in the pig pin, then expect to get dirty!”
• 17.
  Conclusion: ● I hopethat each of us will think through these 3 questions! ● What is our appetite, attitude & acquaintances? ● Are we truly “hungering & thirsting after righteousness?” ● If you are not yet a Christian, then today is the day, tomorrow maybe too late!
• 18.
  The Optimist “my cupis half full!” The Pessimist “my cup is half empty!” The Child of God “my cup runneth over!”