Blessed are the Hungry

What are you hungry for? What are you thirsty for? - Universal need: FOOD & DRINK

Define Hunger: “a craving or urgent need for food or a specific nutrient”

In a recent article entitled “One Day in America” Tom Parker notes that in one day:

75 acres of pizza is consumed

53 million hot dogs are digested

3000 tons of candy are chewed up.

What we choose to eat to satisfy our hunger has short term and long term results

Short term: our hunger is satisfied, for now

Long term: you eat the wrong stuff, you will begin to show it.

Reality: we will crave what we feed our physical body, good or bad

The body was created to function a specific way so even if you are eating the wrong things, your body will fight to show you it needs some specific nutrient(s) to survive.

So, craving does not lead to satisfaction. You can keep eating the wrong things and not get satisfied because your body is still asking for what it needs.

There is another appetite that we all universally have that is much more unknown and misunderstood: Our Soul Has an Appetite. What is it that we seek? What is it that we pursue? Where do our passions lie? What are you hungry for more of?

Our soul hungers to be filled, to be satisfied

Time - what we do with our lives:

People pleaser

work-a-holic

sports/fitness/image

friends - hang out

Video games/TV/Phones/Social Media/Pornography

Avoidance - pushing away reality

Attitude/how we carry ourselves/our soul’s attempt to find satisfaction - how we live our lives:

just yesterday I was asked why some people always have to find the negative/gripe about everything...

Talking bad about others - gossip - always the newest news

making fun/putting down others/bullying

Drama

anger/sad/goofy/happy/worry

Reality: we will crave what we feed our soul, good or bad

So, craving does not lead to satisfaction. You can keep doing the wrong things and not get satisfied because your soul is still asking for what it needs.

Because, in the same way as the physical hunger, our soul was created to be filled by something specific, something to make it fulfilled, to thrive.... rather someone

Hear the Word

Matthew 5:6 NIV

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

So, the thing our soul needs/is looking for is righteousness. Sounds easy enough right?

What is righteousness?

Defined: it is holy and upright living, in accordance with God’s standard. & God’s character is the definition and source of all righteousness.

We need to know God to understand righteousness. We need to find out what His character is. We must get to know God

Like any relationship, we have to spend time with someone to get to know them.

1st step - Ask God into your life

2nd step - Get to know him

Talk to Him

Read His Words

Talk to others who know Him

Talk to others ABOUT Him

These steps are literally feeding your soul!!! And test it. See if it satisfies you!

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV

13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Live the Word

Just like getting healthy physically, this is not an immediate process

Salvation is immediate but getting to know God happens over time just like any meaningful relationship

2 Peter 3:9 God is patient with us

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

& God desires all to be saved! He will not give up on even one.

Exercise Regularly

This is not for show, it is to feed your soul!

Read the Bible

God gave us His Word as a revelation to us. It allows us to know Him, His character, His attributes, His righteousness.

Pray/talk to God and get to know Him

He will do amazing things and answer your prayers!

Talk to others who know Him and who don’t

Totally different than the gossip or negative talk that leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

You will begin to see the character of God mirrored in your life

Others will see it in you as well!

Conclusion

Are you starving? Are you literally starving your soul?

I don’t want you to unsee this! Your soul needs fed. What are you feeding it? Where do you spend your time, what is your attitude full of? What is it that we pursue? Where do your passions lie? What are you hungry for more of? What drives you? Is it satisfying????

What kinds of things are you filling your life up with?

At the end of the day, do you feel something missing, something not satisfied. Jesus is the answer. Pursuing Him is the only way to feel full. THIS IS HOW THE CREATOR MADE US!!!

Bottom Line: You are what you eat!

Find yourself being negative? Do you have more bad days than good? Are you edgy, stressed or agitated all the time? Maybe you’re feeding on the wrong stuff.

So I end with the same question I began: What are you hungry for?

Do you have a desire for more of God in your life?

Maybe you’ve never given your life to Him and you’d like that opportunity this morning.

Prayer

Salvation

For a hunger for righteousness

To be filled/satisfied from the source of righteousness, God the Father.