Humble and Hungry

Matthew 5:3-6 (repeat 5-6)

I. Last week

a. Poor in Spirit – we come with nothing – absolutely nothing – We bring nothing to our salvation other than faith

b. Mourn – mourn like the loss of a loved one over our sin – we come with confession and repentance

c. Like Peter – we catch nothing and then Jesus fills his nets – Away from me for I am a sinner

i. He becomes a fisher of men for God’s kingdom

d. The prodigal son loses it all then gets even worse in a famine

i. Goes home to be slave

1. His father wraps him robe and ring of family and a celebration to bring comfort

e. Remember the first 4 deal with our interior life – but that impacts how we live it out before others.

II. Humble (Psalm 37:11) – (Gentle)

a. Now what – I mentioned how even after salvation we still live or lives knowing we are poor in spirit and mourning over our sin – but what does that really look like.

b. First off it looks like humility

It seems important to note that in the beatitudes ‘the meek’ come between those who mourn over sin and those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. The particular form of meekness which Christ requires in his disciples will surely have something to do with this sequence…. But the condition on which we enter our spiritual inheritance in Christ is not might but meekness, for, as we have already seen, everything is ours if we are Christ’s. – John Stott

i. How to give Matthew 6:1-4

ii. How to Pray Matthew 6:5-6

iii. How we Fast Matthew 6:16-18

c. We live in a society all about our personal success.

i. Building our brand and followers – I can be guilty

d. Crosswalk 21 days of Bible Based Fitness –

i. Just not sure Jesus died on the cross and inspired men to write down his word so that we can get fit. – but maybe I am just being a little too harsh.

e. Bible is not a self-help manual

i. Yes there is nothing wrong with looking to God’s word as we negotiate life in this world. Nothing wrong with looking to the Bible to help us when we are grieving or walking through a very dark season

f. I am not the hero of the story – I am not the champion.

i. Every day I am in desperate need of a savior.

1. And every day Jesus is there.

“… it describes the man, who in loving and obedient humility accepts the guidance of God and providence of God.” – William Barclay

g. Jesus not my will but yours be done.

III. Inherit the Earth

a. Poor in Spirit the Kingdom of Heaven is ours

b. Now we will inherit the earth

i. Inherit the promise land was a shadow of this

ii. Revelation 5:8-10

1. Notice all what God did and nothing about what we did

a. Talking about God – you are worthy, you were slaughtered, purchased, you made us kings and priests

2. He gives us he reign on the new earth.

a. The kingdom of heaven is ours now – salvation

i. Already seated in heavenly places

b. We will inherit the earth – future

“… those who humbly trusted God and who obediently accepted his will, would enter into all the blessings of the Kingdom of God on the earth.” – William Barclay

c. But also this is word for the now – The earth has nothing on us

i. Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

IV. Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

a. Right with God

i. But remember we bring nothing – but this is something we should hunger

1. Grow to hunger –

ii. “… desire is for relationship of obedience and trust in God.” – R.T. France

iii. “It indicates a whole orientation of life towards God and his will.” – R.T. France

b. Hunger and thirst – Psalm 42:1-2

i. We need both the manna and the water

1. Yes God has many blessings for us and will bless us.

2. But is right with God enough?

c. We hunger so we go after the Righteousness that can only come from God

“What Jesus is saying here is: ‘Blessed is the man who longs for righteousness as a starving man longs for food, and as a man perishing of thirst longs for water.’” – John Stott

d. Again think the prodigal son wanting to eat the pigs pods.

i. Not of this world Matthew 6:25-34

1. Seek first the Kingdom of God

a. Quit looking to the world to solve your problems and to bring you happiness and fulfillment

b. All these things will be provided for you – you will be filled

e. But also a social Righteousness - fruits of the spirit – Galatians 5:22-26

i. Conceited not humble

ii. Care of the poor, the widows, (reflection of who we are in our interior life)

It would be a mistake to suppose, however, that the biblical word ‘righteousness’ means only a right relationship with God on the one hand and a moral righteousness of character and conduct on the other. For biblical righteousness is more than a private and personal affair; it includes social righteousness as well. – John Stott

V. Will be filled

a. Mourn will be comforted – Hunger and Thirst we will be filled

i. How comforting to be full

b. We are not just getting a snack but we are filled

i. Matthew 14:18-20 – satisfied

1. Jesus could have fed them just enough to get them home but they were satisfied. – no longer any hunger.

c. Remember each beatitude comes with an affirmation followed by a promise

i. Blessed – not that we will be blessed but are in a state of blessedness

ii. Will be filled with right ness with God

d. Justified, being sanctified, will be glorified.

e. Notice it says we will be filled – no instructions on how to be filled. Again because it is not about our works – only the work of Christ. If we hunger, he will fill us

i. Again like the manna in the wilderness. The Children of Israel did not have to cultivate it.

f. Our greatest problem is we settle for less – Luke 6:25

i. We settle for McDonalds when we could have a 5 star restaurant dinner for life.

ii. We become ok with our life – even ok with the hard parts.

VI. Conclusion

a. The people approached God based on the teaching of the Pharisees and Scribes – all about what you do – not on heart change – Jesus was redefining this

b. We come humbly, gently to life – longing to live for God and for others, not drawing attention to ourselves – Going about our daily life.

i. Let us go about our daily routines with studied holiness, diligence, kindness & integrity - C.H. Spurgeon

c. We are to be hungry for our spiritual life – hungry to be a disciple. Always learning – Always growing

Do you desire righteousness with that intensity of desire with which a starving man desires food, and man parched with thirst desires water? - William Barclay

Thus the way of Christ is different from the way of the world, and every Christian even if he is like Paul in ‘having nothing’ can yet describe himself as ‘possessing everything’ – John Stott

Homework – study Isaiah 61 – note some wording is different from Septuagint