Hunger and Thirst for Godly Righteousness

I. The Starving Spirit

1. Hunger and Thirst

a. Historical meaning: Jesus is bringing the everyday feelings and problems of that day and age into his preaching in a way they can understand. (Daily wage of bread-reference “Give us this day”) (Roman Oppression)

b. Not just a simple everyday hunger and thirst, but a stronger, painful, aching starvation and thirstiness for the one true God and his Righteousness.

2. Godly Righteousness?

a. What in fact is this Godly Righteousness we are to be starving for?

b. It is a continuing action of pursuing God and God’s will in our personal lives. ( Psalm 42:1-2)

c. It is a extreme need for a right relationship with God and with others. It is not simply doing the right thing but it is deeper in that we are to NEED and WANT the full righteousness that is not achieved through our good works but is given to us by God as we follow Him alone.

II. The Promise

1. A Gift from God

a. We do not fill ourselves up with righteousness but are filled by God.

b. It is not just a temporary satisfaction but it is an overwhelming, overflowing, satisfying, and “Fattening” of our souls with the Righteousness given by God.

2. A constant striving towards this promise of satisfaction

a. As we walk in our personal relationships with God, we will grow hungry and thirsty more and more for Godly Righteousness.

b. As our desires and our will aligns with the will of God, God will give the famished and thirsty soul its desires. (Which is the will of God) The person who is Hungry and Thirsty for God WILL be satisfied.

III. The Response

1. Fake Satisfaction

a. The world offers all the temporary things you can imagine to satisfy for a short while, but those things will never slay that starving spirit.

b. We may sometimes fall into the trap of going through the motions and taking the idea on of “If only i stay good”. But God instead calls us to strive for Holiness.

2. Living for Christ

a. All of these things is not for the christian to simply be interested in the things of Christ, but to actually say “To live is Christ.” We are to surrender our whole being and soul to the one who is King over all. Surrender all to Him.

b. We are challenged through this beatitude to strive to be more like the Holy, Righteous, Perfect God. Will you do that today? Make the commitment to Hunger and Thirst for Godly Righteousness?