Blessed Hunger

Matthew 5:6–8 NASB95

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:6 NASB95

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Fire Bible (Chapter 5) This is one of the most important verses in the Sermon on the Mount

With out this hunger one will not pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord, or strive to be like Him.

The core to living holy is to hunger and thirst for more of Jesus, for righteousness.

Do we hunger for more of His

Presence

Word

Filling of the Holy Spirit

We kill the hunger through

worry

lust

Seeking this worlds riches

As our hunger dies down so does our fire, and our ability to withstand temptation, also our ability to navigate life storms.

Matthew 5:7 NASB95

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Merciful people are empathetic to the struggles of a neighbor. Such as a standing up for those who are mistreated.

Something as simple as helping and elderly couple find a seat in a terminal.

Fire Bible (Chapter 5) Merciful people also get actively involved in meeting people’s needs. By showing mercy to others, we “will be shown mercy.”

What is sad is many people are slow to show mercy and actively withhold it, until it is them that needs it.

Oxford Dictionary:

Mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Mercy is also withholding earned judgment or punishment.

Grace is giving someone something that they have not earned.

We all cry for justice, but do we ever think about the justice that is due to us for our actions?

Matthew 5:8 NASB95

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Without the mercy and grace of Jesus none of us could have a pure heart.

Fire Bible (Chapter 5) That grace now enables them to please God and bring honor to him by the way they live.

Fire Bible (Chapter 5) Grace causes us to seek to have the same attitude that God has—a love for what is true and right and a hatred of evil

The pure of heart (which includes mind, will and emotions) is in tune with God’s heart

““Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God. [Ps 24:3, 4]” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Fire Bible (Chapter 5) God requires holiness in his followers because he is holy and because only the pure in heart “will see God.”

We DO NOT become pure of heart over night, but the more time we spend in submission to the Lord the more pure our heart becomes.

Take Home?

Are you hungry for a pure heart?