A God Hunger

Hungry for God

and Luke 2:21-38

I’m hungry! Ever said that? Everyday? Do you have cravings you cant avoid?

What are you hungry for? Do you have a chocolate thing? An ice cream thing? What about the Christ Mass season do you crave? Cinnamon rolls with the Pecans in brown sugar and icing? Maybe you go straight to Pecan pie?ws

Generally people are hungry. No not just for food. People are generally hungry spiritually. We search the internet, social media, we like items that peak our interest, and we find stories that really hit us, stories of tragedy, love, romance, lost being found, or rescue and our minds pick up on the story, paint pictures, and we go there. We begin to hunger for more.

For some it is business efforts. They want a better business, a bigger business, a successful business. Owners hunger to hire people that can help carry the burden, mature smart people mature in their ways. People at work hunger for a Christmas bonus, something that says, hey, i saw what you did and how you did it and i’m impressed.

We see this, we participate in the search for and hopes of.

How does God fit onto your search, your level of hunger? Where does God fit in? Is the hunger for God easily avoided? Is it a hunger a little time on Sunday satisfies? Or do you have a deep hunger to know what God is up to, how will act in our day and time, in our church in our community?

Shatter Proof - Founded by Gary Mendell

His own son, Brian, developed an insatiable appetite for legal drugs, opioids. His son went to 8 treatment centers and yet he would relapsed and eventually ended his own life at a young age.

We have an epidemic in Oklahoma. The number of people who hunger for something that alters their state of mind is staggering.

In a recent interview, Gary Mendell said 25 m people are addicted to drugs and alcohol today. That is 1 in 10 above the age of 12. 8 of 10 addicts became addicted before their 18th birthday. People are hungry, and they are searching for answers, something to fulfill their appetite.

People want a cause, a purpose, insight.

In our Scripture today,

Simeon was a devout man of Jerusalem, Anna a prophetess

He was devout why? He followed the prescribed rituals of the temple

The Holy Spirit was upon him

Jesus never said of the leaders of the temple: the Holy Spirit is upon you

clearly defines them as something else; hypocrites, a brood of vipers who devour widows houses and for pretense make long prayers!

He

Simeon was chosen by God for a very special occasion

His devotion was more than an outward appearance

His devotion settled in his own heart and his own spirit

God could rely on him

It appears to me, Simeon, and Anna had a hunger for God, an appetite they desired to be filled.

God chose Simeon to meet another devoted couple, Mary and Joseph

They brought the child to the temple. This is what devout people do

Simeon was given a promise;

The promise of God was fulfilled

God has a promise for you also

He will not leave you or forsake you

He will be with you

You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart

God has a promise for Solomon (I have heard your prayer!) 2 Chron 7:12-16

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek MY face, and turn from their wicked ways, then i will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land. (15) now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to prayers made in this place.

Hungry people pray: Hungry people seek God, Hungry people have an insatiable appetite for the things of God and the search, seek, ask, knock, prostrate themselves before Him with confession and they stay after Him until He answers!

The Spirit Leads

He spoke to Simeon and brought him to the temple to see something amazing

He spoke to Jesus and led Him into the wilderness to be tempted

He spoke to Philip and led him to the Eunuch

He speaks to you and me

Simeon prophesied: ; “For the fall and rise of many.” One group or two? Would all fall to their knees to rise in resurrection or would one group fall and one rise in praise at His resurrection?

What does it take for a man or woman to grow hungry for God?

Tragedy, loss, pain, separation, a child addicted to drugs or alcohol

Even Mary was going to suffer:

For some it is a call

to believe that the remainder of people are just here to fill in the gaps? Can all people hunger and thirst for God?

says blessed are those who hunger and thirst for God, for they shall be what? empty? No! Filled!

My question to you today is this: do you want to be used by God to accomplish kingdom work

Do you have an appetite to be filled?

Than a devout life might get you something even greater; a glimpse of glory!

Simeon and Anna were awaiting the consolation of Israel; what are we anticipating

Come thou long expected Jesus, or don’t come, i’m afraid i’m not ready to meet you. I haven’t been about kingdom work, kingdom business. I’m afraid if you came today, you would see more world than wise.

Augustine said long ago, the great difference between human beings-the difference I might add, that counts with God-is not found in what ills are suffered, but what kind of man suffers them. It is God’s will that we become the right kinds of persons: spiritually mature, grown up, whole persons. Above all else God wants as the Bible makes clear, to make us holy. He wants us to attain spiritual maturity, Christlikeness, sanctity. And whatever it takes to sanctify us justifies the cost.

Are you hungry for God? Hear me: He is hungry for you!

Benediction