SF451 - Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst For Righteousness (Matthew 5 6)

Matthew 5:1-12 (key v. 6)

INTRODUCTION

Guiding principles

Ø All Christians are to have these characteristics.

Ø All Christians are to have all of these characteristics.

Ø These characteristics are supernatural in origin.

Ø These characteristics show the difference between Christians and non-Christians.

Ø Jesus is more interested in who I am than what I have.

This is contrary to the world’s view

The world says that you are “blessed by what you have.”

Jesus says that you are “blessed by who you are.”

The beatitudes follow each other

Ø “Poor in spirit” speaks of our condition

Ø To “mourn” speaks of our contrition

Ø To be “meek” speaks of our control

Ø To “hunger and thirst” speaks of our fulfillment

Sermon Background

Madison Avenue tries to create certain hungers in those who are exposed to their advertisements.

God creates in you a hunger for something you need – something you must have! The great thing is He fulfills that hunger. That something is righteousness

What is Righteousness?

dikaiosu,nhn noun accusative feminine singular; dikaiosu,nh( (1) generally denotes the characteristics of di,kaioj righteousness, uprightness (MT 5.6); (2) legally, justice, uprightness, righteousness (PH 3.6); (3) as an attribute of God righteousness, integrity (RO 3.5); (4) of the right behavior that God requires of persons righteousness, good behavior, uprightness (MT 5.20); (5) in Pauline thought, of the divine action by which God puts a person right with himself and which then becomes a dynamic power in the believer's life righteousness (RO 1.17).

Our righteousness - is wrapped up in the person of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,

Christ is our righteousness - that is what we all hunger for. The deepest need of your life is a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ! It is in that relationship we find true satisfaction.

1A. The Search for True Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

St. Augustine said, Thou madest us for Thyself, and our heart is restless, until it rest in Thee.

1B. He is on a deliberate quest for nourishment

Isaiah 26:9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently…

2B. He is on a determined quest for nourishment

He is determined to get food. Can you imagine a starving man saying if someone wants to feed me, he can.

Little Girl Drink of Water

Little girl wanted a drink at night. Mommy when you get up to spank me will you bring me a drink of water.

3B. He is on a desperate quest for nourishment

No price too great. No pride too strong

A man who criticizes everything about the meal is not hungry.

What can cause folks not to be hungry?

Ø Sickness; Full

Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

2A. The Source of True Satisfaction

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

This is a supernatural hunger. This is more important than physical hunger

1B. Seek Him first

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In the context of Matthew 5 Jesus has talked about food, fashion, and fitness. They are ok in their place - second place! Jesus is heaven’s bread for man’s hunger!

2B. Seek Him foremost

Matthew 10:37-38 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Most folks want to seek blessings not righteousness.

Ø What we need to seek is not God’s blessings but Jesus! When you have Jesus, you are blessed.

3B. Seek Him finally

He is all that you will ever need. You will not need any more than Jesus (no second blessing). You will never go beyond Jesus!

3A. The Sweetness of True Satisfaction

“Satisfied” cortasqh,sontai future passive indicative 3rd person plural; corta,zw literally feed, satisfy, fill (up) (MK 8.4); passive eat one's fill, be satisfied (MT 14.20); of animals and birds which eat dead flesh gorge themselves (RV 19.21); figuratively. be satisfied (MT 5.6).

1B. The satisfaction from the Lord is complete.

Psalm 23:1, 5 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

You have all of God you want!

When you are filled with righteousness, you are filled with blessedness

When you come to Jesus you do not loose the good things in life you are able to enjoy them more

1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.

2B. The satisfaction from the Lord is certain.

Psalm 107:9 For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Application

The test of spiritual hunger

Dissatisfaction with self

Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

A freedom from dependence on external things for satisfaction

A craving for the Word of God

A genuine contentedness with the things of God

Proverbs 27:7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

An unconditional acceptance of God’s righteousness

A clear invitation

Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 5:1-12

1A. The __________________ for True Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

1B. He is on a deliberate quest for nourishment

Isaiah 26:9 At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently…

2B. He is on a determined quest for nourishment

3B. He is on a desperate quest for nourishment

2A. The ___________________ of True Satisfaction

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

1B. ________________ Him first

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

2B. Seek Him _______________________________

Matthew 10:37-38