Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness

INTRODUCTION: Matthew 5:6

1. People will do some strange things if they are hungry enough
2. It is not uncommon one to steal in order to eat
3. In a military survival course you are taught to eat bugs, worms, all kinds of plants, things that you would never eat if well fed
4. Stranded, starving survivors have even been known to eat each other in order to live
5. I once read of an elderly woman who choked to death trying to eat a piece of cardboard, since it was the only thing she had
6. 2 Kings 6:24-29
7. Revolting – but, people will do just about anything if they are hungry enough or thirsty enough
8. It is this thought that brings us to our next verse in the beatitudes
9. Matthew 5:6
10. Remember, the beatitudes teach us about faith
11. Faith begins — poor in spirit – mourn – meek
12. This verse tells us about how faith grows and develops

DISCUSSION:

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HUNGER AND THIRST
2. Many have a backward approach to finding happiness
3. Most people look for happiness and blessedness through the desires of the flesh

1) Pleasure-mania – workaholics – wealth

2) These pursuits miss the target – they ultimately fail the test

1. Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness

1) It is an effort to seek what is right at the core of one’s life

2) Happiness and blessedness is a product of righteousness

2. This hungering and thirsting is an intense desire to know holiness and to be holy
3. Psalm 42:1
4. Psalm 63:1
5. Psalm 84:2
6. Psalm 107:9
7. John 6:27
8. Isaiah 55:1-3
9. The key to understanding the point here is to see that we’re talking about a kind of starvation, not just snack-hunger
10. Story of the Prodigal Son is an example of the kind of hunger I’m talking about (Lk. 15)
11. When things turned bad for this young man, he got hungry and took on a job he would not have had otherwise
12. However, there is a great difference between the hunger that drove him to feed pigs, and the starvation that sent him home to his father
13. Luke 15:14, 17
14. What does the man do who has had faith begin to stir in his heart
15. He has come to grips with the reality of God, and has recognized that the only response to make is to fall at His feet – “poor in spirit”
16. He has realized the problem of sin that separated him from God to start with and he has mourned and grieved over that problem – “they that mourn”
17. He has realized that he is powerless to overcome anything and so he has yielded to the power of God to become meek and gentle – “the meek”
18. And now — he yearns both for God and for that which is the character of God — righteousness
19. He hungers and thirsts to be like God, but not usurping God’s place, rather desiring the learn and adopt the very character of God
20. WHY RIGHTEOUSNESS?
21. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness gives direction, purpose and meaning to our lives as Christians
22. Matthew 6:33
23. Romans 1:16-17
24. Romans 6:13
25. Romans 14:17
26. 1 Corinthians 15:33-34
27. 2 Corinthians 5:21
28. Ephesians 4:24
29. 1 Peter 2:24
30. It was once said, “Change the hunger, and you change the man; control the hunger and you control the man.”
31. Everyone is hungry and thirsty for something

1) Your appetites determine the direction and course of life

2) But there is only one thing that truly satisfies – righteousness

1. This beatitude then, determines the growth of faith

1) This growth desires God, the mind of God, the character of God, the things of God, and the life of God – it is the essence of faith

2) Hebrews 11:6

CONCLUSION:

1. How’s your faith tonight?
2. Whatever state you may find it, you can be sure that it’s health and strength is a product of your hunger and thirst for righteousness
3. If it’s weak, you need to feed on righteousness
4. Invitation

Tom Moore – http://preachersfiles.com/hungering-and-thirsting-after-righteousness/