THE BEATITUDES
(A Passion for Righteousness - July 31, 2022)
Series Big Idea: "People in God's Kingdom will be known by several characteristics"
Sermon Big Idea: "Kingdom of heaven citizens hunger and thirst for the things of Godl"
Key Scripture (Matthew 5:1-12)
We are in this sermon series based on Jesus’ Sermon of the Mount, especially the beginning verses of chapter five. We are discovering what Jesus said about a person who is in His kingdom. What they will be like. Today we come to verse six and find that Jesus described His kingdom people as fortunate because they hunger and thirst after righteousness.
(Matthew 5:1-12)
1 When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He began to teach them, saying: 3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. 5 The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. 7 The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. 8 The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. 9 The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. 10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. 12 Be glad and rejoice because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
1. What does Jesus mean by Hungering and Thirsting?
In Psalms, the Bible says that King David was a man after God’s own heart. He knew that God had protected and cared for him all his life. He knew God intimately, and his passion for God consumed him, yet look at what he said in (Psalm 42:1-2) “As the dear longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 63:1) “God You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.” David was saying that his hunger and thirst never weakened. This is what Jesus is saying about His kingdom people. They are obsessed with an all-consuming desire for God and it never lessons.
2. What do we hunger and thirst For?
It is righteousness we hunger for. Righteousness or justification means to be in right standing with God. It is the only real and true happiness we will ever experience in this life. The Jewish people Jesus was speaking to here we're trying to earn their salvation by their own works. And we often do the same thing, don't we? But salvation is based on Christ alone and faith alone. (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For you were saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is a gift – not from works so that no one can boast.”
The proof that we really are Christian is that we are continually hungering and thirsting for the things of God.
3. What is the Outcome of my hungering and thirsting for God?
The outcome of all this, Jesus says, is that you and I will be filled! (John 4:14) “But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again – ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.” It will be so sweet and so rich that we will want more and more and more of God’s righteousness.
Conclusion:
So how do you and I know if we are truly hungering and thirsting after righteousness? I want to give you several questions you can ask yourself. Do you find the things of this world influencing you day to day; influencing how you feel, think, and act? Do you have an appetite for God's word? The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah said of God’s Word (Jeremiah 15:16) Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart, for I am called by your name, Yahweh God of host.
Are the things of God sweet to you? (Proverbs 27:7) To a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.
Is Christ enough for you? Are you like the story Jesus told of the rich younger ruler? He wanted to enter the Kingdom of God but wasn't willing to give up his possessions. Do you want Christ plus sin, pride, wealth, and on and on? Hungry and thirsty people desperately want and desire food and water. Jesus says that people who are fortunate and happy are those who are hungering after righteousness.
(John 6:35) “I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in Me will ever be thirsty again.” (John 4:14) “But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again, ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.”
It is a fact that millions of people go to bed every night hungry. Hunger is the cause of death and malnutrition of millions of people every year. But physical hunger, as devasting and horrific as it is, can never compare to the shock of people who are spiritually starving.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideas are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
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