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SATISFACTION AT LAST !!!
(Matthew 5:6)
…Our
Declaration of Independence declares the right of life, liberty, and the pursuit
of __happiness__ as long as it does not break the law. Unfortunately,
most people have chosen __poorly__ in their pursuit of happiness,
choosing ways that provide no kind of happiness.
…There
is a yearning deep within the human heart and it can never be satisfied with
anything except the __Lord__. Try as we may to fill it with __things__
and experiences, at the end of the day, our hearts are still not satisfied…
…Jesus
tells us in the fourth Beatitude that the deepest desire of every person ought
to be “to hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Only this ambition when
fulfilled will bring happiness and __satisfaction__.
THREE QUESTIONS HELPING US TO DISCOVER THE DEEPEST POSSIBLE
SATISFACTION KNOWN IN LIFE.
I. What Does It Mean To
Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness?
A.
Jesus used the
two strongest bodily __cravings__ to illustrate the intensity of desire
necessary for the pursuit of this righteousness. “hungering and thirsting”
1.
Both of these words are written in a way that means it will __never__
end; it is continuous. We will never stop hungering and thirsting for this.
2.
When a man is starving, he
__cannot__ think of anything else but food eating.
B.
This hungering and thirsting are symbolic, showing the __deep__ craving
we should have for righteousness. Both these words point to a restlessness, a
__desperation__, a driving pursuit, a passionate force inside the soul.
This is to be in two ways:
1.
Initially, it refers to the hungering and thirsting for the righteousness that
makes us acceptable before holy God. This is __salvation__. (2 Corinth
5:21) This involves receiving Christ’s own righteousness. All who die without
this are __doomed__ forever. You must abandon any hope of saving
yourself.
2.
It means __personal__ righteousness. This is the desire to be free from
sin. It is the longing to be holy. It means that your supreme desire in life
is to know God and to be in fellowship with Him, walking in the light in __purity__
of life.
C.
Jesus’ words remind us that
whenever you put __happiness__ before righteousness, you will be doomed
to misery. This is one of the great themes of the Bible. The Prodigal Son…
II.
What Does Jesus Promise To
Those Who Hunger And Thirst For Righteousness?
A.
The first
result is blessedness. God shares His abiding happiness with us. This is that
inner __joy__ and peace that flow to us from God. This is very rare in
our world. Beautiful!
B.
The specific result of such a hungering is the experience of being __utterly__
satisfied.
1.
This
word Jesus used for “filled” was used for the feeding of an __animal__
until he wanted nothing more. “Completely satisfied.” God Himself gives total
satisfaction to those who __crave__ for this righteousness.
…John
4:10,13-14…”whoever drinks the water I give him will __never__ thirst…”
…John
6:35…”he who comes to me will __never__ go hungry…”
…You
will never find this “blessedness” apart from God. Trying to do so is like the
song: “Looking for love in all the wrong places.”
2.
As we thirst for this righteousness(Holiness) in our Christian life, by walking
a holy life, we discover deep satisfaction in life. We are satisfied, but
dissatisfied because we desire __more__. Like eating a great steak, more
tomorrow
III.
What Are Some Measurable
Tests Which Reveal Whether Or Not We Are Hungering And Thirsting After
Righteousness?
…for the
one who has no hunger and thirst for righteousness has __no__ part in
God’s coming kingdom.
A.
You will have a deep dissatisfaction with __self__. (Rom 7:24) “O
wretched man that I am…”
B.
You will have a __freedom__ from dependence on things for satisfaction.
(1 John 2:15)
C.
You will have
a craving for God’s __Word__. It is food for your soul…(Jeremiah 15:16)
D.
You will
delight and be __faithful__ in attending worship where righteousness is
presented.
E.
Unconditionally will describe your life as you live to do the will of God
without objection.
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1.
The only truly
happy are those of you who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
2.
Run from sin!
Avoid the things that God opposes.
3.
Eat deeply
from God’s Book each day and it will increasingly change you to become like
Jesus.
4.
Some of you
just may need to be saved.
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