HUNGER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

The world gives people external

solutions for internal problems.

The internal prescription Jesus proposes

is a quest... the quest for RIGHTEOUSNESS.

(Matthew 5:6)

Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger

and thirst for righteousness, for

they will be filled.”

It is a craving… an insatiable hunger to be like our Master.

The truly “blessed” (happy???) spend their life in pursuit. What an irony…That the pursuit of that which can never be fully attained is the only thing that can fully satisfy! (John 6:35)

John 6:35

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Jesus’ message was: outward faith is not enough…it must be from the HEART. (Matthew 5:20)

Matthew 5:20

“For I tell you that unless your

righteousness surpasses that of the

Pharisees and the teachers of the law,

you will certainly not enter the kingdom

of heaven.”

In dealing with the Pharisees, Jesus confronted their hypocrisy again and again. (Matthew 23: 25-28)

Matthew 23:25-28

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.“ Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Jesus clearly taught that, doing right in itself isn’t enough… MOTIVE MATTERS!

Religion from the heart is a matter of “ROOTS”.. Like a great tree, the believer is “ROOTED” by values of his heart.

(Psalms 1:1-3)

Psalms 1:1-3

“ Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.”

1. Are We a People Who CRAVE

the Things of God? (Psalms 42:1-2)

“As the deer pants for streams of

water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

l Do we hunger like that for God,

or is He just a piece of the pie.

l The “HUNGER” is something every

believer has once experienced…

before we became full and satisfied.

l At times we need to “REMEMBER.”

(Revelation 2:2-5)

Revelation 2:2-5

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.

2. Have Our Duties Become Our

Desires?

Real righteousness is internal.

(Hebrews 8:10)

Hebrews 8:10

“This is the covenant I will make with

the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

This longing is personified in David’s heart (Psalms 51:10-17)

Psalms 51:10-17

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

“Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Maturity of faith should move us far beyond the “HAVE TO.”

GOD WANTS YOU…HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT HIM?

A Question for You…

…Are you convicted concerning sin and the Lordship of Jesus?

Acts 2:36-38

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”