Hungering for Righteousness: Finding True Fulfillment in God
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into Matthew 5:6, where Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." This verse emphasizes the deep spiritual hunger that only God can satisfy. We often try to fill this void with worldly things like success, possessions, or relationships, but these never truly satisfy. Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, explored various avenues to find fulfillment but concluded that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the essence of life.
Righteousness, as discussed, is about being right with God and living a life that reflects His values. This involves both a relationship with God and a lifestyle that aligns with His teachings. We cannot achieve righteousness on our own; it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins, making us righteous before God. This is the essence of the Gospel—the good news that we are made right with God through faith in Jesus.
To maintain this hunger and thirst for righteousness, we must continually remind ourselves of God's love, avoid spiritual junk food, prioritize knowing God, and immerse ourselves in His Word. Additionally, surrounding ourselves with people who share this hunger for God can significantly influence our spiritual journey.
### Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Hunger and Worldly Fulfillment: Many of us experience a spiritual hunger that we often try to satisfy with worldly things like success, possessions, or relationships. However, these never truly fulfill us. Solomon's exploration in Ecclesiastes shows that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the true essence of life. [04:51]
2. Righteousness Defined: Righteousness involves both a relationship with God and a lifestyle that reflects His values. It means being right with God and living according to His teachings. This righteousness is not something we can achieve on our own; it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. [09:43]
3. The Gospel's Good News: The Gospel is the good news that we are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins, making us righteous before God. This is a gift we must accept by faith, and it transforms our lives. [23:38]
4. Maintaining Spiritual Hunger: To keep our hunger and thirst for righteousness, we must remind ourselves of God's immense love for us, avoid spiritual junk food, and prioritize knowing God more each day. Immersing ourselves in God's Word and understanding His love will naturally lead us to love Him more. [28:18]
5. Influence of Community: The people we surround ourselves with significantly influence our spiritual journey. Associating with those who hunger and thirst for God can inspire and encourage us to pursue righteousness. Being part of a community that shares our spiritual goals is crucial for our growth. [39:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction to the Beatitudes
[01:52] - Prayer and Opening
[02:29] - The Fridge Analogy
[03:51] - Spiritual Hunger in America
[04:51] - Solomon's Search for Fulfillment
[06:51] - The True Source of Satisfaction
[07:53] - Understanding Righteousness
[09:43] - Relationship and Lifestyle
[12:02] - Why Righteousness Matters
[12:59] - The Road to Life and Immortality
[14:42] - God's Terms for Righteousness
[16:31] - The Good News of the Gospel
[19:01] - The Challenge of Keeping Commandments
[21:14] - Jesus as Our Righteousness
[23:38] - The Sacrifice of Jesus
[24:31] - Baptism and Communion
[26:15] - Accepting God's Grace
[27:40] - Maintaining Spiritual Hunger
[28:18] - Understanding God's Love
[30:27] - Avoiding Spiritual Junk Food
[32:51] - The Danger of Spiritual Malnutrition
[34:43] - Pursuing God as Our Primary Goal
[35:33] - Feeding on God's Word
[37:08] - The Power of God's Word
[39:54] - The Influence of Community
[41:37] - Encouragement to Join Connect Groups
[42:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 5:6 (NIV): "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
- Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV): "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
- Romans 3:23-24 (NIV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 5:6, what promise is given to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness?
2. What conclusion does Solomon reach in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 about the essence of life? [04:51]
3. How does Romans 3:23-24 describe the state of humanity and the solution provided by God?
4. In the sermon, what analogy is used to describe the spiritual hunger many people feel? [02:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness in the context of Matthew 5:6? How does this hunger manifest in a believer's life?
2. Solomon's conclusion in Ecclesiastes emphasizes fearing God and keeping His commandments. How does this align with the concept of righteousness discussed in the sermon? [04:51]
3. Romans 3:23-24 speaks about justification by grace. How does this concept of grace relate to the idea that righteousness is a gift from God through Jesus Christ? [09:43]
4. The sermon mentions avoiding "spiritual junk food." What are some examples of spiritual junk food, and how can they hinder our pursuit of righteousness? [30:27]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you have tried to fill your spiritual hunger with worldly things? How can you shift your focus to hunger and thirst for righteousness instead? [03:51]
2. Solomon concluded that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the essence of life. How can you practically incorporate this principle into your daily routine? [04:51]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of community in maintaining spiritual hunger. Are you currently part of a community that encourages your spiritual growth? If not, what steps can you take to find or create such a community? [39:54]
4. How can you remind yourself daily of God's immense love for you, as suggested in the sermon? What specific actions can you take to keep this reminder at the forefront of your mind? [28:18]
5. Identify one "spiritual junk food" in your life that you need to eliminate. What practical steps can you take this week to replace it with something that nourishes your spiritual hunger? [30:27]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of immersing ourselves in God's Word. What is one specific way you can increase your engagement with the Bible this week? [35:33]
7. Think about the people you spend the most time with. Do they inspire you to pursue righteousness? If not, how can you seek out relationships that will encourage your spiritual growth? [39:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Hunger and Worldly Fulfillment
Many of us experience a spiritual hunger that we often try to satisfy with worldly things like success, possessions, or relationships. However, these never truly fulfill us. Solomon's exploration in Ecclesiastes shows that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the true essence of life. [04:51]
In our daily lives, we often find ourselves chasing after things that promise satisfaction but leave us feeling empty. Whether it's a promotion at work, a new gadget, or even relationships, these worldly pursuits can never fill the deep spiritual void within us. Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, explored various avenues to find fulfillment. He had wealth, wisdom, and power, yet he concluded that all these were meaningless without a relationship with God. The essence of life, he found, is to fear God and keep His commandments.
This spiritual hunger is a sign that we are created for something greater than what the world offers. It is a call to seek God and His righteousness. When we prioritize our relationship with God, we find true satisfaction and purpose. This doesn't mean that worldly things are inherently bad, but they should not be our primary source of fulfillment. Instead, they should be enjoyed as blessings from God, who is our ultimate source of satisfaction.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV): "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil."
Reflection: What are some worldly pursuits you have been chasing to fill your spiritual hunger? How can you shift your focus to seeking God and His righteousness today?
Day 2: Righteousness Defined
Righteousness involves both a relationship with God and a lifestyle that reflects His values. It means being right with God and living according to His teachings. This righteousness is not something we can achieve on our own; it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. [09:43]
Righteousness is more than just a moral code; it is about being in right standing with God. This involves both a personal relationship with Him and a lifestyle that aligns with His teachings. To be righteous means to live in a way that reflects God's values, such as love, justice, and mercy. However, it is crucial to understand that we cannot achieve this righteousness on our own. It is a gift from God, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Jesus paid the price for our sins, making us righteous before God. This is the essence of the Gospel—the good news that we are made right with God through faith in Jesus. When we accept this gift, it transforms our lives, enabling us to live in a way that pleases God. This righteousness is not about following a set of rules but about a relationship that changes us from the inside out.
Romans 3:22-24 (ESV): "The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God to reflect His righteousness in your daily life?
Day 3: The Gospel's Good News
The Gospel is the good news that we are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins, making us righteous before God. This is a gift we must accept by faith, and it transforms our lives. [23:38]
The core message of the Gospel is that we are made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ. This is not something we can earn or achieve on our own; it is a gift from God. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross paid the price for our sins, making us righteous before God. This is the good news that transforms our lives when we accept it by faith.
Accepting this gift means acknowledging our need for a Savior and placing our trust in Jesus. It is a decision that changes everything, from our identity to our purpose in life. When we understand the depth of God's love for us, demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice, it compels us to live differently. We are no longer bound by our past mistakes or failures; we are new creations in Christ, empowered to live a life that honors God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."
Reflection: Have you fully accepted the gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus? How does this good news transform the way you live your life?
Day 4: Maintaining Spiritual Hunger
To keep our hunger and thirst for righteousness, we must remind ourselves of God's immense love for us, avoid spiritual junk food, and prioritize knowing God more each day. Immersing ourselves in God's Word and understanding His love will naturally lead us to love Him more. [28:18]
Maintaining a hunger and thirst for righteousness requires intentional effort. It starts with reminding ourselves of God's immense love for us. When we understand how deeply God loves us, it naturally stirs a desire to know Him more and live according to His will. This involves avoiding "spiritual junk food"—things that may seem satisfying in the moment but ultimately leave us empty. Instead, we should prioritize spending time in God's Word, prayer, and worship.
Immersing ourselves in God's Word is crucial for maintaining spiritual hunger. The Bible is not just a book of rules; it is a love letter from God that reveals His character and His plans for us. As we read and meditate on Scripture, we grow in our understanding of God's love and His righteousness. This, in turn, fuels our desire to live in a way that pleases Him. Additionally, surrounding ourselves with a community of believers who share this hunger for God can provide encouragement and accountability.
Psalm 119:10-11 (ESV): "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Reflection: What are some "spiritual junk foods" in your life that you need to avoid? How can you prioritize spending time in God's Word to maintain your spiritual hunger?
Day 5: Influence of Community
The people we surround ourselves with significantly influence our spiritual journey. Associating with those who hunger and thirst for God can inspire and encourage us to pursue righteousness. Being part of a community that shares our spiritual goals is crucial for our growth. [39:54]
The influence of community on our spiritual journey cannot be overstated. The people we surround ourselves with can either encourage us to grow in our faith or lead us away from God. Associating with those who hunger and thirst for God can inspire and motivate us to pursue righteousness. Being part of a community that shares our spiritual goals provides support, accountability, and encouragement.
In the early church, believers met regularly to pray, study Scripture, and support one another. This sense of community was vital for their spiritual growth and perseverance. Today, we also need to be intentional about building relationships with fellow believers who can walk alongside us in our faith journey. Joining a small group, attending church regularly, and participating in community activities are practical ways to foster these relationships. When we are part of a community that seeks God, we are more likely to stay focused on our spiritual goals and grow in our relationship with Him.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that influence your spiritual journey? How can you be more intentional about building relationships with those who hunger and thirst for God?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Americans don't really know what it is to be hungry. We think we get satisfied by a Snickers bar. Or we think that... What quenches your thirst is Gatorade. But the reality is all of us are hungry and we're thirsty. There's a lady by the name of Mother Teresa. How many have ever heard of her? And she said this, that in India, they're starving physically. But in America, they are starving spiritually. And I believe we all have a spiritual hunger and a thirst inside of us. We just don't know what to call it." [03:51](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Because inside of us, it's a spiritual hunger that only God can fill. We try to fill it with all kinds of other junk. But only God can fill it. This is why Jesus said, again, in Matthew chapter 5, verses. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled. Other translations say they will be fully satisfied. You will be filled to the rim. Hallelujah. You will overflow with satisfaction." [06:51](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Why should we even care about righteousness? Why should we even care about hungering and thirsting after righteousness? I mean, our neighbors don't care. How many of your coworkers, they don't care about righteousness. Some of your relatives, they don't care about righteousness. Our community, even our government sometimes doesn't care about righteousness. So why should we care about righteousness? Why should we hunger and thirst? Why should we thirst after these things? Well, two reasons, and you can write this down. It's the only way to really live. And the second thing, it's the only way to get to heaven." [12:02](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You can live the Burger King life or you can live the King of Kings life. Hallelujah. Huh? I want to live the King of Kings life. I made up that one by myself right there. But anyone, God never forces anybody to love him because then if you force somebody, then that's not really love. Yeah. And so really God's saying to you and I, you know what? You can be as close to me as you want to be, or you can be as separated from me as you want to be. But understand this, that one day you're going to stand before God and give account for your life." [15:04](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So what is it? What is symbolic of never forgetting the sacrifice that Jesus did for us? There's two things that Christians do that reminds us of the sacrifice that Jesus made so that we, we can become righteous. Two of them. One of them. One of them is baptism. And the second one is communion. Baptism is basically it's like it represents it's symbolic of the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus." [23:38](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So Solomon made this conclusion of life. He said, basically, life is supposed to be where you learn to fear God, you reverence God, and that you keep his commandment. Now, before he ever made these statements, Solomon tried to fill his life. He tried to fill his life with a lot of things. He tried to fill it with education, with continual learning. If you read the first couple of chapters, he said, I tried to learn this. I tried to learn that. And at the end of the day, I still wasn't satisfied. It was all in vain." [05:53](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You live on God's term. And how do you do that? You live by faith in God and you live righteously before him. First John two 29, all who practice righteousness. Are God's true children. So evidence that you are a child of God evidence that you're living for God is that a byproduct of that is the righteousness of your life, of your lifestyle. We can lift our hands. How many know that we can jump, we can shout, but if you ain't living it, you're just a person that shouts and jumps. Right. And I'm not against that. I think we ought to do that. But our lifestyle. I ought to back up what we're shouting about and what we're jumping about." [10:32](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So how do we keep this appetite? How do we keep this hunger and this thirsting for righteousness? How many know when your kids don't eat? And when they're not thirsty, what is that a sign of? They're sick, right? How many know our kids? They love to eat though. He's like, I'm hungry. He's like, shut up. Now. I already made you a sandwich. I made you a sandwich an hour ago. You can't be hungry. You're not hungry. Go, go up, go play outside, go along, read some books. You know what I'm saying? And do all these things, right? But how do we maintain this thirsting, this hunger for God?" [27:40](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You have to remember how much the Lord loves you. I've talked to people all the time and they say, pastor, you know, I don't think I love God enough. And I said, what do you mean by that? Well, you know, I just seem to always, I just always seem to be down. I don't, I don't do enough of this. I don't do enough of that. Your problem isn't how much you love God. The problem is you don't understand how much God loves you. God really does love you. And God really does care about you. When you begin to understand how much God loves you, you will begin to love him back in return." [28:18](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you're going to maintain a hunger and a thirst, you got to feed on the word of God. If you only hear the word of God when you're in this church, that's not enough. You're only eating once a week. And I know none of you. I know none of you in the physical realm eat once a week. I'm taking a look at a lot of you right now. You eat several times a day, amen. Maybe a little too much. But anyway, we won't comment on that even though I did already. What I'm trying to do is try to tell you today is you need soul food and your soul food is God's word." [35:33](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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