Revive Our Appetite

Forty years of salvation and restoring spiritual hunger are recounted through testimony, Scripture, and practical exhortation. The narrative moves from a life rescued out of poverty and trauma to a sustained devotion that refuses temporary fixes. Appetite and hunger are distinguished: hunger demands fuel, while appetite craves a specific satisfaction. This distinction frames a call to cultivate an appetite for God—one that refuses to be satisfied by the world and instead feasts on the Word.

Jesus in the wilderness serves as the model: when tempted to turn stones into bread, Scripture shows that life is sustained by every word from God's mouth rather than mere physical provision. Spiritual appetite, when fed on the Word, produces capacity for more of God—transforming desires, speech, and behavior so that the shape of a life increasingly matches the Father. Revival begins inwardly; surrender, not striving, unlocks God’s work in a person’s heart. Rather than mustering willpower to stop old patterns, one surrenders and allows God to change the appetite itself.

Practical alignment is emphasized: surrounding oneself with shepherds, leaders, and a community of faith creates the environment where God’s capacity can grow and discernment can be cultivated. Choices must match longing—spiritual hunger without corresponding alignment produces compromise. A dramatic near-death testimony during COVID and a clear sense of being sent back to proclaim God’s agape love root the exhortation in real encounter and commissioning. The promise that God will never leave or forsake, together with Psalmic invitation to taste and see, anchors the charge: choose life, pursue righteousness, and live God-conscious beyond Sunday. The honest invitation is simple—come, surrender, expect God to meet, and watch desire be transformed into a hunger that only Christ can satisfy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Distinguish hunger from appetite Spiritual hunger signals need; appetite signals desire for a specific satisfaction. Recognizing this difference helps Christians stop settling for any remedy and start seeking what truly fulfills—the presence and Word of God. Appetite shapes choices, so deliberate cultivation of spiritual craving reorients life toward God’s lasting provision. [03:23]
• 2. Feed on God’s Word first Bread alone will not sustain life; Scripture and communion with God supply the depth that outward comforts cannot. When Scripture anchors desire, decisions align with kingdom priorities and temptations lose their power. Feeding on the Word creates a life that looks, sounds, and acts like the Father. [04:48]
• 3. Surrender replaces constant striving Surrender is not passive resignation but an opening that invites God to transform desire itself. Trying harder keeps the old self in control; surrender lets God produce a new appetite that naturally rejects compromises. When God works from within, obedience flows without exhausting willpower. [20:39]
• 4. Align community with personal longing Spiritual growth requires honest alignment between what is wanted and where one lives and worships. Choosing leaders, peers, and a church family that reflect kingdom values creates capacity to receive God’s fullness and discernment in daily decisions. Misaligned habits often explain missed callings; intentional alignment repositions a life for fruitfulness. [23:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:28] - Personal testimony of salvation
• [01:50] - Family and gratitude
• [02:25] - Revival: "Revive our appetite"
• [03:23] - Hunger versus appetite explained
• [04:48] - Bread vs. the Word (Matthew 4)
• [05:46] - Worship and expectant faith
• [08:19] - Appetite illustrated (steak longing)
• [11:44] - God creates capacity for more
• [20:39] - Surrender, not striving
• [23:29] - Align with church and choices
• [24:44] - Near-death encounter & agape love
• [30:14] - Live God-conscious daily

1. In Matthew 4, what was the devil’s specific temptation to Jesus, and how did it directly relate to Jesus’ physical condition after fasting for forty days?
2. Jesus’ response was, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” [04:48] What is the fundamental difference between the two sources of life Jesus mentions: “bread alone” and “every word… from the mouth of God”?
3. The sermon distinguished between “hunger” (your body saying, “I need fuel”) and “appetite” (your mind saying, “I want this”). [03:40] In the wilderness, was Jesus simply hungry, or was the devil tempting a specific appetite? Explain your thinking.

1. What does it mean to truly “live… by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”? [04:48] What might that look like in the daily life of a believer today, beyond just reading the Bible?
2. It was said that if you feed on the world, your appetite will crave the world, but if you feed on God, your appetite will crave God. [10:33] Why do you think our spiritual appetites are so powerfully shaped by what we consume? How have you seen this principle play out in your own life or in the lives of others?
3. Surrender is presented as the key to allowing God to change our appetites, which is different from just trying harder to stop a bad habit. [20:39] Why is surrender often more effective than willpower in bringing about lasting spiritual change? What does this tell us about who is truly in control of our transformation?

1. We all have appetites. Think about the illustration of craving a good steak. [08:19] What is one appetite in your life right now that you know doesn't truly satisfy? What "bread" or temporary fix do you find yourself turning to when that craving hits?
2. There’s a difference between a general spiritual hunger and a specific, cultivated appetite for God’s presence. [03:52] Looking at your past week, have you been operating more out of hunger or appetite? What is one small step you can take to intentionally cultivate a stronger appetite for Him?
3. Surrender is not about mustering up strength, but about letting God change your desires from the inside out. [22:22] Is there an area where you feel stuck, constantly trying and failing to change? What would it look like this week to stop striving and simply surrender that specific thing to God, asking Him to transform the desire itself?
4. To grow in our capacity for God, we need to align our lives with the kingdom, including our community. [23:29] How intentionally are you connecting with your shepherds, leaders, and the community of faith here? Are there any relationships or habits in your life that are misaligned with your desire to grow closer to God?
5. We are called to be “God-conscious,” not just on Sundays but in everything we do. [30:14] What is one practical way you can practice acknowledging God’s presence throughout your day tomorrow—whether at work, at home, or in your interactions with others?
6. God’s agape love is unconditional and has the power to transform us completely. [25:56] Is there a part of your life you feel is unlovable or beyond repair? How might truly receiving His unconditional love, right where you are, begin to heal and change that area?