REVIEW
“The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ description of what Christ wants his followers to be and to do” (John Stott, 15).
FLIP CHART: SOM’S KEY VERSE, GOAL, MOTTO
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ….” (Matthew 6:33a).
The law sends us to Christ for justification; Christ sends us back to the law for sanctification.
FLIP CHART: Show “window pane” of the 8 beatitudes.
“The Beatitudes do not come at the end, they come at the beginning of the Sermon, and I do not hesitate to say that unless we are perfectly clear about them we should go no further.” (MLJ, 23)
FLIP CHART: Show new “Perfect Righteousness” chart explaining steps to coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst) and then legal righteousness. Explain moral righteousness, immediate moral change, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving).
INTRODUCTION:
OUTLINE FOR TODAY:
10 Criteria for Evaluating Our Spiritual Hunger
READING: BEATITUDES:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
SHORT REVIEW OF LAST LESSON ON MATTHEW 5:6
I. RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST BE OUR FOCUS
We are not to hunger and thirst for blessedness, happiness, security, long life, wealth, health, power, beauty, knowledge. Our supreme goal as Christians is righteousness, true inner goodness, moral excellence!
“Hungering and thirsting” means a consciousness of our need, of our desperate need, even to the point of pain. It is a pain that stays with us until it is satisfied. This is not a passing feeling or desire. It is not something that passes as a morning cloud. It is as actual and as real as physical hunger and thirst. It becomes the controlling passion of our lives to satisfy this hunger and thirst.
II. HUNGERING/THIRSTING FOR LEGAL RIGHTEOUSNESS – – BRINGS US SALVATION
III. HUNGERING/THIRSTING FOR MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS
FLIP CHART: Explain about “moral” righteousness as opposed to “legal” righteousness.
IV. BEING FILLED AND HUNGERING STILL
The word “hunger” and “thirst” are present tense and on-going. It is perpetual.
We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the Fountain-heard.
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.
TEN CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING SPIRITUAL HUNGER
ILL: Pak Pardo of PARI said that his main concern was how to help his team of 25 workers pursue a deep and living relationship with Christ, how to progress is true Christian spirituality.
Class Activity: Count off in fives, switch to table that have your number. List as many criteria as you can that would help you determine the level of a person’s spiritual hunger.
I. AM I DAILY AWARE OF MY SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY, MY SPIRITUAL POVERTY, THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN ME TO COMMEND ME TO GOD?
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (5:3).
“I deserve to burn in hell! Anything less than that is a pretty good day!”
“No matter how rich his spiritual experience or how advanced his spiritual maturity, the hungering Christian will always say, ‘O wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?’ (Romans 7:24).
ILL: We don’t beat ourselves up but like a good athlete or a good musician, we always want to improve. Someone said to a great baseball player that he was really lucky to have done so well. The player replied, “The more I practice the luckier I get.” Good musicians, good athletes and growing Christians are aware of how inadequate they are and continue to hunger for more.
“He has most need of ‘moral’ righteousness that least wants it” (Puritan Thomas Watson).
II. AM I SADDENED BY THE SIN AROUND ME? DO I WEEP BECAUSE OF SINS I HAVE COMMITTED OR BIBLICAL STANDARDS I HAVE FAILED TO PRACTICE?
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret …. . See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.” (II Cor. 7:10-11).
“…. whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (I Tim. 4:2).
ILL: NARRATOR: The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, NATHAN: “There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. “Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” NARRATOR: David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, DAVID: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” NARRATOR: Then Nathan said to David, NATHAN: “You are the man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul (II Samuel 12:1-7).
“I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6)
III. DO I AVOID SINFUL ACTIVITIES?
QUESTION: What are some of the sinful activities that Christians get involved in?
Lust in all forms, adultery, pornography, lying …. bad movies, novels, evil thoughts.
“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.” (Psalm 1:1).
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses (I Tim. 6:11-12).
IV. DO I AVOID THINGS THAT ARE NOT HARMFUL IN THEMSELVES BUT TAKE THE EDGE OF MY SPIRITUAL APPETITE?
QUESTION: What do we do to ruin our physical appetite? Can you give an illustration? Have you ever told your spouse, child, “Don’t eat that. It will ruin your appetite!”
For me, the challenge is balance – web news, sports, reading e.g. “Kopassus” – a short history of the Indonesian Special Forces. Was this beneficial, necessary?
“Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything (I Corinthian 6:12).
“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive (I Cor. 10:23).
In this matter no one can judge another but we all need to judge ourselves. If we find something we are doing is taking the edge off our spiritual appetite, that we should take action.
V. DO I READ BIOGRAPHIES OF SAINTS WHO HAVE PURSED LIVING A RIGHTEOUS LIFE?
ILL: E Stanley Jones, Song of Ascents – (1) Kissing verses from the Bible (pg. 29); (2) Desiring more of the Lord (pg. 41); (3) Deeper spiritual life experience (pg. 53); To Africa in spite of his mother’s health (pg. 72).
VI. DO I HAVE A DEEP CRAVING FOR THE WORD OF GOD?
QUESTION: What are some of the classic verses in the Bible that focus on spiritual hunger?
“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.” (Psalm 1:1-2).
“My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.” (Psalm 119:20).
“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.” (Jeremiah 15:16).
VII. DO I FIND MY PRIMARY SOURCE OF JOY IN THE THINGS OF GOD OR EXTERNAL THINGS?
When we find our main source of joy in external things, e.g. my hobbies, children, spouse, car house, retirement, business, ministry then we need to take a hard look at our spiritual appetite.
Or do we find the things of God pleasant to our heart? Do we find it a great joy to meditate on the Word, on His love and greatness, to listen to music that glorifies Him? To read a good book about the Christian life, my relationship with Him?
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah.” (Psalm 84:1-4).
VIII. DO I SEEK FELLOWSHIP WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS WHO ARE FOCUSING ON LIVING A RIGHTEOUS LIFE?
If you practice with athletes and musicians who are mediocre you will not grow as you ought. In the same way we need to search out and spend time with those who are moving forward in their spiritual lives.
This does not mean that you cut yourself off from everyone else but it does mean that you should have a few friends who have a deep hunger for righteousness and spur you on to seek the Lord.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Heb. 10:24).
IX. DO I PUT MYSELF IN PLACES WHERE MY SPIRITUAL HUNGER CAN BE SATISFIED?
When we miss a service or a Bible Study or an Adult Fellowship meeting, we are missing an opportunity to have our spiritual needs met.
The president of my Bible College, L.E. Maxwell, said he never wanted to miss a meeting at the college because He did not know when God was going to move in a mighty way in His people and he wanted to be there when that happened?
ILL: I was in the home of a woman who turned the TV on the minute she got up in the morning and the TV ran all day without interruption. How terrible to fill our minds with all of the drivel from the TV, this modern American wasteland. Do you have your radio tuned to a Christian station? Often I have received a real blessing just from some word that I heard while driving.
X. AM I FOCUSING ON GROWING IN MORAL RIGHTEOUSNESS? IS THIS A PRIORITY TO ME? DO I PRAY ABOUT THIS? ASKING GOD TO HELP ME?
Am I praying daily for victory in some character flaw, moral problem I am having, e.g. laziness, anger, over-eating, selfishness?
Do I have a “Spiritual Life Statement” that focuses on moving forward in my spiritual life?
Am I reading books about spiritual growth, moral righteousness?
Am I having a good and productive daily quiet time?
SO WHAT????
1. Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose” and C.T. Studd, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, than not sacrifice is too great for me to make for him.
2. The heart that is pleasing to God is the hungry heart:
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.
More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.
More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.
3. We can cultivate a heart that hungers and thirsts for righteousness.
4. Spiritual hunger is a characteristic of God’s people, whose supreme ambition is not material but spiritual. Christians are not like pagans, engrossed in the pursuit of possessions; what they have set themselves to ‘seek first’ is God’s kingdom and righteousness.’ (Stott, 44)