The Blessings

4 – Hungering After Righteousness

TEXT:  Matt. 5:1-12

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE “BLESSINGS,” OR “BEATITUDES,” ARE WELL KNOWN.

B.      BOTH THE BLESSINGS AND THE TRAITS ARE COMPOSITES.

C.      SERMON’S THEME (5:20).

I.      THEY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS (vs. 6).

A.      VORACIOUS APPETITE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – MUST HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE.

B.      APPLICATION TO GOD’S WORD.

          1.       Like babies (1 Pet. 2:2;  2 Pet. 3:18).

          2.       David (Psa. 1:1-2;  119:97).

          3.       Searching (John 5:39;  Acts 17:11;  1 Pet. 1:10-12).

                   Why? (Rom. 1:16-17;  2 Tim. 3:14-15).

          4.       Israel (Deut. 6:4-9, 20-25;  Neh. 8:1-9).

C.      NOT JUST GOD’S WORD, BUT INCLUDES CONDITIONS DESCRIBED AS RIGHT.

          1.       Israel’s curse (Isa. 5:18-23;  Jer. 2:13;  5:30-31;  6:16;  8:8-12;  9:1-2;  14:10-12;  19:14-15;  20:7-10;  23:1-2).

          2.       Will we follow? (Phil. 3:18-19;  2 Tim. 3:1-5;  Jas. 4:7-10;  2 Tim. 4:3-4).

          3.       The righteous will desire just conditions.

                   a.       For himself (Psa. 16:1-5).

                   b.       For his neighbor (2 Pet. 2:8 – Jude 22-23;  1 Cor. 13:6-7;  3 John 2-4).

          4.       Will not be silent in absence (Amos 5:24;  Eph. 5:11).

D.      LONGS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS LINKED TO CLEANSING.

          1.       Sin is man’s curse – Results (Rom. 6:23).

          2.       David longed for cleansing (Psa. 51:7-9;  Matt. 11:28-30).

E.      NOT HAPPY WITH JUST KNOWING RIGHT, BUT MUST SEE THAT IT PREVAILS IN HIS LIFE WHETHER OR NOT TO HIS PERSONAL ADVANTAGE.  THE CAUSE OF GOD (HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS) IS MOST IMPORTANT, SO HE STUDIES GOD’S WILL, APPLIES IT TO HIMSELF, AND TEACHES IT TO OTHERS.

IV.   REWARD:  THEY SHALL BE FILLED (vs. 6).

A.      GOD’S WORD IS A FEAST (1 Pet. 2:1-2).

          1.       Milk and Meat (Heb. 5:12-14).

          2.       Complete, well-balanced (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

B.      UNDER CHRIST’S RULE RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGNS.

          1.       Jesus’ rule is based on what is right (Heb. 1:8-9).

          2.       Citizens are characterized by righteousness and obedience (Heb. 8:8-12;  2 Tim. 2:19).

C.      RIGHTEOUSNESS LINKED TO CLEANSING.

          1.       Washed in the blood (1 John 1:6-7).

          2.       Never too dirty (1 Cor. 6:9-11;  1 Tim. 1:12-16).

          3.       Jesus is the only one who can satisfy (John 6:35, 51, 63, 66-69).

CONLUSION:  DO YOU HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS?

A.      THE BIBLE IS FROM GOD?  DON’T YOU LONG TO KNOW IT BETTER?

B.      ARE YOU VEXED BY THE SIN THAT SURROUNDS US?

C.      ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?