Sermon on the Mount 4

Sermon on the Mount
The Beatitudes, 4

Happy Are The Hungry

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Introductory Thoughts

* If we want an antidote to superficial Christianity, there is no better single portion of scripture for us to study than the Sermon on the Mount.

** The Sermon on the Mount consists of the King of Heaven giving the first part of the constitution and by-laws of the Kingdom of Heaven.

* The Beatitudes—the attitudes that ought to be.

* The Beatitudes are the character traits of the Christian.

1. All Christians are to be like this.
2. All Christians are meant to have some measure of all of these characteristics.
3. The Beatitudes show the utter difference between the Christian and the non-Christian.

“The glory of the gospel is that when the Church is absolutely different from the world, she invariably attracts it…” (Lloyd-Jones.)

a. The Christian is different from the world in what he admires.

b. The Christian is different from the world in what he desires.

c. The Christian is different from the world in what he does.

d. The Christian is different from the world in what he thinks he can do.

e. Bottom line: the Christian and the lost man belong to completely different kingdoms.

* No one on this earth expresses these qualities perfectly or absolutely, but just as with the contrast in lifestyles given in Galatians 5, and 1 Cor 6, if you look at your life and some measure of the beatitudes is not to be found, you must begin to ask yourself if you are really a believer or not.

* The Biblical idea of happiness: God’s Concept of Happiness—“…3 Blessed…”

(1) Happiness comes from faith in Christ—John 20:29 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [markarios, happy] are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

(2) Happiness comes from Following Christ—John 13:17 "If ye know these things, happy [markarios, happy] are ye if ye do them."

(3) The ultimate happiness for the Christian is the return of Christ—Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed [markarios, happy] hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"

* We first learned that poverty of spirit, or humility, is the first characteristic of the true believer.

* Two weeks ago we faced a true riddle, “blessed are they that mourn,” or “happy are the sad.”

** Now, the world really thinks this is a stupid idea

** We found that the sorrow of the world is death, the sorrow of the world is meaningless, but that Godly sorrow over sin leads to salvation and leads to all comforts, now and later.

* Last week, we discovered that meekness is power under control.

** Some believers need help in the “power” area.

** Some believers need help in the “control” area.

* This week, we have another statement which is at total odds with the world: “Happy are the hungry and thirsty!”

** Again, a paradox, a mystery—happy are the hungry and thirsty.

** Again, a statement which is at odds with the world. In the world’s view of things, “happy are the full…”

** This week, we will look at another basic character trait of a true believer, and it again touches on an issue of the heart—what do you desire? For what do you hunger and thirst? What is it that you must have, or you will die?

Mat 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

The message of tonight’s sermon—A true Christian is one who desires above all else to be right with God, and God will continually fulfill that desire.


1. Hungering and Thirsting— 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

a. The words mean to hunger and thirst for that without which you cannot live.

(1) It does not only refer to physical needs, but to psychological and spiritual needs as well.

(2) We are not talking about a gentle craving here

(3) We are talking about an intense need, the same kind of need that a man dying of thirst has for water.

b. What does the world hunger and thirst after?

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)

(1) Power—

Isa 14:12-15 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

(2) Success

Dan 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.



(3) Money—

1 Tim 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."


(4) Sex


(5) Adulation (worship from others)

Acts 12:20-24 "And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied."

(6) Comfort and ease

(7) Food and drink

(8) Drugs and alcohol

(9) Religion—on human terms

Mat 23:2-6 "Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,"

c. What are the results of the world’s hungers?

(1) Individually, when the appetites are negative ones

(a) Lives ruined

(b) Families ruined

(c) The results of lust for these things:

(2) Individually, even when the appetites are morally neutral

Luke 12:16-21 "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

(3) Corporately, as a nation—

** These things are what the world seeks—32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)


d. The mistake the world makes, and which many professing Christians make—they seek happiness, and the things they think will buy happiness.

(1) The text does not say to seek happiness, it tells us to seek righteousness.

(2) We do not achieve happiness as an end in itself. Happiness always comes as the result of seeking the root cause of true happiness. (Adapted from Lloyd-Jones)

(3) The illustration of the doctor. (Lloyd-Jones)

(a) A man with a terrible disease, which is very painful

(b) Does a good doctor treat the pain, or the root cause of the pain?

(c) The answer is that a good doctor will attack the thing that is causing the pain. If a doctor has such a patient, and if there is a treatment for the cause of the pain, a good doctor will treat the cause.

(d) If a doctor in such a case should alleviate pain in a patient and not try to fix the cause, that would be a travesty.

(4) The true man of God will help you find the root cause, not simply try to make you feel better.

e. But these things that man desires do not meet the need that claws at the heart !

(1) “Oh God you have made us for yourself, and we will not rest until we rest in thee…” (Augustine)

(2) Human beings were made by God and for God, and even in our rebellion, there is a gnawing hunger inside for a relationship with our creator!

Psa 100:1-3 "A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

f. What is man’s greatest need? –It is peace with God, that leads to the peace of God—6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

(1) An unsaved person has one need which surpasses all other needs.

(2) The Tragedy—lost men do not realize this need.

(3) The paradox—

(a) A man dying of thirst knows he is dying of thirst, he has a desire for water.

(b) A man dying of hunger knows he is hungry

(c) But a lost man with the fatal disease of sin does not know that he is sick, and in fact, he resents the implication when you try to tell him he is sick.

(4) To be right with God, to have peace with God and the peace of God, this is the great need of man—but most don’t understand that fact.

(5) We need righteousness, because God will punish unrighteousness.

Ezek 18:4 "Behold, all souls are mine; … the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; …”


(6) None of us have righteousness

Rom 3:10-11 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

Rom 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

(a) Little child sitting out there, here me—

(b) You don’t have righteousness unless you have Christ as your Savior.

(7) There is nothing any of us can do to earn righteousness.

Isa 64:6 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Rom 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: …”

Gal 2:16 "… by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

A true Christian is one who truly desires to be right with God, and God will continually fulfill that desire.

2. Spiritual Hunger— 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

a. What is spiritual hunger? It is to desire God, His Presence, and His righteousness, with an insatiable desire.

(1) The desire is for righteousness

(2) This is righteousness in every sense, it is a desire to be right with God legally, morally, and in every other way.

b. Examples of Spiritual Hunger

(1) Moses was a man with that desire

(a) He had stood in the Presence of God at the burning bush.

(b) He had defied Pharaoh and seen the Red Sea swallow Pharaoh’s armies

(c) He had talked with God personally, yet Moses wanted more: **Ex 33:9-18

(2) David was a man with this desire for God

Psa 84 "To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. …"

Psa 42:1-4 "To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday."

(3) Paul was a man with this desire for God

(a) Paul, when he was known as Saul, was a man with a lot going for him, as his culture and world saw it.

Phil 3:3 “…For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless."

(b) But Paul was consumed by another desire, by a desire for righteousness.

Phil 3:7-10 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

c. Spiritual Hunger—a progression

(1) It begins when we first realize we are needy

Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: …”

(2) It continues as we see our sin compared to God’s holiness and righteousness, and we mourn over that sin.

Mat 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted."

Luke 18:13 "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

(3) This spiritual hunger adjusts our attitude toward self.

Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."

d. What does it mean to hunger and thirst after righteousness?

(1) First, It means to desire God above all other things, especially more than pride.


(a) If you are a lost person under conviction, to hunger and thirst after righteousness means to desire God more than you desire your sin, and to hunger and thirst after righteousness means that you are willing to forsake all for Christ.

(b) If you are a lost church member, to hunger and thirst after righteousness means that your desire to be right with God exceeds the embarrassment to your pride of admitting that you were a false professor of religion.

(c) If you are a true Christian who is backslidden, to hunger and thirst after righteousness means to desire to be in full communion with God again, no matter what the cost to your pride and comforts.

(d) If you are a true Christian living for the Lord, to hunger and thirst after righteousness means to desire to grow in Grace and to serve Him more and more.

(i) Like Moses, the talks in the tent are not enough

(ii) You want to see the glory revealed.

(iii) You want to see God move in your life and in the lives of others.

(2) To hunger and thirst after righteousness is not something that stops when a person gets saved.
(a) A man or woman under conviction wants to have a relationship with God and to be legally righteous and have peace with God.
(b) Now, chances are, they do not realize that is what they want, but in their heart, they desire justification.
(c) A True Believer in Christ will also hunger and thirst after salvation, wanting to grow in Him and to progress in discipleship.
(d) Again, if a believer is not taught correctly, they won’t realize that holiness is what they desire, but growth in grace is all that will satisfy the true believer’s appetite.

e. In the light of all this, how do we evaluate our condition?

(1) We need to see where the Bible sets the extremes:

(2) The barely saved—there are some (in the Bible, a very few) who are just barely saved.

(a) Lot—very little fruit, and a life ruined by compromise.

2 Pet 2:6-8 "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)"

(b) The Thief on the cross—at the last minute—he had no chance to grow or be discipled.

Luke 23:39-43 "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

(c) The Thorny ground hearers: maybe saved, maybe not!

Mark 4:18 "And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful…”

(3) The Salt of the Earth Christian—The Good ground hearers—varying degrees of fruit, but fruit nonetheless.

20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

(4) Fruit—Mat 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

(5) Then the question is: what is the fruit, and where is the fruit?

(a) The fruit of the Spirit is not:

(i) The Lost won

(ii) Good Works done

(iii) Spiritual Victories won

(b) The fruit of the Spirit is character developed and developing in the believer:

Gal 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

e. The Bottom line for you—What do you hunger and thirst after?

(1) Do you desire the world and its pleasures?

(2) Do you desire comfort and ease?

(3) Or do you desire Peace with God and the Peace of God?

A true Christian is one who truly desires to be right with God, and God will continually fulfill that desire.

f. The goal of Spiritual hungering and thirsting is to be right with God— Mat 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

(1) Those who come to Christ find peace with God

Rom 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

(2) Those who are taught and discipled and grow in grace will find the peace of God.

Phil 4:4 “…Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. “

Phil 4:8-9 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

3. The Reward for Hungering and Thirsting— 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

a. They Shall—there is no “maybe” in this—it is certain and sure.

b. They shall be filled

(1) The Water of life will quench their thirst

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

(2) The Bread of Life shall feed their hungry soul

John 6:47-51 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

(3) The eating and drinking are not literal and physical, but they are spiritual…

John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

Applications

1. In this beatitude, we see a pattern repeated.

2. The character trait, and the result of that character trait.

3. What is your desire? It tells on you.