Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness BLESSED are the Meek BLESSED are Those Who Matthew 5:5~6

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:3~10

The Beatitudes in Chinese eight blessings heaven kingdom blessed

福到了 Blessing has arrived 福倒了 Blessing has fallen

Ephesians 1:3~14 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love 5 He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.

Matthew 5:5~6 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:5~6 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Condition Blessing Condition Blessing

Matthew 5:5~6 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Description Blessing Description Blessing

Matthew 7:9~11 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! Spiritual & Eternal Blessings from God

Matthew 6:19~20 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Material Pursuits vs Spiritual Blessings

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:3~10

‘Meekness’ in NOT… …being spineless, or lacking willpower …being a pushover, easily bullied …being timid or cowardly …being gullible

Is ‘Meekness’ related to… …being patient or tolerant? …being soft-spoken? …being gentle? …being humble? …being weak? …being submissive?

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Psalm 37:11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Psalm 37:3~11 3 Trust in the L ORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the L ORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the L ORD ; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the L ORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the L ORD will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity

2 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV) By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,…

2 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV) By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,… 2 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV) Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,…

2 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV) By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul,… 2 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV) Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ,…

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle…

Ephesians 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle… Ephesians 4:2 (KJV) With all lowliness and meekness…

Meekness = Humility + Gentleness

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,…

Psalm 37:3~11 3 Trust in the L ORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Take delight in the L ORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the L ORD ; trust in Him and He will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the L ORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the L ORD will inherit the land. 10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. 11 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

RIGHTEOUSNESS is …being right with God …being in a right standing before God …cannot be achieved through righteous acts

3 TYPES of Righteousness …Self Righteousness …Positional Righteousness …Practical Righteousness RIGHTEOUSNESS is …being right with God …being in a right standing before God …cannot be achieved through righteous acts

Luke 18:10~12 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people— robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Philippians 3:9 …not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. POSITIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. PRACTICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,…

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Practical Righteousness

Psalm 42:1~2b As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Psalm 42:1~2b As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Psalm 63:1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek You; I thirst for You, my whole being longs for You, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

By A.W. Tozer (1897~1963) O God, I have tasted Your goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want You. I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.