1 Bless Are They Which Do Hunger & Thirst After Righteousness

2 1. Hunger & Thirst Hunger and thirst are the two most common desires The desire for food & water is so intense that it must be satisfied

3 1. Hunger & Thirst “To hunger and thirst after a thing is to feel a need for it so badly that we are determined to have it at any cost. We must hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness before we will search for it.” Melvin J. Wise

4 1. Hunger & Thirst Our desire for righteousness must be so great that we will not allow ourselves to be deprived of it

5 2. Righteousness In the New Testament it refers to one who is faithfully putting into practice the plan God has for his life God’s plan for man is revealed in his word

6 2. Righteousness So if we keep God’s commandments, we are righteous Ps. 119:172 Rom. 1:16-17 Rom. 10:3

7 2. Righteousness Lk. 1:6

8 3. What Righteousness Includes a. A desire to be free from the guilt of sin Acts 22:16

9 3. What Righteousness Includes b. A desire to keep God’s commandments Jn. 7:17

10 3. What Righteousness Includes c. A strong desire to be free from the power of sin Ron. 6:12

11 3. What Righteousness Includes d. A desire to be holy Gal. 5:22-23

12 3. What Righteousness Includes e. A desire to ultimately be in heaven Mt. 10:22

13 4. This Is The Only Desire That Can Be Fully Satisfied Alcoholic Drug addict Fornicator Liar Cheater

14 4. This Is The Only Desire That Can Be Fully Satisfied Physical hunger Our desire for righteousness can be filled and no power on earth can prevent it

15 5. They Shall Be Filled This beatitude also suggests God’s willingness to provide what we need to satisfy our desire for righteousness God provides for our physical hunger and thirst and he also provides for our spiritual desire to be righteous

16 5. They Shall Be Filled We are happy only if we seek God’s righteousness “The way to real, lasting happiness, is through earnestly desiring righteousness” Bob Winton

17 Conclusion --- The Alien Sinner They must obey the gospel to be righteous – to have their past sins forgiven Acts 2:37-38

18 Conclusion --- The Erring Child Of God They need to repent and be restored Rev. 2:5

19 References Outlined Commentary On Matthew, Bob Winton Survey of the Life of Christ, by Melvin J. Wise The Living Way series, Lambert’s Book House, 1968 “The Beatitudes, Spiritual Sword, Vol. 4 #3 “The Beatitudes”, Christian Worker, Vol. 97, #2