Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!

(NIV)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” simply means “to be fully satisfied.”

What is … a big word in the Bible. Because it’s a word that is used literally hundreds and hundreds of times in the Scripture. Because it’s a word that is used literally hundreds and hundreds of times in the Scripture.

… in just 2 words! — it means “right with God, right relationship with God, or being right with God.”

“The Good News shows how God makes people right with himself.” (NCV) Romans 1:17….

tells us … God makes us RIGHT with Himself.

… in just 2 words! — it means “living right, living right as God intends, or living right in faith.”

“… all who practice righteousness are God’s true children.” (The Message) 1 John 2:29….

is a … Why should we care? Why should I hunger and thirst for it?

In a nutshell – 2 reasons…. It’s the ONLY WAY to live It’s the ONLY WAY to heaven Righteousness is the road to life and path to immortality...” [GNT]

What does that mean? It means that when you were disconnected from God you’re not really living. You’re just existing only.

“Thou has made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until we find our peace in Thee.” Saint Augustine said this...

is not just about the acquisition of things or the achievement of goals. is about knowing God and His purpose for us.

What does that mean? It means “ righteousness ” is the way you get to heaven. God did not force us, but a CHOICE we made at salvation.

God plans to help us get in “right relationship” with Him …. It’s salvation from SIN and eternal separation from God. “Good News”

The “Good News” is God plans to make us RIGHT with Himself!

“Can an Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.” [NIV] Jeremiah 13:23….

“There is not a single person in all the earth who is always good and never sins.” [NLT] Ecclesiastes 7:20….

“For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.” [NLT] Romans 3:20….

“ 23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. …. Romans 3:23-25….

…. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.” [NLT]

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” [NLT] 2 Corinthians 5:21….

“We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.’” [NLT] Romans 3:22….

How do I maintain my “spiritual hunger” for the rest of my life with Jesus?

“ 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is…… Ephesians 3:18-19….

….. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ” [NLT]

“ 14 A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash.” [NLT] Proverbs 15:14….

“ 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” [NIV] Psalm 63:1….

“ 2 You must crave pure spiritual milk (of God’s Word) so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk.” [NLT] 1 Peter 2:2….

“ 20 So join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried and true path.” [MSG] Proverbs 2:20….