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MATTHEW 5:6

"SPIRITUAL APPETITES

Intro: One of most important beatitudes. Turn, turn away from self to God.

I. PERFECT STATEMENT ON DOCTRINE OF GRACE.
        A. God fills the hungry, thirsty souls.
                1. No goodness or merit required only desire.
                2. One can possess the fullness of God by just hungering
                   for it.
        B. Some object to simplicity.
                1. When told what this righteousness means.
                        a. To be absolutely pure.
                        b. To be as Christ.
                2. They then declare it impossible.
        C. Righteousness is not of our doing - God.

II. LOGICAL QUESTION, "AM I FILLED?"
        A. Christian is one who knows sins forgiven, No longer seeking
           forgiveness.
                1. He does not hope he's forgiven, he has it.
                2. He is satisfied with his standing before God.
                        a. He has the righteousness of Christ.
                        b. We are complete in Him. 
                                Am I filled?  Is the fruit of the Spirit
                                being manifested from my life? Do I know
                                my sins are forgiven?
        B. To answer in the negative means I am not hungering and
           thirsting for righteousness.
        C. How can I know if I am hungering? Read Heb. 11 Read
           Biographies, Praying Hyde; Luther, Hudson Taylor, Knox, Wesley.
                1. Do I see through my own false righteousness?
                        a. Does it appear as filthy rags?
                        b. As long as we still hope in ourselves we will
                           not hunger after Him.
                2. Do you have awareness of your deep need?
                        a. Realize without Christ you are hopelessly lost?

III. WHAT IT MEANS TO HUNGER AND THIRST.
        A. People who have great desire do not sit down and wait for
           something to come their way.
                1. The person hungering and thirsting avoids all things
                   opposed to that righteousness.
                        a. Certain things in life opposed to God.
                2. We will avoid thing that would dull appetite.
                3. We will look at this righteousness everyday.
                        a. I haven?  The time - we have time for the
                           things we want to do.
                4. We will put ourselves in the places conducive to
                   receiving.
                        a. You cannot create it or produce it.
                        b. Blind Bartimeaus.
                        c. Church services.
                        d. Bible reading.
                        e. Prayer. Do we ask Him for it?

IV. WHY SHOULD THIS BE THE GREATEST DESIRE OF OUR LIVES?
        A. Without it we are Lost - destined for Hell.
        B. Without it life has no purpose - empty, vain, void.
        C. With the fullness of God - life at it's best. Rich sense of
           fulfillment.
                Blessed presence of Christ.
                Fellowship With God.