Series: Changing Your Spiritual Appetite [#1]
WHAT ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR?
Matthew 5:6
Introduction:
Karen and I just spent 16 days on vacation. Now, most of the time we were working. We were either preparing for a wedding and taking care of the wedding; or we were moving Tharon and Paula to North Carolina. We definitely saw a lot of towns and in one of those small towns we noticed the name of a restaurant- “It Don’t Matter”. This reminded me of the several ideas of restaurant names I have always thought would be perfect. While I may never own a restaurant with one of these names, God has used these names for today’s sermon.
The day before Karen and I started our trip, Danny Kirkpatrick took me to lunch. We talked about where Bel Aire was as far as size, needs, and direction. As always, Danny reminded me of his daily prayers for our Church. While we were sitting in a crowded little restaurant waiting for our food for quite some time, when our food came out, Danny and I realized that they had shorted him most of his order. I watched as he patiently and kindly went to the counter and explained what happened. His reaction was a great example of how Christians should handle those types of situations.
While we were eating, Danny told me that he felt like Bel Aire was in a great situation; and honestly, I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. At first, I thought he was going to try to make me feel better about our attendance; but instead he shared with me Bel Aire’s vision. Now, I didn’t realize this during lunch; but while I was on the road driving, God reminded me of that conversation. Danny’s advice was not just for Bel Aire; but for all United States’ Churches. Christians need to change their spiritual appetites. Churches need to strip away all of the “worldly stuff” and get back to being the Church that we find in Acts 2.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
As we begin this new series, I want to ask you, “What are you hungry for”?
Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Is your response to my question…
1. I don’t know?
I am afraid that most Christians aren’t sure what they are hungry for. What do you want to happen in your life and in the life of this congregation? The Early Church didn’t have a fancy building. They didn’t have electricity. They didn’t have the religious freedoms in their cities that we enjoy in the U.S.A. What they did have was a hunger and thirst for righteousness.
The Apostles had just been a part of seeing over 3,000 people saved in 1 day. They were meeting every day in the temple courts and eating together in their homes. They did whatever it took to grow closer to God, to one another, and to see people saved.
Unlike many, most, or all of my sermons; we are going to discuss real ways to implement a biblical hunger and thirst for righteousness not just in Bel Aire; but more importantly in each of our lives. There has been enough of me doing all of the talking. Please let me remind you, “If you have a great ministry on your heart, that may mean that God is calling you to lead out in that ministry”.
[Allow discussion.]
Is your response to my question…
2. It doesn’t matter?
If you are just going through your life trying to survive, this may be your answer. The Early Church did whatever they had to do to see the Kingdom of God grow. Their personal possessions and provisions were secondary. They used their money and possessions for God’s glory. They worked as a means to provide for one another. God has given us jobs, possessions, talents, and spiritual gifts to edify the Body of Christ. When you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, each moment that you are here on this earth matters.
Once again, we are going to discuss real ways to implement a biblical hunger and thirst for righteousness not just in Bel Aire; but more importantly in each of our lives. What gifts and talents do you need to be using to discover a true hunger and thirst for righteousness?
[Allow discussion.]
Is your response to my question…
3. You pick?
Almost all of the time, the leadership, (Pastors and Deacons) decide what the Church is going to do. Here is where we must change. The Church doesn’t need new programs, extravagant Worship Concerts, or a large paid staff. What the Church needs to do is be stripped of all of that stuff and focus on Jesus.
What is it that we need to be doing when we meet together? Who is hungry to see one another strengthened in Christ? Who is hungry to see people saved? Everything we do should be about our hunger and thirst for righteousness. We should desire what was happening in the Early Church. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
[Allow discussion.]
Conclusion:
I desperately do not want today to be just another sermon; but that is completely up to each of you. What you get from this sermon and what you do with this sermon is your choice. What are you hungry for?
