“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for (God) righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
A. INTRODUCTION: REMEMBERING GETS YOU HUNGRY
1. How do you feel when hungry?
a. Gnawing desire.
b. Empty.
c. Desire for food.
d. Weak.
e. Maybe headache.
f. Mind focuses on hunger or on searching for food.
2. What is God looking for? “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him” (2 Chronicle 16:9).
a. Is God looking for you now? Past?
b. What is the temperature of your heart? Hot/warm/cool/cold?
3. What about your past? “I will remember the years when Your right hand … your works … your past presence in my life … and I will meditate on your past works and remember what you did for Me” (Psalm 77:10-12, ELT).
B. SHARE YOUR FEELINGS WITH OTHERS
1. Many believers feel they are alone … struggling … little help. God works in you to do more for you. He wants you to bless others. “Able to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).
2. When you taste the Lord share Him. “O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who trust in Him” (Psalm 34:8). Live so others see and learn from you.
3. Share your worship. “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit … set my feet on a rock … put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God; many will see it .. put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:2-4).
4. Four necessary steps:
a. Saved from sin, i.e. the pit.
b. Feet on Jesus the rock.
c. New song/testimony.
d. Praise/worship.
C. NOT I BUT CHRIST
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, NKJV).
1. Get over yourself. “Not I but Christ.”
a. Humility, not think less of self, but thinking of selfless.
b. Humility is not becoming nothing, its making Christ everything. “God gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, 10). Did you see the word give?
2. Longing for God. “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?” (Psalm 42: 1-2, NLT).
a. A deer chased by hunters is a picture of the world chasing us.
b. Thirst: (1) needs for strength to keep running, (2) needs satisfaction to make running worthwhile.
c. Desires God more than any satisfaction on earth.
d. His presence. “Stand before God.”
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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