What The Church Needs Now…(A Holy Hunger)

We’ve all had the familiar feeling of rumbling in our belly when we’re hungry. It’s a clear sign from our stomach to our brain saying: Time for some grub!

This discomfort that you feel close to lunchtime is called hunger pangs.

Why do these hungry pangs actually happen?

It is a part of our body’s messaging system that tells you when you’re hungry.

God established this feeling of hunger so we would not deprive our bodies of what they need.

If we didn’t know when we were hungry, we would eventually waste away and die.

God gives us PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL hunger pangs

Illus: However, it bothers me greatly as a pastor that some who profess to be a born-again believer does not have a HUNGRY PANGS for the BREAD OF LIFE! (Word of God)

It is a sign something is wrong in their Christian life!!!

Illus: When a person is sick and they go to the doctor one of the things he might ask them, HOW IS YOUR APPETITE!!!

He knows if you do not have a good appetite something is definitely wrong with you!!!

The same thing spiritually, if you do not have a hungry for the BREAD OF LIFE SOMETHING IS DEFINETLY WRONG WITH YOU SPIRITUALLY.

The New Testament Christians had a good spiritual appetite.

Look at Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine…”

Spiritual hunger is similar in that it is a CONTINOUS HABIT OF OURS.

Illus: Our youngest boy had a good appetite for food when he was growing up. He could eat a good meal and shortly thereafter he would be saying “I’m Hungry”

We should have named him, “I’m Hungry” that is, if someone asked him his name, he could have shaken hand with someone and said, “I’m Hungry Belger”!

• God made us that way; we have an appetite for food.

• Also, God made us as the children of God that we have an appetite for the Word of God.

If someone does not have an appetite PHYSICALLY and SPIRITUALY it means something is wrong with them.

Thank the Lord there are people in our church who are seeking to grow spiritually. They are hungry for SPIRITUAL FOOD.

• They attentively listen when the Word of God is being preached.

• They take notes when the Word of God is being preached.

They remind you of David in Ps 63:1 “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Matt. 5:6- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”

The word BLESSED here is the word HAPPY! It is a joy to CHOW DOWN ON THE WORD OF GOD!

David said in Psa. 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Illus: When the church bells start ringing it means it is Dinner Time!!!

Illus: Speaking of church bells that reminds of a man died after a long career as the local church bell ringer.

The preacher, looking for a replacement put out word far and wide but received only one applicant, a man with no arms.

Initially the preacher was hesitant but the man assured him he could do it. He ran up into the belfry, put his head into the bell and clanged his head and face all around to ring the bell. He got the job.

A few years later while ringing the bell, the man lost his footing, fell from the bell tower to his death in the street below.

A crowd gathered and one man asked, “who is he?” Another man replied…” I don’t know but his face rings a bell….”

So, the preacher needed a new bell ringer. He put out word far and wide but received only one applicant, a man with no arms again.

It turns out this man was the brother of the other armless ringer.

Again, the preacher was hesitant, but he hired him.

A few years later while ringing the bell, the man lost his footing, fell from the bell tower to his death in the street below.

A crowd gathered and one man asked, “who is he?”

Another man replied …” I don’t know but he’s a dead ringer for his brother”.

But the church bell means it is time to eat!!!

• A good cook enjoys preparing a good meal for hungry people.

• And a good pastor enjoys preparing a good meal from God’s Word to feed God’s hungry people.

This reminds me of 1 Peter 2: 2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, which ye may grow thereby.”

What a joy it is to preach to such people!!!