Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings
• What is this series about?
• An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors
identified in the New Testament as “blessed”
• A look at Christian conduct and characteristics
that will enrich our lives with lasting joy
• A look at the condition of those who lack
these qualities
• Outline (Matthew 5:6)
• “those who hunger and thirst”
• “for righteousness”
• “for they shall be satisfied”
• The cursed life
• “those who hunger and thirst” (Matt. 5:6)
• Hunger & thirst: intense craving, as one who is starving/dehydrated
• Desire that leads one to earnestly seek food or drink (Prov. 16:26)
• But what type food or drink do you seek? (John 6:26-27)
• How is your spiritual appetite?
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Some hunger and thirst for nothing spiritual
Some only occasionally desire God’s spiritual nourishment
Some pick and choose only the pieces they like
Some feast on all of God’s spiritual nourishment daily!
• We should thirst for God (Ps. 42:1-2)
• We should desire the benefits of God’s commands (Ps. 19:7-11)
• We should have an appetite for righteousness (Rom. 14:17)
• “for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6)
• the state of being right with God
• The righteousness God bestows when He forgives sin
• The righteous conduct of one who obeys God
• Hunger & thirst to be made right with God
• Righteousness credited by forgiveness (Rom. 4:6-8)
• Righteousness given by God by our faith (Phil. 3:9)
• Hunger & thirst to do right in serving God (Rom. 6:16)
• All scripture trains us in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)
• If we hunger & thirst to be righteous, we will be satisfied
with what God provides (Mt. 6:33)
• “for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6)
• Isaiah prophesied of a time when the people who
hungered and thirsted would be satisfied…fulfilled in the
kingdom of Christ (Is. 49:10; Rev. 7:16-17)
• God offers nourishment for the spirit of man
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Milk & meat of the Word (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:1-3)
Jesus gives the water of life (John 4:10-14)
Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:48-58)
Don’t be deceived by feel-good books… only God’s Word can
provide perfect sustenance and everlasting satisfaction!
• “How blessed is the one who You choose and bring near,
to dwell in Your courts. We will be satisfied with the
goodness of Your house, Your holy temple” (Ps. 65:4).
• The cursed life: “those who hunger & thirst not for
righteousness…they shall not be satisfied”
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• Those who do not desire a right standing with God
• Those who desire unrighteousness
They dream themselves full, but awaken unsatisfied (Is. 29:8)
The fool (Is. 32:6)
God’s enemies (Is. 65:12-13)
The unrepentant (Prov. 1:30-31)
The lazy (Prov. 31:27)
They reject God’s righteousness (Rom. 10:3)
their “end is destruction whose god is their appetite” (Phil. 3:19)
• Summary
• To be blessed, we must desire righteousness
• Those who seek righteousness will achieve it
• The unrighteous will be destroyed!
• An invitation (Is. 55:1-2; Rev. 22:17)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be satisfied!
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Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34)
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Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9)
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Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27)
Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16)
Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21)
Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10)
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Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37)
Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12)
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Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12)
Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32)
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That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9)
Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey
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2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36
Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly