HUNGER AND THIRST
Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Those who thirst for spiritual life will be saturated. Jesus is talking about those who hunger for a right life, a great life, a noble life, an unselfish life that blesses others. We are easily known by what our highest desires are, what we love and what we hope for. We are meant to desire, to be passionate, to be enthusiastic. Nothing in life is a substitute for enthusiasm. It is astonishing to me how many people are bored with life. Boredom is not about our circumstances, it's about our spirit. If we are always going somewhere hoping that will satisfy the need for excitement, we will always be disappointed. We are bored because there is no fire in our bones. Enthusiasm comes from within, not without. Enthusiasm comes from the Holy Spirit and His fire within. Why does the fire go out?
1. Discouragement
Discouragement is one of the quickest ways to pour water on our fire. We all so easily get inspired to do certain things, but lack the courage to follow through. If the people you hang out with discourage you, find some new friends! When coals are close to each other they stay on fire. If you isolate one it loses its heat, turning cold. It is imperative to surround yourself with people that build you up and not tear you down.
2. Lack of Fuel
The fire stays alive when we keep putting wood on the fire. Be in church. Be in the Word. Be in prayer. This is where your enthusiasm for God and life are found.
3. Apathy
Our saddest spiritual disease today is apathy. Many have died inside because they simply don't care. We cannot be apathetic about God. we cannot be casual about eternity. King David the Psalmist constantly pined for God.
Ps 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my pants my soul for You, O God.
Ps 63:1 O God, you are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
Ps 84:2 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
This set him apart from his predecessor Saul, who in actual fact could easily be considered a more righteous man than David, but he had no heart for God. His desire was riches, power and prestige. When two of the disciples of Jesus were walking with Him on the road to Emmaus, they were amazed how their hearts burned. When our appetite for God, for prayer, for the Bible, for church begins to cool, this should be an alarm that we are dying on the inside. The Holy Spirit soaks us with spiritual life which brings fire again to your heart.
Jesus’ words were that a person’s life would be full when we have an enthusiasm for righteousness. The personification of righteousness is Jesus himself. Without Him we are empty people. We were made for Him. We need to echo David’s feelings when he said he thirsted for God.
If you want to reignite the fire, we would love to meet and pray with you. Click here to find one of our services near you.
See you in church!
