# Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Key Passage: Matthew 5:6
Date: June 7, 2024

Matthew chapter number five, if you would, please. Matthew chapter number five in God’s word, Matthew chapter number five. And we’re going to read just one verse, verse number six, Matthew five, and verse number six, if you would please there.

Matthew 5 and verse number 6. We’ve been preaching on it on Sunday mornings, the Beatitudes. We’ve flip-flopped this Sunday because it is Valentine’s weekend and wanted to focus on marriage a little bit this morning. But Matthew 5, verse number 6, would you please stand as we read God’s word together? Matthew 5 and verse number 6, God’s word.

Verse number six right there. Matthew 5, verse number six. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after bojangles fried chicken.

We need to have Brother Richard’s wife here for that one for sure, you know. But no, would you help me read that verse, please, verse number six there? Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled?

Let’s go to the Lord in word of prayer as we get started tonight. Dear Father, Lord, would you help us to rightly divide your word, Father? And Lord, I pray you to help your people, our minds and our heart to follow your word and to follow the leading of your Spirit. And Lord, would you grow us? Lord, would you give us insight into ourselves tonight from your word? And Lord, we’ll thank you and praise and brag on you for what you do. And it’s in Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

There was a man that wrote into a preacher. He preaches on the radio. This is what he wrote the preacher. He said, “I heard you on the radio, so I thought you might be able to help me with my dilemma. I’m sure you’re familiar with the song that says, ‘I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.’ That line could be the theme of my life.”

“It’s a strange feeling, since I have by all standards achieved everything that most people work their entire life for. Success as an investment banker has given me multiple homes, nice cars, and all the kind of perks and luxuries you would expect. I’m married to a great woman. I have two young kids that I adore, and I enjoy good health. And all this just came in a much earlier age than I figured it would take. And yet, yet, I’m just not as happy as I think I should be. To be honest, I’m often restless. I’m often bored. I’m often very unsatisfied with my life. Sometimes at night I feel hollow and empty. I keep thinking there’s got to be more than life than this. What do you think I should do?”

A friend, the Bible says, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness; those people shall be filled.”

This old world—this old world—they have no idea. They’re looking. They’re about like you or I. You’ve been there before. You go to the refrigerator. You’re hungry. You open it up. There’s food all in there, but you’re like, “I don’t know what I’m hungry for. It’s got to be something,” and you’re kind of just looking through the crispers and everything. You’ve been there, you know, that’s the world. And they’re looking everywhere to be filled, but the Bible says, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Now let’s talk just briefly about this word righteousness for just a second, if you would there. The first time that word righteousness is mentioned in the Bible is Genesis 15:6. It’s talking about Abraham, and it says, “And he believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” It’s what some would call positional righteousness.

Speaking of your salvation in Christ, He places your sin on Jesus, and Jesus’ righteousness is placed on you. That’s what 2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “He, for He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

This righteousness comes through Jesus Christ at salvation. Did you notice the first time the Bible mentions the word righteousness? When Abraham was counted to him for righteousness, he didn’t work for it. He believed. You don’t get saved by working for Him. Satan is always busy trying to add works into salvation. You’ll even get this crap: “Well, if you didn’t change everything, you know, everything didn’t change, you ain’t got what I got for him.” Listen, you don’t get saved by changing you. You get saved by believing on Jesus. Boy, you got to be careful with that. Satan will add works so easily in these things. And he believed.

Let me say this: He didn’t believe in himself. By the way, let me go back and just correct me. I’m for changing, but your change isn’t salvation; Jesus saves you. Be careful. They’ll add so many things to salvation. Some will add works as far as baptism in salvation. No, no, no, no, no, no. It’s just Jesus. It’s believing in Jesus, not your works. See?

But let’s go back. He believed not in Abraham. He believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness. He didn’t believe in Abraham doing this, that, or another. If he did this, that, or another after he gets saved, that would equal he doesn’t have eternal security; you lose your salvation. No, he believed in the Lord. That’s why your salvation is sure. It’s settled. It’s done. Because you’re believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you’ve done that, it’s just positional righteousness. You’re placed in Christ. You’re placed in the family of God. It’s a done deal. You’re a child of God.

Those people that hunger and thirst after righteousness, they shall be filled. What’s the first saying? Salvation. But then once I am saved, a child of God, then I’m hungering and thirsting after righteousness as a child of God. Oh, some will call it daily righteousness, where you’re in Christ and you’re seeking after His righteousness.

Now, let me say this: No one’s a perfect child; no one is. But in 1 John 1:9, it’s our life’s first, amen. I’ll tell you what: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all”—what’s the next word?—“unrighteousness.” See? So it can be speaking of your righteousness, yes, it’s salvation, and then your righteousness, if you will, just simply as a child of God, being right with God through Christ.

Because you’re not going to be right with God through yourself. You get cleansed of all unrighteousness through Jesus. But you’re seeking to be right with the Lord. You’re seeking to live for Him. You’re seeking to follow Christ Jesus. And yes, salvation—you believed in that. But now you’re seeking to follow Him and live out Christ living out through you. See?

Now here’s the mistake. Satan will convince even a child of God that’s positionally in Christ, you’re righteous. But they’ll convince you so subtly that you’ll be filled if you get that raise. You’ll be filled, you’ll be satisfied, you’ll be content if you get that new position. You’ll be filled, you’ll be satisfied if you get that relationship. You’ll be filled, you’ll be satisfied if everybody likes you, and everybody looks up to him. You’ll be filled, you’ll be satisfied, if you will, if you get that car, that house, and all. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness.

Can I say you can pretty much put righteousness equals Jesus? Well, as you’re seeking for Jesus. Sometimes we put things before Jesus. “I can just have a home, a house, a family, like I want.” I’m for all of that, but, friend, not above Jesus.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. And it’s amazing how Satan can suddenly get me just going after something else besides Jesus. We get caught up and wrapped up in it. “I just got to get this, I got to do this,” and I’m not going to get filled like that. I’m not going to be satisfied. And the man in the letter we just read—what a perfect example of all these sayings the world has. They’re not going to do it for you. And yet we get caught up, just seeking after that.

Oh, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Here’s the same thing. Even us, you’re saved, you’re a child of God, and you’re in the Father’s house if you’re positional, you’re there. But if we’re not careful, Satan will have us over on the edge of the fence watching the neighbors over there, longing, “If I had that, if I had this, if I had,” you know, everybody talking about me, if I had this, whatever it may be, if I had that car, if I could just do whatever I want to, if I had that music." And he’ll have you looking over the fence over there at Satan’s world thinking that’s going to make you feel content, and never satisfy you.

It’s amazing to me. Facebook and Instagram and all these social media. I’m not saying they’re wrong. I’m not saying that. But it’s amazing to me sometimes somebody—if you go on there and you look at their, their, oh, what would you call it, their page, their profile—and, you know, check it all out, and, man, it looks like they have the greatest life in the world. And they spent a lot of time and energy and effort to make it look like that. And then you counsel with them and you realize they’re miserable, fussing and fighting like cats and dogs and so on and so on. You can’t go by stuff.

Oh, blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Satan will do his best to get you seeking after other things. He’ll be looking for that and trying to just get you off chasing this or that. No, no. Here’s the thing. It’s so sad to watch God’s children sometimes on the fence looking over at Satan’s world. And the real fulfillment and satisfaction is if we just get off the fence, go inside the house, and get to our Father and get real close to the Lord. You seek after righteousness. That’s Jesus Christ. For they shall be filled.

Can I say this? Nobody can stop you from getting there. Here’s another temptation: We want to blame everybody. “Well, if they do…” There’s that other. Friend, you could be in China being persecuted in a prison, and they can’t stop you from seeking after righteousness. So can I get real honest with you? If you’re not filled, it’s nobody else’s fault. Stop blaming everybody. It’s me. It’s me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer. And blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, right?

Now, here’s another truth out of this saying here. Look at it. We looked at it, I think the first week we were at the Beatitude. But look back over here, Matthew 5. And look in verse number three there: “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” for theirs is the only one that mentions it like this. Well, there’s one other one that does, but theirs is present tense. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be”—see, future—“comforted.” “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after.” For they shall be filled.

Now, what am I after? It’s not an instantaneous thing sometimes; it takes time. We want instant gratification. God doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes it’s a process. I’m seeking after the Lord and His righteousness, and I’m praying over it. I’m seeking for that. Sometimes it takes time. And in the meantime, Satan will do his best to get us off chasing this or that. He’ll be after it. But sometimes it’s not going to happen as quick as you will. And it’s a little bit of a process.

Look over, if you will, in the book of Hosea. It’s one of those minor prophets, not a real long book of the Bible, but this verse just—the Bible kind of breaks down, I believe, this thing of seeking after righteousness and gives us a formula on. It’s a great verse for it: Hosea 10:12. Great verse because you say, “Man, I’m going to be filled.” Boom. It might take a little while. What does this little while look like? Well, it tells us right here. Hosea 10, and verse number 12 of God’s Word. And are you there? Amen? Good deal. Hosea 10. Look at verse number 12. He says, “Sow to yourselves in”—what’s the next word?—“righteousness.” Not necessarily here to talk about salvation, positional righteousness. They’re talking about us working, sewing.

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness.” Okay. Now what’s the next thing? He says, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness.” By the way, there’s a backslidden Israel that represents a backslidden Christian. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy.” Oh, that’s a good thing. God’s merciful. I’ve been off seeking to get filled by, if I could just solve this one problem, and God says, “You big dummy, you know you’re not going to get it there.” And so you start sowing to yourselves in righteousness. God says, “I’ll give you some mercy for what you’ve been doing.” Sow to yourselves in righteousness, stage one. Reap in mercy, second stage, if you will.

Look at the third thing. What does he say there? “Break up your fallow ground.” Yeah. We’ve talked about it many times. What’s fallow ground? Well, it’s the garden that Brother Frank had last year. He had plowed it up, got all the weeds and everything outside. I had it perfectly. But now look at it. Yeah, I got grass and weeds and everything else in there. But it’s past plowed-up ground, but it’s been overtaken with weeds and grass, everything. And if he goes back in there and plows back up, that’s breaking up the fallow ground. See?

So you sow to yourselves in righteousness. God said, “I’ll give you some mercy.” And then you start getting back. “All right, I’ve got to get back and start plowing up that territory.” That one back in the day I used to be there, but it’s going to take some time to get you. You got to start plowing up. God would just take the lumps out of my heart. God begins to reveal to you sins that you didn’t even see before, often iniquities in your heart, and you start seeing things like you didn’t see them before, and you start, “Man, I’m far from where I should be. I haven’t been looking at everybody else; now look at me.” Please.

Always, always what happens? See, Isaiah, “Woe is me,” when he got close to the Lord. And now you’re getting your eyes off blaming my spouse, my wife, my husband, “Would you? I’d be happy.” No, it’s not all that. It’s me, and you start breaking up fallow ground, and you get back, “Boy, I’ve got to get close to you. I’ve got to get right. I’m not right.”

You sow to yourselves in righteousness, you reap it in mercy, you break up your fallow ground. Then what does it say there? “For it is time to seek the Lord.” Oh, you say, “Now I realize it more than ever. It’s God what I need. I’ve been chasing all these crazy little bitty, anti-panty things all over the place, and I’ve got off track. God, you’re what I need. Lord, I need you.” And you get that desire and that hunger, not for all these worldly things. You get a desire, a hunger for the Lord. Boy, you get that appetite: “Lord, I need you.” You start seeking Jehovah, the Lord. And what does it say? “Till He come.” I’m not going to stop seeking until I get some of you, Lord, if you will. And you just get determined: I’m going to keep seeking till He come.

Here’s the amazing thing: “Till He come and rain”—what?—rain righteousness upon you. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after. For they shall be filled with what? Righteousness. If you will, Jesus. Man, He just fills your heart. All those problems are just weighing you down. They don’t weigh you down anymore. You’re filled. It might not look any different on the outside, but on the inside, it’s a different ballgame, man. You’re content, you’re happy. You don’t have to worry about what everybody thinks about you wherever on Facebook or all that stuff. I don’t care what they think. I’m feeling satisfied. Yeah.

That’s the formula, if you will. It takes for they shall. It’s not instantaneous always. And you can’t necessarily say, “All right, it’s going to be a week, it’s going to be a month.” They don’t know. Maybe a day, maybe an hour. But often there’s this process for they shall be filled. Satan’s always watching, and he’s always trying to get you off during that waiting time.

But can I say discontentment comes from you and for me looking elsewhere? You just mark it down: If I’m just—I just don’t have discontentment, I’m not fulfilled, I’m not filled, I’m not satisfied—it comes because I’m looking elsewhere. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. That’s the people that are going to be filled.

This old world—have you ever seen a drug addict? You ever seen a drug addict? “Well, I got enough. Don’t eat any more bottles. I had, I had 20 of them last night. I’m good. Got enough money.” Nah, no, nah, don’t get me anymore. I’m good. You won’t find that. The Bible says in Proverbs, the eyes of man are never satisfied. He’s never going to look at the perfect person, perfect woman, whatever, and be satisfied. It’s not going to be satisfied. The world always leaves you wanting more. Always. Doesn’t matter where Satan gets you off. It gets you off wanting more popularity. It’s never going to give you what you want. You’re always going to want more.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness. Those are the people. Those are the ones. They’re filled. They’re content.

It used to be sung out. It goes a little bit like this: “If you could have all fame and fortune, all the wealth you could obtain, yet if you’ve not Christ within you, your living would be in vain. There’ll come a time when death will call you. Riches cannot help you then, for only Jesus can satisfy your soul.”

That’s it, friend. And the world and the devil’s going to have you looking in so many places. Jesus. That’s what righteousness comes from.

Now, a couple of thoughts. We’ll go home. It’s interesting. He said, “Blessed are they that”—what’s the next word?—“hunger and thirst.” Both of them. Those are pretty strong desires. I don’t think I’ve ever been here where you’re just like starving to death, to the point of death. Not like Esau, “I’m going to die if you don’t give me that.” I’m talking about people that are stranded out somewhere and they’re literally about to die because they don’t have any food or drink. Man, those desires can be some of the strongest desires human nature ever has. And God decides to use those desires to describe this: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst.

I read in the Old Testament about where Israel had an enemy nation around them, surrounded them, they couldn’t get any food, to the point that mothers were cooking their children and eating them. Wow. I’m talking about these are some strong desires, hunger and thirst. Call somebody do some crazy things. Yeah. God says when you get like that, you’re kind of laid aside. You’re just hungry and thirsty for righteousness as the people that get filled.

Very interesting. Hebrews 11:6: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” You got to—if you’re going to be filled, you got to say, “Hey man, I’m going after that right there,” after righteousness. That’s how people get filled.

Something else about hunger and thirst. God uses those words to describe this same thing. Those are daily things, at least daily things. I mean, if I don’t eat anything in a day, I’m hurting for certain, you know what I’m saying? I get up hurting for certain. I get up, I want a little food. I mean, I just—I get up and have a banana every morning and usually some other things. I got up and had a slice of cake this morning and a banana and coffee this morning. And then later on ate breakfast. And that is the truth, too. And then I had lunch. I’ll probably have a snack when I go home tonight, you know. And that’s my problem. But I’m saying, man, if I miss much, it bothers me. It’s a continual thing.

“Well, I sought the Lord, man, years ago. I was after the Lord.” Yeah, but this thing here is it’s not a boom. “I was after Him.” I’m after Him now. I’m hungry right now. Praise the Lord. God spoke to my heart last night or this morning or wherever. I need something now. Blessed are they. They’re hungry and thirsty.

You know, it’s amazing. I can eat a big old meal. We were talking about riding home. We gave some young people a ride home when our buses were having issues. And we were talking about our favorite meal. And I think it was Drayshan hit mine. He said shrimp. Amen. And then you get shrimp and steak, man. We’re going somewhere now. I’ll tell you what. Now, I mean, we’re going. Getting there quick, too, you know. I tell you what, I mean, if I had a big meal of shrimp and steak, you think, “Man, that’s going to keep that guy for a couple days?” I guarantee you about six hours, I’m ready to eat, man. I mean, it just—that’s the way it works. And you have your devotion, man, “God was so good to me,” you know, and God met with me. But the next day you’re there again: “Lord, I need you again. Yesterday’s meal won’t do for today.”

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. It’s just amazing to me how Satan can get me off from chasing some of the different things. No, God’s so clear. One last thought, and we’re done for tonight. It’s saying this has just been on, I don’t know, a year or two. I’ve thought about this a lot, maybe a little bit longer, but staying hungry. Staying hungry.

I’ve preached in Christian schools, and I preached this from this verse: “Blessed are they that…” But do you stay hungry? And I’m preaching a lot of times to the kids that grow up in Christian homes, and they know their Bible, and they’re in church, and they’re in youth group, and if they’re not careful, they’ll become spiritual fat cats because they’ve had so much fed to them. It doesn’t have to be like this, but if we’re not careful, we will be like this. And so sometimes you almost have to work at staying hungry.

Well, what happens there? Activity. Man, a guy goes to work, works hard, manual labor all day long. He’ll come home hungry. I mean, he’s going to stop by and get some food. He’s been working all day. He’s hungry. He’s ready to eat. Somebody goes to exercise or whatever. Activity gives you—and sometimes if I’m just all about me, me, me, me, me, me, me—and if I’m not careful, I’ll lose my hunger. See?

You know who was hungry yesterday? The soul winners. And I’m not saying other people weren’t, but those soul winners, they said, “Maybe we’re going to go out. We’re going to go soul winning. Lord, we need you.” Bus workers: “Lord, I want you to bless. I’d like to be a blessing to my bus kids. I’d like to minister to them. I’d like to have some new ones on my bus ride. Lord, would you do something?” He’s hungry. Sunday school teacher: “My Lord, or please give me something. I’m going to have people in my class. I like to give them a blessing. I like to do something alive, and I like to minister to them, and Lord, give me something for you.” And those trying to raise your kids for the Lord, influence your grandkids for the Lord: “Lord, please give me something. I like to be a light for you and shine for you.” Maybe you’re trying to make a difference in your school, to make an impact there, and Lord, in Egypt. And those that are active for the Lord are those that stay hungry. It may be that you say, “You know what? I need to add a little bit to my exercise program. Need to get involved somewhere here. Need to get something ministering to somebody else before you give out.” And after a while, you get hungry.

Oh, Brother John. I didn’t realize that. I know they’re in junior church twice every month. But man, he taught in here in the Foundations class, and boy, had to run over there in junior church. And he had Michael and Jr. Jonathan in there too. Some of you know what I’m talking about there, you know. Yeah. And I guarantee you, man, he’s busy. He had hunger for the Lord. “I need your help there.” Blessed are they that hunger and thirst. Sometimes I’m giving out; hey, it makes me hungry. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they—those are the ones—for they shall be filled. Sure as God’s word is true.

You can be filled. You say, “With everything going on in my life, I can be filled?” Yeah. With all the problems and the issues and things, you know, just always pulling and bombarding, you can still be filled, because God’s word is true. And God says, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

Original File: Hunger and Thirst-Blessed Part 4 - Pastor Paul Chisgar 21620