Intro: Trouble with world today – war- sickness-crime.
It’s not any single manifestation of sin, but sin itself.
The church’s answers to the world’s trouble lie in this verse.
Ours is not the task of reforming society-but of leading people to Jesus, & the righteousness he gives.

I. This Beatitude In Relation To Others

A. Others Have Revealed My Need (Verses 3-5)

1. I need to be poor in spirit- mourn- meek
2. I need deliverance from my super ego

a. Self-concern
b. Self-reliance

B. This Verse Offers Hope

1. People despair of victory because of continual failure
2. They apply every home remedy; self improvement; and do-it- yourself gadget

C. Being Conscious Of My Lack Prepares Me For God’s Provision (Verse 6)

II. Hard For Us To Understand Intensity

A. Average Person In Many Places On Earth Lives Near Starvation

1. Wages extremely low
2. Eat meat only once a week

B. Much Land Very Arid

1. People sometimes walk for miles before coming to water

C. These Words (Hungry, Thirsty) Normally Mean Something Less Intense

1. Hungry for bread, just a slice
2. Thirsty for water, just a cup

D. Words More Intense Here

1. In Matthew 5:6 Word “righteousness” is in the accusative
2. Hungry for whole loaf, want the whole pitcher of water
3. Can’t be satisfied by just a snack, a thirst that craves more than just a swallow.
4. Hunger and thirst for all, the whole of righteousness.
5. How intense is your thirst for goodness?

III. This Beatitude Answers The Greatest Desire Of Man

A. “Blessed (Happy) are they”

1. Everybody wants to be happy.

a. It is the motive behind the actions and ambitions of so many
b. Everything designed for happiness
c. Great tragedy- the world never seems to be able to find true happiness

2. We are not to hunger and thirst after blessedness (happiness)

a. This is what most people are doing
b. Happiness should never be sought directly
c. Church people/Christians are sometimes guilty of this

i. They are always seeking a blessing; chasing all over
ii. Their chief aim is to receive a blessing; to be happy

3. We are not to hunger and thirst after experience

a. If you put happiness before righteousness you are doomed to misery
b. That is a fundamental error
c. That is treating the symptoms rather than cause

4. A man suffering pain desires relief from pain.

a. If I want relief from pain I will go to the movies, drink, drugs
b. We ought to ask: What is causing the pain? (Lack of righteousness)

IV. What Does “Righteousness” Mean?

A. Not morality between people or nations

1. Some men object to nations for breaking treaties yet unfaithful in marriage

B. Free from sin in every manifestation.

1. A desire to be right with God

a. I desire to be free from sin because sin separates me from God
b. All trouble in world today is because men not right with God

2. Righteousness- A desire to be free from the power of sin

a. We see the world under power of Satan desire freedom

3. Righteousness- Desire to be free from very desire for sin

C. Righteousness- To desire to be completely holy.

1. Want to exemplify beatitudes.
2. Manifest the fruit of the spirit
Galatians 5:22, 23 love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control.

3. Long to be the new man in Christ Jesus: To be conformed into His image
4. To be forgiven by God, and not guilty in His sight.
5. To have the righteousness of Jesus Christ. See Romans 3:21-24

V. Blessed Are They Who “Hunger And Thirst”

A. Means we recognize own inability
B. To Deeply Desire Righteousness; Not Satisfied W/O It

1. Psalm 42:1 “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after You “
2. To be conscious of your desperate need of righteousness from God
3. Righteousness unto salvation
4. Righteousness for daily living

VI. “Happy” Why? “They Shall Be Filled”

A. This Is The Gospel Of Grace

B. Salvation-Gift of God

1. You could never make yourself righteous
2. You could never fill yourself with righteousness

C. Past – Present – Future

1. A day when Christ came in and forgave you, and began His work in you
2. Present stage of growth. Are you presently hungering and thirsting?
3. If so, then you are being changed, and filled, and satisfied
4. And some day stand, you will stand in His presence.

Jude 24, 25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
²⁵ To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.