I am in Great Famine

GRACE THROUGH FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH

TEXT: Matthew 5:6
THEME: The Citizens of the Kingdom of God – Righteousness Must be the Greatest Desire of Every Christian
TITLE: I am in Great Famine
PROPOSTIONAL STATEMENT: The 3 Testimonies about Righteousness for us to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
PURPOSE: To let the congregation examine their selves if they truly hunger for righteousness

I. INTRODUCTION
A. Is the beatitudes before entering the Kingdom or only when we already entered the Kingdom of God?

Jesus set the condition before entering the Kingdom and while dwelling in the Kingdom of God
These people are blessed because God provides grace for them to be able to enter in the Kingdom of God
These people are blessed because God provides grace for them to be able to live in the Kingdom of God

B. The Reverse Principle

• People during the time of Jesus wanted to be happy (blessed) due to the oppression by the Roman Empire
• Some believe that this is the Messiah, the promised King, their Hope because of the signs and wonder He had done. And they long to hear words from Him knowing that this will be a great blessing for them
• But the Lord Jesus Christ told them about happiness that frustrates them – that was not want they like to hear for a King
• Instead of hearing a flattery words they heared words that condemn them

C. The Time of the Great Famine
• Ask these questions
o Ask them if they want to hear a sound coming from a jack hammer
o Ask them if they will accept and eat a food which is the food for the pigs
o Ask them if they will accept and drink a muddy water
II. BODY
A. The Relationship with the other Beattitudes

• From Confronation to Contrition (v.3-4)
• From Consultation to Conviction (v.5-6)

B. The 2 Righteousness Mentioned in the Bible

• Imputed Righteousness
o It is a righteousness given by God through faith in Christ Jesus
o It is the righteousness of Jesus deposited in us for us to be right with God
o This righteousness cannot be earned unlike with the righteousness of the Pharisees
o This righteousness is before entering the Kingdom of God
• Practical Righteousness
o It is the righteousness based on the imputed righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ
o It is the manifestation of the imputed righteousness
o This righteousness while dwelling in the Kingdom of God

The 3 Testimonies about Righteousness for us to Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

1. Righteousness is the Demand of God

Jesus Christ says that man must surpass the righteousness of the Pharasees and if not he cannot enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 5:20)

a. The Demand of God to His Son (Imputed Righteousness - Justification)

• The God Man Jesus fulfilled all the righteousness (Matthew 3:15; Romans 10:4)
• The God Man Jesus fulfilled all the righteousness for us to become the righteosness of God (2Cor. 5:2; Philippians 3:8-9)

b. The Demand of God to His People (Practical Righteousness - Sanctification)

• God saved us to do good (Ephesians 2:10)
• God commanded us to do what is right and this is the sanctification (John 17:17)
• Truth Sanctifies Us – How does the Truth Sanctifies Us?
o The more meditation on the Word of God the more the Truth –About God and His Will
o The more the truth you have the stronger the faith
o The stronger the faith the lesser the sin will be commited in life
o The lesser the sin in life the more God will be glorified (Matthew 5: 16)

Note : Practical Righteousness is the manifestation of Imputed Righteousness – If we have imputed righteousness
therefore we are considered good because of Jesus Christ. We are like the good trees He mentioned in
(Matthew 7:16-19) and the good trees will definitely produced good (Practical Righteousness)

Example : My collegue who lives righteously but does not like to know God’s Demand (Rom. 9:30-32)


Challenge

• Do you really hunger and thirst for righteousness knowing that this is a demand of God? If so you will hunger and thirst for the truth – you will hunger to study the Word of God like a deer pants for water.
• Some of us does not hunger and thirst for righteousness because this thing is foolishness, of no value, no need for us because we think we have that.

2. Righteousness is the Desire of Heart

Jesus Christ says that the greatest inclination of your heart is what you value most (Mattew 6:21)

a. The Wrong Desires of Heart of Man

• Desire for Power – Satan (Isaiah 14:13-14)
• Desire for Praise – Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30)
• Desire for Possession – The Rich Fool (Luke 17-19)

b. The Right Desire of Heart of Man

• Righteousness must be the only desire of man’s heart (Isaiah 55:1-2)
• Righteousness must be the consistent desire of man’s heart (1Chronicles 29:18)

Challenge: Are your hearts desire for righteousness or your hearts are so loaded by the worldly things of this world? If you
desire righteousness you will be so eager to read and study the Bible and eager to know God and His will.

3. Righteousness is the Demonstration of Faith

a. Genuine Faith Precedes Righteousness

• Faith must come first before the Lord declares us righteous before Him – Imputed Righteousness (Romans 3:28)
• Apart from faith we cannot please God even though we do righteous acts (Isaiah 64:6; Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23)

b. Righteousness Proves Genuine Faith

• Faith without works (righteous act) is dead faith (James 2:17)

Challenge: Do you have faith in God? Demonstrate it, practice it, show your faith by your righteous act for the glory of God
Be light and salt of the earth.

III. Conclusion
Those who will hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who know that they do not possess righteousness through faith. They are the people in the middle of great spiritual famine. They don’t have it that’s why they cried out to God asking for mercy.
Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Do you want to be filled with this kind of righteousness that will make you enter to His Kingdom and live there according to His will? Know His Truth by meditating the Bible because that is where you find God’s righteousness
If you will not do this, you are living with an earthly kind of righteousness that will lead you to destruction. This proves that your great desire is not His righteousness but your own righteousness based on the standard of this world. And sad to say, you are not the blessed whom the Lord Jesus is talking about because you will never be filled. This proves that you are victim of self deception and false faith.

For God’s Glory
06/12/11