In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.
Radical Concept #4
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." [Matthew 5:6 NKJV]
Define “righteousness”:
What is the idea behind the words “hunger and thirst”?
In a natural sense, what does hunger and thirst indicate? Are they continual or occasional desires?
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." [Romans 5:19 KJV]
What does a lack of hunger or thirst indicate?
So, those who have a “continual intense desire” to be “right with God” will be filled. Why?
"Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." [James 5:16 KJV]
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." [1 Peter 3:12 KJV]
Is the “righteous man” of James 5:16 positionally righteous, practically righteous or both?
Identify the correct statements:
No one can be righteous except Jesus.
Christians can be righteous.
In order to be righteous in the sight of God I must live a life of perfection. (see Genesis 15:6)
Positional righteousness (belief) will inevitably lead to practical righteousness (obedience).
What happens when my desire for righteousness conflicts with my daily life? (see Romans 7).
How is this conflict resolved? (Romans 8)
How is a believer’s desire for righteousness fulfilled?
"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." [Psalms 17:15 KJV]
How will a whole hearted pursuit of righteousness affect our lives?
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof." [Matthew 6:25-34 KJV]
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