WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.100 Now, please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 5. We have been going through 00:00:05.100 --> 00:00:13.280 the gospel of Matthew since November, or end of November, and we are now in the Beatitudes, 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:20.699 in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' Discourse on Righteousness, Matthew 5, verses 1 to 12. 00:00:23.480 --> 00:00:26.039 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:33.879 Heavenly Father, as we sang, do give us ears to hear and eyes to see. 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:42.219 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all of our hearts be pleasing in your sight. 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:52.179 O Lord, our rock and redeemer, instill in us as we hear you speak to us from your word 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:56.460 and insatiable hunger for righteousness. 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:03.200 Make us more like Jesus, our Lord. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:09.879 For in his precious name we now pray. Amen. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:15.219 If you are able, please stand to honor God as we read his word. 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:19.460 Matthew 5, verses 1 to 12. 00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:24.659 I'll be focusing on verse 6 today, but I'll read all of 1 to 12. 00:01:24.659 --> 00:01:54.640 Verse 6. 00:01:54.659 --> 00:02:24.280 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you, 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:25.479 falsely on my account. 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:29.140 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, 00:02:29.640 --> 00:02:32.520 for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:34.939 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:35.520 You may be seated. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:49.020 In a now famous commencement speech that Steve Jobs gave at Stanford University in 2005, the founder of Apple, 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:53.820 he quoted the words from the final issue of the Whole Earth Catalog, 00:02:53.819 --> 00:03:00.439 which was an American counterculture magazine that Steve Jobs read religiously as a college-aged lad. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:04.939 And the farewell word of this magazine was this. 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:07.079 Stay hungry. 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:08.800 Stay foolish. 00:03:10.300 --> 00:03:14.419 That's the concluding advice that Jobs gave these Stanford grads. 00:03:14.859 --> 00:03:16.060 Stay hungry. 00:03:16.060 --> 00:03:20.479 In other words, don't ever be satisfied. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:24.520 Stay hungry for more. 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:29.000 Stay hungry for new ideas, new breakthroughs, new accomplishments. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:34.879 And this idea of staying hungry has a lot of currency in our culture today. 00:03:35.979 --> 00:03:44.560 A coach and motivational speaker, Marcus Hungry, has this popular video that's been put into many different kinds of montages, 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:46.139 and it's been viewed millions of times. 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:47.420 And it says this. 00:03:47.419 --> 00:03:51.599 Go ask any athlete, actor, musician, philanthropist. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:03:52.280 It doesn't matter. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:54.039 You ask anybody who is a champion. 00:03:54.739 --> 00:04:00.239 And the difference between them and their opponent is that they were more hungry for it. 00:04:02.060 --> 00:04:05.139 The slogan, stay thirsty, my friends. 00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:06.299 You guys have heard this before? 00:04:07.379 --> 00:04:09.639 Popularized, I think this was maybe in the 90s. 00:04:09.879 --> 00:04:11.239 Maybe in the 2000s. 00:04:11.459 --> 00:04:12.519 By a beer commercial. 00:04:13.139 --> 00:04:14.779 It says, stay thirsty. 00:04:14.899 --> 00:04:17.279 Stay thirsty in your studies, in your job. 00:04:17.540 --> 00:04:18.199 Keep pressing. 00:04:18.460 --> 00:04:19.240 Keep pursuing. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:23.860 The people of this world are hungry and thirsty for many things. 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:27.259 And Jesus tells us in Matthew 5, verse 6, 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:29.900 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:40.660 But the hunger and thirst that Jesus talks about is not about money, fame, or sex. 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:47.020 It's not about staying hungry for research innovations or career breakthroughs. 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:49.740 And the fulfillment of our dreams and aspirations. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:52.500 That's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:59.019 Jesus says, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:04.699 The people of this world are never satisfied. 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:11.379 The people who stay hungry in this world are not blessed or happy. 00:05:11.479 --> 00:05:13.639 There's another way we can translate the word blessed. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:16.899 Because they are not hungry for the right thing. 00:05:18.479 --> 00:05:22.339 It says, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:28.119 To understand this, we're going to explore what righteousness means first. 00:05:28.679 --> 00:05:31.099 And then we'll talk about what hunger means. 00:05:31.500 --> 00:05:33.959 And then we'll talk about what being satisfied means. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:34.739 Because that's the promise. 00:05:34.859 --> 00:05:36.419 For they shall be satisfied. 00:05:36.420 --> 00:05:39.960 When we first started with the Beatitudes a few weeks ago, 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:42.720 we observed some general patterns that I want to remind you of. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:44.420 The structure of the passage. 00:05:44.900 --> 00:05:46.720 We noted that there are eight Beatitudes. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.160 Because verses 11 and 12 are an expansion of Beatitude number 8 in verse 10. 00:05:52.500 --> 00:05:56.060 We know that because they have the same theme of being persecuted for righteousness sake. 00:05:56.580 --> 00:06:00.400 And because verses 11 and 12 start to use the second person pronoun. 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:06.000 Your, as opposed to they, which is the form of the rest of the Beatitudes. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:07.339 So it's an expansion. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:10.800 This structure is confirmed by the repetition of the promise. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:14.139 There is the kingdom of heaven at the beginning and end of the Beatitudes. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.600 In verse 3 and verse 10. 00:06:16.060 --> 00:06:18.459 This is the only repeated promise in the Beatitudes. 00:06:18.660 --> 00:06:21.240 And it's the only one stated in the present tense. 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:22.800 Which makes it stand out. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.060 So that serves to bookend the entire Beatitudes. 00:06:26.259 --> 00:06:28.879 And it confirms that there are eight Beatitudes total. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:32.920 We also noticed one more important feature. 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:36.660 Here, both verse 6 and verse 10 mention righteousness. 00:06:37.699 --> 00:06:38.699 Verse 6 says, 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:40.780 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:43.580 Meaning those who lack righteousness. 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:45.580 But long for righteousness. 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:47.640 And then verse 10 says, 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:51.160 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:53.960 Meaning those who already have righteousness. 00:06:54.460 --> 00:06:55.740 Who are full of righteousness. 00:06:55.960 --> 00:06:59.160 And therefore are persecuted on account of that righteousness. 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:05.360 So this repetition of the word righteousness divides in half the Beatitudes. 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:11.020 And you will notice that the first four Beatitudes all speak to the lack of something. 00:07:12.080 --> 00:07:13.000 The poverty. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.660 The poor in spirit. 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:17.240 Mourn because you lost something. 00:07:17.320 --> 00:07:18.320 You grieve something. 00:07:18.740 --> 00:07:22.400 You're meek because you're not taking initiative and taking things to your own hands. 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:24.720 You hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:29.560 While the second half all describe being full or overflowing with something. 00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:31.140 You are full of mercy. 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:32.820 So you show mercy to others. 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:34.460 You are pure in heart. 00:07:34.580 --> 00:07:38.740 You have an undiluted heart from which you can see with which you can see God. 00:07:38.880 --> 00:07:41.900 You overflow as a peacemaker because you have the peace of Christ. 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:46.640 And you are persecuted for righteousness because you have righteousness already. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:50.300 So there's a logical flow to these Beatitudes. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:53.659 And that gives us a clue to the meaning of the word righteousness. 00:07:55.039 --> 00:07:59.879 In verse 10, righteousness does not refer to God's righteousness. 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:06.399 Much like it says that we are persecuted on account of our righteous acts. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.699 Much like the prophets who went before us. 00:08:09.719 --> 00:08:12.360 So it's speaking of human righteousness. 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:16.099 Righteousness is a key word in the Gospel of Matthew. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:18.920 Matthew uses it more than any other Gospel writers. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:20.240 All of them combined actually. 00:08:20.379 --> 00:08:21.280 He uses it more than them. 00:08:22.580 --> 00:08:25.780 And most of those uses of the word righteousness occurs in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:29.200 Later in chapter 6 verse 1, Jesus says, 00:08:29.320 --> 00:08:35.540 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them. 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:39.080 For then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:44.899 So here again, the word righteousness refers to the righteousness that we practice. 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:47.459 That we do, that others can observe. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.340 So this is not God's righteousness, but our righteousness. 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:55.159 What then constitutes righteousness? 00:08:56.379 --> 00:09:00.220 Jesus summarizes it at the beginning and the end of his Sermon on the Mount. 00:09:00.939 --> 00:09:05.000 At the beginning he says this, I think I have this to show in Matthew 5, 17 to 20. 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.480 Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:11.419 I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:18.779 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:25.879 Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:29.639 But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:36.199 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.019 You will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:45.379 Once again, righteousness is something that we do since it's compared to what the scribes and the Pharisees do. 00:09:47.919 --> 00:09:52.720 Examined in this light, righteousness means obeying the commandments of God. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.639 Obeying the teachings of God and teaching others to do the same. 00:09:57.639 --> 00:10:04.639 Righteousness entails the obedience, the observance of the entire revealed law of God. 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:05.860 His scriptures. 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:07.340 His word. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:15.819 Now, that doesn't mean that we have to keep all of the Old Testament laws in their original form. 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:18.319 Just in case some of you guys have that question as I'm saying this. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:22.819 Because Jesus says that he did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill them. 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:25.039 Jesus has fulfilled the law. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:32.219 He is the key, the legend by which we are to interpret and apply all of the scriptures, including all of the Old Testament. 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:41.159 As another preacher has used this analogy before of Jesus being the prism through which when the light of God's word is shown through it, 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:45.120 it reveals the true colors, the entire spectrum of light. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:50.460 And that's how we are to interpret and understand and apply the word of God. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.659 And that's how Jesus functions. 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:55.740 The key that brings together the New Testament and the Old Testament. 00:10:55.740 --> 00:11:04.600 And so Jesus reveals to us the law's true intent, its end, its purpose. 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:09.919 And Jesus summarizes the law of God at the end of the Sermon on the Mount this way in Matthew 7, 12. 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:16.720 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:18.379 So it's the golden rule. 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:25.340 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you should love your neighbor as yourself. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:31.540 That's the summary of the law and what righteousness means and what righteousness looks like. 00:11:33.680 --> 00:11:36.759 So if that's righteousness, then let's talk about hunger. 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:41.139 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:45.660 Hunger and thirst are sensations that involve two things. 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:49.179 First, it's the lack of something. 00:11:50.419 --> 00:11:53.019 And second, it's the longing for something. 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:57.819 You need both in order to feel hungry or thirsty. 00:11:58.860 --> 00:11:59.000 Right? 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:02.500 I don't own a sports car. 00:12:03.459 --> 00:12:06.059 But I also don't have any desire for one. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:08.740 So I'm not hungry for sports cars. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:09.000 Right? 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:13.459 So you need to have the lack of it, but also a longing for it. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:22.620 It's the physical need that our body has and then the signal that the brain sends, that you feel the sensation. 00:12:22.940 --> 00:12:24.700 It's both a lack and a longing. 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:33.639 So likewise, hunger and thirst for righteousness means that, one, we don't have righteousness. 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:40.179 We hunger for righteousness because there is a lack of righteousness in our lives. 00:12:40.179 --> 00:12:45.620 If you are resistant to that idea, let me show you from God's word. 00:12:45.739 --> 00:12:47.759 Romans 7, 18, Paul says, 00:12:47.859 --> 00:12:52.179 For I know that nothing good dwells in me that is in my flesh. 00:12:54.279 --> 00:13:02.079 Ephesians 2 says that we all were once dead in our trespasses and sins and were made by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:07.440 In Genesis 6, 5, God's assessment of fallen humanity is this. 00:13:08.139 --> 00:13:09.500 The thoughts of his heart. 00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:16.700 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:25.520 This is what we mean by total depravity or the pervasiveness of evil that taints everything that happens and everything that we do. 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:27.899 We are not righteous. 00:13:28.860 --> 00:13:36.120 And if you think that you are righteous on your own, apart from Jesus, then you are satisfied with your own righteousness. 00:13:37.019 --> 00:13:38.159 You are not a Christian. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:47.340 One thing that a Christian cannot be is to be a person who is satisfied with his own righteousness. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.819 Maybe you're not a Christian, but you think that you are a pretty good person. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:13:54.759 You think that maybe you can make the cut. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:02.819 Let's measure ourselves now up against the standard of righteousness that Jesus teaches and expounds in the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:05.199 --> 00:14:08.019 There's a focus on righteousness throughout the Sermon on the Mount. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:08.980 That's a key theme. 00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:13.039 And these are some of the things that Jesus says. 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:22.299 Well, I mentioned to you, I read earlier from the whole passage, and we saw in verse 1 that Jesus goes up on the mountain to begin his teaching. 00:14:22.299 --> 00:14:24.699 And I mentioned to you a few weeks ago that that's not incidental. 00:14:24.700 --> 00:14:39.640 Jesus goes up on the mountain to receive, to give the new law of God, the new commandments of God, in the same way that Moses in the Old Covenant, in Old Testament times, went up on the mountain to receive from God and to relay the Ten Commandments to the people of God. 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.240 And that's why Jesus, throughout the Sermon on the Mount, repeatedly says, 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:46.480 You have heard that it was said to the people of old. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:59.080 But now I say to you, he builds this contrast between how the old saints had understood it or misunderstood some things, and then how the new saints, how we ought to live now. 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:02.460 He's bringing the Old Testament to its intended end and purpose. 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.480 He's fulfilling it. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:08.560 For example, the sixth commandment, the sixth of the Ten Commandments, says, 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.720 You shall not murder. 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:16.399 If you interpret that narrowly, I think we're probably all in the clear, I hope. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.240 However, Jesus says in Matthew 5, 21, 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:42.879 According to Jesus, sinful, hate-filled, anger toward another person is murder within the heart. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.200 How many of us are guilty of that? 00:15:49.480 --> 00:15:50.340 All of us. 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:59.100 Whether you have that kind of explosive, hot kind of anger, or the brooding, cold kind of anger, we have all had that. 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:03.639 The seventh of the Ten Commandments says, 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:05.060 You shall not commit adultery. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.860 Most of us are probably clear on that one, too. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:13.379 However, Jesus says in Matthew 5, 27 and 28, 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.480 You have heard that it was said, 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.820 You shall not commit adultery. 00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:20.100 But I say to you, that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent, 00:16:20.100 --> 00:16:22.680 has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:32.879 According to Jesus, lustful glances of the eyes and the fantasies of the mind are already adultery of the heart. 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:36.700 How many of us are guilty of that? 00:16:40.259 --> 00:16:43.059 Once again, if you're an able-bodied adult, probably all of us. 00:16:43.059 --> 00:16:48.239 The third of the Ten Commandments says, 00:16:48.319 --> 00:16:50.619 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. 00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.699 Interpret it narrowly. 00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:57.639 That means to keep all the oaths that you have made in the name of the Lord. 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:00.939 But then later, Jesus says in Matthew 5, 33, 37, 00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:03.000 Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, 00:17:03.060 --> 00:17:06.920 You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn. 00:17:07.019 --> 00:17:10.140 But I say to you, do not take an oath at all. 00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:12.680 Let what you say be simply yes or no. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.500 Anything more than this comes from evil. 00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:19.880 Jesus says that our words should be so transparently truthful, 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:24.000 that we should be characterized by such integrity in our lives, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.460 that a simple yes or no carries as much weight as swearing, 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:31.740 taking an oath in the name of God. 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:37.200 How many of us are guilty of letting our words fall to the ground 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:40.359 with broken promises, lies, 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:45.140 saying yes when we mean no or no when we mean yes. 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.420 We can go down the list of the Ten Commandments, 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.000 and if we are honest with ourselves, 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:54.200 we have broken every single one. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:59.519 That is the sad state of our own righteousness. 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.460 We have no excuse for self-righteousness, 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:06.380 because there is no righteousness within ourselves, 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:11.380 and that means all of us should hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:14.079 We must be people who are poor in spirit, 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:16.119 people who mourn, people who are meek, 00:18:16.359 --> 00:18:18.339 and recognize our own spiritual poverty. 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.140 However, despite this reality of our spiritual neediness, 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.220 not all of us, 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.079 in fact, hunger and thirst for righteousness. 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:32.440 That's because, as I said, 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:35.559 hunger entails both the lack and the longing. 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.799 There is the objective hunger, 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.940 the state of being hungry, 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:41.200 and the subjective hunger of feeling hungry. 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:43.319 The body's need for food, 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.779 the brain's signal for food. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:47.480 Let me give you an illustration. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:50.140 One of the daily responsibilities of parenting 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:54.279 is filtering what your kids eat and when. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.500 Because if you don't, 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:03.220 they will eat candies and snacks right before their meals, 00:19:03.620 --> 00:19:05.680 whenever they want to, 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:08.680 and then they will lose their appetite 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:11.519 for the nutritious meals that you serve them. 00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:14.860 Because of the temporary blood sugar hike or whatever, 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:17.159 you could ask the doctors in the midst how that works. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.859 The same is true in the spiritual realm. 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:22.979 In Mark 4, 19, 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.279 Jesus speaks of those who hear the word of God, 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.419 but the cares of the world 00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:28.939 and the deceitfulness of riches 00:19:28.939 --> 00:19:30.859 and the desires for other things 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:33.279 enter in and choke the word, 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:35.439 and it proves unfruitful. 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:40.259 What are the cares of this world 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:43.559 that are right now dulling your spiritual appetite? 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:49.079 Are you weary with care about your job, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.460 about your bank account, 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.480 the stock market, 00:19:51.819 --> 00:19:52.500 your health, 00:19:52.679 --> 00:19:53.339 your future, 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:54.480 politics, 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.679 and the state of this world? 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:59.579 Are you consumed with cares 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:01.159 about the clothing you wear, 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.259 the food you eat, 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:04.240 and what other people are thinking about you 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:05.299 or saying about you? 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:12.599 Are these things masking your hunger for righteousness? 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:16.720 What about the deceitfulness of riches? 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.799 Have you bought into the false promise, 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:22.480 the lie that wealth can buy you security and happiness? 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:29.500 What are these desires for other things 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.759 that Jesus speaks of 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.400 that can choke out the word? 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:36.180 Is it desire for sex and romance, 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:38.599 for fame and renown, 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.779 authority and power? 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.400 Maybe it's nothing so grand. 00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:44.700 Maybe it's something as simple and small 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:46.059 as a desire for entertainment, 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:49.620 for another show or a movie, 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.200 video games, 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.259 sporting events, 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.319 reading the news, 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:55.100 exploring new music. 00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:59.799 Seemingly perfectly harmless things 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:02.680 can do a great deal of spiritual harm 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.880 if they spoil our appetite for righteousness, 00:21:06.740 --> 00:21:09.700 if they displace our longing 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.940 for the things of God. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:17.519 Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? 00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:21.559 Most of us, thankfully, 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.039 have never known desperate hunger or thirst, 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:27.799 but let's try to imagine it for a few moments. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:30.880 Imagine being so dehydrated 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.920 that your throat is parched and dried and cracking 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:36.340 and your lips are cracked 00:21:36.340 --> 00:21:37.319 and your mouth is dry, 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.360 you have a headache 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:43.319 you're desperate 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:45.839 just for a cup of cold water 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:48.219 to slake your thirst. 00:21:51.219 --> 00:21:54.019 Or imagine being so famished, 00:21:54.679 --> 00:21:58.199 you've seen pictures of starving children online, 00:21:58.359 --> 00:21:59.519 you're emaciated. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:04.579 You would do anything for a loaf of bread. 00:22:07.099 --> 00:22:08.279 You're hungry. 00:22:08.279 --> 00:22:10.859 You feel the pangs of hunger. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.599 What would you do to satisfy their hunger? 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.500 What would you stop at? 00:22:18.379 --> 00:22:20.220 You wouldn't stop at anything 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:22.980 to get food and water in a situation like that. 00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:25.539 Nothing else in this world would take precedence 00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:27.019 over getting food. 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.119 What? 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:33.219 So let me ask you, 00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:36.519 do you hunger and thirst for righteousness in that manner? 00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:41.619 Are you diligently attending to the means of grace 00:22:41.619 --> 00:22:44.439 that God has given us to grow us in righteousness? 00:22:44.440 --> 00:22:49.019 Are you reading and meditating on the word of God 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.360 as we were singing about earlier, 00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:51.680 which teaches us righteousness? 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.539 Psalm 119 is full of admonitions about this. 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:59.920 Think about whether you relate to the word of God in this way, 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.980 as the psalmist does. 00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:03.700 I will praise you with an upright heart 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:05.360 when I learn your righteous rules. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.039 I have stored up your word in my heart 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.480 that I might not sin against you. 00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:11.759 Behold, I long for your precepts. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.680 In your righteousness, give me life. 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:16.400 Your testimonies are righteous forever. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:19.299 Give me understanding that I may live. 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:21.339 Seven times a day, 00:23:21.339 --> 00:23:24.740 I praise you for your righteous rules. 00:23:27.459 --> 00:23:30.019 Those are the words of a man 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.980 who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:35.859 Are you devoted to the word of God? 00:23:38.679 --> 00:23:41.339 I will talk about this more when we get there, 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:43.379 but Jesus' discourse on righteousness, 00:23:43.579 --> 00:23:44.439 his sermon on the mount, 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:48.019 is structured to bring attention to the Lord's prayer 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:49.859 in Matthew 6, 7 to 16. 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:51.219 That's the structural center 00:23:51.219 --> 00:23:52.659 of the entire sermon on the mount. 00:23:53.259 --> 00:23:56.740 That's how important prayer is for our righteousness, 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:01.000 for Christian obedience and discipleship. 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:03.419 Are you devoted to prayer? 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:08.639 Is your prayer life characterized by this hunger and thirst? 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:14.799 Do you attend faithfully to the local church 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.719 and its worship? 00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:19.279 Hebrews 10, 23, 25 says, 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.980 that it is by meeting together 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:23.079 and encouraging one another 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:25.079 that we stir up one another 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.480 to love and good works. 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.500 In other words, toward righteousness. 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.639 I'm speaking to the choir here 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:31.660 because you guys are all here. 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:36.920 If the worship gathering of the body of Christ 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.339 promotes our righteousness, 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:40.539 if the fellowship of the people of God 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.680 promotes our righteousness, 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:44.339 then those who hunger and thirst for righteousness 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:47.099 will not miss the opportunity. 00:24:52.159 --> 00:24:55.319 Would a hungry person be too busy 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.779 to find the time to eat? 00:24:58.379 --> 00:25:00.799 Would a thirsty person be too busy 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:02.279 to find the time to drink? 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:06.679 No, you'd put all the other priorities aside. 00:25:09.459 --> 00:25:10.500 Someone's talking to you 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:11.179 and you're really hungry 00:25:11.179 --> 00:25:11.859 and you're really thirsty, 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.919 you have to go get a sip of water. 00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.240 Hey, thank you. 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.219 That's a very interesting story, 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.219 but I'm going to go take a drink. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:28.339 If we're too busy 00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:30.160 to attend to the means 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.240 that God has given us 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.980 to sanctify us 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.960 and to grow us in righteousness, 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:35.360 then it shows we're not hungry 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:37.339 and thirsty for righteousness. 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:40.240 In John 4, Jesus says to Samaritan woman 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.460 who is drawing water at the well, 00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:43.259 everyone who drinks of the water 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:45.100 will be thirsty again, 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:46.579 but whoever drinks of the water 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.519 that I will give him 00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:48.980 will never be thirsty again. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:51.019 The water that I will give him 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.039 will become in him 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.039 a spring of water 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.359 welling up to eternal life. 00:25:56.699 --> 00:25:57.740 Jesus is telling us 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.019 what we should be thirsting for. 00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.779 In that same passage, 00:26:04.359 --> 00:26:05.419 some verses down, 00:26:05.639 --> 00:26:06.039 Jesus says, 00:26:06.159 --> 00:26:06.859 my food, 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.459 when his disciples ask him, 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.119 have you gotten food? 00:26:09.219 --> 00:26:09.519 Jesus says, 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:12.460 my food is to do the will of him 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.519 who sent me 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:15.240 and to accomplish his work. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:18.139 Jesus says that we should seek righteousness 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:20.559 even more than we seek food. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:24.599 How many days have we passed 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:26.500 neglecting the pursuit of righteousness 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:29.480 while still eating three square meals a day? 00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:35.480 I'm not saying that eating is important. 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.519 I eat three meals a day. 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:41.500 But just that our priorities are not right. 00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.940 This is one of the reasons 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.059 why we as a church, 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:47.200 as a whole body, 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.700 observe three days of prayer 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.839 and fasting once a month. 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.200 This Wednesday, 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.920 upcoming Wednesday, 00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.160 is the first Wednesday 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.500 of the month of February, 00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.759 which means starting tomorrow, 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.019 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:59.200 we are encouraging you guys 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.400 to fast and to pray. 00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.000 If it has been a while 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:04.000 since you participated 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.279 or you've never fasted before, 00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:07.079 take this opportunity to fast. 00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:09.119 A typical fast 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:10.799 is to abstain from food 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.759 and or drink, 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.019 usually food 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:15.740 and then continuing to drink water. 00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.519 A 19th century, 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.759 a South African pastor, 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.400 Andrew Murray, 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.359 describes fasting 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.259 helpfully this way. 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.500 We are creatures of the senses. 00:27:25.099 --> 00:27:26.119 Our mind is helped 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.139 by what comes to us 00:27:27.139 --> 00:27:29.699 embodied in concrete form. 00:27:30.419 --> 00:27:32.219 Fasting helps to express, 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.079 to deepen, 00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:35.919 and to confirm the resolution 00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:37.000 that we are ready 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.559 to sacrifice anything, 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.399 to sacrifice ourselves 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:42.539 to attain what we seek 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.879 for the kingdom of God. 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:47.299 So then by fasting, 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.859 we declare that our hunger 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.559 for righteousness 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:51.500 is greater than our hunger 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:52.199 for food, 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.839 that we do not live 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.699 by bread alone, 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.779 but by every word 00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:56.399 that proceeds 00:27:56.399 --> 00:27:57.559 from the mouth of God. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.240 So consider fasting 00:27:59.240 --> 00:27:59.859 for a meal 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.819 or for a day 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:02.119 or maybe for all three days 00:28:02.119 --> 00:28:03.139 and use that time 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.960 to express your hunger 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.619 for righteousness 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:06.420 in prayer 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:07.519 and the study 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:08.180 of God's word. 00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.859 You can fast 00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:11.500 from things 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.859 other than food also. 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:16.019 Think about the question 00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:16.779 that I asked earlier. 00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:18.119 what are the desires 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:19.859 for other things, 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.720 the deceitfulness 00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.279 of riches, 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.420 the cares of this world 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:24.420 that are choking out 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.700 the word of the gospel 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.279 in your life. 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.279 Ask yourself, 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.200 is it social media, 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.059 YouTube, 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.519 dramas and shows? 00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:36.779 Maybe it's ESPN, 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.599 video games, 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.940 dating apps, 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:39.940 shopping. 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.420 Consider fasting 00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.440 for a time 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.779 just to deepen 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.700 your conviction, 00:28:46.560 --> 00:28:47.300 your resolution 00:28:47.300 --> 00:28:49.900 that seeking 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.800 the kingdom of God 00:28:50.800 --> 00:28:51.460 and his righteousness 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:53.640 is first priority. 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.019 Brothers and sisters, 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.000 hungering and thirsting 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.519 for righteousness 00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.420 is the way 00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:01.259 to be blessed. 00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:02.600 I've talked to you 00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.000 about this, 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:03.860 that blessed 00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.640 can be translated 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.380 as happy 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:06.240 or fortunate. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:08.799 this blessedness 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.259 or happiness 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.440 cannot be found 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.200 apart from God. 00:29:13.099 --> 00:29:14.059 This is very important 00:29:14.059 --> 00:29:14.660 for us to get 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.339 because everyone 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.940 in the world 00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.859 is seeking happiness 00:29:16.859 --> 00:29:18.220 in some shape 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:18.620 or form. 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:20.120 Our country's 00:29:20.120 --> 00:29:21.200 declaration of independence 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.099 has enshrined 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.220 pursuit of happiness 00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:24.000 as one of the 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.980 inalienable rights 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:26.200 that God has given 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.740 to humanity. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.740 This is what people 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:30.000 everywhere are pursuing 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:31.299 but they don't 00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.620 attain happiness 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:33.700 because they're seeking 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.839 happiness apart 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.099 from God. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:40.440 True happiness 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:41.420 can only be found 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.420 in God, 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:43.640 in being in right 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:45.279 relationship with God, 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.299 in living a life 00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.920 that is rightly 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.440 ordered before God. 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.120 So if you want 00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:52.120 to be happy, 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.140 you must hunger 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:54.519 and thirst 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.519 for righteousness 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.839 for they are 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:57.660 the happy ones 00:29:57.660 --> 00:29:58.759 for they shall 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.660 be satisfied. 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.099 Seek first 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.900 the kingdom of God 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.819 and his righteousness 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:03.880 and all these things 00:30:03.880 --> 00:30:04.819 will be added to you 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.180 as well. 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:05.700 Jesus said 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.720 in Matthew 6, 33. 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.940 So what are you hungry 00:30:08.940 --> 00:30:09.640 for in life? 00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:14.720 If people were to 00:30:14.720 --> 00:30:15.799 observe your life, 00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:16.519 your priorities, 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.340 your decisions, 00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:19.539 what would they say 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.860 you are hungry for? 00:30:20.859 --> 00:30:27.519 if we put anything 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.919 ahead of God's kingdom 00:30:28.919 --> 00:30:29.639 and his righteousness 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.500 then we will not 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.000 be happy. 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:33.039 For what will it 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.779 profit a man 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.500 if he gains 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.179 the whole world 00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:36.099 yet forfeits 00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:36.740 his soul? 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.159 This is why 00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:42.319 we as Christians 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.159 are in the gospel 00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:44.319 preaching business. 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:47.199 It's good work 00:30:47.199 --> 00:30:48.139 to indeed give 00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:49.500 hungry people food 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.799 and to give thirsty 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.759 people water. 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.819 That is the way 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:55.019 to obey God's command 00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:56.019 to us to love 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.460 our neighbors 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.079 as ourselves. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.400 We need to 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.339 do that. 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.180 We need to serve 00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.559 our neighbors 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.200 in those ways. 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:03.980 But we also need 00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:04.960 even more importantly 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:05.859 to show people 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.960 how to satisfy 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:07.660 their hunger 00:31:07.660 --> 00:31:08.359 and thirst 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:09.319 for righteousness. 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.500 righteousness. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:13.039 Because there is 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:14.159 something worse 00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:15.399 than physical death. 00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:17.759 Eternal damnation. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:19.379 And there is 00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:20.539 something better 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:22.659 than a long 00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.179 and healthy 00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:23.759 and prosperous 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:24.379 life. 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.879 Eternal life. 00:31:30.879 --> 00:31:31.980 At the heart 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:32.899 of all the problems 00:31:32.899 --> 00:31:33.559 in the world 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.359 is the lack 00:31:34.359 --> 00:31:35.339 of righteousness. 00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:35.399 righteousness. 00:31:38.019 --> 00:31:39.079 And that brings me 00:31:39.079 --> 00:31:39.899 to my final point. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.659 What does it mean 00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:41.359 that we shall be 00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.019 satisfied? 00:31:43.179 --> 00:31:43.720 The word 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.819 satisfy here 00:31:44.819 --> 00:31:46.119 means to feed 00:31:46.119 --> 00:31:47.379 or to fill 00:31:47.379 --> 00:31:48.659 to satisfaction. 00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:49.679 It's speaking 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:51.240 of sufficiency. 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:52.919 Enough. 00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:54.179 Plenty. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.639 Abundance. 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:56.899 And that's a 00:31:56.899 --> 00:31:57.759 delightful word 00:31:57.759 --> 00:31:58.939 for a hungry soul. 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.379 So if you feel 00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:01.159 that hunger 00:32:01.159 --> 00:32:01.980 and thirst 00:32:01.980 --> 00:32:02.679 for righteousness, 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:04.640 if you are aware 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.460 of your lack 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.039 of righteousness 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.900 and you long 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.660 for more of it, 00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:08.740 then this is the good news. 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.160 You shall be 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.019 satisfied. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:13.180 But how does that happen? 00:32:14.580 --> 00:32:15.400 We can answer 00:32:15.400 --> 00:32:15.820 that question 00:32:15.820 --> 00:32:17.080 if we first figure out 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:18.360 who is doing 00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:19.759 the feeding. 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.299 Notice the verb. 00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:26.700 It's in the passive voice. 00:32:27.700 --> 00:32:30.060 You shall be satisfied. 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:32.539 We are not the ones 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:33.099 who are doing 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.519 the feeding. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:35.319 We are not the ones 00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:35.759 who are doing 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.159 the filling. 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.419 We are not feeding ourselves. 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.539 We are not filling ourselves. 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:40.460 We are being satisfied 00:32:40.460 --> 00:32:41.619 by someone else. 00:32:42.119 --> 00:32:42.940 And this is an example 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.279 of the divine passive 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.960 when the passive voice 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.539 is used 00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:47.960 without a subject 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.679 explicitly stated. 00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:51.139 It often, 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.519 the Bible, 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.339 refers to 00:32:52.339 --> 00:32:53.440 God himself 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.139 who is doing 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:55.139 the satisfying 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:55.740 and the filling 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:57.019 and the feeding. 00:32:58.279 --> 00:32:59.339 As Psalm 107 00:32:59.339 --> 00:33:00.079 verse 9 says, 00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:00.839 for the Lord 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:03.000 satisfies the longing soul 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:04.199 and the hungry soul 00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:06.279 he fills with good things. 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.399 This is the good news 00:33:08.399 --> 00:33:09.079 that we proclaim. 00:33:10.099 --> 00:33:10.819 Because Jesus 00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:11.919 could have said, 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.199 blessed 00:33:13.199 --> 00:33:14.480 are the righteous. 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.059 But instead, 00:33:19.199 --> 00:33:19.779 Jesus says, 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.339 blessed 00:33:20.339 --> 00:33:21.019 are those 00:33:21.019 --> 00:33:21.720 who hunger 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:23.019 and thirst 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:23.599 for righteousness. 00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:27.079 Jesus could have said, 00:33:27.079 --> 00:33:28.839 for they shall 00:33:28.839 --> 00:33:30.099 satisfy themselves. 00:33:32.740 --> 00:33:33.799 But instead, 00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.339 he says, 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:36.419 for they shall 00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:37.039 be 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:38.139 satisfied. 00:33:41.439 --> 00:33:42.919 We don't need 00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:43.699 to be full 00:33:43.699 --> 00:33:44.619 of our own 00:33:44.619 --> 00:33:45.259 righteousness 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.240 in order to be 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.759 satisfied. 00:33:47.419 --> 00:33:48.839 The only people 00:33:48.839 --> 00:33:49.859 who are disqualified 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:51.199 from this promise, 00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.559 from this blessing, 00:33:52.720 --> 00:33:53.939 are the self-satisfied, 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:56.779 the self-righteous, 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.519 but if you, 00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.359 in this room 00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:00.680 right now, 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:01.420 you recognize 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.039 your own 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.960 lack of righteousness 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:04.119 and you are longing 00:34:04.119 --> 00:34:04.440 for it, 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:04.940 you're hungry 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.279 for it, 00:34:05.299 --> 00:34:05.799 then you are 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.339 blessed, 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.539 for you shall 00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.860 be satisfied. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.099 As I've been 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:12.900 saying for weeks 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.800 in this series 00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:14.480 in the Beatitudes, 00:34:14.820 --> 00:34:15.460 there is a present 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:16.320 and future dimension 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:17.059 to this promise. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.860 The kingdom of God 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.840 is already here, 00:34:19.300 --> 00:34:20.219 but it is not yet 00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:21.000 fully here. 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.480 That's why 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.659 there's the first 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:23.639 and the last promises 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.860 in the present tense, 00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:25.519 for theirs is 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:26.280 the kingdom of heaven, 00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.380 but all the promises 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.019 in between are 00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:28.800 in the future tense. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:30.759 They shall be satisfied. 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.880 But we know 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:33.599 that there's a present 00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.360 and future dimension 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.159 to this righteousness 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:35.759 as well, 00:34:35.820 --> 00:34:36.759 because in verse 10 00:34:36.759 --> 00:34:37.840 we have righteousness, 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.440 because we're persecuted 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.539 because of the righteousness 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.480 that we have. 00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:44.759 So we already have righteousness, 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.880 but yet we do not 00:34:45.880 --> 00:34:46.679 have righteousness, 00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.739 and we shall be 00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.840 filled, 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:50.960 satisfied. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:53.039 In theological terms, 00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.740 this is referring 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:55.380 to God's justification 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:57.639 and his sanctification. 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:02.059 Justification is God's 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:03.059 once for all 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.699 judicial pronouncement, 00:35:04.740 --> 00:35:05.400 his declaration 00:35:05.400 --> 00:35:06.460 of sinners 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.440 as righteous. 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:10.300 This is not something 00:35:10.300 --> 00:35:10.880 that we earn 00:35:10.880 --> 00:35:11.400 or accomplish, 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.539 it's something that God 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.699 by his divine authority 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.579 pronounces, 00:35:15.320 --> 00:35:16.579 and we read about that 00:35:16.579 --> 00:35:17.360 in Romans 4, 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.039 3 to 8. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:19.240 For what does 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:20.119 the scripture say? 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:22.419 Abraham believed in God, 00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.039 believed God, 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.000 and it was counted 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:25.139 to him as righteousness. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:27.539 Now to the one 00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.179 who works, 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:29.439 his wages are not 00:35:29.439 --> 00:35:30.359 counted as a gift, 00:35:30.399 --> 00:35:31.139 but as his due. 00:35:31.879 --> 00:35:32.419 And to the one 00:35:32.419 --> 00:35:33.159 who does not work, 00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:34.339 but believes in him 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:35.379 who justifies 00:35:35.379 --> 00:35:36.279 the ungodly, 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.679 his faith is counted 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.299 as righteousness. 00:35:38.919 --> 00:35:39.599 Just as David 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.359 also speaks 00:35:40.359 --> 00:35:40.979 of the blessing 00:35:40.979 --> 00:35:41.559 of the one 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.199 to whom God 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:43.339 counts righteousness 00:35:43.339 --> 00:35:44.439 apart from works. 00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.479 Blessed are those 00:35:46.479 --> 00:35:47.479 whose lawless deeds 00:35:47.479 --> 00:35:47.959 are forgiven, 00:35:47.960 --> 00:35:49.300 and whose sins 00:35:49.300 --> 00:35:49.820 are covered. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.420 Blessed is the man 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:52.059 against whom 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.460 the Lord 00:35:52.460 --> 00:35:53.659 will not count 00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.420 his sin. 00:35:55.619 --> 00:35:56.220 Do you notice 00:35:56.220 --> 00:35:57.000 the word blessed 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:57.420 there? 00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:01.139 Who are the blessed? 00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.820 Not those 00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.360 who have never 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.400 done lawless deeds. 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.579 They don't exist. 00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.519 Blessed are those 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.900 whose lawless deeds 00:36:08.900 --> 00:36:09.619 are forgiven. 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:12.079 Who are the blessed? 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:13.260 Not those 00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:15.039 who have never sinned. 00:36:16.099 --> 00:36:16.780 Only Jesus 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.579 can claim that. 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:20.420 but those 00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:21.340 whose sins 00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.599 have been covered. 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:25.579 Those against whom 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.500 God does not 00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:28.240 count their sin, 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.179 but rather 00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:30.019 because of our 00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:30.840 faith in Jesus, 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.099 because Jesus 00:36:32.099 --> 00:36:33.679 died on the cross 00:36:33.679 --> 00:36:34.980 for our sins. 00:36:35.760 --> 00:36:36.780 Because Jesus 00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:38.400 stood in the place 00:36:38.400 --> 00:36:38.760 of sinners, 00:36:38.860 --> 00:36:39.599 he was condemned 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.420 in our place 00:36:40.420 --> 00:36:41.619 so that we can be 00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.900 declared righteous. 00:36:43.300 --> 00:36:44.240 The ungodly, 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:45.159 the unrighteous 00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:46.320 declared righteous. 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:49.760 that's the blessing 00:36:49.760 --> 00:36:50.380 of the gospel 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:50.960 and the promise 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:51.460 of the gospel 00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:52.120 so that instead 00:36:52.120 --> 00:36:52.700 of hearing the 00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.340 guilty verdict 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:53.860 that we should 00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:54.300 have heard, 00:36:55.140 --> 00:36:56.019 we hear 00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:57.660 the verdict 00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:59.500 of emancipation 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.580 and freedom, 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:01.700 righteousness, 00:37:03.180 --> 00:37:03.700 innocence, 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:05.800 forgiveness. 00:37:05.800 --> 00:37:06.019 righteousness. 00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:12.780 That's how 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.140 it says 00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:14.220 in 1 Corinthians 1-3, 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:14.980 Jesus became 00:37:14.980 --> 00:37:15.640 to us 00:37:15.640 --> 00:37:16.760 wisdom from God, 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:17.340 righteousness 00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.380 and sanctification 00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.080 and redemption. 00:37:21.640 --> 00:37:22.120 That's 00:37:22.120 --> 00:37:23.420 the once for all 00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:24.100 act of what 00:37:24.100 --> 00:37:24.620 God has done, 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.280 that's justification. 00:37:26.340 --> 00:37:26.860 And those 00:37:26.860 --> 00:37:27.260 whom God 00:37:27.260 --> 00:37:27.980 justifies, 00:37:28.380 --> 00:37:28.780 he also 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:29.240 surely 00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:29.940 sanctifies. 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:32.000 The Bible 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.460 speaks of 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:32.980 sanctification 00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.820 in a two-fold 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.300 sense. 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.679 It speaks 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.760 of how 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.119 we are 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:39.659 once and 00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:40.019 for all 00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:40.579 immediately 00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:41.220 at the 00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:41.559 time of 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.019 conversion 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:43.139 consecrated 00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.679 to God 00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:44.440 to belong 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:44.880 to him, 00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.840 to be united 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.480 with Christ 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.019 through faith. 00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:48.139 That happens 00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:48.559 once and 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:48.920 for all. 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.820 But it also 00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:50.400 speaks of 00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.340 the ongoing 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.280 sanctification, 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.400 progressive 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:54.220 sanctification, 00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.420 how we become 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.220 more and more 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:57.260 like Christ. 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.659 We grow 00:37:58.659 --> 00:37:59.339 in our holiness 00:37:59.339 --> 00:37:59.859 and in our 00:37:59.859 --> 00:38:00.279 righteousness. 00:38:03.839 --> 00:38:04.500 How does 00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:04.960 that work? 00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:06.500 I'll close 00:38:06.500 --> 00:38:06.899 with a couple 00:38:06.899 --> 00:38:07.539 analogies to 00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:08.079 explain to you 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:08.519 what that looks 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:08.799 like. 00:38:11.739 --> 00:38:12.420 I've used 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:12.899 this one 00:38:12.899 --> 00:38:13.259 before, 00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:14.099 the first one. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.539 You can think 00:38:15.539 --> 00:38:16.139 of righteousness 00:38:16.139 --> 00:38:16.879 of Christ 00:38:16.879 --> 00:38:18.219 as this 00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:19.179 oversized 00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:20.519 hand-me-down 00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.659 clothes that 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.119 you receive 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:22.539 from your 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:23.019 older brother 00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:23.359 Jesus. 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:26.599 It's 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:27.000 yours. 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:28.440 He's 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:28.800 given it 00:38:28.800 --> 00:38:29.099 to you. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.280 You already 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:31.780 have it. 00:38:31.860 --> 00:38:32.460 You're already 00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:33.240 wearing it. 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.480 No one 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:35.920 can take 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:36.220 that from 00:38:36.220 --> 00:38:36.320 you. 00:38:36.360 --> 00:38:36.599 You've been 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.079 declared 00:38:37.079 --> 00:38:37.579 righteous. 00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:38.460 You belong 00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:39.019 to God. 00:38:39.079 --> 00:38:39.460 You belong 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:39.940 to Jesus. 00:38:40.200 --> 00:38:40.440 You've been 00:38:40.440 --> 00:38:41.159 united with 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.500 him. 00:38:41.940 --> 00:38:42.340 And yet, 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:42.980 the rest 00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.360 of our 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.260 days, 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:46.320 we grow 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:47.200 into that 00:38:47.200 --> 00:38:47.780 and fill 00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:48.519 that righteousness 00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:49.099 out more 00:38:49.099 --> 00:38:49.440 and more. 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:51.619 Justification 00:38:51.619 --> 00:38:52.179 and sanctification. 00:38:53.619 --> 00:38:54.280 You can 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:54.720 think of it 00:38:54.720 --> 00:38:55.300 also as 00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:55.760 marriage, 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.260 which is 00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:57.900 not inappropriate 00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:58.660 because we 00:38:58.660 --> 00:38:59.240 are described 00:38:59.240 --> 00:39:00.079 as the 00:39:00.079 --> 00:39:00.599 bride of 00:39:00.599 --> 00:39:00.940 Christ. 00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.039 If you 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:03.440 think about 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:03.860 a newly 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:05.980 wedded couple, 00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:08.480 things are a 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:09.019 little awkward 00:39:09.019 --> 00:39:09.559 at first. 00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:11.940 Think about it, 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.099 right? 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.320 A man and a 00:39:13.320 --> 00:39:13.920 woman who 00:39:13.920 --> 00:39:14.320 have lived, 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:14.720 I don't know, 00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:15.380 20-something, 00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:16.180 30-something 00:39:16.180 --> 00:39:17.380 lives, 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:17.920 30-something 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:18.240 years, 00:39:18.579 --> 00:39:19.740 on their own, 00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.380 doing things 00:39:21.380 --> 00:39:21.800 that they want 00:39:21.800 --> 00:39:22.139 to do, 00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:23.400 running their 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:23.960 schedules, 00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:25.480 eating things 00:39:25.480 --> 00:39:25.720 that they 00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.059 want to 00:39:26.059 --> 00:39:26.300 eat. 00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.940 And then 00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.180 they get 00:39:29.180 --> 00:39:29.559 married. 00:39:32.740 --> 00:39:33.260 And then 00:39:33.260 --> 00:39:33.780 you clash. 00:39:35.340 --> 00:39:35.900 Things are 00:39:35.900 --> 00:39:36.680 not so well 00:39:36.680 --> 00:39:37.119 aligned. 00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:44.400 But they 00:39:44.400 --> 00:39:44.840 are one. 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:46.740 They are all 00:39:46.740 --> 00:39:47.119 married. 00:39:47.680 --> 00:39:48.240 That's a 00:39:48.240 --> 00:39:48.599 permanent 00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:49.139 reality. 00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:49.700 The covenant 00:39:49.699 --> 00:39:50.379 is real. 00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:51.559 And yet 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.039 they spend 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.399 the rest 00:39:52.399 --> 00:39:52.679 of their 00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:53.199 lives, 00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:54.599 the rest 00:39:54.599 --> 00:39:54.839 of their 00:39:54.839 --> 00:39:55.219 marriage, 00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:56.119 figuring it 00:39:56.119 --> 00:39:56.339 out. 00:39:57.339 --> 00:39:57.960 How to 00:39:57.960 --> 00:39:58.379 fit better 00:39:58.379 --> 00:39:58.719 together. 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.199 That's what 00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.899 happens with 00:40:02.899 --> 00:40:03.639 Jesus as 00:40:03.639 --> 00:40:03.839 well. 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:04.159 00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:07.759 reason 00:40:07.759 --> 00:40:08.819 unknown to 00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:09.219 us, 00:40:10.419 --> 00:40:11.119 but clear to 00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:11.719 the sovereign 00:40:11.719 --> 00:40:12.279 grace and 00:40:12.279 --> 00:40:12.939 mercy of God, 00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:13.799 he has chosen 00:40:13.799 --> 00:40:14.659 his people, 00:40:14.799 --> 00:40:15.559 chosen us, 00:40:16.139 --> 00:40:17.299 to be his 00:40:17.299 --> 00:40:17.759 bride, 00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:19.039 to be the 00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.460 bride of 00:40:19.460 --> 00:40:19.820 Christ. 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:21.179 And when we 00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:21.579 put our 00:40:21.579 --> 00:40:22.059 faith in 00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:22.519 Jesus, we 00:40:22.519 --> 00:40:23.019 are married 00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:23.420 to him. 00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:24.059 We are the 00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.519 bride of 00:40:24.519 --> 00:40:24.820 Christ. 00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.559 We already 00:40:25.559 --> 00:40:26.059 have the 00:40:26.059 --> 00:40:26.880 unbreakable 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:28.500 covenant with 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:29.059 him. 00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:31.099 We're justified. 00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:31.579 We are 00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:32.460 consecrated to 00:40:32.460 --> 00:40:32.659 him. 00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:33.599 And yet, 00:40:33.820 --> 00:40:34.440 the rest of 00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:34.900 our days, 00:40:35.159 --> 00:40:35.720 every day of 00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:36.099 our lives, 00:40:36.199 --> 00:40:36.699 we spend 00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:38.000 growing and 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:38.440 being more 00:40:38.440 --> 00:40:38.639 and more 00:40:38.639 --> 00:40:39.519 conformed to 00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:40.220 his image, 00:40:40.720 --> 00:40:41.420 to his 00:40:41.420 --> 00:40:42.000 tastes, 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.340 to his 00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:43.960 priorities, 00:40:44.840 --> 00:40:45.820 to his 00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:46.639 body, the 00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:47.019 body of 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.380 Christ. 00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:55.159 So if 00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:56.260 you feel 00:40:56.260 --> 00:40:56.880 that you 00:40:56.880 --> 00:40:57.320 are not 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.159 quite fitted, 00:40:59.860 --> 00:41:00.440 if you 00:41:00.440 --> 00:41:01.199 feel your 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:02.079 profound lack 00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:02.599 of righteousness 00:41:02.599 --> 00:41:03.260 this morning, 00:41:03.500 --> 00:41:04.220 don't let that 00:41:04.220 --> 00:41:04.920 discourage you. 00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:05.480 You are no 00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:05.960 less the 00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:06.300 bride of 00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:06.659 Christ. 00:41:11.280 --> 00:41:11.980 Close with 00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:12.539 this hymn, 00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:14.300 a few lines 00:41:14.300 --> 00:41:14.760 from Charles 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:15.480 Wesley's hymn, 00:41:15.619 --> 00:41:15.780 Jesus, 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:16.240 lover of 00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:16.659 my soul. 00:41:17.280 --> 00:41:17.880 Just and 00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:18.420 holy is 00:41:18.420 --> 00:41:18.840 thy name. 00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:19.780 I am 00:41:19.780 --> 00:41:21.059 all unrighteousness. 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.119 Vile and 00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:22.659 full of 00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:23.360 sin I am. 00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:24.420 Thou are 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:25.139 full of 00:41:25.139 --> 00:41:26.199 truth and 00:41:26.199 --> 00:41:26.659 grace. 00:41:27.199 --> 00:41:27.619 And that's 00:41:27.619 --> 00:41:28.139 why he can 00:41:28.139 --> 00:41:28.940 satisfy us 00:41:28.940 --> 00:41:29.599 with his 00:41:29.599 --> 00:41:30.219 righteousness. 00:41:30.219 --> 00:41:31.019 Let's pray. 00:41:31.019 --> 00:41:33.019 Okay.