#275 – THEY WILL BE FILLED (29/1/21)

We can too often be like those who, whilst waiting for a meal, snack and so lose our appetite. Many of us snack on unimportant things and so fail to make time to feast on Jesus

The promise for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness is that ‘they will be filled’ or ‘satisfied. Too often those inside and outside the church are seeking happiness, experiences, joy… However, it’s those who hunger and thirst for righteousness who will be filled!

How are they filled?

Firstly, they are satisfied with Jesus’ righteousness that is gifted to them. Their ‘poverty of spirit’ and ‘mourning for sin’ has led to the ‘meekness’ that puts its faith in Christ for righteousness. They are fully satisfied!

Secondly, They are filled and satisfied with Jesus’ presence with them. Sometimes the Spirit’s presence is overwhelming and sometimes we walk by faith, but we are confident that He is with us.

Thirdly, they are filled in the sense of their increasing transformation (sanctification). Those who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness,

‘Are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Finally, this ‘filling’ is about our final inheritance. This promise looks forward to Jesus’ coming and our living with Him in glory. All Christians are promised a glorious inheritance. The promise is,

‘And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.’ (1 Corinthians 15:49)

FINALLY

Are you filled with future hope? Do you understand the glory that you will inherit? Do you know that you will be completely satisfied? How would our lives be different if we knew that eternal glory awaited us?

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY - BLESSED ARE THE SPIRITUALLY HUNGRY

Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Suggested opener/Ice-breaker

If you were really hungry, what would you most like to eat?

Introduction - please share in your group

This week in our discipleship series, we are considering the forth of the Beatitudes,

'"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6)

This is not about the righteousness that is ours through faith in Christ; this is about our hungering and thirsting to live a righteous life.

Throughout God's Word, as here in The Sermon on the Mount, we learn what the righteous life looks like. A true Christian will have a desire for God's character to be made evident in their lives.

They will be filled

Those who have such a hunger are promised satisfaction: "They will be filled".

This means that they will enjoy God's presence in their lives; they will have the satisfaction of having a good conscience toward God; most importantly, they will be satisfied with eternal life in eternal glory with God.

Discussion questions

1. Is there anything that God spoke to you about from Sunday's message that you'd like to share?

2. How will hungering and thirsting for righteousness be evident in one's life?

3. What are the things that we can 'snack' on that reduce our appetite for important spiritual practices?

2. How does devotion to scripture and teaching help us in our pursuit for righteousness?

3. Nev encouraged us to think about getting into 'running partners' to help us in this. Is this something that you would like to get involved in?

Here is a link that gives details on running partners: https://www.communitychurchputney.com/post/running-partners

Investing and inviting

1) Who has God put into your life that we could pray for together?

2) How are you planning to 'invest and invite'?