Topics: satisfaction,blessing, joy
I. Receive God's gift of righteousness
* We must humbly receive the gift of righteousness by faith!
- For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16, 17).
- "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).
II. Long for sincere growth of righteousness
* We need to cultivate an intense desire to be righteous!
- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matthew 5:6; see also 6:33).
- Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35).
- God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1; see v. 5).
III. Enjoy true satisfaction thanks to righteousness
* We can be fully satisfied as we walk righteously with God!
- For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men (Romans 14:17, 18).
- Let them give thanks to the Lord for His loving kindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good (Psalm 107:8, 9; see also Philippians 4:11-13).
- As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1, 2).
Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins September 19th, 2021