Jesus, during His sermon on the mount stated, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled,” (Matt. 5:6). Which Christian does not want to be righteous? But this begs the question – how does a child of God satisfy the hunger pains? Let’s explore this to help our spiritual growth.

We need to start by knowing how the hunger and thirst for righteousness is created. Our fleshly appetites create cravings when we have not eaten for a period of time. Spiritual food is a bit different though. Some people can go without righteousness and not miss it. How can this hunger for righteousness be stirred up.

Faithful Christians make it their goal to goal to have eternal life (Heb. 12:1-2). This can only be achieved by being spiritually healthy, meaning one must be righteous (I Pet. 3:12). Because the righteous are scarcely saved, we can conclude where that leaves the one who is not righteous (I Pet. 4:18).  Let us now list the ways God’s people can be filled by satisfying their hunger and thirst for righteousness.

1. Know that all acts of righteousness are good. Obviously, things that are right cannot also be wrong. Saints who question the teachings of our Lord will not desire to eat and drink of His righteousness (Rom. 9:20-21).
2. Have a desire to be filled. This is not meant to be funny, but some people seem to think they can go on a diet when it comes to feeding on righteousness. They partake of some good, spiritual activities but not all of them. We can only become filled when we walk fully in the light (I John 1:5-6).
3. Lose your taste for unrighteousness. When I do not like something, I do not eat it. A person can learn to dislike healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, etc.) or truly unhealthy things like poison, broken glass, pins, etc. The same thing can happen spiritually. We can learn to dislike spiritually beneficial things, or we can learn to dislike unrighteousness (Psa. 119:104).
4. Find the joy is being righteous. Eating and drinking without enjoying the food will prevent one from being a good eater. Christians, from the beginning of their journey, receive the gospel with gladness and rejoice upon their conversion (Acts 2:42; 8:39). Notice how often Jesus said “Blessed are those…” The Lord was saying that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who enjoy both having the meal of righteousness as well as the satisfaction afterward.
5. Have a desire to learn what righteousness is. Our hunger is not satisfied physically just because we want a meal. A hungry person knows they need to eat. Similarly, children of God must study His word when they hunger and thirst for righteousness (Rom. 1:16-17). Notice how Paul, in Romans 1, clarifies where the righteousness of God is found. Simply having that spiritual hunger will not suffice.
6. Apply the things you learned. No one goes to a restaurant and is filled by just reading the menu. Rather, reading about food options invigorates my appetite. The same is true when godly people read the Bible. They will want to immediately make changes in their lives or share the gospel with others (James 1:22; II Tim. 2:2).

Do you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness? If you do, two things are certain. You will be blessed, and you will be filled!

                                                                                               Chuck

This past week we had a gentleman call after watching our TV program. He wanted to know what Jesus meant when He stated, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad,” (John. 8:56). To answer this question, we need to get more of this passage’s context to see why Jesus even brought up Abraham.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus told people they would be His disciples if they would abide in His word. Moreover, they could know the truth and the truth would set them free (verses 31-32). After Christ said this, the Jews stated, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone,” (verse 33). Therefore, they could not understand why they needed to be freed.

After our Lord explained to them their spiritual condition, they responded again and said that Abraham was their father (verse 39). Christ simply argued that if they were Abraham’s children, they ought to do the works of Abraham. The Jews responded that God is their Father (verse 41). This of course prompted the Lord to say that if they were of the Father they would also love His Son Jesus (verse 42).

The discussion with the Jews went from bad to worse when they accused Jesus of having a demon (verse 48). In defending that accusation, Christ told them that He did not have a demon and honored His Father. Additionally, whoever kept His word will would never see death (verse 51). The Jews then brought up the death of Abraham and the prophets. They thought Jesus must be wrong because those individuals were faithful yet died (verse 52).

It was here that our Lord brought up the question at hand. Why did Jesus say that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and was glad (verse 56)? These Jews knew that Jesus wa not even 50 years old (verse 57), so how could he argue that Abraham had seen Jesus on the earth?  This brings us to a great saying that our Savior uttered. “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was I AM,” (verse 58).

The reason Abraham saw the day of the Lord was by faith. The promise was given to him that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). Abraham and others embraced the promise and walked by faith. The Hebrew writer recorded that Abraham and others back then received the promise having seen them afar off and were assured of them, and embraced them (Heb. 11:8-13).

Now let’s make the connection with the faithful today. In writing to the church at Galatia, Paul wrote, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Gal. 3:27-29).

The Jews did not have a closer connection with Abraham than with all the faithful of today. If anything, they lacked that connection with Abraham while they rejected Jesus. After all, you must listen to and abide in Christ’s teachings in order to be an heir to the promises given to Abraham.

Another fact that many Jews failed to grasp was that the promises were made to Abraham before Israel was even a great nation. The law of Moses came 430 years after Abraham (Gal. 3:16-17). This reinforces the promise that “all nations” would be blessed, which was the very thing many of the Jews were unwilling to accept. May we accept all as God’s children and follow Christ today.

                                                                                               Chuck

This might seem like one of the strangest questions anyone could ask. After all, if a group says they are Christ’s church, then they are His, right? No. I personally do not know of a denomination that does not claim to be a church that belongs to Christ (i.e. Christ’s church). If all churches belong to Christ, then it does not matter which we belong to. But does He accept every church that claims to belong to Him?

Many people been convinced that it does not matter if you attend a Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Nazarene or any other denominational church. Here is a short list of responses to why people think that all churches are Christ’s church.

1. The name does not matter.

Not so. Read: Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16

2. What you do in worship does not matter.

Not so. Read: John 4:24; Matt. 15:7-9

3. If some doctrines are not Biblical it is okay.

Not so. Read: Gal. 1:6-9

4. God is more interested in you being sincere.

Not so. Read: Rom. 10:1-3

5. As long as you have love that’s all that matters

Not so. Read: Rev. 2:2-4; I Cor. 13:1-7

6. It would be wrong to say others are wrong.

Not so. Read: I John 4:1; Rom. 16:17

7. Doctrine really does not matter to the Lord.

Not so. Read: II John 9; Rev. 2:15

8. There are many roads that lead to heaven.

Not so. Read: John 14:6; Rom. 1:16

9. No church can be 100% right.

Not so. Read: John 8:32; I Tim. 3:15

10. How one feels is all that matters.

Not so. Read: Matt. 7:21-23; Acts 19:1-5

Finding the church you read about in the Bible requires you to seek in order to find (Matt. 7:7).

                                                                                             Chuck 

Consider these words that Paul spoke to Timothy, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron., forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (I Tim. 4:1-3).  

Notice how Paul warned Timothy of those who would command people to abstain from eating certain foods. They even have those who teach in their organization that they must remain celibate. Do we not see that those are the very things that Timothy was told concerning those who have fallen away?

Oh it can’t be a religious organization that is large and has many followers that Paul was talking about. Well, the truth is, the apostle said it was going to happen. The Catholic church didn’t even come into existence for close to 600 years after those words were penned to Timothy. Keep in mind, there are other groups that have been guilty of forbidding foods and marriage since then.

The point is, the scriptures will never be outdated. Something that was right or wrong for the church in the first century is the same today. If we know of anyone or any group that fits any of the descriptions in our text, you can be confident that they are not following the Lord. It matters not how long a religious organization has practiced something. If it is in violation of God’s word it is WRONG!

I think it is vital that pointing out error never gives anyone the right to be arrogant and self-righteous. The main reason one points out error is to help (Mk. 16:15; Jas. 5:19-20). It also helps keep the church pure since it is to remain unspotted from the world (II Cor. 11:2; I Tim. 3:15). Even though individuals want to create a grey area so as to muddy the waters. Right and wrong are clearly seen for those who have their eyes open.

                                                                                             Chuck 

Just look at the words that Paul spoke concerning this brother in the Lord. “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day-and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus,” (II Tim. 1:16-18).

When you read these words, it is easy to see how much Paul appreciated all that this brother did for him. Why was Paul telling this to young Timothy though? Was this really going to help Timothy? Is it also beneficial for us today? The answer is yes for many reasons.

In the verse prior to the above text (verse 15), the apostle discussed those who turned away from him in Asia. He even mentioned a couple of them by name. By then bringing up Onesiphorus, Paul was showing Timothy that he should expect ups and downs in preaching (and the Christian life in general). Some people will not support evangelistic work, and others will care deeply. As an evangelist, Timothy needed to be ready to encounter the same things.

Paul also revealed that while there were times when he was disappointed, he was also careful to not take kindness for granted. He did not demonstrate an attitude of entitlement – “I am devoting my life to teaching and everyone else should be more supportive of me!”  Instead, the apostle was extremely appreciative. Timothy and others need to exhibit the same attitude.

Seeing Paul’s appreciation for Onesiphorus is just as relevant for Christians today. It helps us to also understand the impact we can have on those who labor for the Lord. This impact can be good or bad depending on how we treat them. It also shows to the extent we should be willing to go to in order to help fellow Christians.  Knowing that there are few in the Lord’s family, we ought to do all we can to help one another out. May we all think on these things and try to grow our bonds as brethren.

                                                                                             Chuck