The Value of Hunger

As long as we live, there is a hunger inside of us that must be fed.   Depending on your diet, at different times there is a gnawing feeling of need that will speak from inside of you.

At times it may be a certain taste you crave.  When you say your hungry, this is a feeling everyone understands.  It is a universally understood feeling.  
 

Hunger.

My wife and I were discussing what the boys would eat yesterday afternoon and it was said, “Hunger is the key.”  If they are hungry they are willing to eat things they might not normally.  The reason why the church houses are not packed is because there is a general satisfaction with life.

I doubt there will be a significant increase in church attendance tomorrow.   If the terrorist would have been successful, everyone would be praying in the streets and calling on God… but since they were caught, our general apathetic view as a people acceptable to us.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  Matthew 5:6

There is a blessing in allowing ourselves to experience that hunger that gnaws on the inside of all of us.  We have to make room for hunger.  It is much like when you mother would not let you eat cookies in the afternoon, because she did not want to spoil your appetite for dinner and real food.   This is what has happened to those of us in the Christian community.  We have allowed other things to fill our spiritual need.  We may not be hungry, but we are not satisfied.

The gnawing need in the soul of man is much like hunger, and if we would all hunger to grasp us deeply, we would find a wonderful satisfying experience in God.  The key is to allow hunger to grow in us and refuse to fill it with the junk food of our culture.

We can fill our minds with newspapers, websites, radio, television and vain pursuits so much, that there is no hunger in us.  We just can’t fit it all on the plate.  How many people tomorrow who profess a “faith” in God, will miss church because they are too busy?

If you’re too busy to go to church, you’re just too busy.

How many faithful churchgoers, though they are at church, miss the point of church?  It has evolved in a habit and a ritual and though going to church as an effort to do what is expected of you is good, at times we miss the virtue, because though we are at church, we are still not hungry.   We are so full of life, issues, distractions, that we are happy to just sit.

The kind of hunger I want to talk about is a tragedy of our day, yet a great opportunity.

Some of you are hungry.  Great hunger grips your soul.  You pray, but you feel the signal is dropped.  You open your bible and try to read, but you don’t understand what you read.  You go to church and you leave as hungry or more so than when you got there.

At one time the ritual and silence seemed peaceful.   But as you have grown in God, it seems you realize that your hunger is deeper than the simple sermons being offered.  You’re tired of playing church, being on a committee, just because that is what you do.

You're hungry.  Hungry for more than what you have.  Hungry for more than what you are hearing. 

Hungry.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  Matthew 5:6

You are feeling the very thing that will lead you to true fulfillment.  Hunger, when used properly can lead you to a banquet table prepared by God. 

It reminds me of the Story in the book of Daniel.  Daniel and his three friends were appointed meat and drink from the Kings Table.  Daniel and his friends realized that the meal appointed would offend their faith.  They made a deal with their manager, “Let us just eat pulse for ten days and see if we are not doing fine.”

The manager came back and found their countenance shining and their face full.  

Was it easy for them to reject the Big Mac from Babylon?   Was it easy for them not to be winebibbers in a world of drunkenness?  

But because they refused to eat meal of mediocrity, the bread of heaven fed them.

Sometimes we have got to get to the point of refusing to fill our belly with the bread of convenience and be willing to eat the simplicity of sacrifice.

Abrahams journey started when he left his fathers house.   Often faith does not begin until we begin our journey away from the traditions that are making the voice of God hard to hear.

Some would say that is a bad analogy, but look at Abrahams father, it seems God spoke to him and he came a little way with God and stopped.   God does not want you to stop where you fathers did.

I appreciate what Luther did in nailing his treatise to the door.   But he stopped too soon.  I appreciate the distinction that other reformers made, but they stopped to soon.

I appreciate the wonderful contribution of John Wesley, but he stopped to soon.

We must allow the reformation away from empty and unbiblical tradition continue in us.

We must not be satisfied with what is yesterdays journey and see where God wants to take us today.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  Matthew 5:6

Can you hear the call of hunger?  

Many today are looking in crystals, horoscopes, new age philosophy and convenient spirituality

Most have found the pop culture preachers can only give you so much.  They manage to say all the right things without saying what you need to hear.  

I feel a hunger in my own soul.  Remember the Lords prayer?

Matthew 6:9-11

(9)  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

(10)  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

(11)  Give us this day our daily bread.

 
  Satisfaction is the robber of sanctification.

There is power in simplicity.   The bright lights and big crowds can mesmerize us.  We can be in awe of the sound and music.   We can even be moved by the words.

But what you really need is not found in a crowd, what you need is going to be found in a still small moment of realization that it is God and God alone you need.

When you are willing to walk away from those things that take you away from God.  

Those things that defile your conscience.  Those things cause you to be satisfied in being less than what God created you to be.

I heard of a conversation someone was in the other day.   A lady was with a coworker who is always given her a hard time for being and dressing different.

She said, “The only reason you dress that way is cause you already got a husband.”  When I heard that statement my response was, “Dressing like you are hasn’t got you a husband, yet.”  This was just spoken to the lady who was being persecuted and it was in jest.     Often people don’t understand, Men don’t value what women are not willing to place a value on.  If you show it all and give it all for free, why commit to that?  It requires no commitment, so no commitment is given.

When you begin to walk with God you will feel the barbs of those who are discomforted by your sincere pursuit of God.   So many feel that church attendance and a faith profession justify their lifestyle.

But we know the manner of life we live, when our presence and consistent life of holiness, brings criticism.  But the proof is in the pudding, they know whom to call on when they need prayer.

Many that profess Christianity, are not known to know how to pray.   They are known by their words and actions.   Why would someone want them to pray for them when the live and act just like they do?

If you are a Christian, a real Christian, you need to start acting like it.  Start talking like it.  Start dressing like it.

Christians don’t dress like a hoochie mama.  

Christians don’t dress like a barroom hoodlum.

Christians don’t wear the same things.   If you have the spirit of Christ in you, it will convict you of being immodest.

If you don’t have the spirit of Christ… who cares what you wear.    Salvation is not based on a dress code.   But if you have salvation, it comes with a dress code.   It is not something that is mandated by a pastor, but something that the word of God says and your holy ghost confirms.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”  Matthew 5:6

Many are hungering for Truth.   Not just for what they read in their Bible, but truth… pure, piercing, powerful, convicting, liberating truth.

Hebrews 4:12-13

(12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

(13)  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

I am hungry.   Hungry for More of God.   Hungry for a fresh touch of his spirit.  Hungry to hear what his word will say to me today…. And tomorrow.
Are you hungry?

Your Father knows what your hungry for.

Luke 11:11-13  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

(12)  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

(13)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

What you are hungry for is the Holy Ghost.

No amount of self-help will quench that thirst or stop this craving.   Bread want do it.  Fish want do it.  Eggs want does it.   

The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE and JOY in the HOLY GHOST!

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