Weekend Message Takeaway: “Hungry for God”

What are you hungry for? This past weekend we continued our study through the Sermon on the Mount as Pastor Doug explored Matthew 5:6–8. In this message, we discovered what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness and be filled, the value of mercy over judgment, and how we can accept Jesus’ invitation to see God.   

Watch the video below to see a few highlights from the teaching and share it with your friends via social media. To watch the message in its entirety, click here.

 

FOR THE NOTE TAKERS
Let’s recap some of the key talking points from Pastor Doug's teaching this weekend:

I’m Not Who I Was, But I'm Not Who I Will Be (Matthew 5:6): Following Jesus means living with a hunger and a thirst for the things of God. It means living with a holy discontent—a fierce determination to grow, to put off the things of the world and seek after His kingdom and His righteousness. As believers, we’re no longer dead in our transgressions, condemned, or slaves to sin, but we are also not yet fully sanctified nor mature.

While the work of salvation is done and we are indeed fully redeemed by Christ’s blood, we have not yet seen the work of God in us complete. Thus, we must strive to experience more of Him, to draw closer, to be conformed to His image a little more each and every day. We must stay hungry and thirsty and continually seek to be filled.

If You're Hungry for Righteousness, God Will Fill You: What are you hungry for? What whets your appetite? Food? Sex? Power? Money? Entertainment? You see, we’re all hungry for something; we’re all seeking to be filled and satisfied. We were built this way in order that we may seek after God.

Spiritual hunger is real . . . as real as physical hunger and thirst. But sin has distorted our appetite and deceived us into thinking that the things of this world, apart from God, can bring about true satisfaction. This is a lie. The only way to experience wholeness, satisfaction, and fullness is by consuming the things of God.

In God’s Kingdom, Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment (Matthew 5:7): Don’t expect to get if you’re not willing to give . . . This is a pretty safe assumption for most things in life. As Christians; however, this idea takes on a whole new, deeply profound meaning as it pertains to compassion and mercy. 

There can be no doubt that God has given to uThe thought being put forth here by Jesus is the same principle being embodied in the Lord’s Prayer regarding forgiveness. Those who are merciful and compassionate towards others are the objects of divine mercy. The reverse of this truth is presented in James 2:13 (NIV) as the apostle writes, “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”

So, is our motive for being merciful so we could receive mercy ourselves? No! That’s the beautiful thing about a relationship with Jesus . . . We show mercy as a response to the compassion, mercy, and grace we are shown by Christ! We need mercy and have found it, thus we respond to the mercy of Christ in our lives by pouring it into the lives of others.

Jesus Invites Us to See God (Matthew 5:8): Through God’s eyes we can see another way; we can see how the world was created to be. We can see beauty and pureness. In Matthew 5:8, the word heart represents our desires and affections, just as the spirit represents our will and higher personality. The purity described by Jesus is in stark contrast to the ideal form of purity in first century Israel . . . the purity of the Pharisees. Their “purity” was an outward and ceremonial thing, limited to the absence of one special form of sensual sin. However, it excluded every other impurity—the impurity of hate, greed, or even lust.

Instead, Jesus is telling us that those whose hearts are purified by faith, who have been cleansed by the Spirit of God, who allow Him to cleanse their thoughts, desires, speech, and works, will not only see God in His glory on the throne one day, but also see Him more clearly than others in all God reveals Himself through—in the beauty of nature, in His sovereignty and work within us, others, and the world, in His written Word, in the life and teaching of Christ, and in His personal revelation. What a beautiful thing to be able to see the Lord in His works both here and forever!

Quote to Remember: God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.—Pastor Doug Sauder


CONNECT EXPERIENCE
Times, Dates, and Locations Vary by Campus
This experience is designed to help you build relationships, grow in your faith, and find your fit here at Calvary. Throughout our time together, we'll take a deeper look at who we are as a church and where God is leading us as we unpack our mission to make disciples, how we've been called to carry it out, and how you can connect with us and be part of the work God is doing here. Click here to register.


ARISE AND GO: MISSIONS WEEK
January 31–February 7 | Various Times and Locations
“Arise and go” were the words God spoke to Jonah as He called the prophet to share His message with a different culture. Today, He’s calling us to do the same. Come find out how you can take up the call of God and be part of something amazing and life-changing. Get a closer look at how God is reaching the nations and expanding His kingdom through ordinary people who said “I will go!” Meet missionaries from various countries and hear their stories, learn about the persecuted church, human trafficking, and how to share your faith with the people you encounter every day.

For more info, contact Lysa McMillan or click here.


BEATITUDES DEVOTIONAL READING PLAN
Go in-depth into one of the most famous sermons ever preached by Jesus, the Beatitudes. This passage is filled with practical and profound wisdom that every Christian can benefit from. We pray that as you take the time over the next few weeks to study these ten verses, that you would hear from the Lord and experience a deeper relationship with Him! Click here to subscribe.


A LOOK AHEAD
Join us this Wednesday as Worship Pastor Andrew Wooddell explores the amazing and transformative journey of when Jacob became Israel. Discover what happens when we wrestle with God and how we can experience awakening.

This weekend we’ll continue our study through the Sermon on the Mount as Pastor Doug explores Matthew 5:9–10. Find out what it means to be a peacemaker and why the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are persecuted for doing right.

About the Author

Danny Saavedra

Danny Saavedra is a licensed minister who has served on staff at Calvary since 2012, managing the Calvary Devotional and digital discipleship resources. He has a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary. His wife Stephanie, son Jude, and daughter Zoe share a love of Star Wars, good food, having friends over for dinner, and studying the Word together as a family.