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Sermon by Dr. Jeffrey Jeremiah "Never Hungry, Never Thirsty" Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has "set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." What does this mean? This verse tells us that we were created with a desire, a longing in our hearts, in our inner being that must be satisfied. That longing is the universal predicament of the human heart. In an affluent country such as ours we’re told we can satisfy this longing through any number of pursuits. You can acquire material things: a house, a car, or a vacation home. Or you can satisfy this hunger with the benefits that come from being successful at your job: the position, the power, the income you can obtain. You can satisfy this inner thirst with fine food and drink or with exciting trips. Could it be that so many are fixated on entertainment and games because they think the excitement and pleasure they offer can quench this thirst in their souls? These are the so-called "good things" in life that we’re promised will give us satisfaction and happiness. Granted, they may bring a sense of contentment for a while, but they simply don’t last. The hunger, the thirst in here returns and remains. And because these "good things" don’t do the job, we see increasingly the spread of destructive behaviors vainly pursued in their place: drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, immersion in pornography and promiscuous sex. Where is the satisfaction, the fulfillment in these pursuits? All I see are disappointment, cynicism, and broken lives. A key Old Testament passage that relates to Jesus’ words to us today is Isaiah 55:2-3. Verse two asks, "Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, and you labor for that which does not satisfy?" That’s a question that can be asked of many people in our world in 2005. "Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, and you labor for that which does not satisfy?" It could be that this question hits its mark in your life today. In your soul you’re hungry, your heart is thirsty. Almost everywhere you look the grass is greener than where you stand. And the great tragedy for some of you is that even though this is the Spirit of God calling you to Himself, you turn away again and again to the "quick fix" pursuits that you know provide satisfaction that is only temporary. "Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, and you labor for that which does not satisfy?" In our passage we see that Jesus has something to say about the insatiable hunger of the human heart, about the relentless thirst of our soul. What He says is this: It is possible to never again hunger, never again thirst in here! That possibility is presented in His words about bread. In this passage Jesus declares that there are two kinds of bread. There is a material bread that brings temporary satisfaction to our bodies. We eat this bread, we’re satisfied for a time, and then we’re hungry again. The manna sent from heaven to feed the people in the desert was one type of this bread. Jesus says there’s a second bread, a spiritual bread that brings a permanent satisfaction. "I am that bread," Jesus declares, "the bread of life, the bread of heaven, the bread of God." The hunger of your soul, the thirst of your heart is only satisfied by Jesus Christ, by coming to Him, by entering into a personal relationship with Him. Again, as I said last week, Christianity is not a religion. Religion is what we do, it’s our efforts, our works that we offer up to God in the hope we’ll be accepted, approved by Him. Notice in verse 28 that the Jews are thinking "religion:" "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus’ answer is, "It’s not about you; it’s about God. About what He’s done. It’s about the One He has sent. You don’t do, you believe in the One, you come to the One, you enter into a relationship with the One God has sent." In that relationship, you know and experience and enjoy this reality: That hunger and thirst in your heart for eternity is satisfied in the eternal Son of God! In Jesus Christ God the eternal Father loves you, He forgives you, He calls you into His embrace and says you’re His prized possession, the apple of His eye. In that relationship God has given you a precious gift, the gift of life. That life is salvation and eternal love, eternal peace, eternal joy and patience and goodness. Jesus says, "I am indispensable to that life. In Me your hunger and thirst for eternity are satisfied, in Me you have eternal life." The question of Isaiah 55:2: "Why do you spend money on that which is not bread, and you labor for that which does not satisfy?" is answered in Jesus Christ: "Listen, listen to Me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me, hear me, that your soul may live." Please understand that Jesus is not an optional supplement on a spiritual smorgasbord where you can pick and choose what you want. Jesus is a spiritual necessity. Apart from Christ, nothing, no one satisfies the hunger of your heart, the thirst of your soul. What is your response to Jesus and His words? In the eyes of Jesus, there are two types of people. One is the person who knows nothing of the satisfaction that only Jesus can give. He’s never had his hunger met, she’s never had her thirst quenched. They may know others who are different, who have a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and joy in their life that Christ offers, but they’re on the outside looking in. If this is true of you today, you need to hear and do what Jesus says, "The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty." Very simply, if you come to and believe in Jesus Christ, He will change you forever in that He will put into your heart the eternity that you long for. And with that gift you will leave behind hunger and thirst, the endless and fruitless searching that only produces frustration and despair. This can happen to you. It can happen today, right now. Won’t you consider and receive Jesus’ offer to you today? If when Jesus looks at you He sees someone in the second group of people, those who have come and believe in Him, let me ask you, is the Bread of Life making you spiritually stronger; are you growing in here? Another way to put it: Are eternal love, joy, truth, holiness, confidence, and peace more powerful, more pervasive in your life today than a year ago? You nourish your body every day with food. How often do you feed your soul? One of the great devotionals of our generation hits the nail on the head in its title, "Daily Bread." This is a daily devotional that helps you feed spiritually on the Bread of Life, to grow in the eternal life that is yours in Jesus Christ. Obviously, this is not the only way to feed your soul. There’s God’s Word. This book has stood the test of time. It’s been a source of spiritual nourishment and growth for Christians for centuries. You can also feed spiritually on the Bread of Life through prayer. Let me invite you to join the group that meets every Wednesday night for prayer at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. There’s the fellowship you enjoy with other believers. We need each other for encouragement and support. There’s engaging in ministry for Jesus Christ. Does the Bread of Life nourish and strengthen your inner being as you help out in Sunday School or the youth or care ministry? Yes, absolutely! When we gather together to worship God, He is here to bless, comfort, and minister His goodness and grace to us. At this Table we know Jesus Christ is spiritually present, not as a casual observer. He’s here for a purpose: to nourish, strengthen, and bless our heart, mind, and soul. I know I’m talking about an intensely spiritual topic today. But Jesus and what He says about Himself is vitally important. Jim Boice summed up the crucial nature of Jesus’ words to us when he asked, "Is Christ as real to you spiritually as something you can taste or handle? Is He as much a part of you as that which you eat? Jesus must be as real and as useful to you as a hamburger and French fries. Obviously, He is far more real and useful than these foods. The unfortunate thing is that for many people He is much less, much less than a burger and fries." Is Jesus real to you, the source of your life, your satisfaction, your growth in here? That’s what it means to call Him Savior, Lord, and the Bread of Life. |