10.2.11 "What Are You Hungry For?"

"What Are You Hungry For?"

Isaiah 66:1-24
Philippians 3:4-21
Psalm 74:1-23
Proverbs 24:15-16

Have you ever really been in the mood to eat something in particular? I'm a mood eater. I want to eat what I'm hungry for. It's amazing that what I'm in the mood for isn't really good for me. It's usually fried, grease-laden, and involves some form of cheese. 

In Philippians Paul speaks of those who have a similar problem. "For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth." (Phil 3:18-19)

In the same way that it's dangerous to eat only what your hungry for, it's treacherous to live that way spiritually. When we live life only to please our appetite there is a selfishness that begins to take over. Our motivation ceases to be "How can I please Christ?" It becomes "how can I please me? how can I be more comfortable?" This appetite becomes more and more insatiable and the desire for the things of this world increases. This road leads to destruction. 

Paul shows us how we must suppress that appetite into what it should be. "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him." (Phil. 3:7-9)

That kind of a thought process doesn't just "happen" to you. It's a discipline of will and consistent denial of fleshly appetites that brings us into alignment with mature Christian living. Paul acknowledges that it is a process. "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made." (Phil 3:13-16)

So, how has your appetite been? What have you been feeding? 

"I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead." Phil 3:10


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

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