Giving Christ First Place

TRUE SATISFACTION
Lesson Six

Memory Verse Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

How much is enough? This is the age-old question – usually when someone asks it they are referring to monetary issues. How much spiritual involvement is enough? How much study is enough? How much faith is enough? How much work is enough? The list of questions could go on and on. This week we will look at God’s plan for true satisfaction. Your success in life depends on it!

Spiritual Food – How much is enough? We need to consider a balanced diet of spiritual food in order for our “body’ to function at its peak. Poor nutrition reflects on us individually as well as a church. One of the greatest sets of instruction is found in the beatitudes, which tells us how to find true satisfaction in life. 1 Corinthians 3:2 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3for you are still carnal. This tells us about what kind of food we are to eat spiritually. When we are younger we are to feast on the milk of the word, and as we grow we are to advance to the meat of the matter. Making the bread of life the center of your diet rounds out things pretty well!

Matthew 5:3-12
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

V10: Righteousness (Webster - Adhering to moral principles) is a major theme in the Bible (323 times). Like a diamond righteousness has many facets. For now let’s think of righteousness as having a right relationship with God. When your relationship with God is not right how does it impact your other relationships in your life? God has called us to a life of faith and obedience. Romans 3:23 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 3:12 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Through faith, you trust that you can have a right standing with God because Jesus died for you. If God had not paid for our sins through Christ on the cross, you could never experience His love. Your sin would demand God’s judgment and would keep you separated from Him. Until our relationship with God is right, our lives will not be right. God never intended for you to face the world alone. Matthew 28:20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

We have a fundamental need for Christ and we can’t experience lasting satisfaction in our lives until we establish our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It’s free so take advantage of this offer. The FREE gift of salvation is a wonderful thing. John 3:16 states that God GAVE His son… For those who believed. Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. When you have that right relationship with God you will be truly satisfied.

How have the challenges you have faced in your life impacted the satisfaction of your relationship with Jesus? Just like us, Jesus faced a time of intense temptation at the beginning of His ministry. Matthew 4. After Jesus had fasted for 40 days, Satan urged HIM to set aside the plan of God for his own personal gain. Satan offered immediate gratification to the desires, but Jesus rejected all of them. What did he use to reject Satan? Do you bargain with Jesus with your physical life, emotional life or your spiritual life? How do you reject Satan? How should the church reject Satan? Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."

Matthew 4:1-4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4But He answered and said, "It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."'
Do we use “every word” that comes from the mouth of God? How can we better incorporate God’s word into our everyday life? This passage also affirms the importance of spiritual matters over physical matters. Jesus doesn’t deny the need for physical things, but he models the importance that they should take. Jesus was content and satisfied with what His father provided.

Paul also learned to be content in any situation. He states in Philippians 4:11-13 (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. It took me approximately 15 years to learn to be content in my circumstances. I had a difficult time getting used to living in the city. I am a country girl at heart. I can’t tell you the exact moment in time that I learned to be content but when I finally let go and let God direct my footsteps in this matter, my life worked a lot better. Are you content in your circumstances?

Another way to improve our diet is to eat the proper amount of food. Cutting calories to loose a few pounds doesn’t always work. I’m reminded of the saying “You are what you eat!” Cutting God’s word from your spiritual dies is a disaster waiting to happen. Although we can’t literally EAT the Bible, how can we be filled with God’s word? Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! The Psalmist really enjoyed the words of God. What kind of taste does the word of God leave in your mouth? Is it a comforting feeling, satisfied, hungry, satiated, disappointed, depressed, etc. If you are like me you want to make God’s word an integral part of your life. The following acrostic helps remind you to come and enjoy the feast of God’s word.

H reminds me to HEAR God’s word Romans 10:17
E reminds me to EXAMINE God’s word (read) Revelation 1:3
A Reminds me to ANALYZE (study) God’s word 2 Timothy 2:15
R reminds me to remember (memorize) God’s word Psalm 119:11
T reminds me to THINK about God’s word Psalm 1:2-3

As you continue to give Christ first place in your life, God will place His word in your HEART and HE will nourish you spiritually. HE will meet your deepest spiritual needs as no one and nothing else can, and you will find success living for Christ.

Doing God’s work bring satisfaction. We’ve talked at length about the excuses we can provide, I’m too busy, they can’t use my help I don’t know how to…” etc. Jesus taught His disciples that doing the Father’s work was like eating spiritual food. Spiritual work satisfied Jesus so fully that physical food was less important to Him. The disciples were so focused on getting Jesus something to eat that they were missing the spiritual opportunities around them. Only when Jesus challenged them to open their eyes did they see the work God wanted them to do. Matthew 4:13-21 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food." 16But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." 17And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish." 18He said, "Bring them here to Me." 19Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus focused on spiritual needs and reaped a spiritual harvest. The disciples had focused on physical needs and would have missed the spiritual harvest had not Jesus challenged them to see the spiritual needs all around them and respond. Because the Samaritans believed Jesus, they found satisfaction in the right place. JN 4: 29-42 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers. 42They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." God warns us about looking for satisfaction in the wrong places. Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. Too often people look for satisfaction in all the wrong places and become frustrated when the things of the world can’t satisfy their emotional and spiritual hunger. According to Webster: Satisfaction is the act of fulfilling a desire or need or appetite or the contentment you feel when you have done something right. What brings you satisfaction?
IS 55:2"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. What guidance do you find in this verse? How can it help you in looking for satisfaction?

You cannot be spiritually satisfied until you develop a close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship becomes spiritual food for you, food that satisfies. Jesus described himself as the “bread of life” John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. He was teaching a group of people focused on physical hunger. Through word pictures such as “eat my flesh” and “drink my blood” John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." Jesus challenged the people to make Him the focus of their lives, rather than physical food. Imagine eating with Jesus as the 5000 did, or even better; imagine having Jesus as a guest in your home, sitting at the table with you, enjoying a delicious meal. It can happen – at least spiritually. We must remember that He has asked us to remember Him by partaking of a meal with HIM weekly in the communion. 1 Corinthians 11:23 ff For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. Happy feasting!


H reminds me to HEAR God’s word Romans 10:17

E reminds me to EXAMINE God’s word (read) Revelation 1:3

A reminds me to ANALYZE (study) God’s word 2 Timothy 2:15

R reminds me to REMEMBER (memorize) God’s word Psalm 119:11

T reminds me to THINK about God’s word Psalm 1:2-3