"HUNGRY FOR GOD"

If You Are Not Hungry For God, You Will Never Find God

When I talk of God, I’m not just speaking about just any god. I’m not speaking to
you about the god of this world that has distracted so many people from finding a
true relationship with Jesus Christ.
I’m not talking about a god that you can choose how you serve him.
But I’m talking about the God!
 The First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega
o Revelation 22:13, it says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and
the end." This verse is part of the book of Revelation, written by the apostle John. The phrase
"Alpha and Omega" is used as a title of Christ, emphasizing his eternal nature as the beginning
and end of all things. This verse also appearing in Revelation 1:8 and 21:6, where it is also
attributed to Jesus Christ, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
 The Beginning and the End, The Creator of all things.
o Revelation 3:14, it says "The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning
of God's creation."
o Isaiah 44:6 says "I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God."
o Isaiah 46:10 "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to
come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
o He is the God of the beginning and the end, the creator of all things, emphasizing his eternal
nature and sovereignty over all things.

A God you must serve according to what He says!

But if you’re not hungry and thirsty for righteousness you will never eat what God
has prepared.

The Children of Israel didn’t like the manna; the Bread God sent from Heaven.
However, they had no other choice, it was either eat it or die.

That’s why he told them in: John 6:53-58

John 6
53. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you cannot have eternal life within you.
54. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last
day.
55. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.
57. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live
because of me.
58. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your
ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”
You have no other choice in the matter either. In this journey our manna is Jesus.

John 6
35. Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in
me will never be thirsty.

36. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.

37. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

38. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.

39. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise
them up at the last day.

But listen to the response of those that heard Him: John 6:41-45
John 6
41. Then the people began to murmur in disagreement because he had said, “I am the bread
that came down from heaven.”

42. They said, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he
say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43. But Jesus replied, “Stop complaining about what I said.

44. For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the
last day I will raise them up.

45. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the
Father and learns from him comes to me.

Matthew 5
6. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.

 If you’re not filled, if you are not hungry enough yet!

 If you’re not hungry for a change in your life, if you are not thirsty enough
to search for the living water, you will never be filled with his
righteousness.

What is the Holy Spirit?

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and
joy in the Holy Ghost.

This is what you need to get hungry for the Spirit of God; the “Holy Spirit.” You
cannot not receive the Holy Ghost unless you are hungry enough to accept it.
 When a person is naturally hungry, they will search for food until they
find it.
 When a person is naturally thirsty, they will search for something to
quench their thirst.
 But when it comes to Spiritual things, they expect someone to just bring it
to them and they put forth no effort.

It won’t happen until you get Hungry enough to find God.

Jer 29:13-14 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your
heart.

Search means to look for.

- Search with all your heart" is an idiomatic expression that means to do something with great
enthusiasm and sincerity. It is putting your whole self into seaching for God, and is fully committed to it.
You have to do something with great passion and intensity. In other words, giving it your all, your full
effort and attention.

Your reward for searching is this: Verse 14: And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I
will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I
have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be
carried away captive.

1. How hungry are you for spiritual things.

2. How thirsty are you for an intimate relationship with God?
3. What would you do to draw near to God?

People are carried away into captivity of sin because they fail to follow God.
It’s not about how you want to live for God…. but it is how obedient you are to
the Word of God.
 If the Word of God says something, it’s right.
 If you try to change it to suit how you want to live for God, you’re
Wrong!!
God will not change, it is still “THUS SAITH THE LORD!”
YOU have got to show God you want this gift.

People at Christmas time can’t wait to open their presents. They sneak around
and shake the box. Some open them when every one's gone and then try to tape
it back together so no one will know they have been into it.

Why can’t we develop that same anticipation when it comes to the Holy Ghost?
It is a gift and a promise it is for you and it has been paid for.

The 120 people that went into the upper room on the day of Pentecost went with an expectation to receive the
promise of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 1:4-5 "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave
Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with
water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the
blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what
seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

These verses indicate that the apostles and followers of Jesus were together in one place, waiting for the promise
of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus had told them about before his ascension. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Steps in receiving the Holy Spirit:

1. Repentance: A person must first confess their sins and ask for forgiveness.

2. Faith: A person must have faith in Jesus Christ and accept him as their Lord and savior.

3. Ask: A person must ask God to fill them with the Holy Spirit and to baptize them in the Spirit.

4. Wait: The person should wait and be open to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This may involve
prayer, worship or other spiritual practices.

5. Receive: When the person feels the presence of the Holy Spirit, they should receive it and allow it to fill
them.