Satisfaction Guaranteed
0 Amens
Intro: Notice the little labels (Kaboom) offering refunds. What if you invested your whole life?
Big Idea: Longing for righteousness is a mark of Jesus’ followers.
I. Longing for righteousness is a good thing.
- The world: “Fortunate those who are satisfied.” Lines of credit are available!
- Jesus: “Fortunate are the unsatisfied, longing for the right things.”
- Jesus uses the picture of hungering and thirsting- strong desires to fulfill great needs.
- Jesus sees a constant sort of longing, not occasional. Unsatisfied many want refunds.
- His followers have imputed righteousness- positional righteousness. We’re justified!
- Jesus means our personal righteousness, which is imparted & actual. Be sanctified!
- It is partially imparted in this life. We live in Romans 7. Ill. Hypothalamus disease
Transition: We have not arrived, but face the fact that our actions fall short of our desires.
II. Personal righteousness is essential to community justice.
- “Righteousness” (dikaiosunh) means right living (individual) & justice (community).
- Right living is doing the right thing for the right reason. Surpass the Pharisees!
- Pharisees obeyed to earn something from God. We obey out of love for God!
- The Pharisees were satisfied, kept rules. We long to be free of sin. Ill. vacation
- Personal righteous => concern for community justice. Ill. ProphetsTransition: A longing to be free from sin produces a longing for a community free of sin.
III. We often long for the wrong things, even if they’re good things.
- We often long for something other than living right. Ill. Marriage, sex, possessions
- More earthly satisfaction => less desire for righteousness. (Hosea 13) Ill. snacking
- Longing to live right first keeps us from illegitimate gratification- short cuts. Ill. above
- Longing to live right means that we also avoid living wrong. Ill. Divac/Vikings’ receiver
Transition: Good longings get out of control if they exceed our longing to love God (refunds).
IV. Jesus will satisfy that longing.
- We are fortunate, not because long, but that it will be satisfied. Ill. Dinner at Chili Nights
- Satisfaction is future. Righteousness is fully imparted when we see Jesus. Glorification!
- Beholding His unmediated glory, we will be graciously purified (1 John 3).
- We are passive in this- we don’t fill or satisfy ourselves. It is all by grace through faith.
Transition: Jesus will satisfy our longing to be free from sin at His return. No refunds wanted!
V. What now?
- Repent of your sin and your desire for sin. Remember, Jesus died to forgive you.
- Rejoice when you long for the right things- Remember you’re fortunate! Welcome it.
- Pursue justice by preaching the Great News to sinners. Remember you’re a missionary.
- Pray for the kingdom to come. Remember only Jesus can bring it to pass.
Conclusion: We love to see the words “Satisfaction Guaranteed”. We want to be satisfied, and now. We want our investments to pay off. Those who seek satisfaction in this life will want a refund at the end. Jesus will satisfy our deepest longings, including the desire to be free from sin- just not yet. He guarantees it with His willing death on the cross in our place. But this satisfaction will belong only to those who long for it; eagerly desiring it. What do you eagerly desire? What does this say about you? Do you need to repent or rejoice?
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