' Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled '. God is ready to fill us with righteousness according to His promise. But He first identifies the believer to find out how thirsty for righteousness he is before releasing the blessing. He keeps what He has; He does not play with or waist precious resources of the Kingdom on those that do not need them. God wants us to manifest thirst before He pours righteousness upon us. ' For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring ' (Isaiah 44:3). He does not grant righteousness, as an experience, to just anyone. He gives to those who manifest and reveal their heart-hunger and earnestness for it. The only thing that satisfies a child of God is righteousness. There is something deadly wrong with a Christian who is not thirsty after the righteousness of God. God's promises to fill the thirsty with righteousness are great. But we must thirst and respond to His call so He can fulfil them in our lives.

He has given His Son, Jesus Christ to atone for your sin and make full provision for your righteousness. If you passionately desire His righteousness, '… he shall give thee the desires of thine heart ' (Psalm 37:4). God imparts His nature of holiness to those who are alive in Christ and thirst for it. And if we have not experienced the promised fulness of righteousness, it is because we have failed to do our part of passionately desiring it. If we desire and seek Him with faith He will fulfil His promise. ' Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled .' He will fill us with His righteousness. When God makes promises He fulfils them, when the conditions are met: '… for he is faithful that promised ' (Hebrews 10:23).

####### 3. GRACIOUS PROVISION FOR THE THIRSTY

######### Matthew 5:6; 6:33; Psalms 48:9,10; 118:19-21; Isaiah 45:8,24; 46:12,13; 51:1,5,6; Hosea 10:12.

Righteousness is not a product of human endeavour, trial, struggle or work. It is a provision of the grace of God. A study of the word 'seek' in both Old and New Testaments reveals a list of things God commands us to seek after. But many Christians today do not seek the fulness God has promised and provided for through the vicarious death of Christ. When you examine yourself sincerely and compare the list of what you seek with what God asks believers to seek after in His Word, you will discover a wide margin of disparity. The same applies to Christian assemblies whose posters and handbills display their passion and emphasis and what they call people to seek. But if the church is going to please God and remain at the centre of His will, it must abandon all the temporary but legitimate things it is preoccupied with to seek His righteousness. God has provided for our righteousness. Therefore, He issues a command: ' seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you ' (Matthew 6:33). Even in the Old Testament, saints of God sought, desired and thirsted for God's righteousness and God answered their prayer. And if our desire is so intense, and we seek the Lord in prayer, He will fill us with His righteousness. But if symptoms of decay and death are visible in your life, repent of your sins. To be filled with His righteousness, ' break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you ' (Hosea 10:12).

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### Congregational Songs:

####### HO, EVERY ONE THAT IS THIRSTY IN SPIRIT

1. Ho, ev'ry one that is thirsty in spirit,