Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness

Leading The Way Radio Podcast

Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef

Michael Youssef, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, Sermons, Bible Study, Theology, Health & Fitness, Jesus, Mental Health, Preaching, Bible, Spirituality, Religion, Holy Spirit, Ltw, Leading The Way

4.9 • 620 Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this fourth message of Happiness is in You, Dr. Youssef reminds us that the deepest longing of the human soul can only be satisfied by God Himself. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). This is not a hunger for religious activity or public recognition, but a burning desire for more of the righteousness of Christ within us—more of God and less of self. When we attempt to satisfy this longing with worldly approval, self‑effort, or spiritual pretense, we end up weak, irritable, and spiritually starved. But when we seek the holiness and presence of Christ above all, He promises real joy, lasting peace, and the deep satisfaction that only the Holy Spirit can give. This is the fourth step in the superstructure of true happiness. If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone. 🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support. https://ltw.org/care 💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at: https://myfaithassistant.com If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ. ❤️ Support Leading The Way: https://www.ltw.org/donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Yousath, heard and seen around the world in 28 of the most spoken and understood languages and growing.
0:11.5	In a moment, Dr. Yousef guide you toward hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
0:17.7	Please do remember that leading the way is listener-supported media ministry, declaring the gospel across six continents.
0:25.4	Won't you join Dr. Yousuff in spreading God's word in critical areas of our world?
0:30.5	Become a part of the open-door campaign today.
0:33.6	You can find out more about that when you call us 866-6-6-26-4-3-55-6. Or you can go to
0:43.1	LTW.org. Right now, though, listen with me as Dr. Michael Youssef begins today's teaching.
0:52.2	Turn with me if you haven't already, Matthew Chapter 5, verse 6. And here's what Jesus said.
0:59.2	Blessed, happy, fortunate in Greek macarius are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Not may be satisfied,
1:15.8	shall be satisfied, will be satisfied. You have God's word on it. When Jesus uttered those words,
1:23.9	his hearers could easily identify with what he's saying saying because they know what it is like to have such hunger pain, to have such thirst for water.
1:35.8	And to them, the smallest amount of food and the drop of water is of extreme value.
1:42.4	To them, food and water was so scarce that they would not waste a crumb
1:49.1	of bread or a drop of water. And so when Jesus said, blessed, happy, macarios are you who hunger
1:57.4	and thirst, their ears perked up, their ears wanted to hear. You remember, they always
2:03.0	went after Jesus after he gave them food, because that is such hunger. There is such thirst that
2:09.1	they understand. I am told by the experts that there are four stages to starvation. Four stages. First of all, you have
2:21.9	irritation. You become so irritable. You get easily set off. Then followed by a state of
2:30.7	exhaustion. Thirdly, it followed by deep depression. And finally, fourthly, it follows
2:40.0	by a stage of physical lesslessness. The irony is this, Jesus promised, that that for that spiritual hunger, for that spiritual thirst, for that hunger and thirst for righteousness, you will never die of starvation. In fact, that is the very thing that God is going to fill to overflowing.
3:09.4	It will feel completely satisfy.
3:12.5	But listen, if you let yourself spiritually starve, or if you try to satisfy that hunger for righteousness
	...

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