Dangerous Appetites

Appetite is a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need. Our human bodies are wrapped around our human souls. We are both body and spirit. Both have appetites—our flesh and our spirit both hunger and thirst. Most people understand the physical appetites of the flesh, but Jesus also describes this spiritual appetite when he preached the Sermon on the Mount. 

Matthew 5:6 (NIV) 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 

The hunger and thirst that Jesus refers to are the appetites of the human soul. God designed our bodies to hunger and thirst, and God also created our souls to hunger and thirst. Our flesh needs healthy food, and our souls need healthy food as well. Junk food can harm the human body, and an unhealthy spiritual appetite can also harm the human soul. 

The Apostle Paul discusses this dangerous spiritual appetite in his letter to the church at Philippi. 

Philippians 3:18-19 (NLT) 

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 

19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

Their god is their appetite. In other words, they live to satisfy the desires of the flesh and never think about their eternal soul. Paul wrote that letter with tears in his eyes. Why? Because the consequences are both deadly and eternal. 

Romans 8:5-6 (NLT) 

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 

6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 

The sinful nature of man produces a dangerous appetite and focuses only on the temporary life we experience in the flesh. The soul, however, longs for that which is eternal. 

Psalm 63:1 (NLT) 

1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 

Nothing else will satisfy our thirsty soul. We were created to seek after our Creator God and find our fulfillment in him and him alone. The truth is this…when our thirsty soul is satisfied with the living water of Christ, then and only then will our flesh find its fullness. 

Maranatha, Hosanna, Hallelujah and Amen, 

Terry Cooper 

Lead MinisterMy First paragraph with bold text.