On May 31, 2026, Kuala Lumpur Immanuel Church held its last Sunday service of the month and renewed its commitment.
During the service presided over by Brother Patrick Samuel, Missionary Sharon Zhang offered intercessory prayer, and Brother Paul Tan offered the offering prayer.
Pastor Samuel Chang delivered a sermon titled “Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness,” based on Matthew 5:6.
Pastor Chang explained that Jesus’ teaching on righteousness is closely connected to His command in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” According to the sermon, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who passionately desire and pursue the Kingdom of God. Just as a starving person longs for food or a thirsty traveler in the desert desperately seeks water, Christians should cultivate an intense longing for God’s kingdom and His reign.
Reflecting on the physical realities of first-century Palestine, Pastor Chang noted that Jesus’ audience understood hunger and thirst in a way that many modern people do not. Because food and water were often scarce, Jesus’ words carried a deep sense of urgency. Likewise, believers today are called to develop a sincere spiritual hunger for God’s kingdom rather than treating salvation and eternal life as things that can be taken for granted.
The sermon challenged Christians to maintain their hope for God’s kingdom even during difficult seasons of life. Pastor Chang observed that people often lose sight of spiritual priorities when faced with hardship, disappointment, or sacrifice. However, Jesus promises that those who continue to seek God’s righteousness with perseverance will ultimately be satisfied and fulfilled.
Drawing from Proverbs 21:21, Pastor Chang emphasized that those who pursue righteousness and love will find life, prosperity, and honor. God does not ignore those who earnestly seek Him; rather, He fulfills their deepest spiritual desires and grants them the blessings of His kingdom.
The sermon also explored Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:25–33 concerning anxiety and material concerns. Pastor Chang explained that Jesus calls His followers to live according to a higher priority than food, clothing, possessions, or worldly security. Just as God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the flowers of the field, He faithfully provides for His children.
According to Pastor Chang, human beings were created to follow God’s way rather than becoming consumed by material pursuits. While the world often measures success by possessions and wealth, Scripture places greater value on a person’s character and relationship with God. True freedom, he said, comes from following Christ and living according to the truth.
Quoting John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” Pastor Chang encouraged believers to embrace God’s priorities and pursue His kingdom above all else. He reminded the congregation that material things are temporary, but the Kingdom of God is eternal.
Concluding the message, Pastor Chang urged Christians to examine their priorities and to cultivate a deeper longing for God’s kingdom. Although the path of faith may seem narrow and difficult at times, Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. True happiness and lasting fulfillment, he said, are found not in earthly possessions but in seeking God and His kingdom first.