Happy in mourning!
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
Happy Mourners
Matthew 5:4
Introduction
(1) The 4th century religious leader, John Chrysostom says in one of his writings that the Beatitudes succeed one another like “links in a golden chain”.
· Jesus did not speak these haphazardly, but in a divinely logical sequence.
· Mt 5:3-12
(2) Humility is the first step.
· No man can begin believing in God until he stops believing in himself—that’s where poverty of spirit comes in.
· However, humility alone is not enough
(3) Those who are truly happy and blessed must add mourning to humility.
· Many realize that they of themselves are nothing, but they don’t care.
· that’s why we need the 2nd Beatitude, Mt 5:4
· Joe Schubert, “Without the humility of the 1st Beatitude, the mourning of the second Beatitude becomes impossible; and until the mourning of the 2nd Beatitude is activated, the humility of the 1st Beatitude is dead and useless.”
(4) Mourning is not popular in today’s society.
· How many people would pronounce a blessing on mourners, and say they are the truly blessed people?
· People today, especially men, shun all mourning and tears (it’s sissy, not masculine, etc).
· What a paradox: those who mourn are happy and blessed!
(5) Mourning: “to bewail, sob, lament, weep”—sorrow of the acutest kind.
(6) Let’s look closely at both the Principle and the Promise of this Beatitude.
I. The Principle
(1) Mourning is not commended by Jesus per se, just as not all poverty is commended.
(2) There are some Unblessed Mourners
· The pessimists who continually whine and murmur chronic complain.
(1) Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the morose, the morbid, the sullen”
(2) no blessing on neurotics and psychopaths who take delight in being miserable and making others miserable; try to make people feel sorry for them; “poor me” attitude.
(3) He turns Phil 4:8 around backwards.
· Those who mourn because of injured pride
(1) The egotist feels no sorrow for the wrongdoer, but only for himself because of injury done to him.
(2) Do you ever mourn for the one who mistreats you?
(Rom 12:17-18)
· Those who mourn over material loss
(1) If you depend on the world for your well-being, it is natural for feel sorrow when things are lost/stolen/damaged or plans fail.
(2) There is no comfort in such regret and sorrow.
(3) Col 3:2-3 is your life hid with God?
(4) Those who mourn over effects, not the sin.
(1) Some are like the child who cries over a spanking, not because he disobeyed his parents, but because it hurt.
(2) or the headache (hangover) of the drunk/sickness of AIDS.
(3) 2 Cor 7:9, 10 affirms that such find no comfort, but only death.
(3) Who are the mourners who are blessed by God?
· Those who mourn over their own sins
(1) A spiritual mourning that arises from the sense of sin in our lives—the destitution of our spiritual state.
(2) more than a mere acknowledgement of sin— a regret
(3) 2 Cor 7:8-10, Jam 4:8-10 hate your sins, mourn over them.
(4) Ps 38:18, Joel 2:12-13
(5) Isaiah’s example, Isa. 6:5
(6) Paul’s cry, Rom 7:24
(7) Peter’s example, Mt 26:25
(Repentance is a continual experience)
· Those who mourn over the sins of others
(1) the sincerely humble Christian mourns over all sin.
(2) Sin dishonors God and His Son, plus destroys fellow man.
(3) Phil 3:18
I Cor. 5:1-2
(4) Those who truly mourn over the sinfulness of their neighbor will not sit idly by and watch them march into hell.
II. The Promise
(1) There is a promise for those who mourn: they will be comforted.
· This is the key to the happiness of mourners.
· Jesus promises that you will be comforted, Lk 4:16-21.
· But how? (1) Initial salvation (2) continued forgiveness (3) heaven (Lazarus was “comforted” in Abraham’s bosom), Lk 16:25
(2) Only Jesus can give you such comfort, and He gives it to those who mourn because of their sin.
· Many want God’s blessings without God’s purging.
· They want sermons on how to win friends, have peace of mind, or how to forget fear and/or social injustices.
· Jesus came to make men good, not to make them feel good.
Conclusion:
(1) The 1st Beatitude helps us to become conscious of our lack of God.
(2) The 2nd shows us we should be so grieved over our sins that we cannot rest until we have found God.
(3) How do you feel about your sins?
(4) Godly sorrow brings repentance.
…
************************************ Weekly messages of hope and comfort for those who want to learn more about Jesus and His glorious plan for our lives. To find out more about our ministry go to : worldoutreach.ca/sotn.htm visit our "Cartoon Site" www.worldoutreach.ca/DearGod/ ************************************* -- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: sermonsonthenet-unsubscribe@welovegod.org