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A SAMPLE OF MOUNT UNION ECHOES

#1 · January 18, 2003, 10:03 am

Quote from Forum Archives on January 18, 2003, 10:03 am
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

Greetings to those who subscribe to Sermon Seeds and Pastor Mail!

I am sending you this week's edition of Mount Union Echoes, a weekly email that includes full text notes of one of the sermons I have preached. It also includes news from the church I pastor, Mount Union Bible Church in West Valley (Kittanning) Pennsylvania.

If you would like to subscribe to Mount Union Echoes:

SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org

My apologies to those who already receive "Echoes". You may get a couple of more copies of the same thing.

Also, if you would like attachments of the last two "Echoes" that include the first two messages on the Sermon on The Mount, please email me at jpeters@alltel.net

Thanks!

Yours for the Master,

Jack Peters

MOUNT UNION ECHOES

Mount Union Bible Church, West Valley PA

____________________________________________________

January 19, 2003

Welcome to the latest edition of Mount Union Echoes.

Each issue, published once a week, includes the full text sermon notes of a message from Pastor Jack Peters and news about the Mount Union Bible Church. If you think that someone else would enjoy this publication PLEASE PASS IT ALONG TO OTHERS!

TO SUBSCRIBE SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

MATTHEW 5:4 - PAGE 1

GOOD MOURNING

#3 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Good Mourning!

That wasn't a greeting, it's the title of the message.

I'm spelling mourning M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G.

I have seen some good mourning. My father in-law Erroll Adams lost his wife of over 50 years. Tears were shed, but Dad realized that he would see Mom again. For a few weeks Dad just wasn't himself. He missed Mom. He was down. Then he moved in with us.

He never stopped missing Mom, but even at 80 years old he got on with his life. He decorated his room and the attached porch with favorite mementos. He washed dishes for Dottie, attended our boy's soccer and basketball games in all sorts of weather, and attended church services regularly. He also took us out to eat at least once a week.

Dad practiced good mourning.

Often people have a "wake up" call caused by some tragedy in their lives. During this time they recognize their sin, grieve over it, and turn to Christ for forgiveness. They mourn. But it's good mourning!

Our text this morning is Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

The Lord Jesus is telling us that there is a type of mourning that is good.

This is a mourning caused by sorrow over sin.

This is a mourning that brings comfort.

Most people do not like to even admit to sin, let alone sorrow over it. However the person who admits to sin and sorrows over it Biblically is the one who is going to experience the comfort of God's forgiveness.

In this message I want us to consider mourning in three ways.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

We are continuing our quest for practical righteousness as we continue our study in the Sermon on the Mount. Currently we are looking at the Beatitudes, those verses at the beginning of the sermon that begin with the word "blessed".

We have said that the word "blessed" means "happy". In the beatitudes our happiness is based on doing things that God approves. When we have God's approval on our lives we will be ultimately happy.

Last week we considered Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We said that to be "poor in spirit" was to be a spiritual beggar.

It is to realize that in yourself you have no righteousness.

It is to admit that you are nothing, you have nothing, and you deserve nothing.

It is to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SALVATION

Realizing that you aren't good enough to save yourself, but that Jesus died for your sins, and that is faith in Him that brings forgiveness and eternal life.

To be poor in spirit is also to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SUBMISSION

We gave you some steps to take as Christians:

1. Compare yourself to Jesus and nobody else.

2. Surrender your "rights" to God.

3. Live To Please God

4. Look continually to God and to nobody else to fulfill your

need. (Be a beggar)

To be poor in spirit is also to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SERVICE

Those who see their own unworthiness and sinfulness first are those who can be used of God. Isaiah and Moses are good examples.

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

R. Kent Hughes - "The intimate connection of this second Beatitude with the first is beautiful and compelling. The first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit," is primarily intellectual (those who understand that they are spiritual beggars are blessed); the second Beatitude, "Blessed are those who mourn,," is its emotional counterpart. It naturally follows that when we see ourselves for what we are, our emotions will be stirred to mourning." R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon on the Mount - The Message of the Kingdom (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2001) p. 19

We need to remember that mourning is a God-given emotion.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted: …A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

MOURNING OVER SELF

Mourning is often involved in the salvation experience.

When a person is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit for salvation, it is a natural response to mourn before God because of your sinfulness.

The comfort for that kind of mourning comes when a person discovers that Christ has died for their sin, and that by claiming Him as Savior, there is forgiveness.

Christian, you and I are the ones who should know something about mourning over sin. Because Jesus had to suffer a horrific death so that we can have forgiveness and salvation, we should be grieved when we are convicted of anything that causes Him pain.

We might find ourselves thinking, "Jesus took the punishment for what I just did."

Please turn to Psalm 51.

The classic case of sin and mourning over it is the story of "David and Bathsheba".

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and she became pregnant.

David tried to cover up the sin, trying to get Bathsheba's husband to sleep with her, so it would like the child was his.

When that didn't work David had the husband, Uriah, killed and took Bathsheba as his own wife.

When David was convicted over the sin, he mourned.

Psalm 51:1-4 - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

David was totally honest with God about his sin.

He gave no excuse.

He blamed nobody else.

He took full responsibility.

When we mourn over sin, we will do the same.

We will be totally honest.

We will name the specific sin or sins.

We will blame nobody else.

We will take full responsibility.

We will be sorry for the sin, not just for being caught.

We will strive to forsake that sin.

A Sunday School teacher once asked a pupil to define repentance. "The boy answered, 'Repentance means sorrow for sin.'

'That's right!' said the teacher.

But a little girl spoke up: 'Excuse me, but it means being sorry enough to quit!'" Warren Wiersbe, Live Like a King (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1976), p. 52

I wonder. When we say we are sorry we have sinned. Are we sorry enough, grieved enough to quit?

With confession comes the comfort of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:1-2 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

How should we handle mourning over sin as Christians?

First we should confess any known sin to God that we have not dealt with before.
Second, we should have a set time each day to examine our lives for sin, perhaps, first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night.
Thirdly, if we need help knowing what God considers sin, we can refer to the Scripture. Two excellent lists are found in Colossians 3:5-10 and Proverbs 6:16-19

Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Finally, we need to beware of delaying the mourning process. Sometimes we are just too comfortable in our sins and enjoying sins too much to actually mourn over them.

As Christians, let's look to the cross and remind ourselves how Jesus has suffered for us. That should be motivation for us to quit what we are doing for His sake.

Isaiah 53:3-6 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

There is a difference between being critical of the saints, and mourning over the sins of the saints.

When a person is critical, he or she, is not concerned about the spiritual well-being of the person involved.

When a person is critical, he is not sorrowed over the sin.

When a person is critical, he is making himself feel good by pointing out what's wrong in another person.

When a person is critical, he thinks of himself as better than the other person.

Here are some quotes on criticism:

When you throw dirt at people you’re not doing a thing but losing ground. - Zig Ziglar
Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself. - Augustine
For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. - Harrison’s Postulate
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. - Disraeli
He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help. - Lincoln
You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him. - Booker T. Washington Source Unknown http://www.bible.org/illus/c/c-155.htm#TopOfPage

How is mourning over the sins of the saints different from criticism of the saints?

Your are seriously concerned about the holiness of God, and don't want to see anyone, especially yourself, sin against Him.
You are concerned about the spiritual well being of the person.
You want to see the person restored to God.
You talk to God in concerned prayer about the person.
You ask God to deliver the person from their sin.
You talk to the person involved about their sin instead of talking to others.

There was once gross sin in the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians instead of grieving over sin and seeking to restore the brother to righteousness, instead congratulated themselves on their open-mindedness. They were "tolerating" the man's sin.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 - It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

There is another sense in which we can mourn over the sins of the saints. It is when we acknowledge for ourselves and for other Christians that we have all sinned against God. Terry Carnes prayed such a prayer here a couple of weeks ago.

Nehemiah prayed such a prayer when he was lamenting that Jerusalem's walls had been devastated.

Nehemiah 1:6-7 - Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

We should mourn over the laxness and outright sin we see in the church and in ourselves. I believe America is in moral trouble today because Christians have failed to live righteously and to take a stand for what is right. But there is hope.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

It's time for us to mourn for the sins of other Christians, as well as ourselves.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

Turn please to Psalm 126.

Now let me reiterate that we are all sinners.

The sinners I refer to now are the sinners without the Savior.

I am referring to those who have not trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.

We should mourn for those we know without Christ.

The Apostle Paul did.

Romans 10:1 - Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish

that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

The great passage that reminds us to mourn over those who do not know Christ as Savior is found in the Old Testament.

Psalm 126:5-6 - They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

When we sorrow before God over the people we know without Christ and pray for them in mourning.

When we then go to that person, bringing the precious message of salvation.

We can expect there will be times when we will see those we pray for and witness to coming to Christ as Savior.

And if we need motivation to mourn for those without Christ consider just one more verse of Scripture.

Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

I remember reading of a man who felt called to the mission field. He was not talented in the area of preaching, but he knew how to pray.

He went to the mission field and prayed, pouring out his heart in long protracted periods of prayer.

The result was that God sent people to him, and under conviction, wanting him to talk to them about their souls.

Oh that we would pour out our hearts for our unsaved friends and acquaintances.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When we mourn for self, we are comforted with forgiveness.

When we mourn for the saints, we are comforted by God working in the lives of other Christians.

When we mourn for sinners, we are comforted by God saving those who need Christ.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday - 9:00 A.M. - Willing Workers Work Day

7:00 P.M. - Annual Meeting - No other activities

Please make sure that Pastor has all reports for the Annual Report today, or tomorrow at the latest.

Saturday - 6:00 P.M. - Annual Sportsmen's Dinner

Please tell Ronna Bowser or Jackie Baum

if you have game to share or if you can

prepare a wild game dish. Also tell them

if you have located any door prizes. And

don't forget to invite your friends!

January 29 - 7:30 P.M. - The Master's Men and Ladies Care Share

will resume.

February 8 - 6:00 P.M. - Valentines Dinner at Bonello's

All adults invited. Please sign up by

February 2^nd.

PICTURES!

Don't forget to sign up to have your family's picture taken on March 21^st or March 22^nd. You may see Dottie Peters before or after services today or the next two Sundays in order to sign up.

These pictures are in preparation for our new church directory.

DIRECTIONS

Mount Union Bible Church is located in West Valley Pennsylvania, just outside of Kittanning. The church may be reached by following the blue road signs for the church located on Route 85 in Valley Township or on Routes 28/66 in Spaces Corners.

CONTACTS

Pastor Peters may be reached at 724-548-2760.

Church Address:

Mount Union Bible Church

RR 2, Box 233

Kittanning, PA 16201

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______________________________________________

Pastor Jack Peters
Ezra 7:10
AOL INSTANT MESSENGING SCREEN NAME - JackPeters47
MSN MESSENGER SCREEN NAME - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
Looking for preaching and teaching ideas?
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______________________________________________

Pastor Jack Peters
Ezra 7:10
AOL INSTANT MESSENGING SCREEN NAME - JackPeters47
MSN MESSENGER SCREEN NAME - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
Looking for preaching and teaching ideas?
Try Sermon Seeds!
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Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

Greetings to those who subscribe to Sermon Seeds and Pastor Mail!

I am sending you this week's edition of Mount Union Echoes, a weekly email that includes full text notes of one of the sermons I have preached. It also includes news from the church I pastor, Mount Union Bible Church in West Valley (Kittanning) Pennsylvania.

If you would like to subscribe to Mount Union Echoes:

SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org

My apologies to those who already receive "Echoes". You may get a couple of more copies of the same thing.

Also, if you would like attachments of the last two "Echoes" that include the first two messages on the Sermon on The Mount, please email me at jpeters@alltel.net

Thanks!

Yours for the Master,

Jack Peters

MOUNT UNION ECHOES

Mount Union Bible Church, West Valley PA

____________________________________________________

January 19, 2003

Welcome to the latest edition of Mount Union Echoes.

Each issue, published once a week, includes the full text sermon notes of a message from Pastor Jack Peters and news about the Mount Union Bible Church. If you think that someone else would enjoy this publication PLEASE PASS IT ALONG TO OTHERS!

TO SUBSCRIBE SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org

TO UNSUBSCRIBE SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO: mountunionechoes-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

MATTHEW 5:4 - PAGE 1

GOOD MOURNING

#3 - SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Good Mourning!

That wasn't a greeting, it's the title of the message.

I'm spelling mourning M-O-U-R-N-I-N-G.

I have seen some good mourning. My father in-law Erroll Adams lost his wife of over 50 years. Tears were shed, but Dad realized that he would see Mom again. For a few weeks Dad just wasn't himself. He missed Mom. He was down. Then he moved in with us.

He never stopped missing Mom, but even at 80 years old he got on with his life. He decorated his room and the attached porch with favorite mementos. He washed dishes for Dottie, attended our boy's soccer and basketball games in all sorts of weather, and attended church services regularly. He also took us out to eat at least once a week.

Dad practiced good mourning.

Often people have a "wake up" call caused by some tragedy in their lives. During this time they recognize their sin, grieve over it, and turn to Christ for forgiveness. They mourn. But it's good mourning!

Our text this morning is Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

The Lord Jesus is telling us that there is a type of mourning that is good.

This is a mourning caused by sorrow over sin.

This is a mourning that brings comfort.

Most people do not like to even admit to sin, let alone sorrow over it. However the person who admits to sin and sorrows over it Biblically is the one who is going to experience the comfort of God's forgiveness.

In this message I want us to consider mourning in three ways.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

We are continuing our quest for practical righteousness as we continue our study in the Sermon on the Mount. Currently we are looking at the Beatitudes, those verses at the beginning of the sermon that begin with the word "blessed".

We have said that the word "blessed" means "happy". In the beatitudes our happiness is based on doing things that God approves. When we have God's approval on our lives we will be ultimately happy.

Last week we considered Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We said that to be "poor in spirit" was to be a spiritual beggar.

It is to realize that in yourself you have no righteousness.

It is to admit that you are nothing, you have nothing, and you deserve nothing.

It is to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SALVATION

Realizing that you aren't good enough to save yourself, but that Jesus died for your sins, and that is faith in Him that brings forgiveness and eternal life.

To be poor in spirit is also to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SUBMISSION

We gave you some steps to take as Christians:

1. Compare yourself to Jesus and nobody else.

2. Surrender your "rights" to God.

3. Live To Please God

4. Look continually to God and to nobody else to fulfill your

need. (Be a beggar)

To be poor in spirit is also to place yourself totally in the hands of God for:

SERVICE

Those who see their own unworthiness and sinfulness first are those who can be used of God. Isaiah and Moses are good examples.

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:4 - Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

R. Kent Hughes - "The intimate connection of this second Beatitude with the first is beautiful and compelling. The first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit," is primarily intellectual (those who understand that they are spiritual beggars are blessed); the second Beatitude, "Blessed are those who mourn,," is its emotional counterpart. It naturally follows that when we see ourselves for what we are, our emotions will be stirred to mourning." R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon on the Mount - The Message of the Kingdom (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2001) p. 19

We need to remember that mourning is a God-given emotion.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted: …A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

MOURNING OVER SELF

Mourning is often involved in the salvation experience.

When a person is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit for salvation, it is a natural response to mourn before God because of your sinfulness.

The comfort for that kind of mourning comes when a person discovers that Christ has died for their sin, and that by claiming Him as Savior, there is forgiveness.

Christian, you and I are the ones who should know something about mourning over sin. Because Jesus had to suffer a horrific death so that we can have forgiveness and salvation, we should be grieved when we are convicted of anything that causes Him pain.

We might find ourselves thinking, "Jesus took the punishment for what I just did."

Please turn to Psalm 51.

The classic case of sin and mourning over it is the story of "David and Bathsheba".

King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and she became pregnant.

David tried to cover up the sin, trying to get Bathsheba's husband to sleep with her, so it would like the child was his.

When that didn't work David had the husband, Uriah, killed and took Bathsheba as his own wife.

When David was convicted over the sin, he mourned.

Psalm 51:1-4 - Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

David was totally honest with God about his sin.

He gave no excuse.

He blamed nobody else.

He took full responsibility.

When we mourn over sin, we will do the same.

We will be totally honest.

We will name the specific sin or sins.

We will blame nobody else.

We will take full responsibility.

We will be sorry for the sin, not just for being caught.

We will strive to forsake that sin.

A Sunday School teacher once asked a pupil to define repentance. "The boy answered, 'Repentance means sorrow for sin.'

'That's right!' said the teacher.

But a little girl spoke up: 'Excuse me, but it means being sorry enough to quit!'" Warren Wiersbe, Live Like a King (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1976), p. 52

I wonder. When we say we are sorry we have sinned. Are we sorry enough, grieved enough to quit?

With confession comes the comfort of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:1-2 - Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

How should we handle mourning over sin as Christians?

First we should confess any known sin to God that we have not dealt with before.

Second, we should have a set time each day to examine our lives for sin, perhaps, first thing in the morning, or the last thing at night.

Thirdly, if we need help knowing what God considers sin, we can refer to the Scripture. Two excellent lists are found in Colossians 3:5-10 and Proverbs 6:16-19

Proverbs 6:16-19 - These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, [19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Finally, we need to beware of delaying the mourning process. Sometimes we are just too comfortable in our sins and enjoying sins too much to actually mourn over them.

As Christians, let's look to the cross and remind ourselves how Jesus has suffered for us. That should be motivation for us to quit what we are doing for His sake.

Isaiah 53:3-6 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

There is a difference between being critical of the saints, and mourning over the sins of the saints.

When a person is critical, he or she, is not concerned about the spiritual well-being of the person involved.

When a person is critical, he is not sorrowed over the sin.

When a person is critical, he is making himself feel good by pointing out what's wrong in another person.

When a person is critical, he thinks of himself as better than the other person.

Here are some quotes on criticism:

When you throw dirt at people you’re not doing a thing but losing ground. - Zig Ziglar

Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself. - Augustine

For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism. - Harrison’s Postulate

It is much easier to be critical than to be correct. - Disraeli

He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help. - Lincoln

You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him. - Booker T. Washington Source Unknown http://www.bible.org/illus/c/c-155.htm#TopOfPage

How is mourning over the sins of the saints different from criticism of the saints?

Your are seriously concerned about the holiness of God, and don't want to see anyone, especially yourself, sin against Him.

You are concerned about the spiritual well being of the person.

You want to see the person restored to God.

You talk to God in concerned prayer about the person.

You ask God to deliver the person from their sin.

You talk to the person involved about their sin instead of talking to others.

There was once gross sin in the church at Corinth.

The Corinthians instead of grieving over sin and seeking to restore the brother to righteousness, instead congratulated themselves on their open-mindedness. They were "tolerating" the man's sin.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 - It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. [2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

There is another sense in which we can mourn over the sins of the saints. It is when we acknowledge for ourselves and for other Christians that we have all sinned against God. Terry Carnes prayed such a prayer here a couple of weeks ago.

Nehemiah prayed such a prayer when he was lamenting that Jerusalem's walls had been devastated.

Nehemiah 1:6-7 - Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.

We should mourn over the laxness and outright sin we see in the church and in ourselves. I believe America is in moral trouble today because Christians have failed to live righteously and to take a stand for what is right. But there is hope.

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

It's time for us to mourn for the sins of other Christians, as well as ourselves.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

Turn please to Psalm 126.

Now let me reiterate that we are all sinners.

The sinners I refer to now are the sinners without the Savior.

I am referring to those who have not trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sin and everlasting life.

We should mourn for those we know without Christ.

The Apostle Paul did.

Romans 10:1 - Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish

that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

The great passage that reminds us to mourn over those who do not know Christ as Savior is found in the Old Testament.

Psalm 126:5-6 - They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

When we sorrow before God over the people we know without Christ and pray for them in mourning.

When we then go to that person, bringing the precious message of salvation.

We can expect there will be times when we will see those we pray for and witness to coming to Christ as Savior.

And if we need motivation to mourn for those without Christ consider just one more verse of Scripture.

Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

I remember reading of a man who felt called to the mission field. He was not talented in the area of preaching, but he knew how to pray.

He went to the mission field and prayed, pouring out his heart in long protracted periods of prayer.

The result was that God sent people to him, and under conviction, wanting him to talk to them about their souls.

Oh that we would pour out our hearts for our unsaved friends and acquaintances.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When we mourn for self, we are comforted with forgiveness.

When we mourn for the saints, we are comforted by God working in the lives of other Christians.

When we mourn for sinners, we are comforted by God saving those who need Christ.

MOURNING OVER SELF

MOURNING OVER SAINTS

MOURNING OVER SINNERS

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday - 9:00 A.M. - Willing Workers Work Day

7:00 P.M. - Annual Meeting - No other activities

Please make sure that Pastor has all reports for the Annual Report today, or tomorrow at the latest.

Saturday - 6:00 P.M. - Annual Sportsmen's Dinner

Please tell Ronna Bowser or Jackie Baum

if you have game to share or if you can

prepare a wild game dish. Also tell them

if you have located any door prizes. And

don't forget to invite your friends!

January 29 - 7:30 P.M. - The Master's Men and Ladies Care Share

will resume.

February 8 - 6:00 P.M. - Valentines Dinner at Bonello's

All adults invited. Please sign up by

February 2^nd.

PICTURES!

Don't forget to sign up to have your family's picture taken on March 21^st or March 22^nd. You may see Dottie Peters before or after services today or the next two Sundays in order to sign up.

These pictures are in preparation for our new church directory.

DIRECTIONS

Mount Union Bible Church is located in West Valley Pennsylvania, just outside of Kittanning. The church may be reached by following the blue road signs for the church located on Route 85 in Valley Township or on Routes 28/66 in Spaces Corners.

CONTACTS

Pastor Peters may be reached at 724-548-2760.

Church Address:

Mount Union Bible Church

RR 2, Box 233

Kittanning, PA 16201

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Pastor Jack Peters
Ezra 7:10
AOL INSTANT MESSENGING SCREEN NAME - JackPeters47
MSN MESSENGER SCREEN NAME - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
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