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MOURNERS WHO ARE COMFORTED
(MATTHEW 5:4)
…Our
world is filled with loss, tears, and death. One has said that, “history is the
story of __tears__.” I know he is right as we live life in this
fallen world that is under the sentence of death.
…Mourning, to grieve deeply from the heart is a very __necessary__ thing.
I have known deep loss, when it feels like your heart is going to break into a
thousand pieces. God has built us with this necessary emotion of sorrow in
order to __cope__ with our loss. None of us would choose the loss
that causes mourning. But __loss__ happens. God has designed
grieving and sorrow as the road to healing.
…Jesus
moves to His second Beatitude telling of those mourners who receive comfort.
This comfort is not promised to __all__ who mourn, but only those who do
what He prescribes.
FIVE QUESTIONS HELPING US TO
UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAY TO A JUBILANT HEART IS THROUGH SORROW.
“Blessed are… who mourn, for
they shall be comforted.”
I.
Are There Different Kinds Of
Mourning?
__Yes__.
A.
There is a kind of mourning that is just
__worldly__
sorrow. This is the kind of sorrow we experience just living life in our
world. True sorrow of this type is a gift from God. Sorrow
gives spice to life and teaches us to appreciate good things. It increases
our sensitivity, particularly to the needs and __sorrows__ of others.
It also can drive one to the __Savior__. Robert B. Hamilton wrote,
“I walked a mile with Pleasure…” (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4)
B.
The
kind of mourning that Jesus is talking about is
__godly__
sorrow.
1.
It
is sorrow over our
__sin__.
(2 Corinth 7:9-10) It is the grieving of the heart of one who knows he has
offended holy God by his sin. This fills us with __shame__ and grief.
2.
This
involves
__deep__
internal agony. (Psalm 32:3-5) Of the nine words used in the Greek
for __sorrow__ this is the strongest.
II. Is This Mourning A ‘One And
Done’ Kind Of Experience?
__No__.
A.
This mourning is always part of
__true__
salvation. Godly sorrow is related to repentance, and repentance is always
related to sin. So this mourning occurs at the new birth.
B.
But it also is part of the genuine believer’s
__everyday__
life. This occurs as we continue to face our sin and __deal__ with
it in confession and repentance. (1 John 1:9)
C.
“Mourning” here is in a verb
form meaning that it is continuous action,
__never__
finished.
D.
Listen
to Paul’s deep anguish as he looks
__within__
his own heart as a believer. (Romans 7:18-24) He cries out, “O
wretched man that I am…”
III. What
Is The Surprising
__Result__
Of This Sorrowing For Sin?
A.
Comfort is what is promised. You, really, will receive comfort. It
is not the
__sorrow__
that produces this comfort. Rather, __God__ gives it to those who
obediently repent of sin.
B.
This comfort is for now as
we deal with our sin. It also involves the
__future__
when, all the spiritually bankrupt, who with broken hearts repented, will __enjoy__
heaven.
C.
There
is nothing like a
__clean__
heart and conscience…it results in sweet happiness.
IV. How
Can You Become A Mourner?
It takes God’s Grace to
Mourn.
A.
You must recognize hindrances to godly sorrow and eliminate them from your
life. A few:
1.
__Love__ of sin.
3. Procrastination…”tomorrow”
2.
Despair…”God can’t help me”
4. __Pride__…”I am not that bad”
B. Remove these by: Look at the cross and see what
Jesus did for you. Also, study God’s
Word concerning sin. See what a __tragic__
thing it really is. Finally, pray asking the Lord to search your heart then ask Him to break it. (Psalm
51:17)
V. How
Can I Know If I Am A Mourner?
A.
You are a mourner if you are
__sensitive__
to sin. As you grow in grace, you will grow in your
awareness of your own sinfulness. We will __groan__ like Paul in
Romans 7.
B.
You are a mourner if you sense God’s
__cleansing__
and forgiveness of your sin. It is wonderful!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. Sin and
true happiness never live together in the same vessel.
2.
Conviction of sin and repentance must precede conversion.
3. Godly
mourning over your sins brings God's forgiveness.
4. If you
know Christ as your Savior, daily examine your heart.
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