Blessed Mourners

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

Morning Music:

This is the day 4

Victory in Jesus 141

When we all get to Heaven 103

Theme: Because of our poor in spirit condition we must put on a funeral attitude and receive comfort from God in return.

Introduction: Have you ever been to a funeral? I’ve been to way too many. I went to my first funeral when I was 18 years old. It was for a lady in our church. I wore a black suit and an olive green shirt and a dark green tie with stripes on it. 2 weeks later I went to a funeral for a former classmate of mine; he was only 16 years old. He was involved in a very serious car wreck in which he was thrown from the car threw the windshield. He was pronounced brain dead at the hospital and he never woke up. The most recent funeral I went to was for my own grandmother. One morning as she was being attended to at the nursing home she was at she suddenly and without explanation went into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the emergency room and there the doctor told us that they couldn’t do anything. She was 75 years old. I had the privilege to speak at her funeral and be one of pallbearers. When you go to a funeral what is the mood? I’ve noticed that some people treat it like any other time, but if you look at the family, their faces are somber and solemn. Most of the time they are in tears or their eyes are bloodshot from crying all night long. Why do I describe all of this for you? Because we are going to discuss funeral attitudes with regards to our sin. I desire for us to consider this morning that: Because of our poor in spirit condition we must put on a funeral attitude and receive comfort from God in return.

What does it mean to mourn?

Because sin separates man from God as death separates man from life we must mourn.

What did ancient mourning look like? The ancients turned mourning into a public ceremony in which everyone deeply felt the grief they expressed in the ceremony

Noisy

Loud weeping

Singing

Violent

Beating the breast

Cutting oneself

Demonstrative

Wearing black clothing

Hiring professional mourners

Feasts

Could last as long as 80 days

What does one mourn over? One mourns over the presence of sin their life.

Consider the context-Poor in Spirit

Absolutely nothing of spiritual merit or value before God

Why?

All have sinned (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.)

No righteous works (Isaiah 64:6 For we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags)

Consider your own lack of spiritual merit, but rather demerit before God.

Why should one mourn? One mourns because in their actions and choices they have offended an infinite God Who requires justice.

God hates sin because it goes against His nature. (Genesis 39:9- There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?, Psalms 51:4- 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.)

His holiness condemns it. (Ezekiel 39:7- So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel., He will punish the wickedness of others to show Israel that their sinfulness is a serious offense to the Holy God)

His righteousness condemns it for it demands justice for wrong. (Romans 2:8- But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, indignation or anger or annoyance provoked by what is perceived as unfair treatment and wrath)

God hates sin because it goes against His Word that forbids it. (I John 3:4-Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.)

What is comfort?

Because God pardons sin, those who recognize their sinful condition will receive comfort from God’s Holy Spirit.

Who gives the comforting? God’s Holy Spirit comforts those of their sins who have trusted in Christ to save them from their sins.

He seals us, setting His mark that indicates our changed position before God. (Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,)

He resides within us. (Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.)

What does His comforting look like?

The internal assurance of knowing that your sins are forgiven. (I John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.)

The internal assurance of knowing that your punishment for your sins was taken from you and received by another. (Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus)

The internal assurance of knowing that in spite of your demerit you have received a multitude of heavenly blessings. (Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:)

Home in heaven (John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.)

Relationship with God (John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.)

The right to go to heaven (Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;)

Conclusion: So what’s your attitude towards sin? Do you grieve over the fact that your sin has separated you from God? Do you grieve over the fact that your finite sin has offended the standards of an infinite God? If so then you’re a prime candidate for receiving comfort from God. You must recognize your poor in spirit condition before God and grieve over your sin.