HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

Matthew 5:4 (NLT)

4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

INTRODUCTION:

A. Background

B. Last week’s message:

1. We looked at our need to have a Recognition of our spiritual poverty.

2. When we recognize our complete dependence upon God, it opens the door For the believer to experience the second of the Beatitudes in personal experience.

C. Mourning defined.

1. Mourning is a sense of grief over sin.

· Like that experienced by Isaiah the prophet.

o (Isaiah 6:1-5)

Isaiah 6:1–5 (NLT)

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

I. MOURNING IS AN ONGOING ATTITUDE OF THE HEART.

A. It is an attitude in which the heart is grieved over personal sin.

1. The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin in our lives. (Ephesians 4: 30 ).

Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

2. We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit; If we are, then we will be grieved by what grieves Him. (Ephesians 5: 18; 4: 17-32 ).

Ephesians 5:18 (NLT)

18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

Ephesians 4:17–32 (NLT)

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.

18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.

19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,

22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,

27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

B. It is an attitude in which the heart is grieved over sin and its effects in the lives of others.

1. God was grieved over the sin in the world. He was so grieved that he wished he had not created man. (Genesis 6: 6 ).

Genesis 6:6 (NLT)

6 So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

a) He saw the degradation and devastation that it brought.

b) Sin always brings pain, misery, and death.

(Romans 6: 23 ).

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 5: 12 ).

Romans 5:12 (NLT)

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

2. If we have a sensitive heart, we will be grieved by the results of sin in the lives of others.

a) We will hurt as we see them hurt. (Romans 12: 15 ).

Romans 12:15 (NLT)

15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

C. It is an attitude in which the heart is grieved over the lostness of friends, loved ones and the world.

1. The Apostle Paul was grieved over the lostness of his countrymen. (Romans 9: 1 ).

Romans 9:1 (NLT)

1 With Christ as my witness, I speak with utter truthfulness. My conscience and the Holy Spirit confirm it.

2. Realizing the terrible peril of those who are outside of Christ, we will grieve over their lostness and seek diligently to lead them to Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5: 11 ).

2 Corinthians 5:11 (NLT)

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

II. MOURNING IS AN ATTITUDE THAT SPILLS OVER INTO ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

A. It affects the devotional life of the believer.

(Psalm 51:1-4)

Psalm 51:1–4 (NLT)

1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.

2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.

3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.

4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

1. Mourning over personal sin will cause us to deal with it in confession and repentance.

2. Mourning over the sins of others will cause us to pray earnestly for their salvation.

B. It affects the worship life of the believer.

(Psalm 51:16-17, 19)

Psalm 51:16–17 (NLT)

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Psalm 51:19 (NLT)

19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.

1. We will come expecting the Lord to speak to us about the sin in our own lives.

a) Instead of getting angry at the preacher, we will get right with God.

2. We will come prayerfully, expecting the Lord to save someone in our midst and bring others into a closer relationship with Himself.

a) Do you expect to see movement at the altar every service?

(1) If not, that might be why you don't.

C. It affects the church life of the believer.

(Hebrews 10:24-25)

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT)

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

1. The focus of everything done at church becomes twofold:

a) Personal growth in Christ likeness.

b) Personal salvation of the lost.

D. It affects the work life of the believer.

(Colossians 3:23)

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

1. Work becomes an opportunity for evangelism.

a) Those who we work with become more than just those we work with, we see their need of Christ.

2. We begin to do our work by biblical standards.

a) You can't separate work from Your Christian life and testimony.

E. It affects the home life of the believer.

(Ephesians 5:21-6:4)

1. Relationships within the home changed to reflect the practice of scriptural principles and convictions.

2. Entertainment that contains things that are contrary to Christian principles contained in the Word of God are eliminated from our home life.

F. It affects the recreational life of the believer.

(Colossians 3:17)

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

1. Questionable forms of recreation are eliminated from our schedule.

2. Recreation that interferes with our worship slash assembly life or eliminated from our lives.

III. MOURNING WILL ONE DAY BE OVERCOME WITH JOY.

A. The biblical promise: (Psalm 126: 5 ).

Psalm 126:5 (NLT)

5 Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.

1. Sewing in tears for the sin of our lives brings about the reaping of the joy of righteousness.

2. Sowing the Gospel seed in the lives of the lost will produce the joyful harvest of saved souls.

B. Sin’s effects will be destroyed. (1 Corinthians 15:26)

1 Corinthians 15:26 (NLT)

26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

1. Death will ultimately be destroyed.

a) Death is the ultimate end of sin.

2. Sin will be eradicated. There will be no sin in heaven.

C. Salvation will come to those we love as we sow, cultivate, and wait on the Lord of the harvest. (Galatians 6: 9 ).

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

1. As we sow the seeds of the Gospel, we must remember that the harvest of those seeds will come.

a) We just need to cultivate and water them.

b) We're not responsible to produce the harvest, just to do our part of sewing, watering and cultivating.

(1) This is done through:

(a) Prayer

(b) Witnessing

(c) Living consistently for Jesus

Conclusion:

I. MOURNING IS AN ONGOING ATTITUDE OF THE HEART.

II. MOURNING IS AN ATTITUDE THAT SPILLS OVER INTO ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

III. MOURNING WILL ONE DAY BE OVERCOME WITH JOY.

Ask the Lord to help you have the right attitude toward sin. .. to mourn (grieve) over it.

Remember that sin cost Jesus his life!