Happy are the Sad!

Introduction

King James Version Chapter 5

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

Attitude adjusting series: sermon 2

Text: Matthew 5:4

Title: Happy are the Sad

Theme: Mourning over your sin

First let’s observe the purpose of this passage. What was Jesus teaching here? Was this a list of be good directions that would lead people to the path of salvation by some form of virtue or was it something more? What does Jesus want me to understand here in this passage? How can I use this in my life?

This text is not describing how to become a Christian by the marks of a true Christian!

This sermon can be used as a tool for discernment.

Example of the mustang! I can Identify a 2003 2004 cobra because I know the certain features in carries!

As we enter the painting of Gods vineyard these are the fruits that we will view hanging on the vines!

What are the distinguishing marks of a true Christian? How do I know I’m a true Christian?

By What do you believe? The devils believe and tremble! – partially true- necessary mark

By What you do? Partially true- James says show me what you believe by your works- Sufficient mark for true genuine conversion.

Is their evidence of true conversion? Are these virtues the thing we are pursuing. When Jesus describes the persons that are blessed, is he describing you?

These words are a searching gauge, measure yourselves with the WORD!

Tools for discernment

1) Identification- poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger and thirst after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted.

These virtues and expression must be present in the life of an individual for them to even be citizens of heaven!

2) Sanctification- progressive / monkey bars

3) Integrity of the Son of God- in moral perfection which leads to worship

This cuts through the shallowness of empty professions.

This text is not describing how to become a Christian by the marks of a true Christian!

For our second be attitude,

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

“We mourn over sin and despise it. We see sin the way God sees it and seek to treat it the way God does. Those who cover sin or defend sin certainly have the wrong attitude. We should mourn over our sins” Warren Wiersbe

“God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.” Vance Havner

Godly sorrow

Ezekiel 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

Example of the rotten banana on a clean spotless glass room.

Not only do you see the banana your now mouring over its presents! This brings the sigh

Example of the youtube guy that was describing what this means for a Christian to mourn.

Point number one: The Learning of Mourning- Sensitivity

Mourn- sorrow, grief, to be sad, lament, wailing

Example of Pinching a Stone statue – it will not budge because it’s a stone (no life), if someone did that to me they might get a fantastic response because I’m a living thing and can feel the pinch (living)

“Mourning could be the greatest evidence of true conversion” Paul Washer

A great Sensitivity to Sin

1) Of your own sin

2) The sin of this world around you

A) THE MOTIVATION OF THE BEATITUDE

“Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted” To examine the rationale of this beatitude we note two things.

• The character of the beatitude The second beatitude seems almost to be a paradox in character. The word “blessed” means happy, the the word “mourn” means to grieve, sorrow, be sad. So the beatitude says happy are the sad, a paradox indeed.

• The comparison of the beatitude. This second beatitude is related to the first beatitude. The first beatitude recognizes one’s sin, the second shows remorse over it, the first affects the intellect, the second the emotions, the first sees one’s sin, the second sighs over it.

B) THE REQUIREMENT IN THE BEATITUDE

“Mourn.” We look at three things about this requirement to mourn.

• The defining of the mourning. This does not mean to mourn over some financial loss or some physical problem or a loss in a ball game or the death of a friend or relative, or a broken dish, or even a wrecked vehicle. This mourning is caused by sin. It is godly sorrow over one’s sin and the sin of society. Not many folk mourn about sin.

• The displaying of the mourning. We note some notable illustrations of this mourning. The Apostle Paul said, “O wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:24); Isaiah said, “Woe is me! for I am undone” (Isaiah 6:5; The Psalmist said, “Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law” (Psalm 119:136); Ezra “mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away [returning Jews from the captivity] (Ezra 10:6). The author of the great book Pilgrim’s Progress mourned his sinfulness by saying, “I think that only the devil is my equal.” These illustrations help define mourning.

Isaiah- woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips

Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Peter-depart from me

Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord

Paul

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

• The disdaining of the mourning. Arthur W. PInk said, “Mourning is hateful and irksome to poor human nature.” The world is more likely to legalize sin than mourn over it

Point number two: The Leading of Mourning- Direction

A) Leads to God-

James 4:8-9 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

B) Leads to repentance –

2 Corinthians 7:9-11 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

C) Leads to Purity –

1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.,

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

Point number three: The Lavish of Mourning- Comfort

**In the old testament the prophets spoke harsh words to the people of God, words of repentance and condemnation, hard words but the Prophet usually ends with these words Come to me.

1) The promise was to bless

Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

2) The purpose was to bless

1 Peter 3:18-

3) The power to bless

THE REWARD IN THE BEATITUDE

When your mourn sin in your life, there will be reward for you. We note two things about this reward

• The crowd for the reward. “They shall be comforted.” The word “they” is an emphatic pronoun which means, they and they alone. You will not be comforted if you have nor mourned.

• The comforting in the reward. “Comforted.” The Bible says the wicked are like the troubled sea which cannot rest. (cp. Isaiah 57:20). That means they will never know comfort. Sin discomforts, but when we mourn over our sins, we will know true comfort.

John 16: 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy

The disciples heard Jesus say you will be sorrowful……

But your sorrow shall be turned to Joy.

John 14:1-31 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (Read More...)

1 Timothy 1:15 - This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.