Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. The fallen world we live in today embraces amusement and the pursuit of pleasure and leisure without considering all costs. The general idea in today s society is to avoid sorrowfulness and anguish no matter what has to be done to accomplish that end. Even when we are faced with news that is dishearten and discouraging our friends and family will say something amusing to try to lighten the mood. The outlook of this day and age is Blessed are those who laugh their way through life. Most people will do almost anything to stifle sadness or to stop a tear from falling. But Solomon Said: Proverbs 14:13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief. There is a poem that brings to light the idea of this concept. I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chatted all the way but left me none the wiser for all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow and not a word said she but oh, the things I learned when sorrow walked with me. (Source unknown) This is a difficult concept for the world to get its head wrapped around. Those that are unhappy will be happy and those that are sad will be glad. It can be explained by realizing that although we should be poor in Spirit, come to God with nothing to offer Him, which is the confession of our sins. However, that will do nothing for us unless we repent of those sins, and that brings joy, happiness and gladness. In the Beatitudes, Jesus continues to give us wisdom directly from God. This wisdom will lead us to a life eternal because it will lead us to Christ Jesus Himself. Jesus words were not only meant to bring us comfort, but also lead us to an in-depth understanding and instructions on how to draw closer to God, through our faith in Him. His words also give us a better understanding of what our relationship with God is to look like, in relation to our day to day lives. This is important because our relationship with God, through our faith in Jesus, is a matter of the heart, in other words it's a matter of our love for God. With our faith in Jesus, we give our hearts to God, and through His redemption, we become His children. 1
The Beatitudes therefore, show us the character changes which occur in our hearts because of our salvation. These changes, in our hearts, occur because of a change of mind, repentance. Our salvation brings to us a new spirit, one that is sensitive to God and the things of God. Our salvation also brings to us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that will be with us every second of our lives, leading, guiding and directing us into the truth. This truth is what sets is free from Satan and the evil that he brings to the world. John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. In this second Beatitude, Jesus is speaking of sorrow, repentance and comfort as a result of our faith. Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted. When we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, bury the old person and the new person walks in a newness of life, the Holy Spirit will do a great work in our hearts and souls. This work from God s Holy Spirit will be a Spiritual Growth, referred to as sanctification. The more our love grows for Christ Jesus, the more we will grow in our faith and dependence in our Lord and Savior. This will cause a subsequent expansion in our sensitivity to sin. This will then create a sadness and repentance in our hearts and souls when we stumble and fall back into sin. When Jesus refers to mourning in this writing He is talking about a deep sorrow or sadness we will experience as a result of this sin, because it is plain and simply a rebellion against God. We will mourn over the sin because of the love we have for Christ Jesus, and the relationship we enjoy with God, through Christ Jesus. This mourning or sorrow will produce in us repentance, as we turn our eyes and our hearts back to Jesus, whose perfect, sinless blood was shed for us in order that we might be reconciled back to God. We are all human and we will all stumble and fall on occasions, but when that does happen we know that our sins are forgiven and our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus is waiting with open arms to restore us back into His Good Graces. This is what will comfort our hearts and souls, the Holy Spirit that indwells in us bringing us back to Christ, and once again turning our eyes, hearts and souls back to the Lord. There are many ways that such grief grips our souls. Mourning the Losses in our life. 2
All of us have experienced the pain of loss. As we get older we experience the loss of our health and we are concerned about the future, we ve lost a loved one and we cried ourselves to sleep. King David experienced such sorrow Psalm 6:6 I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Please know that such mourning is okay even Jesus cried. It says He wept at Lazarus tomb. John 11:35 Jesus wept. God cares so much for your sorrow that He keeps a record of all of your tears, Psalm 56:8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll are they not in your record Jesus cares for you and will comfort you in your time of mourning and grief. The reason is because He understands and knows what you are going through. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin. Jesus knows, cares and will comfort us in our time of mourning. Mourning Our Sinfulness The Apostle Paul knew such grief over his sinful condition Romans 7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? We learn from the Pastor James. James 4:9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom We need to mourn over our sinful condition and respond to God s call, to make it right with Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. 3
Mourning the Condition of Others Not only are we to mourn our own losses and sinful condition, but we also need to mourn the state of humanity and our world, not to mention the state that the church is in. the Apostle Paul demonstrated this for us in what he said to the elders of Ephesus. Acts 20:31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. The Bible never tries to explain suffering, only that it s a part of living life in this sin-filled world. But what it does teach us is how to handle suffering. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. He begins by saying that we will experience suffering as a part of life, but then he comforts us saying that in Him we can have peace because He overcame this present world, and the curse of sin and death that comes with it. Jesus says that mourning and grief are the realities of life, but also there is a blessing that is attached to them, and that is His comfort. How We Experience His Comfort Realize God is with Us Sometimes we forget that God is always with us when we are going through times of suffering and hurting. Just hold up your hands and look at how many fingers you are holding up. At least 10 times in the bible God promises He will never leave us or forsake us. Rely on God s Resources (His Holy Word and The Holy Spirit) It s amazing at what people do to get a little comfort from the stress and hurts of life. They take pills, get drunk, try affairs, escape into entertainment and various forms of recreation. The Apostle Paul Says 2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. 4
His Holy Word God is the God of all comfort and comforts us in various ways. We will go through time of hurt and mourning in our lives, and if we want to be comforted during these times we must stay tight in His Holy Word. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest His Holy Spirit God comforts us through the Holy Spirits presence in our lives. When Jesus was about ready to depart He said He would send another comforter like Himself. John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Conclusion: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. That s what we need, a radiant hope in a world that makes life seem hopeless, and this is what the Holy Spirit provides. As believers in Jesus Christ we no longer have to grieve and sorrow as those who have no hope, 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. We can be like Abraham who beyond all hope in hope believe, Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be. We are going to give our Lord and Savior the last word in this Message, because He says it all. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5