The Time To Mourn Series

Introduction:

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible says: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. And one of those seasons that this passage focuses on that I want to discuss today is found in verse 4. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

We have been looking at the Beatitudes the past five weeks, and today we come to one of the Beatitudes that tells us, “Blessed are those who mourn.” There are times when the right thing to do is mourn.

But, do you realize that we live in a world that does not want us to mourn? Let me show you what I mean. Each day we are to wake up and are supposed to drink milk from Happy California Cows. We go to work, it’s lunchtime, and we decide to stop at McDonald’s to pick up a Happy Meal. We get an afternoon break, so you start to read your Facebook post. And posted across your smartphone screen is happy Facebook emojis everywhere. You get home from work, and you realize your floor is dirty and you pull out your Hoover Vacuum cleaner because you remember their ad “You’ll be happier with a Hoover.” I sit down after that my vacuuming and pop open a Coca Cola to drink because, according to its commercial, I just opened happinesses. I look at my daily planner as I am drinking my coke and realize I got to plan for my child’s Happy Birthday party, and since it is so close to Easter, I got to get the dye, Easter baskets, candy so my child can have a Happy Easter.

The world preaches happy, happy, and happy; the Bible says wait a minute there are sometimes you need to mourn. And so this morning, I want to share with those times we ought to mourn.

Let’s begin by reading our Scripture.

Scripture

Matthew 5:2-11 (NKJV)

2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Point #1

DON’T LET THE WORLD CHOKE OUT MOURNING BECAUSE MOURNING IS THE NATURAL PROGRESSION OF BEING POOR IN SPIRIT. WHEN I REALIZE THAT MY PERSONAL SIN HAS HURT GOD, MYSELF, OR SOMEONE I LOVE, MOURNING SHOULD BE THE NATURAL OUTCOME.

If being poor in spirit is the right attitude to have. And we said last Sunday; we need that for our life. Then that attitude says that I am spiritually bankrupt without God, I need you God, for everything, becomes the driving force for exhibiting my emotion of mourning. In other words, people who are poor in spirit, mourn.

If I get unbroken in my sin, then I will begin to mourn or grieve over that reality that my sin has hurt God, possibly myself, and maybe someone I love dearly. And what does God do? His presence is made more real in my life than ever.

There is a story in the Old Testament about Nathan the prophet confronting King David about his sin in 2 Samuel 12. And we are told as the story progresses that as a result of his sin, David is told by the prophet Nathan that David’s young son is going to die. That moment David, King David with all His power as king, realizes that he is poor in spirit, spiritually bankruptcy without God, and recognizes the trouble that his sin has caused and begins to mourn. He pleaded with God for his child; he fasted and laid himself upon the bare earth as a sign of mourning. We know sadly the story ending with his son dying. But that is not the end; God’s presence was made more real in David’s life. David tells his servant, my son may not return to me, but I will go to Him. That’s comfort. God has just comforted him.

But, let me ask you when was the last time you knew what you did hurt God, yourself, or someone you love, and it moved you to mourn? There is that season to mourn over your personal sin, but the world says get over it and be happy.