Blessed Are Those Who Mourn Series

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4

OKAY – I would like to read a few passages of Scripture that will set the stage for our conversation this morning.

AND REMEMBER – to lean in, because what you are about to hear is God breathed!

The first passage is from John 11…

Jesus good friend Lazarus has been dead for four days, and Jesus is just showing up on the scene.

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to MOURN there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her WEEPING, and the Jews who had come along with her also WEEPING, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus WEPT. – John 11:30-35

The next passage is from Luke 19.

Jesus is nearing the city of Jerusalem, riding a donkey, it’s Palm Sunday.

Countless people have lined the streets, waving Palm branches, singing and shouting His praises.

Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord… Hosanna to the son of David.

YES – it was quite the scene of joy and celebration.

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to WEEP. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.” - Luke 19:1-44

AND – here is the final passage, James chapter 4…

NOW – in this passage James is calling God’s people (us) out.

You adulterous people!

Okay bro, that’s a little harsh don’t you think?

Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the Spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be TEARS for what you have done. Let there be SORROW and DEEP GRIEF. Let there be SADNESS instead of laughter, and GLOOM instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. – James 5:4-10

Prayer

OKAY – let’s do this MGCC!

Week 9 in our verse by verse study of Matthew Gospel, ‘The King and His Kingdom.’

NOW – last week in this study we came to what is the longest and most well-known sermon that Jesus ever shared, ‘The Sermon On The Mount.’ Which some have said is the greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest preacher in history.

NOW Jesus - begins this sermon with what are called ‘The Beatitudes.’ AND - each Beatitude begins with the word blessed.

So Jesus says, “Do you want to be blessed?” Everyone says, “Yes, we want to be blessed. We want to be happy.”

AND THEN – He says, “Blessed are you…”

AND THEN - He gives eight different characteristics of a life that is blessed, by God.

AND LISTEN – one thing that is clear right out of the gates is that these 8 characteristics are kind of crazy, they are counterintuitive - they do not make sense…

They are paradoxical – they are oxymoronical.

NOW - a paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

• Nobody goes to that restaurant; it's too crowded.

• Don't go near the water 'til you have learned how to swim.

• The man who wrote such a stupid sentence cannot write at all.

• If you get this message, call me, and if you don't get it, don't call.