Happiness In An Unsettling World
Steele Creek Church, Eastfield Campus
Dr. Tom Bartlett – September 27, 2020
Matthew 5:4
Comfort
OUTLINE
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (ESV)
Blessed: A happiness that’s a result of God’s favor.
“Mourn” – deeply brokenhearted
“Comforted” – peace in God’s presence (literally to call near)
HOW DO I FIND COMFORT IN MY DISTRESS?
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
Remember that God’s Word brings comfort
“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word. . . When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.” Psalm 119:25 (ESV)
Allow others with similar experiences to comfort you
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (ESV)
Tap into the amazing power of God’s Spirit
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
MANUSCRIPT
Good morning and welcome online and yes, IN PERSON TO!
My name is Tom Bartlett, I serve as the pastor of this campus and as a part of the Steele Creek team.
Over the past couple of years, those within this campus have served together and have grown closer together, but there’s still so much we don’t know about each other. The one thing I can say for sure is that every person in this room, if they opened up, has had a life of ups and downs. No person gets through life without some major hurts.
Whether you’re an elder, or a pastor, or a deacon or member, everyone has a story to tell. And, having seen many of these personal stories up close and personal with many people over the years, I have to say, that these difficult situations shape us and inform us about life, relationships, success, and trust.
Around the age of 30 I found myself in a deteriorating marriage. I couldn’t fix it; I couldn’t do anything to change the situation although I tried. I prayed, I called every prayer-line and person to pray with me, yet nothing was changing, then all of the sudden one day, there seemed to be a break-through. I had a glimmer of hope, yet what I didn’t know was that it was a set up for an even greater personal and emotional blow.
On this particular day, I left for my new position serving in my home church some 60 miles away as we were moving back to my home town. On the way, I cried most of the way and I even considered just ending it all and driving off the bridge on the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Tampa FL. My wipers didn’t work so well, it was raining and I was crying. I could barely see but I kept driving. When these thoughts of personal destruction came over me, I said, “God help me.” I turned on the radio and a song that was ending said, “There’s a reason to live today.” I thought of my little girls at home. The next song by Michael English began and its words were, “I’ll be holding out hope to you.”
I made it to work, I cried through most of the day, then a shimmer of hope came. My wife said that she was making dinner and wanted to know what time I’d be home. This gave me hope. Now, more about that story in a bit, but . . .
I started teaching a few weeks ago on a portion of scripture that is considered the greatest sermon ever preached. I’ll be continuing that teaching by walking through the first statements of that sermon over the next several weeks.
This sermon I’m referring to was delivered by Jesus and dealt with every aspect of life. He begins his message with statements that would have sound like this to the people living in that day;
“Hey, you want to be happy? . . .”
Jesus then spoke about things that were part of the everyday life of those around Him. Of course, He was a master communicator and the people ate up every word.
Last time we looked at verse 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (ESV)
One translation says it this way: “happy are those who know they need God.”
Blessed: A happiness that’s a result of God’s favor.
Today we’re going to look at His next statement which was directed at people who were struggling with an emotional letdown, a broken heart.
• It could be someone who is mourning because of their sin or
• someone dealing with a loss of relationship of any kind.
Matt 5:4 (NIV) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Now circle the word, “Mourn” – It means to be brokenhearted
The word “Comforted” – means, “to call near”. It’s like the pulling in and holding someone who has some deep wound.
• Have you ever found yourself in a painful situation and the weight of it just crushes you?
This kind of mourning leads to repentance and victory.
HOW DO I FIND COMFORT IN MY DISTRESS?
If today you’re brokenhearted and in distress and you’re wondering how you would make it through today, or an old wound seems to keep you shaded and reserved away from others, or maybe you feel no one understands and no one loves you, let’s look at what the Word of God says. . . Here’s a few foundational scriptures that give us a glimpse into the heart of God.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.” Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
In light of these, let me share a three-part personal strategy for bringing comfort in your distress.
Strategy 1
Remember that God’s Word brings comfort
King David walked through some deep waters in his life. He faced assassination attempts, betrayal, personal lust and sin issues, and more. At a low point in his life he prayers to God. . .
He pens Psalm 119. In it all but two verses have a direct reference to God’s Word and it’s benefits in our lives.
Before I read this verse, I’d challenge you, if you’re going through a time of distress, why not read through this chapter, the longest in the Bible, 176 verses and write a comment about God’s word based on what each verse says?
David says,
“My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word. . . When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.”
Psalm 119:25-26 (ESV)
Advice from other people may be nice, but the best words you can hear will not come from another person but from God’s Word. They are the words of life, the ancient laws that have not changed.
I remember when I first started in the ministry. I noticed that the pastor I served with when doing a funeral would read tons of scripture to the family. When I asked him about it, he said that he had found that the very best thing we could give people was not his words, but God’s word. They would bring the greatest comfort. I agree.
They describe the conditions of man and gives the remedy for every situation.
BIBLE ANSWERS
• Been done wrong? If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
• Harmed by someone else? And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:4 (ESV)
• Need direction? I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8 (ESV)
• Struggling emotionally? “We have this anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)
God’s Word speaks to the events, needs, and circumstances of your life.
Strategy 2
Allow others with similar experiences to comfort you
With the proper perspective in your life, you’ll begin to realize that no matter what you go through, God is going to use it. There’s a refining in your life now and a ministry waiting on the other side of this thing.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (ESV)
Your hurt wasn’t only about you. God will use it to help another.
Don’t walk through your pain alone, others have been there and their words of encouragement mean so much because of what they have experienced.
Strategy 3
Tap into the amazing power of God’s Spirit
The Holy Spirit is God’s power and presence in your life. Don’t deny Him, don’t refuse Him – allow Him to give you hope no matter what you’ve been through.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
So, I began by telling you some of my story, we all have one. As I headed home that day that started off so emotionally for me, I was hopeful that things might be changing. I made it home and as I pulled in to the driveway, I could already begin to sense that things were not right. I walked to the door and after opening the front door, what I saw dropped me to my knees. I mean I fell to the ground and cried for an hour. The home had been completely moved, all furniture, my children were not home either. I was so overcome; I was paralyzed and in personal agony, emotionally, and in physical distress.
My biggest concern was for my children just 2 and 4 years old. Now, after some time, I gathered myself enough to pick up the phone and call my brother and tell him I needed help. The trip that should have taken upwards of 2 hours took him about an hour and a half.
Now, there’s more to the story, but what I have to tell you is this, you’re not the only one that’s reached what seemed to be bottom nor am I. People have experienced even worse than I did and yet I can say as many others too, the presence of God’s word and God’s people, and God’s Spirit made all the difference for me.
Beyond that, God has used those circumstances in my life to help countless others who have walked in deep waters.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Your comfort truly comes from God through His Word and through His people. Your experience, though, was not just about you, it’s about using it to “call near” to comfort others, who feel what you have felt.
• Will you allow God to draw you near through your pain?
• Will allow others to speak truth and clarity into your own life?
• Will you not waste the pain you’ve experienced but use it for a greater purpose?
