Good Morning to all of you today!… I am truly glad to see all of you here today.
I just want to take a moment and welcome everyone here today and those who are watching on line and those who watch in the future…
Today, we continue our journey through one of the most profound and transformative passages in the Bible—Jesus’ sermon on the Mount.
Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7… and specifically we are looking at “The Beatitudes”.
These teachings, offer us a blueprint for living a blessed and fulfilled life, no matter the circumstances we face.
The Beatitudes call us to embrace humility, mercy, and righteousness… they are to guide us to find true happiness and lasting peace.
As we explore these timeless truths, we need to reflect on how they can shape our lives and bring us closer to God's kingdom.
Review and Introduction:
Jesus embodied the Beatitudes, living each day fully in line with these principles and the fruit of the Spirit…
meaning he lived these to the degree it was tangible…and visible…
it was clearly evident that he had these qualities in His everyday actions.
He exemplified that by allowing God’s truth to take root in His heart, and by His example…we learn that we too can live out these principles.
Jesus’ life was not just to be admired but to be imitated.
He came to show us a new and better way to live, transforming us piece by piece into His image.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (TPT)
18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.
We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This transformation process involves sanctification, spiritual growth, reflecting Christ’s character, overcoming sin and self-centeredness, and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit.
It requires a humble acknowledgment of our spiritual need and complete dependence on God…
this is not possible without God and the active participation of the Holy Spirit.
The Beatitudes teach us that true happiness is found not in worldly success but in spiritual richness and humility.
The term "blessed," as used in the Beatitudes, implies a deep, inner joy and happiness that is constant regardless of external circumstances.
Lets read through these again...
~Prayer~
Main Teaching:
Today our focus is going to be on Matthew 5:4
Understanding Mourning
Mourning is not just about grieving a loss… but recognizing our spiritual brokenness and the world's brokenness… and then having a sorrowful heartfelt response because of it.
Only those who recognize their spiritual poverty can truly mourn over their sinfulness and the brokenness of the world.
This mourning leads to repentance and comfort from God.
So yes it is about grieving a personal loss… but it is also much deeper than that.
It is when you are recognizing your own spiritual brokenness, responding with humility and a desire to be forgiven and a desire to be transformed…
It is also recognizing the world’s brokenness… an awareness of the brokenness in the world around us—sin, suffering, injustice, and all the ways humanity is estranged from God's original design.
Then having a sorrowful heartfelt response...
True mourning is a deep, heartfelt sorrow that comes from understanding the gravity of sin and its consequences.
This sorrow is not just an emotional reaction but a spiritual response... that leads to action—seeking God's comfort, pursuing righteousness, and then become agents of change and healing in the world.
One interesting point that needs to be understood about the beatitudes is… each one builds on the next one.
The beatitudes connect with each other, and they depend on each other.
One of the first things we need to do in order for us to understand mourning, is to understand what being poor in spirit is.
Being "poor in spirit" is the foundational Beatitude, emphasizes our recognition of spiritual poverty and dependence on God.
Without this foundational Beatitude, the rest of the beatitudes cannot be fully embraced or lived out.
This is to recognize your spiritual bankrupt without Jesus.
This goes beyond physical poverty … and into true spiritual poverty.
To be poor in spirit means to acknowledge our deepest human need for God’s deliverance.
It is understanding that you have absolutely nothing of worth to offer God.
It is admitting that, because of your sin, you are completely destitute spiritually and can do nothing to deliver yourself from your dire situation.
Jesus is saying that, no matter your status in life, you must recognize your spiritual poverty before you can come to God in faith to receive the salvation He offers.
What he is saying is… You are BLESSED… when you recognize and feel sorrow over your our weakness.
The second beatitude builds on our mental recognition of our poverty of spirit by adding an emotional response of sorrow.
When we view God’s perfect standards and ultimate power… and then look at our own lives… we recognize our wretchedness and feel sorrow over our own lives.
Sin in your life should BOTHER you!… you should never be comfortable in your sin… you should never feel at ease when your serving your flesh…
The term mourn means “to experience deep grief.”
It means to feel deep sorrow, show great concern, or deplore an injustice.
People can mourn over many things, including:
The death of a loved one, loss of possessions, or actions… which here what Jesus is describing more closely aligns with … being genuinely sorrowful over your sinful actions.
It is experiencing genuine remorse for the wrongs you have committed.
It involves recognizing the ways in which one's actions have fallen short of God's standards...
Then... acknowledging the impact of those sins on oneself, on others, and one's relationship with God.
This type of mourning is a key aspect of repentance and spiritual growth in the Christian faith.
Mourning Over Personal Sin
When we mourn our sins, we open ourselves to God’s transformative power.
Mourning our sins begins with the recognition that we have sinned.
Without this humility… you can never be forgiven!
Without humility, we remain prideful and self-reliant, unable to receive God's grace.
Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
This awareness is crucial because it brings us to a place of honesty before God.
Genuine mourning involves feeling sorrow for having wronged God and others.
It’s not just regret over the consequences of sin… but a heartfelt sorrow for having grieved God.
I'm not sure if you have ever done anything dumb or not… and in the moments and days after… you become aware…and then are heartsick of how you missed it… that is what this is describing.
We all struggle with sin in our lives… and the idea that gets many into trouble is… they do not have remorse over their sins.
We have this big thing called grace… and it becomes the “Get out of jail free card”… we do have grace for when we fall… but we should never abuse that grace.
The problem with that mindset is… sin goes unchecked… and when it goes unchecked… it opens the door and invites the devil in to other areas of your life.
Sin takes your further than you want to go, it keeps you longer than you want to stay, and will cost you more than you want to pay.
(Blank) will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.
Fill in your own blank there....
Drugs… gossip… holding offenses and grudges… stealing… flirting… lying… There are so many words we can use to fill in the blank… but the statement is profoundly true!!
Sin never tells you what is at stake when you start… it only gives you enough to keep you entertained and it doesn’t overwhelm you.
Sin can be very difficult to see in your life...
Without clear guides in place, it can quietly become an undercurrent, slowly causing us to drift off course.
The danger lies in this gradual drift, it is so subtle… that we may not notice until we find ourselves far from where we intended."
The problem is…an unguarded and unchecked heart… operates freely in sin… without even realizing it…
Protecting your heart from sinful thoughts, desires, and influences is fundamental.
Sin can corrupt the heart and lead to actions that are contrary to God's will.
If you don’t guard yourself… you will drift...
Then all of a sudden you find your self in this mess… and you step back and say…
HOW DID I EVEN GET HERE???…
HOW DID I DRIFT THIS FAR OFF COURSE??
This is how sins works… it is how it operates… sin is playing the long game…
It is through the tiny little things that he can get you to admit.... “It is not that bad”… “C’mon… thats really not a big deal”
I often tell people… when someone is dieting… stop saying … “oh a little bite won’t hurt you”… truly this is where it starts!!
Then before you know… you are down a half gallon of milk and all 3 rows of Oreo’s are gone… and there are crumbs all over your shirt… and you say… what have I done??
This is exactly how sin is in our lives… we make excuse over tiny little sins…
Then… they go unchecked and eventually… you end up paying more than you wanted to!
Do you want to know… 99% of the time… the devil will not show you the price tag of your sin when he tempts you… because if he did you’d run the other way...
If you saw what your behavior was going to cost you in the beginning… you would never entertain it.
But what sin does… is say… just a little bit won’t hurt you… its not wrong… its just one drink… its just a friendly text between friends… its just a little thing… not that bad...
Here is the problem… We justify everything… so that we can avoid feeling guilty about anything!
Look at... Proverbs 21:2
This verse highlights how we often justify our actions from our own viewpoints…
however God has access to the true motivation of our hearts!
Those that mourn over their sin produce godly sorrow…
The Apostle Paul tells us that godly sorrow produces repentance..
Paul identifies there are 2 kinds of sorrow… genuine sorrow for offenses against God… this will lead to repentance… and to a changed heart...
and… then there is the sorrow that comes only from being accountable for their consequence of sin.
In other words.. they are only sorry because they got caught.
This is an insincere and hollow sorrow that comes from a hardened heart.
Truly recognizing your short comings and your true self should produce a Godly sorrow…
and that Godly sorrow… should produce humility and the understanding that we cannot approach God until we recognize our need for His grace.
How many of you have ever met a person who is truly sorry for their terrible behavior?
There is this humility about them… they exhibit a godly sorrow for their behavior…
We have a great example from scripture… David exhibits Godly sorrow for His actions concerning Uriah and Bathsheba…
Psalm 51:3 we have the recognition of sin...
"David acknowledges that his sin is without excuse, demonstrating an honest and clear recognition of his wrongdoing."
Psalm 51:4 we see his confession and repentant heart...
He confesses that his sin is ultimately against God, demonstrating a deep understanding of the gravity of his actions.
Psalm 51:10-13 We see David seeking God's forgiveness and cleansing, desiring a renewed relationship with God and a pure heart.
Psalm 51:17 We see the Godly sorrow it produced…true remorse and humility before God.
This is what it looks like to mourn over your wickedness...
Then we have those who are only sorrow… because they got caught and their actions are producing an insincere humility...
In the Bible we also have an example of a person like this… there are actually many to pick from… Eve, Judas, and King Saul, but the one I want to highlight is…King Saul.
King Saul was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel, but he repeatedly failed to obey God's instructions.
His disobedience and partial repentance are evident through out His life.
One time in particular… Saul was commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions.
Instead, he spared King Agag and the best of the livestock.
When confronted by Samuel, Saul initially denied his disobedience and then shifted blame.
Then Saul does what many do today… he reluctantly confesses…
Saul's confession comes only after being confronted by Samuel and was motivated more by what he stood to lose rather than by genuine repentance.
The crazy thing about this is… we all know people like this… and if we will be truly honest and humble… we will admit… at times… we all have behaved like this...
What Jesus is saying here is… Mourning includes recognizing our spiritual brokenness.
It's a deep sorrow for sin and its consequences in our lives.
Look at this from the Amp version… Matthew 5:4
Matthew 5:4 (AMP)
4 “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].
See we are refreshed and comforted… when we repent… because the burden of sin is lifted off of us.
Jesus acknowledges our sorrow and suffering and offers true comfort.
His promise in Matthew 5:4 assures us that those who mourn will be comforted by God Himself.
Mourning is a pathway to deeper intimacy with God.
It strips away our self-reliance and leads us to depend more fully on God's strength and comfort.
Through mourning, we can experience God's presence more profoundly and grow in our faith.
Mourning Over the Brokenness of Our World
Beyond addressing our personal sins, as followers of Christ, we are called to mourn over the extensive brokenness and sinfulness of the world around us.
It also means grieving over the things that grieve God....such as
immorality
homosexuality… but please…lets not stop the horse there!… there are plenty of others to add to our list...
unfaithfulness
cruelty
all sinful lifestyles
racism
lying
anger
stealing
being lazy
foul and destructive speech
bitterness,
gossip, slander, and malice.
poverty
conflicts
moral decline in general
This is not suggesting to be sitting around and weeping, and feeling powerless against the world's brokenness… and waiting for Jesus to intervene.
It's about recognizing the devastating impact of sin and corruption on people's lives—and allowing ourselves to feel the weight of that brokenness.
Then doing something about it!
Obligation through shame should not be the motivator for you to seek tot save the lost…
it should be the sorrow and compassion for a sinful people on a pathway to destruction...
That mourning then turns into an action.
True mourning involves a heartfelt response that goes beyond passive sorrow.
It compels us to take action, to engage actively in the work of rescuing and restoring.
Just as Nehemiah mourned and prayed over the broken walls of Jerusalem, we are called to mourn over the brokenness in our communities and societies.
When he heard how terrible things were in his nation…
it broke his heart and spurred him to action.
Nehemiah was deeply concerned for His people…
He was deeply concerned for God’s people...
The state of his nation caused him to plead on their behalf...
He prayed and fasted for months… and he poured out His heart to God… on behalf of the people of his nation.
He prayed… then he acted!!
He was not content to just sit by while God’s heart was being grieved… and we shouldn’t be either!
Like Nehemiah, our response to the brokenness around us should include mourning, fasting, and prayer.
We are called to intercede on behalf of our communities and nations… seeking God's healing and restoration.
But beyond prayer, God calls us to actively engage in addressing these problems...
This means we need to be
actively seeking justice for the oppressed
actively taking action to feed the hungry
Be advocating for peace
Be active in standing against and preaching against moral decay.
Preaching the word in love
Our commitment to rescuing people from evil requires us to be agents of change, not just bystanders.
We cannot be pew warmers… we cannot be stuck on ourselves....
We need to start stepping into the messiness of broken lives and broken systems with the love and truth of Christ.
It means being willing to confront injustice, to offer hope to the despairing, and to demonstrate the transformative power of God's Kingdom.
In this way, our mourning becomes a catalyst for action.
We are driven by the compassion and urgency of Christ's mission…
It's a call to embody His love and to participate actively in His redemptive work,
To bringing light and hope to a world in desperate need of His grace."
Ultimately, our mourning over the brokenness of the world is rooted in hope in Christ's redemptive power.
See...the Christian responsibility to be a source of comfort and hope in a broken world.
This is rooted in our identity as followers of Jesus Christ.
We are to...
Always reflect God’s character: As His children, we are called to reflect His character by offering comfort and hope to those who are hurting.
Share the Gospel of hope: The gospel message itself is a message of hope—hope of forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life through Jesus Christ.
As ambassadors of Christ, we are entrusted with the task of sharing this hope with others.
Embody Compassion: Jesus Christ showed great compassion towards the suffering and marginalized during His earthly ministry.
He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted to the broken-hearted.
As His followers, we are called to emulate His compassion by actively seeking to alleviate suffering and offer practical help to those in need.
Be present in times of trouble: Sometimes, the most powerful way to bring comfort is simply by being present with those who are hurting.
We are called to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).
Our presence and empathy can provide a sense of solidarity and support to those going through difficult times.
Praying for and with others: Prayer is a powerful tool for bringing comfort and hope.
We are encouraged to pray for one another, lifting up the needs and concerns of those who are struggling, and interceding on their behalf before God.
Offering Spiritual Encouragement: Beyond physical and emotional comfort, we are called to offer spiritual encouragement grounded in God's Word.
God is the source of hope and peace, and we can share these truths with others to uplift and strengthen their faith.
Point to the Ultimate Hope: Ultimately, our role as sources of comfort and hope in a broken world is to point others to the ultimate hope found in Jesus Christ.
He is the anchor for our souls amidst life's storms, and His promise of eternal life gives us a steadfast hope that transcends earthly circumstances (Hebrews 6:19-20).
As we fulfill this responsibility, we participate in God's redemptive work and demonstrate His love to a hurting world.
Move from Mourning to Comfort
(Musicians)
God promises comfort to those who mourn. This comfort is not just a removal of sorrow but a deep, abiding peace that comes from His presence and grace.
His promise here is… there is a blessing assigned to those who mourn… he will bring them into a deeper relationship with himself.
He will comfort you!
He will bring you peace in the midst of your storm!
We need to understand MOURNING… we need to understand what Jesus is saying here.
There is a peace and joy we walk in…in-spite of all our troubles… one that the world cannot understand or enjoy.
As I have said… this idea… is counter-cultural…because the idea that you are blessed when you “mourn”… is actually inviting you to joy… when your at your lowest of lows and in the most unpleasant and unhappy state of life.
Doesn’t that just sound crazy???… Can you imagine… navigating life's toughest challenges… and looking at your co-workers and family members and say…
I just lost my job… YAY!… I am BLESSED!
I Just blew up the engine in my car… YAY!!! I AM SO HAPPY… I am BLESSED!!
Can you imagine…“Hey, my life is an absolute train-wreck…I AM SO BLESSED”… I think I will REJOICE and BE HAPPY!
No what do we do when things are going tough… typically… we find someone to tell about our woes!
Because…we are programmed to think one way by culture… that way is “True Happiness comes through things that always go well and we cannot be happy if they turn sour or unfavorable.”
But what I am trying to tell you is...there is happiness even in difficult days because we will experience the provision, purpose and presence of God.
God shows up in unique ways to people who are going through bad days…
and we can experience a part of God… that brings us a joy and a peace beyond what our human mind can understand.
See God promises COMFORT!!!...
When you acknowledge that your a mess without him… he brings comfort..
When you are broken and moved by the wretchedness of the evil culture… he brings peace to you...
When you are in your lowest of lows… HE BRINGS His presence to you!!
That’s what this word comfort means… it means to call to one’s side… to call near.
Did you know… that in His presence is
Divine Assurance and Peace: Where you are being comforted by God personally.... it involves receiving His assurance that He is with us, cares for us deeply, and understands our pain and struggles.
Emotional and Spiritual Support: God’s comfort provides a reassurance that we are not alone in our suffering but are upheld by His presence and love
Healing and Restoration: God’s comfort brings healing to our wounded hearts and restores our sense of hope and purpose.
Strength and Encouragement: Comfort from God strengthens us to endure trials and challenges.
It gives us the courage and resilience to face difficult situations with faith and trust in His plan
Transformation and Growth: Experiencing God’s comfort leads to spiritual growth and transformation.
It deepens our relationship with Him, increases our dependence on His grace, and shapes us into vessels of His compassion and mercy
We spend far too much time mourning… because our problems are greater than our God in our minds!
What Jesus is trying to explain to us… we will be blessed in our selves and a blessing to others when we understand… God is bigger than whatever you are going through!
We need to understand what Corrie Ten Boom understood...
“There is no panic in Heaven! God has no problems, only plans.”
~Corrie Ten Boom
God is bigger than our problems...
I do not know who needs to hear this… but whatever you are going through… I want you to know… God’s got this!
Will you stand with me
Conclusion:
As we close today, remember that Jesus' words in Matthew 5:4 are not just a promise but a pathway to profound transformation.
Mourning over sin and the brokenness of our world is not meant to leave us in despair but to lead us to a place of deep comfort in God's presence.
When we mourn, we acknowledge our need for Him, and He promises to comfort us, to heal us, and to restore us.
This comfort isn't just a temporary relief from sorrow; it's a lasting peace that surpasses understanding.
God invites us to exchange our mourning for His comfort, to surrender our burdens and find solace in His grace.
Let us take this moment to reflect on where God is calling us to deeper repentance, to greater compassion for others, and to a more intimate relationship with Him.
May we embrace the promise that those who mourn will be comforted, knowing that in our weakness, His strength is made perfect.
Practical Application:
Prayer: Spend time in prayer, confessing areas of sin and brokenness in your life and in the world. Allow God to comfort you and guide you in His truth.
Community: Seek support from fellow believers. Share your struggles and joys with one another, encouraging and praying for one another in love.
Action: Be proactive in addressing injustices and brokenness around you. Take steps to bring healing and hope to those in need, embodying the compassion of Christ in practical ways.
Altar Call:
If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart today, inviting you to surrender your burdens and find comfort in God's presence, I invite you to respond.
Whether you need to confess sin, seek healing, or simply draw closer to God, the altar is open.
Come forward to receive prayer, to seek counsel, or to make a commitment to follow Jesus more closely.
Let us together experience the comfort that only God can provide, knowing that He is faithful to meet us in our time of need.
Let's take a moment to pray together before we respond to His call.
