the-sermon-on-the-mount-blessed-are-the-mourners-lesson-three (1)

The Challenges Of Life

Matthew 5:4 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

All men face tragedies and troubles that come with life.

Mourning over sin because it is a disgrace to God.

Mourning over the prevalence of sin in the world.

Mourning over the imperfections that are found in the church.

Mourning over our own spiritual immaturity.

Mourning over the slow progress that church often makes in the lives of believers.

Mourning over the persecution of Christian brothers and sisters around the globe.  

Mourning over the distance we feel from the Lord at times.  

Mourning over spiritual failure that leads us to weep bitterly as Peter did after the betrayal.

Mourning over the tendency of our flesh to be drawn toward carnality.

Godly sorrow leads to repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Those who mourn over their sin will be the ones who are blessed and comforted.

The Right Way to Mourn

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Godly sorrow will lead us to repentance, but it also moves us toward great comfort

4 traps of not embracing proper repentance

Become a hypocrite and continue to live a life of sin.

Become caught up in efforts to change through behavior modification and will power.

Fall into a state of great despair and follow through the steps that Judas took

Repent and be saved as the prodigal son did.

Repentance is always at the foundation of salvation.

Romans 8:23-26 (KJV)

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Helpful discipleship practices that can help a saint become a mourner.  

Remove the hindrances that cause you to resist the Spirit

Do a topical study on sin.

Pray for a contrite heart

The Result of Mourning—Comfort

The only real work of comfort comes about through the work of the Holy Ghost (2 Corinthians 1:3).

There is also a comfort that comes from the Word of God (Romans 15:4).

One aspect of comfort that takes place is the healing of wounds that sin has placed on the life of the converted.

Another aspect of the comfort comes from knowing the truth and allowing it to settle down into the heart.