Blessed Are They That Mourn

Temple Baptist Church - 8-21-2016

Matthew 5:4

 

Introduction:

 

A.  The Beatitudes: a condition or statement of blessedness. 

 

1.  Once again, blessed is not necessarily happiness.  Happiness is based upon “happenings” or circumstances; blessed is in spite of circumstances.  If you think that everything is going to work out and life will be easy, you will not last long emotionally or spiritually.

 

2.  Blessed and mourn in the same “mouthful” would constitute an oxymoron: a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect.  We use such phrases as “black and white” or “night and day.” It is important to understand the Biblical perspective of the two.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4  It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.  (3)  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  (4)  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

 

B.  One pastor called sorrow and suffering the “Classroom of Life.”  The Bible is a very honest Book.  It does not “paint” the Christian’s life as a “bed of roses.”

 

1.  The Book of Job is said to be the oldest book in the Bible.  Job’s commentary on life is found in chapter 14.  Job 14:1-2  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.  (2)  He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

 

2.  In the Book of Genesis, Jacob’s commentary on life is found in chapter 47.  Genesis 47:8-9  And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?  (9)  And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years

0of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

 

3.  Psalms 90:9-10  For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.  (10)  The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

 

4.  Philippians 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 

C.  The promise of sorrow is that, for the most part, it will come to an end and there will be joy to follow.

 

John 16:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

 

Psalm 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

D.  The promise of comfort: “for they shall be comforted.”

 

1. We find comfort in our Heavenly Father - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  (As the sons of God, we have a heavenly Father who loves us and cares about all of our cares.)

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

 

Philippians 4:6-7  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Isaiah 26:3-4  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  (Not just peace but PERFECT PEACE!)

 

2. We find comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ - Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

3. We find comfort in the Comforter - John 14:15-17 If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

Acts 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

 

4. We find comfort in the Bible - Romans 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

5. We find comfort in God’s men - 2 Corinthians 7:5-6  For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.  (6)  Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;  (Have you ever noticed who much better things seem when God’s man comes?  Not that he can change the situation but it just seems to be better when he is there.)

 

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;  (2)  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

 

6. We are comforted by the church 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

 

Romans 1:12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

 

Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

Galatians 6:2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

7. We are comforted by hope - Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.