A reminder to consider others Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King; Christian H. Bateman © 1977 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music ARR UBP – CCLI License No. 378119

Let all with heart and voice Before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice: Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high, Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen! Let praises fill the sky;

He is our Guide and Friend; To us He’ll condescend; His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again, Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen! Life shall not end the strain;

On heaven’s blissful shore His goodness we’ll adore, Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

A reminder to consider others Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

Blessed are Those Who Mourn Matthew 5:4 The Christian life is full of paradoxes - apparent contradictions that are true Matthew 5:4 - the paradox: A Christian cannot be happy until first he is sad

Review Jesus’ ministry has resulted in multitudes of followers wondering if He is the Messiah This Sermon is a presentation of Jesus’ kingdom program - and the righteousness needed to enter it

Review The Beatitudes are statements describing the character of the righteous person & the blessings they receive Poor in spirit refers to those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy and must beg God for mercy & grace

The Comfort of the World Comforted (parakale;w / parakaleo): “cause to be encouraged or consoled” Comfort (Oxford): 1 a state of ease and freedom from pain or constraint 2) consolation for grief or anxiety Ignore problems: “Don’t worry, be Happy!” Escape into drugs or alcohol

The Comfort of the World Replace sadness with happiness by changing circumstances or focusing on something you enjoy Marketing culture: purchase something that will make you happy Escape through Entertainment & amusement (divert attention of so as to deceive / pass time pleasantly)

The Comfort of the World Ecclesiastes: pursuit of pleasure was ultimately futile. Cf. Luke 6:25 Laughter turned to sorrow in present life when consequences of sinful pursuits catch up Laughter turned to sorrow in eternity when God judges sin and pronounces condemnation Ecclesiastes 7:2-5

Mourning which Shall be Comforted Mourning (pevnqoV / penthos): strong sorrow / grief of the heart usually expressed in weeping and laments Genesis 37:34 – Jacob’s grief Mark 16:10 - Disciples mourning Revelation 18:11,15 – lament for the world system

Mourning which Shall be Comforted 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 – Godly sorrow that results in repentance and salvation Psalm 51:3-4 – David’s Confession Job 42:5-6 – Job’s Repentance Being poor in spirit results in entering the kingdom and mourning over sin brings God’s comfort

Mourning which Shall be Comforted Mourning is a missing element in the lives of too many Christians - who live the same was as unbelievers Do the things you laugh at reflect godliness or worldliness?

Mourning Over Sin Mourn over your own sin as the Holy Spirit convicts you (John 16:9) The believer continues to mourn as Holy Spirit convicts of new areas of sin 1 John 1:9 is for Christians If you do not see your own sins as serious - there is a problem. You may need to consider 2 Cor. 13:5

Mourning Over Sin Mourning over personal sin leads to salvation - and to greater intimacy with God Mourn over the sin of others - Matthew 23:37 A sinful society can desensitize you to sin, and compassion for those that cause problems is easily lost

Mourning Over Sin To be like Jesus, we are to love our enemies and pray for those that persecute us - they are the mission field Mourn over sin in the world and its consequences - John 11 Romans 8:21-23, creation and we who believe will groan as we await our final redemption

Comfort for Those that Mourn The Lord forgives our sins though Christ Jesus. He has given us the gospel, a message of hope to others God has also given us the sure promise of the future redemption of all things (2 Peter 3:13)

Comfort for Those that Mourn God gives us comfort in Himself (2 Cor. 1:3), in His promises (Romans 5), through His Spirit (John 14)

People do not mourn and receive God’s comfort because: Their love of sin Falling into despair rather than mourning Believing sin is not that serious so there is no need for repentance or confession Procrastination

What will prompt you to mourn over sin and draw near to God? Get to know God. Examine His character & attributes - especially His holiness Study the Scriptures which reveal how ugly sin is to God and how destructive & damning it is to humans

What will prompt you to mourn over sin and draw near to God? Seriously consider the price God paid in Jesus Christ to redeem man from sin In each step above, pray that God will search your heart to reveal and convict you of your sin

Evidence of mourning will be an increased awareness of your sin and God’s blessed comfort of forgiveness

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Jesus, I Come Hymn # 491 Out of my bondage, sorrow and night, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Into Thy freedom, gladness and light, Jesus, I come to Thee. William Sleeper & George Stebbins © Public Domain ARR UBP CCLI License No. 378119

Out of my sickness into Thy health, Out of my want and into Thy wealth, Out of my sin and into Thyself, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Into the glorious gain of Thy cross, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm, Out of life's storms and into Thy calm, Out of distress to jubilant psalm, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of unrest and arrogant pride, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Into Thy blessed will to abide, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love, Out of despair into raptures above, Upward for aye on wings like a dove, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the fear and dread of the tomb, Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come. Into the joy and light of Thy home, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold, Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold, Ever Thy glorious face to behold, Jesus, I come to Thee.

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ