1. Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

2. What is this series about? An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

3. Outline (Matthew 5:4) “Blessed are those who mourn” What we should mourn “For they shall be comforted” The cursed life

4. Blessed are those who mourn (Matt. 5:4) Mourn (Greek pentheo) Lament, sorrow, wailing, grief Strongest Greek word for grief, as in the sorrow one feels when a loved one dies The kind of grief that takes such a hold of man that it cannot be hidden or contained…brings ache to the heart and unrestrainable tears to the eyes (2 Cor. 2:4) The sorrow you feel when a loved one dies is the same sorrow you should feel over sin

5. What are we mourning about? Our own sins (Matt. 26:75; 2 Cor. 7:8-11) Saints who sin and do not repent (2 Cor. 12:21) The lost condition of sinners (Rom. 9:2-3; Phil. 3:18) Mourning over sin should motivate us to act David confessed, found forgiveness (Ps. 32:3-5) “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:22-23,36-37) Repent and be baptized for forgiveness! (Acts 2:38) “perform deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20) “made sorrowful to the point of repentance…without regret, leading to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:9-10) Do not delay…act before it is everlasting too late!

6. For they shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4) “God Who comforts the depressed” (2 Cor. 7:6) Comfort of God’s grace (2 Thess. 2:16-17) Comfort of forgiveness (Psalm 32:5-7) Comfort of God’s Word (Isa. 61:1-3/Luke 4:16-21) Comfort of Christ’s return (John 16:19-22) Comfort of the resurrection (1 Thess. 4:13-18) Comfort of heaven (Rev. 21:3-4) We have great comfort in knowing what is to come! The unrepentant are hardened and cursed by sin…

7. The cursed life The opposite of mourning: delighting in wickedness “their god is their appetite…glory in their shame…set their minds on earthly things” (Phil. 3:19) Sinners enjoy comfort in this life, but suffering in the afterlife (Luke 6:24-25; 16:25) Their repentance is merely regret over worldly things “sorrow of the world produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10) Esau mourned too late (Heb. 12:16-17) Rather than mourning, some are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13) Those who refuse to repent cannot be forgiven (Heb. 6:4-6) They have forfeited their souls for pleasure (Matt.16:26)

8. Summary To be blessed, we must see our sin as God sees it The one who mourns his sin will find God’s blessings The one who repents will be comforted The one who refuses to regret his sin, and instead delights in wickedness, will be cursed Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

9. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34) That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4) Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9) Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12) Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32) Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37) Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12) Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21) Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10) Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9) Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

10. Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly