Rejoicing’s Coming
I stopped over at Troy Nelson's place one evening a couple weeks back. We were talking about me and Benji flying out to Cincinnati again and how we're looking at two more years of treatments down there. I joked that after much more of this I'd have to visit his PTSD support group! I was joking - but he said, 'That's not a bad idea.' I said, 'I haven't experienced anything like what guys do in combat'. He replied something like, 'Everyone's trauma is different'.
Since Roz and Troy acutely know the pain of seeing your child endure multiple medical treatments, and as it was right before the 4th of July, I said, 'I'll probably just blow some stuff up - I'll feel better.' He said, 'Yeah, we do need to spend a few hours at the range when I get back - but sometimes you need to cry.' - Really? Battled hardened, 'combat medic Troy' is telling me sometimes I need to cry...?
Last Sunday we looked at the first of the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount – we focused on the first, 'blessed are the poor in spirit'. I'd like to jump right in and look at that same passage again this morning…
Matthew 5:1-4 (NIV)
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, (2) and he began to teach them, saying: (3) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
I've mentioned that the word 'blessed' in the 'Beatitudes' could also be translated as 'happy'. Why would Jesus say, 'Happy are those who mourn. Happy are those who cry'? If simply crying made you happy my house full of kids would be the happiest place on earth! 'Happy are those who mourn, who cry.' Doesn't that sound like a bit of a contradiction? And I'm guessing it was a bit surprising to those in Jesus' original audience as well.
I've read some scholars who say it simply means that when you mourn then you are blessed because you have an opportunity to enjoy being comforted. There's something there – but if that's all there is then it's kind of like saying "blessed are those who repeatedly hit their head on the wall, for it will feel good when they stop." You see what I'm saying?
Yes, it does feel good to be comforted when you mourn – but I think there's more to it than just that. I think Jesus' blessing has a lot to do with why you may be mourning. I'm talking about Godly sorrow. I'm talking about feeling 'heart broken' because of the same things that break God's heart. I think it has to somewhat do with the idea of…
I. Being painfully aware of sin
- And the effects of sin…
A man in Berlin decided to rob a bank with a handgun. Now this played out like a pretty standard bank robbery until the teller asked him, "Do you need a bag?" - To which the man responded, "Yes it's a real gun!" She was a bit confused, but it was then that the teller suspected the man was deaf and decided to take a risk and trigger the alarm notifying the police. The robber didn't flinch - he couldn't hear the high pitched ringing. So the teller continued to empty the drawers and waited to hear the police sirens approaching. The man was promptly arrested.
You have to admit - it's kind of funny. It's funny because I don't know the guy. But what if the man was my son? That perspective changes things a bit. What if that was your son, or husband or father? It wouldn't be quite as funny anymore, would it? And I don't want to make you feel guilty for laughing - but when we take the time to stop and feel the actual consequences of sin - some things don't seem as funny anymore.
- A very different story from Luke and this one isn't funny, but it does take on a different feel with a different perspective…
Luke 7:37-38 (NIV)
When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, (38) and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
I've read that story lots of times, but it's never really caused me to break down in tears. - Probably not you, either. But what if the woman in that story was your daughter? Would that story then make you cry too? That woman really understood and finally felt the consequences of her sin when she met Jesus. She was painfully aware of her sin. She mourned, she wept – and then Jesus forgave her sins and she was comforted. 'Blessed are those who mourn'.
Being painfully aware of your sin leads you to…
A. Confess your sin
Now, in the Catholic Church, they confess their sins to a priest who then absolves them of their sins. Now we don't see that practiced in the New Testament and we understand that only God can forgive our sins – so we don't sit in a confessional booth on a regular basis. However, that doesn't mean that we don't have to confess our sins.
1 John 1:8-10 (NIV)
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Revivalist preacher Charles Finney was quoted as saying "You've got to confess your sins one at a time. You've got to take time to grieve over how each sin has hindered God's blessing from really being poured out in your life."
If we are painfully aware of our sin, it will lead us to humble ourselves and to confess our sins to God. And some have even found it helpful to confess their sins to a trusted friend, not to have that person forgive them - but to have someone who can pray with them and help keep them accountable.
But simply being aware of our sin and confessing it doesn't always make for a simple fix. We see that the Apostle Paul understood that in Romans 7:15-19 (NIV)...
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (16) And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. (17) As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. (18) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (19) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.
Paul, the author of half of the New Testament struggled with his own sin. Fortunately for us, Paul also shared how he dealt with it in his letters. We rely on God's grace and the power of His Spirit, but for our part, it…
B. Starts in your mind
Paul knew that his actions followed his thoughts. If anyone has any hope of change after confessing sin – it needs to start with a change of mind; changing the way you think.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
You become aware of the sin in your life - you then confess the sin in your life - and then you work with God to change your mind, your heart. If all you do is attempt to change your actions by your own strength – the chances of having a lasting change are pretty slim. God is well aware of how weak we are when facing temptation – that's why He gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit; to work with us and in us – to help transform us!
God isn't simply interested in just comforting us. If He was, He never would have given us the ability to even feel guilt or mourning. Godly sorrow has a higher purpose than just making us feel bad. Godly sorrow has a higher purpose than just getting us to talk about our sin.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Godly sorrow brings…
C. Repentance
There are two feelings followed by an action that can characterize the process that ultimately leads to a change. The first is 'regret', where you begin to realize intellectually that what you've done is wrong. Then second is 'remorse'. When remorse takes place we begin to feel guilty for what we've done. But that's not the end goal. The action that needs to follow is 'repentance'.
In repentance, our will, in combination with God's Spirit takes hold and then we begin to change the direction we're going and change who we are. We then fight against those things that are displeasing to God, whatever they are, and start doing the things that God desires. That's when our mourning can become a 'blessing'. Repentance is literally a "U turn" – changing from going the direction I want to go and then going God's direction.
Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
God wants us to turn from sin so we can be forgiven and so that He can then comfort us and bless us. God doesn't want us to just stay sad and feeling guilty – He wants that conviction to motivate us to action! God wants us to mourn the sin in our lives so it will ultimately bring us back to Him! He wants to bless us, and many times we're the ones getting in the way of that blessing! We need to be painfully aware of our sin, confess it and repent, turn away from it – but there's even more that God wants.
God wants all of His creation to come back to a relationship with Him! It's not just 'us' He wants to come back to Him. It's not just the sin in our lives that we're to mourn – but also the sin in the lives of those around us. When we more fully understand Godly sorrow and what breaks God's heart – we feel compelled to…
II. Mourn the lost
If the fact that those around you who do not know Jesus Christ are bound for Hell after this life doesn't provoke any emotion – you don't truly understand God's heart yet. Too often, some inside the Church forget that those outside of the Church are not our enemies – they simply haven't found God's grace yet. They need to hear about God's love from us. They need Jesus!
We have been saved only by God's grace – not by anything we've done. When we fully understand just how blessed we are that someone cared enough to share Jesus with us, we'll begin to look at 'the lost' the way God sees them…
A. With compassion
If we're not careful - it's a lot easier to condemn those who don't want anything to do with the Church than it is to have compassion on them. Remember - Jesus did condemn sin - but He also died for the sinner.
Romans 2:1-4 (NIV)
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (2) Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. (3) So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? (4) Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
God has been extremely gracious in forgiving our sins. The only difference between 'us' and 'them' is God's grace! When we learn to mourn the lost, when we feel genuine compassion – it then…
B. Leads to action
I've shared this before - D.L. Moody, founder of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago was a rather outspoken evangelist. A woman approached him one day with a critique. She explained that she didn't agree with his confrontational methods in attempting to win lost people for the Lord. Moody's reply was "I agree with you. I don't like the way I do it either. Tell me, how do you do it?" The woman replied, "I don't do it." To which Moody responded, "Then I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it."
If we want to carry the name Christian well, if we want to become more like Jesus – we need to develop compassion for the lost that moves us to action. Remember Jesus' story about a man who had a hundred sheep and lost one? He left the ninety nine and went out to find the one lost sheep. And then he celebrated finding that lost sheep!
When you and I were lost, Jesus had enough compassion to come all the way from Heaven to save us. He's not asking us to make anywhere near that long of a trip. He just wants you to feel Godly sorrow for the lost around you and then do something.
So What?
Maybe there's some wisdom in Troy's advice about crying. And if anyone wants to try and take away anyone's 'man card' – you can take it up with Troy.
It's like when Barbara Walters interviewed 6 ft. 3, 240 pound, 4 star General Schwarzkopf. He got misty eyed talking about his father's passing and she said, "General's don't cry." He replied, "Sure they do… Frankly, any man who doesn't cry scares me a little bit."
Now, I'd have to say, that on any given occasion I'd much rather laugh than cry. I'm guessing that's the case for most of us. I'd much rather preach about Heaven than Hell. I'd prefer to talk about God's blessings rather than our sin. But there are times for all of that.
Today we focused on mourning – on Godly sorrow. The good news is that mourning is not all there is as we follow Jesus.
Psalms 30:4-5 (NIV)
Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. (5) For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
I'm asking you to mourn a bit today knowing the morning is coming – rejoicing comes in the morning. There's a lot to mourn in this world – but there will be a whole lot more to celebrate in the next! - Anyone else ready for Jesus' return? Maybe today…?