Begin to Mourn!

Rev Enoch Thompson | JANUARY 22, 2023 | MATTHEW 5:4

KEY VERSE: Matt 5:4 (NIV)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

MESSAGE:

The world multiplies its means of entertainment, and people generally seek out ways to appear happy. The Lord Jesus however indicates that the citizens of the Kingdom of God are accustomed to mourning. He Himself was known as Man of Sorrows, accustomed with grief (Isaiah 53:3).

Have you noticed that some of the things we do to appear happy and mirthful compromise us to choices and behaviour that result in sin. We sometimes lose our sense of individuality so as to be part of the crowd, and in so doing let down our guards to speech and behaviour that offend God. We smile in every mirror and in every photograph to say that we are happy. The Teacher in Ecclesiastes 7:6 asserts “Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.” (NIV).

Kingdom citizens in their hatred of sin and in their determination to avoid godless mirth tend to be a people who may aptly be described as mournful. They mourn over their own sinfulness and their temptations. They mourn over those who have fallen into the grips of the enemy. They mourn over the injustice in this world. They mourn with those who mourn over their losses in this life. They mourn because humanity does not fear God nor subdue to Him.

The promise is that “they shall be comforted.” The godly mournful shall be comforted in this life, for God comes in strongly and gives joy for all the sorrow they bear. “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Cor 1:5 NIV).

But they shall be comforted eternally when they reach Heaven. There, my dear friends, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Rev 7:17 NIV).

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Kingdom mourning is not wearing a long face and being anti-social; it is an inner attitude of dissatisfaction with what the world calls joy and seeking to bring the rule of God into one’s life and environment. Begin to mourn! Look out for God’s comfort!!

PRAYER:

Lord, give me a heart that mourns, like you mourned when you walked this earth. And please Lord, comfort me for my mourning. For your dear Name’s sake. Amen.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!