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📝 = Fill in the Blank
Two weeks ago we shared in a message called, "THE KINGDOM WAY.” We took a look at Matthew 4:17 where it reads,
“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “REPENT, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.””
Matthew 4:17
We learned in that message that the word repent doesn’t just mean to say that I’m sorry, but it means to change the way that you think. I believe that’s why the next chapter over after Jesus told us to change the way that we think, that Jesus began to teach us in that manner. Jesus began to do a teaching in Matthew 5 called the Beatitudes, on how our attitude and way of thinking ought to be in the Kingdom of God. A writer once said the Beatitudes "is like someone went into the display window of life and switched all the price tags, and what we thought had value suddenly didn’t.”
This week we’re going to pick up in verse 4 where Jesus says something that we all need to hear.
“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
This beatitude definitely challenges what we often value in our culture. So many of us value being tough. So many of us value "not being weak”, being able to always be strong and suck it up, and not show any emotions, but not Jesus. Jesus came to switch the price tag on this way of thinking.
In his very first address to the crowd, Jesus quickly addressed this way of thinking. Jesus said,
"Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
One translation says...
"God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
I’m so glad that Jesus said blessed are those who mourn. I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t say blessed are those who have it all together, or blessed are those who hold it all together. I’m so grateful that Jesus didn’t say blessed are those who don’t need anybody, or blessed are those who never have a moment. No. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” I want to talk to you from this subject today,
LET THE TEARS WORK
We want every other part of our body to work. We want our fingers to work. We want our ears to work. We want our taste buds to work, but yet when it comes to our tears, we often hold them back, we don’t want to look weak, we don’t want to look human, we don’t want people to see us this way, but I say to you today….LET THE TEARS WORK.
📝 There’s purpose in your TEARS.
The biblical definition of mourning is an act of reflection, cleansing, healing, and expression. To mourn is to have the ability to move what’s going on in the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE.
To mourn is to have the ability to move what’s going on in the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE.
Nobody likes moving.
We like the end result of moving, but nobody likes the process that it takes to—MOVE. But in order to MOURN, you must MOVE.
📝 When you fail to MOURN, you fail to HEAL.
When you fail to mourn, when you fail to move what’s taking place on the inside to the outside, you fail to heal. Only real friends will help you move. Everyone else will make up an excuse. Everyone else will add things to their calendar then screen shot you and say, "A man, I would’ve loved to help you move this weekend but…but not Jesus! Jesus came to earth to help you move. As many times as it takes, Jesus will help you move what you’ve been carrying on the inside to the outside!
Jesus came to earth to set the captive free. Unfortunately, many of us are still captives to pain. Many of us are still captives to things that took place that we never properly dealt with. Instead of mourning, instead of dealing with them properly, we’ve swept them under the rug, but now the rug is getting bigger, and bigger, and now it’s tripping you up. Now it’s tripping up the peace and joy in your family. Now it’s tripping up all of your relationships.
You don’t mean to but at times you lash out at your spouse, your children, and those closest to you, because you’ve never taken the time to mourn.
You even tried to work it off, but the entire time it’s been working on you.
You haven’t taken the time to mourn that divorce.
You haven’t taken the time to mourn the loss of your loved one.
You haven’t taken the time to mourn the loss of that job that you thought you were going to retire from.
You haven’t taken the time to mourn the rejection that you’ve encountered.
You haven’t taken the time to move what’s taken place on the inside to the outside through your tears, but I say to you today–LET THE TEARS WORK.
Somewhere along the line we’ve bought into the lie that we must hurry up and get over it. Somewhere along the line we’ve bought into the lie that we must suck it up and get on with our LIVES, all the while we’ve missed the truth that mourning, and grieving IS A PART OF LIFE.
Jesus looked out into the crowds and saw people who looked like they had it all together on THE OUTSIDE, but who were really hurting on the INSIDE, and said, you no longer have to act like you have it all together. You no longer have to put on the appearance of being strong and acting like it didn’t happen. You no longer have to suck it up and move on—NO! Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. LET THE TEARS WORK.
📝 COMFORT can’t fill what DESPAIR is already filling.
📝 Blessed are those who MOURN, instead of MOVING on too fast.
Blessed are those who allow what’s taking place on the inside, to make it’s way to the outside.
📝 It takes more strength to LET IT OUT than it does to KEEP IT IN.
📝 Blessed are those who stop living their lives BOTTLED UP.
You would be amazed at how many people are walking around with a smile on their face, BUT ON THE INSIDE THEY’RE BOTTLED UP. They’re bottled up with pain. They’re bottled up with anger. They’re bottled up with disappointment. They’re bottled up with bitterness, regrets, and unforgiveness over what took place years ago, but here’s the thing...
📝 It’s hard for God’s healing to ADDRESS what you don’t CONFESS.
📝 Mourning is an INVITATION for God, to OPEN UP the pain that you’ve been bottling up.
📝 Mourning is an invitation for God to empty you of your SORROW and to fill you with His SPIRIT.
This is why I say, let the tears work! After all, Jesus did.
After John the Baptist was beheaded, Mathew 14:12 says,
“John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.” Matthew 14:12 “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place...Matthew 14:13
I wonder where did Jesus go?
I wonder what did Jesus do?
I can’t help but to think that Jesus took time to mourn. I can’t help but to think that Jesus took time to let the tears work.
In the gospel according to John, Lazarus the one whom Jesus loved had died. They sent word to Jesus. Four days later Jesus shows up on the scene and first sees Martha then sees Mary, the sisters of Lazarus.
John 11:33 says,
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked...John 11:33-34
Verses 35 & 36 tell us,
“Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”” John 11:35-36
Not only do we see Jesus mourning His loved ones, but we also see Jesus mourning for His surroundings. In Matthew 23:37-39 this section in my bible is titled, JESUS LAMENTS OVER JERUSALEM. It reads,
““O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37
The Great Eagle himself God Almighty had landed amongst His people. Immanuel was among them, but they shooed him away:
Luke 19:41 says,
“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, HE WEPT OVER IT” Luke 19:41
“and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:42
Just in this quick run through the scriptures, we see Jesus mourning with Mary & Martha. We see Jesus taking time to mourn over John the Baptist. We see Jesus mourning and weeping over Jerusalem. I believe that this was all intentional. I believe that....
📝 Jesus took time to mourn, to give you permission to mourn.
It’s amazing to me that Jesus Christ, I would imagine the most joyful man ever to live, yet Isaiah 53:3 still describes him as...
"A Man of sorrows and ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF...” Isaiah 53:3
Jesus knows about mourning. Jesus took time to mourn, to give you permission to mourn.
Hebrews 4:15 says…
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot SYMPATHIZE with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15
When it comes to mourning, here’s what I know...
• HE’S THE GOD THAT SEES.
“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “YOU ARE THE GOD WHO SEES ME,” for she said, “I HAVE NOW SEEN THE ONE WHO SEES ME.”” Genesis 16:13
YOU ARE THE GOD WHO SEES ME,” for she said, “I HAVE NOW SEEN THE ONE WHO SEES ME.
Why are you wasting time trying to be seen?
You are seen, by the one who sees it all. You are seen by the one who matters the most—God Almighty.
David recognized this truth, and said in Psalm 139:1,
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. YOU SEE ME when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.”
Psalms 139:1-3
He’s the God that sees.
God doesn’t just see me, just to see me.
📝 God sees me to BRING ME OUT.
God sees me to remind me that I’M NOT ALONE. God sees me to let me know that CHANGE IS COMING.
Next,
• He’s the God that COMFORTS.
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and THE SOURCE OF ALL COMFORT.” 2 Corinthians 1:3
“He COMFORTS us in all our troubles so that we can COMFORT others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same COMFORT God has given us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
“For the more we suffer for Christ, the more GOD WILL SHOWER US WITH HIS COMFORT through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:5
King David believed in God’s comfort. In Psalm 119:49 he wrote,
“Remember your promise to me; IT IS MY ONLY HOPE. YOUR PROMISE revives me; IT COMFORTS ME in all my troubles.”
Psalms 119:49-50
Your promise revives me. And what a promise we find in Psalm 56:8 where it says,
📝 You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected ALL MY TEARS in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. Psalm 56:8
• He’s the God that OVERTURNS.
Jesus said in John 16:20,
"I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, BUT YOUR GRIEF WILL SUDDENLY TURN TO WONDERFUL JOY.” John 16:20
📝 Turn your SITUATION OVER to God, so that God can OVERTURN YOUR SITUATION.
David said it like this....
"...Weeping may endure for a night, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.” Psalms 30:5
📝 In the midst of our MOURNING we have the promise of MORNING.
📝 Just because I’m in MOURNING now doesn’t mean that I won’t be in JOY in the morning.
📝 The only way to get to MORNING, you have to go through the NIGHT.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, yea though I walk through times of mourning, yea though I walk through difficult times, I know that you’re with me. Your rod and your staff COMFORT ME.
Blessed are those who mourn. They shall be comforted. YOU’RE MY GOD THAT SEES. YOU’RE MY GOD THAT COMFORTS. YOU’RE MY GOD THAT OVERTURNS. You’re in a safe place with Him. You can trust your Creator with you. LET THE TEARS WORK.
We have this ability on our phone, and I’m sure many of you have it as well. At any given time when Logan asks me where I am, or if she’s trying to meet me somewhere I can share my location with her and she can find me just like that.
I know you’re a private person. I know you have a reputation to keep up but…
INVITATION: WHO CAN YOU SHARE YOUR LOCATION WITH?
Who can you share your location with and say, I know how I look on the outside. I know the vibes that I put off, but this is where I really am. I’m in a bad place. I’m in a dark place. I’m in a place that I don’t know how to get out of. I’m in a place of mourning, and I want to share my location with you.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15
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