The Pursuit of Happiness #3

#3/9 The Pursuit of Happiness Stockwell Road MBC
September 27, 2009 MW
CONTRADICTED COMFORT
Matthew 5:4
INTRODUCTION:
A. We are continuing our series of messages entitled, “The Pursuit of Happiness”. Last week we dealt with the issue of becoming spiritually poor, voiding ourselves of all of our own spirituality. Until we see our insufficiency apart from God we will never come to God in repentance. This is the first step as we travel this staircase to true spiritual happiness and joy. Now, the Lord seems to contradict himself. How can happiness be found in the shedding of tears? How, if we have an overwhelming sense of sorrow can we truly be happy? Well, we must understand what the Lord is trying to say to us with this Beattitude.

B. We must figure out what type of mourning is the Lord talking about here. He wasn’t talking about sinful mourning. Sinful mourning is the sadness over unfulfilled sinful and selfish desires, which is very ungodly! 2 Samuel 13:2, “And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.” It wasn’t natural mourning. This is the sorrow and sadness that one feels at the passing of a dear loved one or when tragedy strikes. According to Ecclesiastes 3 there is a time for this, but we must not allow it to consume us. What Jesus refers us too is spoken of in 2 Corinthians 7:10-11, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” There are nine different terms used in the New Testament that describe sorrow. “Mourn”, as Jesus used it, is the strongest possible term that could have been used. Billy Graham in his book, “The Secret of Happiness” gives this definition, “to feel sorrow, to show great concern or to deplore some existing wrong.”

C. I truly believe that we are missing this in our lives as individuals, Churches and as a society. Using the preceding definition we could very easily say that the exact opposite of mourning is on display. Insensitivity, lack of care, unconcern, callousness and indifference are the rule not the exception. The Lord calls us to live life on a higher plane and the Beattitudes serve as our guideline as we pursue happiness.

BODY:
I. PREDICAMENTS THAT CAUSE MOURNING Psalm 126:6
Note: An instructor from a dog training workshop said that a dog’s disposition can be tested by the owner. If the owner falls down and pretends to be hurt, a dog with a bad disposition will tend to bite the owner, but a good dog will show concern and lick its master’s face. Susan Matrice attended this workshop and decided to test her dogs when she got home. After making some pizza she walked into the living room, put her pizza down on the coffee table and then clutched her chest, screamed out loud and fell on the floor. Her dogs looked at her, looked at each other and made a mad dash to devour her pizza. That is how we act, indifferent and selfish, towards things that should cause us to mourn.
A. Our Condition as a Sinner

B. Our Conviction of Sin

C. Our Concern for Sinners

D. Our Compassion for Saints

II. PATTERNS THAT CHANGE BECAUSE OF MOURNING 2 Chronicles 7:14
Note: We have lost the essence of mourning in our lives so much that certain patterns have formed in the lives of God’s people. These patterns are neither God honoring nor God fearing. True mourning will work in our lives to remove these sinful patterns.
A. Knee Jerk Reactions
1. being judgmental
2. anger
3. indifference

B. Sin/Confess/Sin Trap 2 Chronicles 7:14

III. PROMISES THAT COME DUE TO MOURNING
Note: God makes a promise to those that mourn. He tells us that we will be comforted. This is where the happiness comes from, the realization and reception of the promise. He doesn’t contradict Himself! He offers comfort! His promise of comfort comes in many ways…
A. The Lost Can Be Saved
B. The Saved Can Be Forgiven
C. The Servant Can Be Used

CONCLUSION:
These beatitudes are a staircase ever leading us to life on a higher plane…life of true happiness. The only ones who can experience this godly sorrow are people who have spiritually bankrupted themselves.
If sin does not affect you, sin has infected you…you need to mourn!