Mourning, a Blessing?

                                                        MOURNING, A BLESSING?

(Words From the Mountain)

 We started a series called Words from the Mountain, based on the Sermon on the Mount. After witnessing the powerful demonstration of God's Kingdom, crowds followed Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountainside. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them these powerful, counter-cultural, and life-transforming teachings of God's Kingdom. His teaching included eight pronouncements of blessings, known as the BEATITUDES.

The Beatitudes and the rest of the teachings show how Christ followers are supposed to live in this World according to God's Kingdom principles. This past week, we examined the first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Being blessed in this verse doesn't refer to material wealth or success. The Greek word for "Blessed" means to be fully satisfied through the indwelling presence of Christ.

We will now examine the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Like the first, this sets the believer apart from the rest of the World. In fact, the World would see this statement as completely foolish—"Blessed are those who mourn!" The World generally tries to avoid mourning. The overall focus of the World is on being happy and carefree, seeking maximum pleasure through any means.

People fear death, struggle with sorrow and grief, and often do not know how to mourn when someone passes away. Instead of mourning properly, we tend to focus on celebrating the person's life. What did Jesus mean by saying, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"? Our Lord didn't say, "Blessed are those who mourn over someone's natural death, will be comforted." Instead, He referred to spiritual mourning, as we learn from the first Beatitude, that the poor in spirit are not financially poor but spiritually impoverished.

Similarly, this Beatitude isn't about our physical life and death in this World, but rather focuses mainly on our spiritual condition. Many biblical passages discuss mourning over loved ones' physical death and how the God of all comfort consoles us during our grief. In this context, God cares more about our souls. This Beatitude emphasizes mourning over the state of human souls. Is there a blessing in spiritual mourning, and what does it look like? Matthew 5:1-4

I. Mourning, a Blessing?

Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Let's take a closer look at this. In the first Beatitude, the blessedness depends on recognizing one's spiritual poverty or helplessness. In the second, the blessedness comes to those who mourn their own sins and the sins of others. First, let's examine how this personal mourning works.

In the OT, the Israelites quoted a proverb that said, "The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" Ezekiel 18:2. The sour grapes here refer to the sins of the fathers and their negative effects on future generations (Numbers 14:18). The Israelites, quoting this proverb, instead of taking personal responsibility, blamed their ancestors for their sins.

As if God were tired of hearing it, He wanted to eliminate such a flimsy excuse through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel 18:3-4, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die."

Let's not underestimate the devastating consequences of parents' irresponsible behaviors on their children. For instance, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes, "unfortunately, abusing drugs while pregnant can have several effects, such as fetal development, birth defects, risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and other physical and behavioral problems, such as difficulties with concentration, attention span, and general conduct."[1] Though children may face consequences because of their parents' sins, ultimately, God holds each person accountable for their own sins, and they must face eternal consequences. Therefore, we need to stop playing the blame game, as Adam and Eve did, and start taking responsibility for our own sins and repenting. In doing so, we will experience God's blessings.   

In the Bible, there are several examples of people who took responsibility for their sins and were comforted, as well as those who didn't repent and faced consequences. Consider these notable Old Testament figures: King Saul and King David. Saul was a typical example of someone from a humble background who rose to the throne of Israel and became a King.

Although he achieved significant victories for the Israelites, he was unable to conquer his inner enemies, such as anger, jealousy, fear, and revenge, nor did he repent for his own sins. Ultimately, he was rejected as king and took his own life amid a war against the Philistines. (I Sam 9-31). On the other hand, David also started humbly and, through God's providence, rose to become king of Israel at age 30, succeeding Saul. He ruled over Israel and Judah for 33 years. (II Sam 5:4-5). Still, he also struggled with his own sins, especially with Bathsheba.

When Prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah, David repented of his sin. Instead of passing the blame, he took responsibility for his own actions, saying, "I have sinned against the Lord." (II Samuel 11-12). He lamented over his sin as he wrote a Psalm, begging for God's mercy and forgiveness. Psalm 51:1-12

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

David's mourning and repentant heart earned him the reputation of being a man after God's own heart. Acts 13:22. What sins are you hiding? David knew fully well that he could not hide, so he said, "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you." Psalm 69:5

Psalm 32:3-5, "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Pro 28:13, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Could you hide your sins from God? He knows and sees them fully well. Therefore, before you face consequences, you mourn, repent, and plead for God's mercy. "Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation, leaving no regret." II Corinthians 7:10

 We struggle greatly when we live with unconfessed and unrepentant sins, but through mourning and repentance, we will be blessed. The blessedness we experience is the salvation of our souls, the joy, healing, and health that come with that. This Beatitude doesn't stop at seeking our personal salvation; it also includes mourning for others through intense intercession.

II. Mourning and Interceding for the Salvation of Others.

            The scriptures have many examples of people who mourned and interceded for the salvation of others. From the beginning, God has been greatly concerned about humanity's sins. The Lord was grieved in his heart when he saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth. Gen 6:6-9. He decided to wipe out all of them, but he found one righteous man, Noah, and through him, He not only saved the creation but also the human race.

            Abraham pleaded before God for the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen 18:16-19. Jesus, in his high priestly prayer, prayed not only for himself and his own disciples, but also for the unsaved people in the World. John 17. He left us this mission to intercede for others' salvation.

            I Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

The scriptures tell us we are to have the attitude of Christ. As the first two beatitudes call us, let's empty ourselves to be filled up by God. Let's mourn not only our own sins but also the sins of others, so that we will be comforted and the world will be a better place.

 

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[1] https://www.addictionresource.net/substance-abuse-in-families/parental-drug-use/ 5-8-2026

Spiritual Zeros Enter God's Kingdom

                                                       "Spiritual Zeros" Enter God's Kingdom

Words From The Mountain

In 1972, a young Egyptian businessman named Farahat lost an $11,000 watch. He was shocked when a garbage man dressed in dirty rags found it and returned it to him. Farahat asked him why he didn't just keep the watch. The garbage man said, "My Christ told me to be honest until death." Farahat later told a reporter, "I didn't know Christ at the time, but I told [the garbage man] that I saw Christ in him. I told [him], 'Because of what you have done and your great example, I will worship the Christ you are worshiping.'"

Farahat studied the Bible and deepened his faith. Two years later, he visited the village outside Cairo where the garbage man lived, home to between 15,000 and 30,000 people living in poverty and filth. There was no electricity or running water. Farahat found himself reflecting on the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Soon afterward, Farahat and his wife began ministering to people's spiritual and material needs. They preached the gospel throughout Egypt, and thousands of people turned to Christ.

In 1978, Farahat was ordained by the Coptic Orthodox Church and became known as Father Sama'an. Today, about 10,000 believers gather in a large cave outside the garbage village. It is the largest Church of believers in the Middle East. In May 2005, a day of prayer was held for Muslims to turn to Christ. Over 20,000 Arab Christians attended. The event was also broadcast on a Christian satellite TV network, reaching millions."[1]

All of this happened because one humble garbage man chose to do the right thing: returning a watch that could have made him the richest man in town. That act led Farahat to Christ, who was later inspired by the Sermon on the Mount and guided many to follow Christ. We are starting a new sermon series called "Words from the Mountain." Let's explore how these powerful words of Jesus from the Mountain will transform our lives. Matthew 4:23-5:1-4

I. Introduction to the Words From The Mountain (Sermon On The Mount)

The words from the Mountain are the Words of Jesus Christ from His very first Sermon, which is popularly known as "The Sermon on the Mount, which is more than the Beatitudes.

"Sermon on the Mount, along with the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, the Lord's Prayer, and a few other Biblical passages, are acknowledged by almost everyone to be among the highest expressions of religious insight and moral inspiration."[2] Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation of India, was inspired by it. For he said: "Sermon on the Mount went straight to my heart. It left a deep impression on my mind when I read it." What really impressed Gandhi in the Sermon was Jesus' teaching: 'Resist not evil.' So he often quoted from Matt 5:39."[3]

Unfortunately, some Christians argue about these very teachings of Christ, saying that they were only meant for the twelve disciples and not for everyone. Some say they are outdated, ridiculous, and no longer relevant, and yet others say they are too difficult to follow. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who wrote an entire book on the Sermon on the Mount, has this to say:

"Clearly our Lord was preaching to these men (the twelve disciples), and telling them what they were to do in this world, not only while He was here, but after He had gone. It was preached to people who were meant to practice it at that time and ever afterward." There is nothing, therefore, so dangerous as to say that the Sermon on the Mount has nothing to do with modern Christians. Indeed, I will put it like this: It is meant for all Christian people. It is a perfect picture of the life of the Kingdom of God."[4]

This was what Lloyd Jones further envisioned: "If only every Christian in the Church today were living the Sermon on the Mount, the great revival for which we are praying and longing would already have started. Amazing and astounding things would happen; the world would be shocked, and men and women would be drawn and attracted to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."[5] Keeping that in the background, let's explore the Eight Beautitudes that instruct us on how to live our Christian faith in a highly secular and polarized world. Today, we will look  at the first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

 

II. Spiritual Zeros Enter God's Kingdom.

After overcoming the temptations in the Galilean wilderness, Jesus began preaching about the Kingdom of God throughout the region. He demonstrated the Kingdom's power by healing people of all sicknesses and pain, and delivering them from demonic oppression.

Great crowds that were touched by God's power followed Him, along with His disciples.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain to bring his disciples and the people one step closer to following Him, so he delivered this life-changing, counter-cultural message. Vs. 3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." What does it mean to be poor in spirit, and why does being poor in spirit qualify us for the Kingdom of heaven?

Dallas Willard coined a contemporary term for the poor in spirit: "spiritual zeros," people with no spiritual qualifications or abilities at all. You would never call on them when "spiritual work" is to be done. There is nothing about them to suggest that the breath of God move through their lives. They have no charisma, no religious glitter or clout."[6]

Being blessed in this verse doesn't amount to material wealth or success. The word for "Blessed" in Greek means to be characterized by the quality of God. Someone is blessed when he is indwelt or filled by God and his nature. He is the one who has God's Kingdom within him.

With this very first Beatitude, Jesus set a standard for anyone to enter into God's Kingdom: upon this blessedness, follow the rest of the blessings. According to Lloyd Jones, being poor in spirit means emptying of one's "self, ego, and pride." It is a complete absence of pride, self-assurance, and self-reliance."[7]  

Our Lord showed us how this emmptying of oneself would look like in Ephesians 2: 5-7, "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

When we empty ourselves, we become spiritual zeroes, receiving God's Kingdom and His dwelling in our hearts. It is like you can not fill a glass that is already full; it has to be emptied first to be filled again.

Similarly, God will not fill someone full of themselves with his presence. We cannot enter God's Kingdom through our good works. When we come to the end of ourselves and reach the point of emptiness in our self-efforts, we become prime candidates for God's assuring presence and will enter into God's eternal Kingdom. Poor in spirit are those who recognize that there is nothing in them that saves them from their sin except Christ alone and His grace alone.

 When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior, God fully empties our sinful hearts, makes us a new creation, and treats us as if we had never sinned. At that very moment, if we had died, we would have gone straight into his presence and to live with Him in heaven forever. For most of us, that has not been the case; we have continued living, so God also continues this process of emptying our hearts until we are fully full of Him and look like Him.

Spiritual zeros are the primary recipients of God's Kingdom. We see many of them in the scriptures, church history, in today’s world, and even here at Hope Church. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, often overlooked so-called spiritual heroes and spent time with spiritual zeros. 

It was not often the scripturally learned Pharisees, Sadducees, the teachers of the law, who responded to his call to repent, but the tax collectors, the dejected, the prostitutes, the lepers etc repented and entered into God's Kingdom. Jesus was called the friend of sinners (spiritual zeros). Here is Jesus' verdict on those who hear the gospel, time and again, yet do not repent.

Matt 21:31-32, Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." Are you a so-called proud spiritual hero or a humble spiritual zero? Whatever you are, there is Hope!

 

 

 

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[1] Joel C. Rosenberg, Epicenter, Tyndale House Publishers (2006), p. 206

[2] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy,  Page 98.

[3] https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/mahatma-gandhi-and-sermon-on-the-mount.php

[4] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Pages: 10,11

[5] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Page 23

[6] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, Pages 100-101

[7] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Page 40

The Lust Of The Eyes & Pride Of Life

                                           THE LUST OF THE EYES & PRIDE OF LIFE

Dress Temptation

Struggling to make ends meet on a limited salary, a Christian husband was furious when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. "How could you do this?!" "I was outside the store looking at the dress in the window, and then I found myself trying it on," she explained. "It was like Satan was whispering in my ear, 'You look fabulous in that dress. Buy it!'" "Well," the husband replied, "You know how I deal with that kind of temptation. I say, 'Get behind me, Satan!'" "I did," replied his wife, "but then he said, 'It looks fabulous from back here, too!'" We all need to learn how to resist the subtle temptations that come our way.

We began exploring the three BIG temptations that Jesus overcame before He began His public ministry, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. We learned how Satan tempts us through legitimate needs. Today, we will examine "The Lust of the Eyes and Pride of Life, as the apostle John called them in 1 John 2:15-17. What do Jesus' temptations mean? The three temptations by Satan were not the only ones. We see in Luke 4:2 that the Devil tempted Him for forty days.

I. Jesus Made Fully Human

Some Bible scholars suggest that the temptations Jesus faced fall into three main categories of human temptation. Not much is written about Him from the age of 12 until He began His ministry. As a young Jewish boy, he may have helped in Joseph's carpentry workshop.

He might have graduated from a local rabbinical college, earning him the title of a Rabbi.

Like many young people, He may have struggled with youthful temptations. Paul, writing to the Hebrews, highlights Jesus' humanity. Hebrews 2:17-18, "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Let's see how Jesus overcame the two most common temptations we face.

II. Pride of Life: Wanting to Appear Important (Matthew 4:5-7)

Matthew 4:5-7, "Then the Devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "It is also written:

'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." The scene has changed from the wilderness to the holy City of Jerusalem. The Devil took him to the highest point of the Pinnacle of the temple and said, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down." Why did the Devil take Jesus to the Pinnacle of the temple and suggest that he throw himself down? I suggest a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the temple's prime location. The Pinnacle of the temple was probably a roof with a portico at the southeast corner of the temple complex, where a massive retaining wall reached a level well above the temple mount deep into the Kidron valley. The Jewish historian Josephus notes it was a drop of 450 feet. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12, tempting Jesus, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This was God's promise of angelic protection against the evil one. It is not about testing God's faithfulness.

Secondly, to abort Jesus' Messianic Mission even before it began. One of the last Messianic prophecies was found in Malachi 3:1, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.

Fast forward 400 years, and the Jewish people were awaiting God's messenger to suddenly appear in the temple. Imagine this scenario: Jesus jumped off the Pinnacle, which is 450 feet high.

As he fell rapidly, God's angels carried him on their wings, and the crowds watched in shock and might have said, "Here is the Messiah we had been waiting for." Wouldn't that have been a historic moment? If Jesus had given in to his human ego and jumped off the Pinnacle instead of becoming the Messiah, he would have been instantly killed.

Jesus fully understood who He was and how He would fulfill His mission. He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, especially to the Devil, so He resisted that temptation by quoting another OT scripture from Deut 6:16, "It is also written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." What can we learn from Satan's subtle temptation that appeals to our ego and pride?

Let us humbly accept that, by nature, we are proud people. We want to appear prominent and live in the limelight of success and pompous circumstances. Seizing that inner desire, Satan tempts by appealing to our pride. An arrogant or self-important attitude often precedes a catastrophic mistake, failure, or loss of status. Many have fallen prey to the temptation of pride, ruining their lives. Regrettably, I know several Christians, including successful Christian leaders, who have given in to the temptation of pride and done foolish things; as a result, they have lost their marriages, families, ministries, and credibility. Remember, pride goes before a fall!

III. The Lust of the Eyes: (Wanting all things for yourself)

Matthew 4:8-9, "Again the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the World and their splendor. ⁹ "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." By now, the Devil has realized he couldn't tempt Jesus in the area of his identity, so he chose to tempt him in the area of his mission or work.

His mission was to save the World, and the Devil offered a shortcut by showing him all the kingdoms and their splendor in an instant. All Jesus needed to do was bow down and worship him. Gaining the World by just bowing his knee may have seemed appealing to Jesus.

Who wouldn't want an easy way to gain the World without hardship, in this case, avoiding the Cross? Jesus didn't fall for the trap. Once again, for the third time, Jesus drew the sword of the Spirit to resist the Devil, Matt 4:10, "Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.' Then the Devil left him, and the angels attended him." I like to imagine the angels might have brought Jesus some roasted beef and bread baked on hot stones!

The lust of the eyes is the sinful desire to possess what we see or to have those things that have visual appeal. The Devil tempts us using this avenue. He offers the World to us with a promise of happiness and fulfillment. Soon, we find ourselves running after material wealth at the cost of losing our faith. A media-saturated world advertises heavily to catch our eyes.

A child of God must realize that "All that glitters is not gold, and use discernment not to fall into the temptation of the lust of the eyes. Paul warns young Timothy to be careful of this enemy's trap in I Timothy 6:9-10, "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

If we believe the lies of the enemy instead of worshipping and serving God only, we mindlessly do the Devil's bidding for what He offers us in the World. We need to choose whom we shall serve: God or the Devil? You can't serve both. In all three core temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, Jesus successfully defeated the Devil's schemes as He employed God's Word as a weapon. By doing so, Jesus showed us how we, too, become overcomers. The Devil is a defeated enemy! In Christ, we are More than Conquers! By using His Word, the Sword of the Spirit, we can successfully overcome temptations. Amen