1 00:00:00,278 --> 00:00:02,667 I wanna take out to, your bible turned 2 00:00:02,667 --> 00:00:04,339 to the gospel of Matthew, 3 00:00:04,817 --> 00:00:06,967 in chapter 5, we're gonna be there in 4 00:00:06,967 --> 00:00:08,401 just a few moments. Matthew. 5 00:00:09,052 --> 00:00:11,040 Chapter 5, And this is our, 6 00:00:11,756 --> 00:00:14,221 second week in this particular series that we're 7 00:00:14,221 --> 00:00:16,630 calling the life that flourish 8 00:00:17,337 --> 00:00:18,289 You know, for years, 9 00:00:18,924 --> 00:00:21,939 Google maps has offered what they call street 10 00:00:21,939 --> 00:00:23,605 view? How many of you use street view 11 00:00:23,605 --> 00:00:25,271 on Google Maps kind of a cool thing. 12 00:00:25,683 --> 00:00:27,109 You can look at the house you grew 13 00:00:27,109 --> 00:00:29,170 up in or, you know, it's just it's 14 00:00:29,170 --> 00:00:30,676 kinda cool. We'll look at stuff like that 15 00:00:30,676 --> 00:00:34,844 in street view, stitches together, kinda, panoramic camera 16 00:00:35,061 --> 00:00:35,800 images to 17 00:00:36,256 --> 00:00:38,031 recreate a a digital fax 18 00:00:38,567 --> 00:00:40,001 effect family of the real world, 19 00:00:40,493 --> 00:00:43,031 that you can explore, right? Right from your 20 00:00:43,031 --> 00:00:44,379 your computer or your phone. 21 00:00:45,252 --> 00:00:47,394 Maybe you've even seen the Google car in 22 00:00:47,394 --> 00:00:48,132 your neighborhoods 23 00:00:48,679 --> 00:00:51,069 scoot around taking pictures are around town. 24 00:00:52,104 --> 00:00:55,585 Now, some people are discovering that if they 25 00:00:55,944 --> 00:00:58,821 scroll through the the platform long enough, and 26 00:00:58,821 --> 00:01:01,319 they use what what's called the time travel 27 00:01:01,618 --> 00:01:04,575 feature that they might just find the image, 28 00:01:05,310 --> 00:01:07,250 of a late loved 1 29 00:01:07,629 --> 00:01:08,129 captured 30 00:01:08,430 --> 00:01:10,369 by 1 of Google's cameras, 31 00:01:11,310 --> 00:01:14,914 seemingly saved in Google maps forever. I read 32 00:01:14,914 --> 00:01:17,454 an article about this people have seen, like 33 00:01:17,454 --> 00:01:21,344 somebody saw their deceased grandfather out. Power washing 34 00:01:21,344 --> 00:01:22,082 his driveway. 35 00:01:23,028 --> 00:01:25,421 Years before, and it's still there on on 36 00:01:25,421 --> 00:01:28,531 the Google Maps. 1 post from a a 37 00:01:28,531 --> 00:01:30,525 woman in the in the United Kingdom, a 38 00:01:30,525 --> 00:01:32,121 a woman by the name of Sherry Turner, 39 00:01:32,614 --> 00:01:35,242 has really struck a cord on social media. 40 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,008 After she shared her experience of vividly 41 00:01:39,861 --> 00:01:43,227 reliving a day has with her deceased mother. 42 00:01:43,787 --> 00:01:46,743 Thanks to Google Maps photo archive. 43 00:01:47,382 --> 00:01:50,188 And her post has racked up tens of 44 00:01:50,188 --> 00:01:52,648 thousands actually an out by now hundreds of 45 00:01:52,648 --> 00:01:55,743 thousands of of likes and comments. And she 46 00:01:55,743 --> 00:01:57,829 wrote this. She said, I looked at my 47 00:01:57,829 --> 00:02:00,310 mom's old house on Google Maps Street view, 48 00:02:00,790 --> 00:02:02,310 the house where I grew up. 49 00:02:03,109 --> 00:02:07,040 It says image captured May, 2009. 50 00:02:08,077 --> 00:02:10,411 There's a light on in her bedroom. 51 00:02:11,347 --> 00:02:12,863 When I look at it, it is still 52 00:02:12,863 --> 00:02:13,421 her house. 53 00:02:14,059 --> 00:02:15,096 She's still alive. 54 00:02:15,669 --> 00:02:17,982 And I envision that I'm still visiting her 55 00:02:17,982 --> 00:02:19,200 every few months 56 00:02:19,577 --> 00:02:20,295 on the train. 57 00:02:21,492 --> 00:02:23,826 I take a screen print of the house 58 00:02:23,884 --> 00:02:25,534 with the lights on because 59 00:02:25,973 --> 00:02:27,964 I know it won't last forever. And 1 60 00:02:27,964 --> 00:02:30,774 day, the Google car will go back down 61 00:02:30,911 --> 00:02:33,163 that street and replace her house 62 00:02:33,540 --> 00:02:34,575 with someone else's. 63 00:02:35,305 --> 00:02:37,130 And though there may be a light on 64 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:37,844 in the window, 65 00:02:38,479 --> 00:02:40,065 it won't be her. 66 00:02:41,494 --> 00:02:41,994 And 67 00:02:42,701 --> 00:02:46,046 thousands of people commented on that comment. 68 00:02:46,524 --> 00:02:48,834 It just really moved people, you know, and 69 00:02:48,993 --> 00:02:50,927 Google says that the the digital 70 00:02:51,636 --> 00:02:54,341 recreation of the physical world is powered by 71 00:02:54,341 --> 00:02:57,547 millions of cameras that capture all these multiple 72 00:02:57,922 --> 00:03:00,173 angles. And while helping people 73 00:03:00,642 --> 00:03:01,142 remember 74 00:03:01,836 --> 00:03:05,040 deceased family members isn't really the intended purpose 75 00:03:05,336 --> 00:03:07,896 of Google maps, a spoke spend for the 76 00:03:07,896 --> 00:03:09,431 company said it was heartwarming 77 00:03:09,886 --> 00:03:12,296 that people were using the platform 78 00:03:12,672 --> 00:03:13,468 in this way. 79 00:03:14,582 --> 00:03:14,741 Well, 80 00:03:15,395 --> 00:03:18,754 the growing trend of finding signs of lost 81 00:03:18,754 --> 00:03:20,455 what loved ones inevitably 82 00:03:20,995 --> 00:03:24,127 serves as a reminder, of course, First of 83 00:03:24,127 --> 00:03:26,433 all, that Google plays a major role in 84 00:03:26,433 --> 00:03:28,979 our culture, doesn't it from day to day. 85 00:03:29,297 --> 00:03:30,490 And well some people, 86 00:03:31,063 --> 00:03:32,760 might find it comforting 87 00:03:33,697 --> 00:03:36,251 that they can see the image of loved 88 00:03:36,251 --> 00:03:38,326 ones preserve forever digitally, 89 00:03:38,979 --> 00:03:39,798 In reality, 90 00:03:40,653 --> 00:03:41,610 as they mourn, 91 00:03:42,327 --> 00:03:46,494 they are merely grasping at a digital memory. 92 00:03:47,523 --> 00:03:49,375 But as followers of Jesus, 93 00:03:50,307 --> 00:03:52,715 it is vital that we know 94 00:03:53,169 --> 00:03:55,476 that we find comfort in the truth, 95 00:03:56,127 --> 00:03:59,069 that God has preserved not a picture, 96 00:04:00,023 --> 00:04:01,079 but the souls 97 00:04:01,533 --> 00:04:03,442 of our departed loved ones, 98 00:04:04,014 --> 00:04:05,610 who have known him. 99 00:04:06,328 --> 00:04:07,366 And that 1 day, 100 00:04:07,924 --> 00:04:10,877 a great reunion is coming. The apostle Paul 101 00:04:10,877 --> 00:04:12,750 puts it this way and first Thessalonians 102 00:04:13,050 --> 00:04:15,050 chapter 4. He says, brothers and sisters. 103 00:04:15,530 --> 00:04:17,870 We do not want you to be uninformed 104 00:04:18,329 --> 00:04:19,069 about those 105 00:04:19,463 --> 00:04:22,095 who sleep in death so that you do 106 00:04:22,095 --> 00:04:23,074 not grieve 107 00:04:23,690 --> 00:04:25,546 like the rest of mankind 108 00:04:26,242 --> 00:04:28,236 who have no hope. 109 00:04:29,206 --> 00:04:31,829 Well, today, we are continuing this series in 110 00:04:31,909 --> 00:04:34,611 Matthew chapter 5. We're in calling it the 111 00:04:34,611 --> 00:04:36,065 life that flourish. 112 00:04:36,773 --> 00:04:39,420 And it is a review of the opening 113 00:04:39,715 --> 00:04:42,896 to Jesus famous sermon on the mount. 114 00:04:43,612 --> 00:04:46,179 And although Jesus first disciples 115 00:04:46,649 --> 00:04:47,787 had left everything 116 00:04:48,404 --> 00:04:52,174 to follow him. They still had very little 117 00:04:52,312 --> 00:04:55,582 idea of what he wanted them to do. 118 00:04:56,554 --> 00:04:57,610 And so this 119 00:04:57,983 --> 00:05:01,557 introductory list in the first 12 verses of 120 00:05:01,637 --> 00:05:03,940 Matthew chapter 5, We call it the beat 121 00:05:03,940 --> 00:05:07,795 attitudes. And Jesus used this list to begin 122 00:05:07,931 --> 00:05:08,431 their 123 00:05:09,124 --> 00:05:09,363 initiation. 124 00:05:10,079 --> 00:05:10,738 And his 125 00:05:11,272 --> 00:05:14,492 description of the person whom God bless, 126 00:05:15,583 --> 00:05:16,799 it cut across 127 00:05:17,254 --> 00:05:18,072 the disciples 128 00:05:18,447 --> 00:05:19,655 natural. It's experience, 129 00:05:20,450 --> 00:05:22,756 and it cuts across our experience as well. 130 00:05:23,233 --> 00:05:25,322 We don't expect happiness 131 00:05:26,253 --> 00:05:28,025 to come from being poor 132 00:05:28,733 --> 00:05:29,869 or from grieving 133 00:05:30,801 --> 00:05:33,131 or getting caught in the in the crossfire 134 00:05:33,347 --> 00:05:35,199 of trying to make peace 135 00:05:35,988 --> 00:05:37,286 And yet, those 136 00:05:37,743 --> 00:05:39,758 who follow and obey Christ 137 00:05:40,295 --> 00:05:41,034 are more 138 00:05:41,491 --> 00:05:42,289 than happy. 139 00:05:43,007 --> 00:05:43,906 They are 140 00:05:44,442 --> 00:05:44,921 blessed. 141 00:05:45,654 --> 00:05:46,714 They are blessed 142 00:05:47,414 --> 00:05:48,694 because they have a hope, 143 00:05:49,414 --> 00:05:51,735 and they have a joy that is not 144 00:05:51,735 --> 00:05:53,435 based on feelings 145 00:05:54,388 --> 00:05:56,004 or on current circumstances. 146 00:05:57,019 --> 00:05:58,236 Following Jesus 147 00:05:58,613 --> 00:06:00,230 means living by standards 148 00:06:00,687 --> 00:06:01,187 entirely 149 00:06:01,643 --> 00:06:02,143 different 150 00:06:03,014 --> 00:06:04,615 than public opinion. 151 00:06:05,495 --> 00:06:09,514 Rather than making us popular or famous following 152 00:06:09,735 --> 00:06:10,795 Jesus, sometimes 153 00:06:11,334 --> 00:06:12,154 means facing 154 00:06:12,947 --> 00:06:13,447 opposition 155 00:06:13,824 --> 00:06:14,324 or 156 00:06:14,701 --> 00:06:15,201 misunderstanding 157 00:06:15,578 --> 00:06:17,672 and yet all of this 158 00:06:18,208 --> 00:06:19,187 makes us 159 00:06:19,723 --> 00:06:20,121 blessed. 160 00:06:21,013 --> 00:06:23,188 And so once again, I'm gonna invite you 161 00:06:23,246 --> 00:06:25,718 to read this passage together with me. We 162 00:06:25,718 --> 00:06:27,951 read it last week. Today, we're gonna read 163 00:06:27,951 --> 00:06:30,680 from a a different English translation. This is 164 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:31,740 called the contemporary 165 00:06:32,439 --> 00:06:32,939 English 166 00:06:33,399 --> 00:06:35,319 version, and each week as we read this 167 00:06:35,319 --> 00:06:37,399 passage together. We're gonna read it from a 168 00:06:37,399 --> 00:06:37,639 different... 169 00:06:38,210 --> 00:06:40,508 English translation so that we can get the 170 00:06:40,508 --> 00:06:43,519 full depth and meaning of this passage. So 171 00:06:43,519 --> 00:06:44,970 let's read this passage 172 00:06:45,359 --> 00:06:45,679 together. 173 00:06:47,116 --> 00:06:49,353 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up 174 00:06:49,353 --> 00:06:51,350 on the side of a mountain and sat 175 00:06:51,350 --> 00:06:51,850 down 176 00:06:52,403 --> 00:06:55,752 Jesus disciples gathered around him and he taught 177 00:06:55,752 --> 00:06:55,911 them. 178 00:06:56,788 --> 00:07:00,376 God bless those people who depend only on 179 00:07:00,376 --> 00:07:00,615 him. 180 00:07:01,189 --> 00:07:03,266 They belong to the kingdom of heaven. 181 00:07:04,225 --> 00:07:06,462 God bless those people who grieve. 182 00:07:07,022 --> 00:07:08,380 They will find comfort. 183 00:07:09,272 --> 00:07:11,817 God bless those people who are humble, 184 00:07:12,295 --> 00:07:14,204 the earth will belong to them. 185 00:07:15,079 --> 00:07:17,957 God bless those people who want to obey 186 00:07:17,957 --> 00:07:20,185 him more than to eat or drink. 187 00:07:20,821 --> 00:07:22,651 They will be given what they want. 188 00:07:23,863 --> 00:07:26,601 God bless those people who are mer. 189 00:07:27,220 --> 00:07:29,218 They will be treated with mercy. 190 00:07:30,017 --> 00:07:33,224 God bless those people whose heart are pure. 191 00:07:33,781 --> 00:07:35,053 They will see him. 192 00:07:35,848 --> 00:07:38,631 God bless those people who make peace. 193 00:07:39,188 --> 00:07:41,358 They will be called his children. 194 00:07:42,463 --> 00:07:45,422 God bless those people who are treated badly 195 00:07:45,557 --> 00:07:46,429 for doing right. 196 00:07:47,143 --> 00:07:49,206 They belong to the kingdom of heaven. 197 00:07:50,180 --> 00:07:52,899 God will bless you when people insult you, 198 00:07:53,139 --> 00:07:56,019 mist you and tell all kinds of evil 199 00:07:56,019 --> 00:07:58,579 lies about you because of me. 200 00:07:59,391 --> 00:08:01,217 Be happy and excited. 201 00:08:01,693 --> 00:08:03,996 You will have a great reward in heaven. 202 00:08:04,711 --> 00:08:07,355 People did these same things to the prophets 203 00:08:07,490 --> 00:08:09,339 who lived. Long ago. 204 00:08:10,139 --> 00:08:11,500 Amen, the word of God. 205 00:08:13,020 --> 00:08:13,259 Well, 206 00:08:14,379 --> 00:08:16,939 today, our focus is on that second beat 207 00:08:16,939 --> 00:08:17,180 attitude. 208 00:08:17,993 --> 00:08:21,520 Or beautiful saying as we've called it. Blessed 209 00:08:21,657 --> 00:08:23,410 are those who mourn? 210 00:08:24,366 --> 00:08:26,699 For they shall be comforted. 211 00:08:27,328 --> 00:08:29,468 Now we were reminded last week that that 212 00:08:29,468 --> 00:08:33,614 word blessed in scripture means more than happy 213 00:08:34,303 --> 00:08:38,394 because happiness is an emotion that's often dependent 214 00:08:38,394 --> 00:08:39,615 on outward circumstances, 215 00:08:40,554 --> 00:08:42,794 blessed as it's used here in Matthew 5, 216 00:08:43,529 --> 00:08:46,490 refers to the ultimate well being, 217 00:08:46,970 --> 00:08:47,950 the distinctive 218 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:49,850 spiritual joy, 219 00:08:50,503 --> 00:08:54,593 of those people who share in the salvation 220 00:08:54,651 --> 00:08:56,565 of the kingdom of god. 221 00:08:57,124 --> 00:08:59,516 And much like the first beat attitude, 222 00:09:00,249 --> 00:09:02,477 when we read it, it seems perhaps that 223 00:09:02,636 --> 00:09:05,183 Jesus has something backward here. 224 00:09:06,059 --> 00:09:08,777 Who wants to mourn? When Right? I mean, 225 00:09:09,254 --> 00:09:11,476 I don't wanna mourn. I wanna be happy. 226 00:09:12,032 --> 00:09:12,849 And strangely, 227 00:09:13,460 --> 00:09:16,739 Jesus says that these 2 terms are 228 00:09:17,207 --> 00:09:18,003 inter related, 229 00:09:18,481 --> 00:09:21,130 Blessed, of course, really means joyful. 230 00:09:21,585 --> 00:09:23,894 So joyful are those who mourn, how does 231 00:09:23,894 --> 00:09:24,610 that make sense? 232 00:09:25,424 --> 00:09:28,004 Well, in order to respond to what Jesus 233 00:09:28,304 --> 00:09:31,764 means here, we need to understand 3 truths 234 00:09:32,464 --> 00:09:33,519 about morning. 235 00:09:34,158 --> 00:09:36,156 I wanna look at those this morning with 236 00:09:36,156 --> 00:09:38,074 you. If you have your outline, you can 237 00:09:38,074 --> 00:09:39,672 pull that out of your program if you're 238 00:09:39,672 --> 00:09:42,010 a note taking person and follow along 239 00:09:42,403 --> 00:09:44,419 The first thing that we want to notice 240 00:09:44,716 --> 00:09:46,413 is that all morning 241 00:09:47,109 --> 00:09:50,082 is inevitable. Morning is inevitable. 242 00:09:50,938 --> 00:09:53,821 Now nobody likes the experience of mourning or 243 00:09:53,821 --> 00:09:54,457 of grief, 244 00:09:55,174 --> 00:09:56,607 but sooner or later, 245 00:09:57,323 --> 00:09:57,823 everyone 246 00:09:58,199 --> 00:09:59,791 must pass through it. 247 00:10:00,602 --> 00:10:03,074 And if you've been fooled into thinking that 248 00:10:03,154 --> 00:10:04,669 I shouldn't have to mourn, 249 00:10:05,307 --> 00:10:07,162 I want you to know that that fool 250 00:10:07,380 --> 00:10:10,819 that fooling, that lie, comes from Satan himself. 251 00:10:11,694 --> 00:10:15,035 By declaring a blessing on those who mourn, 252 00:10:15,513 --> 00:10:16,013 Jesus 253 00:10:16,804 --> 00:10:20,485 indicates that grief is a normal part of 254 00:10:20,485 --> 00:10:22,985 the Christian experience. It is 255 00:10:23,445 --> 00:10:23,945 universal. 256 00:10:24,497 --> 00:10:27,674 It makes no distinction between race or creed 257 00:10:27,674 --> 00:10:30,533 or color, grief touches young and old, rich 258 00:10:30,533 --> 00:10:32,201 and poor, male and female, 259 00:10:32,774 --> 00:10:34,233 no 1 is exempt 260 00:10:34,772 --> 00:10:36,530 from morning and grief. 261 00:10:37,888 --> 00:10:38,948 Everybody grieve 262 00:10:39,726 --> 00:10:40,226 because 263 00:10:40,605 --> 00:10:43,191 everybody at some point experiences 264 00:10:44,123 --> 00:10:44,520 loss. 265 00:10:45,793 --> 00:10:47,566 Now, there is a popularized 266 00:10:48,339 --> 00:10:49,714 version of Christianity 267 00:10:50,184 --> 00:10:53,472 that gives the impression that faith in Christ 268 00:10:53,768 --> 00:10:57,353 exempt us from this kind of suffering that 269 00:10:57,353 --> 00:11:00,715 we should instead only experience prosperity and health 270 00:11:00,715 --> 00:11:02,389 and happiness all the time. 271 00:11:03,186 --> 00:11:04,940 And I wanna give you an example of 272 00:11:04,940 --> 00:11:07,432 that kind of thinking and how it's perpetuated, 273 00:11:07,904 --> 00:11:09,582 And I want you to understand that it's 274 00:11:09,582 --> 00:11:10,881 not just perpetuated 275 00:11:11,260 --> 00:11:14,136 by modern day preacher and authors as we 276 00:11:14,136 --> 00:11:16,709 might think. This... Kind of thinking has been 277 00:11:16,709 --> 00:11:18,309 around a long time. 278 00:11:19,029 --> 00:11:20,709 Some of you are familiar with the old 279 00:11:20,789 --> 00:11:22,709 Him, trust and obey, 280 00:11:23,444 --> 00:11:26,556 and in that him is this particular stan 281 00:11:27,354 --> 00:11:29,029 not a shadow can rise, 282 00:11:29,508 --> 00:11:31,679 not a cloud in the skies, but his 283 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:32,740 smile quickly 284 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:35,519 drives it away, not a doubt nor a 285 00:11:35,519 --> 00:11:38,399 fear. Not a sigh nor a tear can 286 00:11:38,399 --> 00:11:38,899 abide 287 00:11:39,374 --> 00:11:40,671 while we trust 288 00:11:41,447 --> 00:11:42,245 and obey. 289 00:11:43,362 --> 00:11:45,356 Now that is a great sentiment. 290 00:11:46,153 --> 00:11:48,966 And there is some truth weave into that 291 00:11:49,518 --> 00:11:50,257 and yet 292 00:11:50,872 --> 00:11:55,596 even the strongest of believers will face difficult 293 00:11:55,813 --> 00:11:56,313 times. 294 00:11:57,259 --> 00:11:58,553 And dark shadows. 295 00:11:59,322 --> 00:12:02,417 In fact, our journey to eternity and complete 296 00:12:02,417 --> 00:12:04,876 joy is at times a trail, 297 00:12:05,288 --> 00:12:06,163 of tears. 298 00:12:06,879 --> 00:12:09,288 Some of you could attest to that, winding 299 00:12:09,504 --> 00:12:11,197 through the valley of shadows 300 00:12:12,543 --> 00:12:13,043 but 301 00:12:13,897 --> 00:12:14,397 only 302 00:12:15,092 --> 00:12:15,888 for a time. 303 00:12:17,322 --> 00:12:20,270 We can find a more balanced view in 304 00:12:20,270 --> 00:12:21,305 another old him. 305 00:12:22,037 --> 00:12:24,026 That I wanna share a stan with, which 306 00:12:24,026 --> 00:12:27,288 begins like this day by day and with 307 00:12:27,288 --> 00:12:30,175 each passing moment strength I find 308 00:12:30,724 --> 00:12:32,312 to meet my trials here. 309 00:12:33,266 --> 00:12:36,205 Trusting in my father's wise stoma. 310 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,850 I no cause for worry 311 00:12:39,875 --> 00:12:40,750 or for fear. 312 00:12:41,624 --> 00:12:44,749 He whose heart is kind beyond all measure 313 00:12:45,044 --> 00:12:48,861 gives unto each day what he deem best. 314 00:12:49,752 --> 00:12:50,252 Lovingly, 315 00:12:51,186 --> 00:12:52,642 it's part of pain 316 00:12:53,417 --> 00:12:54,214 or pleasure, 317 00:12:55,090 --> 00:12:56,365 ming toil, 318 00:12:57,174 --> 00:12:57,992 with peace 319 00:12:58,922 --> 00:12:59,558 and rest. 320 00:13:00,909 --> 00:13:02,657 I hope that you see a perhaps more 321 00:13:02,657 --> 00:13:03,157 balanced 322 00:13:03,928 --> 00:13:05,174 viewpoint in that 323 00:13:05,533 --> 00:13:07,687 verse of that him. And yet, 324 00:13:08,804 --> 00:13:11,117 I think I like these second words less. 325 00:13:12,153 --> 00:13:14,786 You know, the motion of seasons of mourning 326 00:13:14,786 --> 00:13:15,159 or of 327 00:13:16,072 --> 00:13:16,572 inevitable 328 00:13:17,103 --> 00:13:17,603 hardship. 329 00:13:17,976 --> 00:13:19,563 That's not very appealing. Is it? 330 00:13:20,753 --> 00:13:25,001 But Jesus own words in are even more 331 00:13:25,298 --> 00:13:27,928 disturbing, blessed are those who mourn? 332 00:13:29,283 --> 00:13:31,058 What is he possibly thinking? 333 00:13:31,927 --> 00:13:35,194 However, if we discover Jesus words carefully, 334 00:13:35,592 --> 00:13:38,243 it becomes clear that the blessing 335 00:13:38,779 --> 00:13:40,554 is not in the morning, 336 00:13:41,502 --> 00:13:43,731 but in something else. 337 00:13:44,924 --> 00:13:47,016 Are those who mourn blessed 338 00:13:47,471 --> 00:13:48,665 because they enjoy grief? 339 00:13:49,396 --> 00:13:49,714 No. 340 00:13:50,669 --> 00:13:53,692 Blessed are those who mourn for they shall 341 00:13:53,692 --> 00:13:54,431 be comforted. 342 00:13:55,125 --> 00:13:58,331 Like that first be attitude. The blessing does 343 00:13:58,331 --> 00:14:02,166 not reside in the experience of mourning or 344 00:14:02,166 --> 00:14:02,565 grief, 345 00:14:03,219 --> 00:14:06,485 but instead in the result that comes from 346 00:14:06,485 --> 00:14:06,724 it. 347 00:14:07,362 --> 00:14:10,491 And that's an important distinction for us to 348 00:14:10,628 --> 00:14:14,153 understand. The blessing that comes, with mourning is 349 00:14:14,153 --> 00:14:14,972 the blessing 350 00:14:15,351 --> 00:14:17,049 of being comforted. 351 00:14:18,626 --> 00:14:20,952 I I read a a story about a 352 00:14:21,032 --> 00:14:21,532 European 353 00:14:22,065 --> 00:14:23,178 seminary professor. 354 00:14:24,052 --> 00:14:26,699 A man who was responsible for raising up 355 00:14:26,994 --> 00:14:29,722 generations of pastors and teachers. His name was 356 00:14:29,882 --> 00:14:30,282 Hans, 357 00:14:31,321 --> 00:14:34,139 and his wife of many years, en 358 00:14:34,837 --> 00:14:35,956 passed away suddenly, 359 00:14:36,596 --> 00:14:37,096 unexpectedly. 360 00:14:38,602 --> 00:14:42,360 And doctor Hans was so overcome with sorrow 361 00:14:42,972 --> 00:14:44,561 that he lost his appetite. 362 00:14:45,687 --> 00:14:47,672 He wouldn't even leave his house, 363 00:14:49,815 --> 00:14:52,990 concern for him, the seminary president paid Horns 364 00:14:52,990 --> 00:14:53,545 of visit. 365 00:14:54,277 --> 00:14:56,350 Along with 3 other colleagues. 366 00:14:57,386 --> 00:15:01,372 And the grieving professor confessed to his colleagues 367 00:15:01,372 --> 00:15:03,768 that he was struggling with doubt. He said, 368 00:15:04,164 --> 00:15:06,779 I am no longer able to pray to 369 00:15:06,779 --> 00:15:07,096 god. 370 00:15:08,602 --> 00:15:11,425 He admitted, In fact, I am not even 371 00:15:11,483 --> 00:15:13,637 certain that I believe in God anymore. 372 00:15:15,312 --> 00:15:17,146 Well, after a few moments of silence, 373 00:15:17,864 --> 00:15:19,321 the seminary professor 374 00:15:19,792 --> 00:15:21,383 president spoke. Could he said, 375 00:15:22,099 --> 00:15:22,736 then Hans, 376 00:15:23,611 --> 00:15:25,758 we will believe for you? 377 00:15:27,047 --> 00:15:28,662 And we will pray 378 00:15:29,038 --> 00:15:29,595 for you. 379 00:15:31,108 --> 00:15:34,554 And so the president and those 3 colleagues 380 00:15:34,771 --> 00:15:36,853 met every day for prayer. 381 00:15:37,806 --> 00:15:39,236 They prayed for Hans, 382 00:15:39,713 --> 00:15:43,630 day in day out, asking God to restore 383 00:15:44,099 --> 00:15:45,395 the gift of faith 384 00:15:46,010 --> 00:15:47,785 to their friend and colleague. 385 00:15:49,196 --> 00:15:50,471 Some months later, 386 00:15:51,347 --> 00:15:52,223 the 4 friends, 387 00:15:53,354 --> 00:15:54,471 visited Hans again. 388 00:15:55,509 --> 00:15:58,303 They gathered for prayer with hans, 389 00:15:59,181 --> 00:16:00,777 but he held up his hand and he 390 00:16:00,777 --> 00:16:01,735 smiled, and he said, 391 00:16:02,627 --> 00:16:03,685 It is no longer 392 00:16:04,061 --> 00:16:05,894 necessary for you to pray for me. 393 00:16:07,169 --> 00:16:07,568 Today, 394 00:16:08,365 --> 00:16:09,582 I would like you 395 00:16:10,211 --> 00:16:11,029 to pray 396 00:16:11,482 --> 00:16:12,117 with me. 397 00:16:13,467 --> 00:16:15,055 You see the difference there? Do you see 398 00:16:15,055 --> 00:16:17,381 the distinction? You see comfort 399 00:16:17,993 --> 00:16:18,811 is something 400 00:16:19,359 --> 00:16:21,510 that we give to others, 401 00:16:22,546 --> 00:16:25,517 or it is something that we receive 402 00:16:25,894 --> 00:16:28,854 from someone else it is not something that 403 00:16:28,854 --> 00:16:30,706 we do for ourselves 404 00:16:32,433 --> 00:16:33,706 with the blinds pulled. 405 00:16:35,473 --> 00:16:35,973 Hiding 406 00:16:36,429 --> 00:16:37,943 from the world around us. 407 00:16:38,660 --> 00:16:41,688 And this is especially true of the kind 408 00:16:41,688 --> 00:16:44,332 of mourning. I think that Jesus has in 409 00:16:44,332 --> 00:16:46,587 mind here. This is a 410 00:16:46,965 --> 00:16:50,097 special kind of mourning. And so this leads 411 00:16:50,155 --> 00:16:52,968 to our second truth. If morning is inevitable, 412 00:16:53,918 --> 00:16:55,215 It is also 413 00:16:56,627 --> 00:16:56,866 spiritual. 414 00:16:57,504 --> 00:16:58,004 Mourning 415 00:16:58,380 --> 00:17:02,524 is spiritual. Jesus promises a blessing to those 416 00:17:02,524 --> 00:17:05,968 who mourn because This kind of morning is 417 00:17:05,968 --> 00:17:06,468 deeply 418 00:17:07,644 --> 00:17:09,021 spiritual. It's part of our 419 00:17:09,479 --> 00:17:10,458 spiritual existence. 420 00:17:11,567 --> 00:17:14,927 Now, while someone's death is certainly the most 421 00:17:15,062 --> 00:17:17,922 obvious case for mourning for grief, 422 00:17:18,637 --> 00:17:20,861 it certainly isn't the only cause isn't it. 423 00:17:21,669 --> 00:17:23,887 We can think of lots of examples of 424 00:17:23,887 --> 00:17:25,655 reasons why we won't 425 00:17:26,106 --> 00:17:27,611 why we might mourn. 426 00:17:28,979 --> 00:17:29,218 We, 427 00:17:30,257 --> 00:17:32,574 by the way often grieve, not just over 428 00:17:32,574 --> 00:17:35,210 those that have passed, but over the living, 429 00:17:36,257 --> 00:17:39,195 The apostle Paul writes about this kind of 430 00:17:39,195 --> 00:17:42,529 grief in second Corinthians chapter 12. When he 431 00:17:42,529 --> 00:17:45,664 says, to the Corinthians church writes, I fear 432 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:48,101 that when I come again, my god may 433 00:17:48,101 --> 00:17:50,880 humble me before you, and I might have 434 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:51,698 to mourn 435 00:17:52,484 --> 00:17:55,694 over many of those who send earlier 436 00:17:56,151 --> 00:17:58,086 and have not repent. 437 00:17:59,579 --> 00:18:00,557 You know, sometimes 438 00:18:01,108 --> 00:18:03,516 We grieve over the sinful 439 00:18:03,890 --> 00:18:05,241 actions of others. 440 00:18:06,275 --> 00:18:08,580 Perhaps there are sinful actions that have been 441 00:18:08,580 --> 00:18:09,080 per 442 00:18:09,614 --> 00:18:12,101 against us. And so we mourn and we 443 00:18:12,101 --> 00:18:12,500 grieve. 444 00:18:13,857 --> 00:18:17,848 Perhaps, we we observe others making sinful choices 445 00:18:17,848 --> 00:18:19,626 and decisions. And 446 00:18:19,937 --> 00:18:22,655 we mourn. If you're a parent, you probably 447 00:18:22,789 --> 00:18:24,557 know how Paul felt 448 00:18:25,245 --> 00:18:26,538 toward the corinthians. 449 00:18:27,163 --> 00:18:29,867 His sentiment is certainly a parental in nature. 450 00:18:30,265 --> 00:18:32,970 Paul had written the church, promising to visit, 451 00:18:33,049 --> 00:18:35,368 but he had been he'd been delayed for 452 00:18:35,368 --> 00:18:37,273 for a number of reasons. And in the 453 00:18:37,273 --> 00:18:40,869 meantime, word had reached him that serious problems 454 00:18:41,003 --> 00:18:43,403 had arise in the Corinthians church. 1 of 455 00:18:43,403 --> 00:18:46,776 the church's members was heavily involved in sin 456 00:18:46,834 --> 00:18:48,691 and was completely un 457 00:18:49,148 --> 00:18:51,637 about it. And even worse, the rest of 458 00:18:51,637 --> 00:18:53,095 the church seemed proud 459 00:18:53,633 --> 00:18:55,788 of this person's particular attitude. 460 00:18:56,986 --> 00:18:58,444 And so in first corinthians, 461 00:18:58,902 --> 00:19:01,707 chapter 5, in Paul's first letter to them. 462 00:19:02,105 --> 00:19:04,256 He writes this. He says it is actually 463 00:19:04,256 --> 00:19:06,965 reported that there's sexual immoral morality among you. 464 00:19:07,124 --> 00:19:09,196 And a kind that does not even occur 465 00:19:09,196 --> 00:19:10,244 among the pagans. 466 00:19:10,879 --> 00:19:12,729 A man has his father's wife 467 00:19:13,102 --> 00:19:14,135 and you are proud. 468 00:19:15,247 --> 00:19:17,525 Shouldn't you rather have been filled with the 469 00:19:17,882 --> 00:19:18,382 grief 470 00:19:18,995 --> 00:19:21,379 and have put out of your fellowship, the 471 00:19:21,379 --> 00:19:22,651 man who did this. 472 00:19:23,684 --> 00:19:25,751 And so what Paul has to say to 473 00:19:25,751 --> 00:19:26,490 the Corinthians 474 00:19:26,959 --> 00:19:28,734 church seems a bit harsh 475 00:19:29,271 --> 00:19:31,982 to our modern ear, put him out of 476 00:19:31,982 --> 00:19:33,018 the church, really? 477 00:19:33,736 --> 00:19:35,171 Where's the grace in that? 478 00:19:36,144 --> 00:19:38,301 Isn't Paul supposed to be the apostle of 479 00:19:38,301 --> 00:19:40,698 grace? He talks about, he writes about grace, 480 00:19:41,018 --> 00:19:43,335 more than anyone else in the scriptures? 481 00:19:43,830 --> 00:19:45,190 And so we might ask is isn't this 482 00:19:45,190 --> 00:19:46,490 a little inconsistent. 483 00:19:47,509 --> 00:19:49,529 It's worth comparing paul's 484 00:19:49,830 --> 00:19:52,230 command to put this man out of the 485 00:19:52,230 --> 00:19:54,721 church, with something he said in his letter 486 00:19:54,721 --> 00:19:55,840 to the Galatians church, 487 00:19:56,639 --> 00:19:59,036 letter that is just drenched with the theology 488 00:19:59,036 --> 00:20:01,357 of grace, and then chapter 6 of galatians, 489 00:20:01,754 --> 00:20:04,610 Paul commands this. He says, brothers, if someone 490 00:20:04,610 --> 00:20:05,959 is caught in a sin, 491 00:20:06,673 --> 00:20:10,765 you who are spiritual, should restore him gently, 492 00:20:11,937 --> 00:20:13,233 but watch yourselves 493 00:20:13,609 --> 00:20:15,838 or you also may be tempted. 494 00:20:17,286 --> 00:20:18,640 And so what do you do when someone 495 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:19,756 is caught in sand. 496 00:20:20,791 --> 00:20:21,291 You 497 00:20:21,747 --> 00:20:22,725 restore them 498 00:20:23,181 --> 00:20:25,704 in the original language this term means to 499 00:20:26,221 --> 00:20:28,471 returned something to its former 500 00:20:29,322 --> 00:20:29,561 condition. 501 00:20:30,912 --> 00:20:33,457 Originally, the word was used to speak of 502 00:20:33,457 --> 00:20:35,126 setting a broken bone. 503 00:20:36,018 --> 00:20:38,251 That gives you a picture. That background helps 504 00:20:38,251 --> 00:20:41,760 us understand Paul's thinking about this kind of 505 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:44,711 discipline that he commanded the cor church to 506 00:20:44,711 --> 00:20:45,110 practice. 507 00:20:45,603 --> 00:20:47,910 The action that he wants them to take 508 00:20:47,910 --> 00:20:48,728 is rest 509 00:20:50,456 --> 00:20:51,751 rather than punitive. 510 00:20:53,015 --> 00:20:55,875 The long term goal is not to put 511 00:20:55,875 --> 00:20:56,749 the man out, 512 00:20:57,384 --> 00:21:00,665 but to restore him to his former 513 00:21:01,769 --> 00:21:03,755 condition of blessed ness, 514 00:21:04,946 --> 00:21:06,138 but that can't happen. 515 00:21:06,773 --> 00:21:08,839 If the people around him his brothers and 516 00:21:08,839 --> 00:21:09,339 sisters 517 00:21:09,727 --> 00:21:10,863 are not mourning, 518 00:21:11,474 --> 00:21:11,974 grieving 519 00:21:12,427 --> 00:21:13,936 over his sin. 520 00:21:14,809 --> 00:21:16,715 Now for the most part, we don't go 521 00:21:16,715 --> 00:21:18,803 as far as the Corinthians did 522 00:21:19,274 --> 00:21:22,070 boasting about sinner in the church, proud of 523 00:21:22,070 --> 00:21:22,310 it. 524 00:21:23,349 --> 00:21:24,547 What do we do instead? 525 00:21:25,346 --> 00:21:26,625 Well, most often we're... 526 00:21:27,198 --> 00:21:28,233 Silent about it. 527 00:21:28,951 --> 00:21:32,239 We consider such things a matter of personal 528 00:21:32,376 --> 00:21:32,876 conscience. 529 00:21:34,143 --> 00:21:36,450 Have you ever wondered why it's so hard 530 00:21:36,450 --> 00:21:39,393 for us to hold 1 another accountable for 531 00:21:39,393 --> 00:21:40,109 our sins? 532 00:21:41,158 --> 00:21:44,041 Well, 1 reason is we are afraid of 533 00:21:44,097 --> 00:21:44,597 disrupting 534 00:21:45,686 --> 00:21:46,004 relationships. 535 00:21:47,195 --> 00:21:49,991 The tragedy, though of this is that, the 536 00:21:49,991 --> 00:21:52,638 presence of sin has already 537 00:21:53,331 --> 00:21:54,546 introduced a serious 538 00:21:55,239 --> 00:21:55,739 disruption 539 00:21:56,432 --> 00:21:57,227 into our midst, 540 00:21:58,039 --> 00:21:59,819 and ignoring its presence 541 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:02,359 only makes things worse. 542 00:22:03,559 --> 00:22:05,900 But there's a a more subtle, more personal 543 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:08,307 reason, why we don't want to deal 544 00:22:08,683 --> 00:22:10,911 with sin within the body of Christ. 545 00:22:11,627 --> 00:22:14,015 And I think it's related to what Jesus 546 00:22:14,015 --> 00:22:16,338 says in this second be added. To. 547 00:22:17,213 --> 00:22:18,350 We ignore 548 00:22:18,964 --> 00:22:21,375 or minimize the sin of others 549 00:22:22,705 --> 00:22:25,593 because we've never really learned to mourn 550 00:22:27,173 --> 00:22:28,285 for our own sin. 551 00:22:30,269 --> 00:22:32,253 I should also point out that the opposite 552 00:22:32,253 --> 00:22:32,967 can be true. 553 00:22:33,617 --> 00:22:34,117 Failure 554 00:22:34,490 --> 00:22:37,902 to honestly deal with our own sin can 555 00:22:37,902 --> 00:22:39,116 make us judgmental 556 00:22:39,648 --> 00:22:40,362 and mean, 557 00:22:40,854 --> 00:22:42,924 when dealing with the sin of others. 558 00:22:44,596 --> 00:22:47,065 And so as with everything that Jesus teaches, 559 00:22:47,145 --> 00:22:48,976 there is a perfect balance point, 560 00:22:49,868 --> 00:22:51,781 And Jesus has more to say about this 561 00:22:51,781 --> 00:22:54,173 later in the sermon on the mount. I'm 562 00:22:54,173 --> 00:22:55,529 just gonna read a brief portion of that. 563 00:22:55,688 --> 00:22:57,544 This comes from Matthew 7 Matthews 564 00:22:58,813 --> 00:23:00,249 recording of the sermon on the mount, And 565 00:23:00,329 --> 00:23:02,482 Jesus says this. Why do you look at 566 00:23:02,482 --> 00:23:04,955 the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye 567 00:23:04,955 --> 00:23:06,412 and pay no admission 568 00:23:07,347 --> 00:23:09,354 attention to the plank in your own eye. 569 00:23:09,831 --> 00:23:11,661 How can you say to your brother? Let 570 00:23:11,661 --> 00:23:13,490 me take the speck out of your eye 571 00:23:13,490 --> 00:23:15,733 when all the time, there's a plank in 572 00:23:15,733 --> 00:23:17,191 your own eye. You 573 00:23:17,887 --> 00:23:18,387 hip. 574 00:23:19,163 --> 00:23:21,317 First take the plank out of your own 575 00:23:21,317 --> 00:23:24,188 eye, and then you will see clearly to 576 00:23:24,188 --> 00:23:26,519 remove the speck from your brother's eye. 577 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:28,279 So either way, 578 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,740 the solution is the same. To properly 579 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:32,779 grieve 580 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:34,460 over the sin of others 581 00:23:35,253 --> 00:23:38,308 I need to grieve over my own sins 582 00:23:39,005 --> 00:23:39,505 first. 583 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:43,395 If you've ever traveled on an airplane, 584 00:23:43,970 --> 00:23:46,130 you know that the same thing happens at 585 00:23:46,130 --> 00:23:47,490 the beginning of every flight. 586 00:23:48,049 --> 00:23:51,250 The flight attendants go through the instructions. Right? 587 00:23:51,410 --> 00:23:52,690 You know what I mean? They give their 588 00:23:52,690 --> 00:23:55,585 speech about, buck your seat belt, finding the 589 00:23:55,585 --> 00:23:58,625 exits using your seat cushion for a flotation 590 00:23:58,625 --> 00:24:00,625 device... If ever wondered... It's not really float. 591 00:24:00,785 --> 00:24:01,744 I... I have no idea. 592 00:24:02,959 --> 00:24:04,156 But at some point, 593 00:24:04,955 --> 00:24:08,227 in the discourse, they say something that really 594 00:24:08,227 --> 00:24:10,781 is full of wisdom and common sense. They 595 00:24:10,781 --> 00:24:13,755 say, if, the cabin loses air pressure, 596 00:24:14,315 --> 00:24:17,134 and oxygen mask will drop from the compartment 597 00:24:17,355 --> 00:24:19,914 over your head and if someone is seated 598 00:24:19,914 --> 00:24:22,650 next to you, and they need help. What 599 00:24:22,650 --> 00:24:25,609 do they say? First put on your own 600 00:24:25,609 --> 00:24:26,109 mask 601 00:24:27,369 --> 00:24:27,869 before 602 00:24:28,250 --> 00:24:29,609 assisting the person, 603 00:24:30,024 --> 00:24:32,419 next to you. And when you think about 604 00:24:32,419 --> 00:24:35,052 it, that makes a lot of sense. 605 00:24:36,090 --> 00:24:37,606 And what I want you to see is 606 00:24:37,606 --> 00:24:41,690 that Jesus uses the same reasoning here. You 607 00:24:41,690 --> 00:24:45,380 can't help someone else deal with their sin 608 00:24:45,758 --> 00:24:47,831 until you face your own first. 609 00:24:48,723 --> 00:24:49,996 And so what's the remedy? 610 00:24:51,030 --> 00:24:52,325 Holy morning. 611 00:24:53,575 --> 00:24:54,609 Holy grief. 612 00:24:56,059 --> 00:24:57,177 Now, does Jesus make 613 00:24:57,976 --> 00:24:59,414 does does he imply that we should just 614 00:24:59,414 --> 00:25:01,571 make a public spectacle of our sins should 615 00:25:01,571 --> 00:25:02,984 we come up to the front of the 616 00:25:03,104 --> 00:25:05,255 church and weep and whale in front of 617 00:25:05,255 --> 00:25:06,211 the congregation, 618 00:25:07,725 --> 00:25:08,840 weeping can be good, 619 00:25:10,115 --> 00:25:12,346 but it's really not a guarantee of repentance. 620 00:25:13,718 --> 00:25:17,075 Writing about this Berry be attitude, the old 621 00:25:17,154 --> 00:25:19,552 P and Preacher, Thomas Watson said this. 622 00:25:20,191 --> 00:25:22,841 It is not so much the weeping eye, 623 00:25:23,161 --> 00:25:24,299 God respects 624 00:25:25,076 --> 00:25:26,593 as the broken heart. 625 00:25:27,471 --> 00:25:28,589 The broken heart. 626 00:25:29,148 --> 00:25:32,056 You see the broken heart, is the problem 627 00:25:32,352 --> 00:25:36,095 that keeps us from embracing this idea of 628 00:25:36,095 --> 00:25:36,573 mourning. 629 00:25:37,529 --> 00:25:39,542 Who really wants a broken heart 630 00:25:40,092 --> 00:25:41,922 Nobody wants to sign up for that? 631 00:25:42,957 --> 00:25:44,787 Have you ever broken your arm or your 632 00:25:44,787 --> 00:25:47,254 foot or your nose? When has a broken 633 00:25:47,254 --> 00:25:48,606 anything felt good. 634 00:25:50,131 --> 00:25:52,513 And so what makes Jesus think that we 635 00:25:52,513 --> 00:25:53,490 would aspire 636 00:25:53,863 --> 00:25:54,975 to a broken heart? 637 00:25:56,325 --> 00:25:56,642 Well, 638 00:25:57,294 --> 00:25:59,528 as we mourn in loss, 639 00:26:00,325 --> 00:26:01,921 as we mourn in sin, 640 00:26:02,719 --> 00:26:05,203 it is important for us to hear the 641 00:26:05,203 --> 00:26:05,703 promise 642 00:26:06,396 --> 00:26:08,304 connected with the grief. 643 00:26:09,099 --> 00:26:10,553 And so our third truth 644 00:26:11,405 --> 00:26:13,154 contained in the beat attitude is this. 645 00:26:14,524 --> 00:26:15,024 Mourning 646 00:26:15,962 --> 00:26:16,941 is temporary. 647 00:26:18,278 --> 00:26:20,435 Morning is certainly inevitable. It's gonna happen to 648 00:26:20,435 --> 00:26:23,491 all of us It is a spiritual process 649 00:26:23,546 --> 00:26:25,290 in which we must go through, 650 00:26:26,004 --> 00:26:27,059 but it is also 651 00:26:27,510 --> 00:26:28,010 temporary. 652 00:26:29,591 --> 00:26:32,538 Jesus makes a promise to those who mourn 653 00:26:32,538 --> 00:26:35,008 over their sin. Blessed are those who mourn 654 00:26:35,008 --> 00:26:39,103 and he says, for they will be comforted. 655 00:26:40,433 --> 00:26:41,569 They will be 656 00:26:41,944 --> 00:26:42,444 console. 657 00:26:43,629 --> 00:26:46,411 And so how does god grant this blessing 658 00:26:46,411 --> 00:26:48,557 of comfort? How does that work? Lord? 659 00:26:49,352 --> 00:26:51,021 Well, 1 way, he does it is through 660 00:26:51,021 --> 00:26:51,736 his word? 661 00:26:52,703 --> 00:26:55,002 Through his word in in first John 1 662 00:26:55,002 --> 00:26:58,570 9, there's this outstanding promise. If we confess 663 00:26:58,570 --> 00:26:59,387 our sins 664 00:27:00,172 --> 00:27:02,877 He is faithful in just and will forgive 665 00:27:02,877 --> 00:27:06,322 us our sins and purify us from all 666 00:27:06,458 --> 00:27:09,496 un unconscious. That is a precious promise given 667 00:27:09,496 --> 00:27:10,234 to every 668 00:27:10,686 --> 00:27:11,082 believer. 669 00:27:12,748 --> 00:27:15,683 But God also uses other people to comfort 670 00:27:15,683 --> 00:27:15,921 us, 671 00:27:17,125 --> 00:27:19,844 And second Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul tells 672 00:27:19,899 --> 00:27:22,435 the church of Cor, how to respond to 673 00:27:22,435 --> 00:27:24,911 that member who was be had been disciplined 674 00:27:24,911 --> 00:27:26,977 by the church and is repent. And he 675 00:27:26,977 --> 00:27:29,918 says this. Now instead, you ought to forgive 676 00:27:29,918 --> 00:27:31,133 and comfort him 677 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:34,727 so that he will not be overwhelmed by 678 00:27:35,579 --> 00:27:36,079 excessive 679 00:27:36,771 --> 00:27:37,271 sorrow. 680 00:27:38,282 --> 00:27:39,396 Excessive sorrow. 681 00:27:40,369 --> 00:27:41,887 You get that word in there. And so 682 00:27:41,887 --> 00:27:44,225 we understand there's a time for mourning 683 00:27:45,802 --> 00:27:47,321 in the time of sin or in the 684 00:27:47,321 --> 00:27:48,200 time of loss, 685 00:27:48,693 --> 00:27:50,608 or the time of broken ness, but there 686 00:27:50,608 --> 00:27:52,463 is also an excessive 687 00:27:52,921 --> 00:27:53,421 sorrow 688 00:27:53,958 --> 00:27:56,590 that needs to be put aside, and it 689 00:27:56,590 --> 00:27:59,577 is best put put aside as God's people 690 00:27:59,715 --> 00:28:02,186 surround the person who is mourning. 691 00:28:03,063 --> 00:28:05,693 And so God uses his word. He uses 692 00:28:05,693 --> 00:28:06,592 his people 693 00:28:07,619 --> 00:28:09,922 And then there's a third means that God 694 00:28:09,922 --> 00:28:13,733 uses to comfort those who mourn. And that 695 00:28:13,733 --> 00:28:14,789 is his 696 00:28:15,099 --> 00:28:16,140 own spirit. 697 00:28:17,099 --> 00:28:18,960 In fact, in John 14, 698 00:28:20,299 --> 00:28:23,660 as Jesus is talking to his disciples about 699 00:28:23,660 --> 00:28:24,160 leaving 700 00:28:24,794 --> 00:28:27,112 and sending someone else in his place. 701 00:28:27,751 --> 00:28:30,249 The noun form of this very word comfort 702 00:28:30,628 --> 00:28:32,247 is used as a title 703 00:28:32,625 --> 00:28:35,996 for gods holy spirit. He is called v 704 00:28:35,996 --> 00:28:38,414 with a capital t, the comfort 705 00:28:39,432 --> 00:28:40,411 or the counselor, 706 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:45,133 1 important element of the spirit's 707 00:28:45,589 --> 00:28:48,699 ministry in the life of each believer is 708 00:28:48,699 --> 00:28:51,364 to provide us with the assurance 709 00:28:52,217 --> 00:28:53,489 that god is with us, 710 00:28:54,126 --> 00:28:56,376 that our sin has been forgiven 711 00:28:57,402 --> 00:29:00,129 that he can help us in any 712 00:29:00,902 --> 00:29:03,788 situation in which we are mourning or grieving. 713 00:29:04,976 --> 00:29:05,774 But in the end, 714 00:29:06,412 --> 00:29:08,428 even that is a temporary 715 00:29:08,805 --> 00:29:09,284 measure. 716 00:29:10,001 --> 00:29:10,820 Because ultimately, 717 00:29:11,357 --> 00:29:12,655 there is only 1 718 00:29:13,271 --> 00:29:13,771 complete 719 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:14,980 remedy 720 00:29:15,431 --> 00:29:16,248 for grief 721 00:29:17,095 --> 00:29:20,290 and friends, that is the comfort of being 722 00:29:20,582 --> 00:29:21,399 in god's 723 00:29:21,788 --> 00:29:22,288 presence. 724 00:29:24,736 --> 00:29:26,033 Lieutenant jack Cam 725 00:29:27,127 --> 00:29:28,583 spent more than a decade 726 00:29:29,292 --> 00:29:31,277 talking people down off the ledge. 727 00:29:32,627 --> 00:29:36,041 Until his retirement in 20 15, he was 728 00:29:36,041 --> 00:29:38,160 the commanding officer of the 729 00:29:38,518 --> 00:29:40,609 New York police department's hostage 730 00:29:41,701 --> 00:29:42,337 negotiation team, 731 00:29:43,053 --> 00:29:45,202 a position which he held for over 33 732 00:29:45,202 --> 00:29:45,520 years. 733 00:29:46,330 --> 00:29:49,850 And during his career, he became an expert 734 00:29:50,065 --> 00:29:50,962 at saving 735 00:29:51,336 --> 00:29:54,515 fellow cops from gun wielding man acts. 736 00:29:55,246 --> 00:29:58,506 Or dis waiting people not to jump off 737 00:29:58,506 --> 00:29:59,699 AAA 738 00:29:59,699 --> 00:30:00,199 skyscraper 739 00:30:00,574 --> 00:30:01,471 or a bridge 740 00:30:01,846 --> 00:30:03,675 of which there's an abundance in New York 741 00:30:03,834 --> 00:30:04,073 City. 742 00:30:05,602 --> 00:30:07,118 And what's the success? 743 00:30:08,475 --> 00:30:09,454 What's the secret 744 00:30:09,832 --> 00:30:10,571 to being 745 00:30:10,949 --> 00:30:11,688 a good 746 00:30:12,066 --> 00:30:12,566 negotiator? 747 00:30:13,277 --> 00:30:15,984 Well, the Lieutenant Cam says this. He says 748 00:30:15,984 --> 00:30:18,850 the very good negotiators I think are the 749 00:30:18,850 --> 00:30:20,840 ones with the life stories. 750 00:30:22,530 --> 00:30:26,061 Particularly, he would add life stories of pain 751 00:30:27,395 --> 00:30:28,613 that have produced 752 00:30:29,070 --> 00:30:30,665 compassion for others. 753 00:30:32,748 --> 00:30:36,267 Cam claims good negotiators must experience 754 00:30:36,642 --> 00:30:39,264 the emotion of love at 1 point of 755 00:30:39,264 --> 00:30:39,820 their life. 756 00:30:40,550 --> 00:30:42,297 They must know what it means to have 757 00:30:42,297 --> 00:30:45,076 been greatly hurt at 1 point in their 758 00:30:45,076 --> 00:30:47,244 life, and they must know 759 00:30:47,617 --> 00:30:47,855 success. 760 00:30:48,427 --> 00:30:50,518 And perhaps most importantly 761 00:30:50,893 --> 00:30:52,587 to know what it means 762 00:30:53,678 --> 00:30:54,894 to know failures. 763 00:30:56,872 --> 00:30:58,007 All of these things 764 00:30:58,380 --> 00:30:59,197 go together 765 00:30:59,967 --> 00:31:01,102 to make a person 766 00:31:01,634 --> 00:31:02,372 a good 767 00:31:03,222 --> 00:31:03,698 negotiator. 768 00:31:04,509 --> 00:31:06,606 Or we could say a good comfort. 769 00:31:07,702 --> 00:31:10,816 Lieutenant Cam writes that he learned this lesson 770 00:31:10,816 --> 00:31:13,211 on his very first day as a police 771 00:31:13,211 --> 00:31:13,711 officer. 772 00:31:14,824 --> 00:31:17,082 Cam admitted that he had his own baggage 773 00:31:17,141 --> 00:31:19,538 about the homeless. They were violent. They were 774 00:31:19,538 --> 00:31:21,376 dirty. They were mentally ill. And then on 775 00:31:21,376 --> 00:31:22,255 that first day, 776 00:31:23,146 --> 00:31:24,123 He had to 777 00:31:24,894 --> 00:31:27,754 confront and arrest a homeless man who had 778 00:31:27,754 --> 00:31:29,502 jumped the subways, turns style. 779 00:31:30,234 --> 00:31:31,992 And in the midst of this encounter, 780 00:31:32,471 --> 00:31:35,688 Cam searched the man satchel. And inside 781 00:31:36,147 --> 00:31:38,065 wasn't a weapon, but instead, 782 00:31:38,719 --> 00:31:40,578 a manuscript of a play 783 00:31:41,196 --> 00:31:41,696 entitled 784 00:31:42,075 --> 00:31:43,295 crabs in a basket. 785 00:31:44,553 --> 00:31:46,012 And the play was a metaphor 786 00:31:46,391 --> 00:31:47,370 for the man 787 00:31:48,565 --> 00:31:51,444 The homeless man and his struggle to crawl 788 00:31:51,444 --> 00:31:51,944 out 789 00:31:52,325 --> 00:31:53,204 of the whole, 790 00:31:54,004 --> 00:31:55,764 which he found himself in. 791 00:31:56,739 --> 00:31:58,804 And so lieutenant cam writes in that 2 792 00:31:58,804 --> 00:32:00,075 minute space of time, 793 00:32:02,219 --> 00:32:03,195 he had transposed 794 00:32:03,648 --> 00:32:06,473 himself from a homeless guy, my baggage 795 00:32:07,252 --> 00:32:08,072 to a 796 00:32:08,451 --> 00:32:09,090 play right. 797 00:32:10,289 --> 00:32:11,568 Mister Cam recall. 798 00:32:12,686 --> 00:32:13,826 That compassion 799 00:32:14,938 --> 00:32:17,429 which lasted him throughout his career 800 00:32:18,601 --> 00:32:20,433 that he learned on that first day as 801 00:32:20,433 --> 00:32:21,309 a rookie cup, 802 00:32:21,867 --> 00:32:24,032 led his colleagues in the in the New 803 00:32:24,112 --> 00:32:27,219 York police department to call him gentleman jack. 804 00:32:27,936 --> 00:32:30,189 Gentleman jack, and his guiding principle 805 00:32:30,565 --> 00:32:32,898 was always to extend comfort 806 00:32:33,447 --> 00:32:34,582 and compassion 807 00:32:35,907 --> 00:32:38,367 in order to get people talking. 808 00:32:40,510 --> 00:32:41,304 So my friends, 809 00:32:42,113 --> 00:32:42,851 the grief 810 00:32:43,226 --> 00:32:44,203 in our life 811 00:32:45,532 --> 00:32:46,509 because of loss 812 00:32:47,282 --> 00:32:48,179 or heartache 813 00:32:49,429 --> 00:32:51,122 or own sinful choices 814 00:32:52,306 --> 00:32:53,202 That grief 815 00:32:54,290 --> 00:32:56,537 can drive us in 2 opposing 816 00:32:56,990 --> 00:32:57,307 directions. 817 00:32:58,101 --> 00:33:01,856 It can drive us towards self destructive behavior 818 00:33:01,856 --> 00:33:02,972 and thought patterns, 819 00:33:04,168 --> 00:33:07,219 or it can drive us towards the comfort 820 00:33:07,437 --> 00:33:07,835 offered, 821 00:33:08,410 --> 00:33:09,450 by our lord. 822 00:33:10,329 --> 00:33:12,890 The comfort made evident in his word through 823 00:33:12,890 --> 00:33:13,630 his people 824 00:33:14,009 --> 00:33:16,170 and by his holy spirit. 825 00:33:17,623 --> 00:33:18,681 We might think 826 00:33:19,216 --> 00:33:22,027 of the holy spirit as our personal 827 00:33:22,642 --> 00:33:23,142 crisis 828 00:33:23,837 --> 00:33:24,315 negotiator. 829 00:33:25,047 --> 00:33:27,776 Whose very presence brings comfort 830 00:33:28,549 --> 00:33:29,505 and compassion. 831 00:33:30,778 --> 00:33:32,154 As we stand 832 00:33:32,783 --> 00:33:33,680 on the ledge 833 00:33:34,055 --> 00:33:34,873 of grief 834 00:33:35,883 --> 00:33:36,780 or depression 835 00:33:37,553 --> 00:33:38,427 or sorrow, 836 00:33:39,222 --> 00:33:40,040 the remedy 837 00:33:40,509 --> 00:33:43,473 of comfort and compassion is available. 838 00:33:44,642 --> 00:33:46,572 It's available to anyone 839 00:33:46,946 --> 00:33:47,765 and all 840 00:33:48,234 --> 00:33:49,212 who will simply 841 00:33:49,986 --> 00:33:50,486 listen 842 00:33:51,898 --> 00:33:52,876 and receive 843 00:33:55,259 --> 00:33:57,359 in revelation chapter 21 844 00:33:57,740 --> 00:33:58,859 versus 4 and 5, 845 00:33:59,579 --> 00:34:00,299 the remedy. 846 00:34:01,180 --> 00:34:04,387 The remedy will come to those who know 847 00:34:04,546 --> 00:34:06,455 Jesus Christ as savior, 848 00:34:07,171 --> 00:34:09,796 the ultimate remedy, not the temporary remedy, 849 00:34:10,289 --> 00:34:12,364 but the final remedy. And 1 day, it 850 00:34:12,364 --> 00:34:15,239 says God will wipe every tear from their 851 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:15,638 eyes. 852 00:34:16,276 --> 00:34:17,873 There will be, no more death. 853 00:34:18,911 --> 00:34:19,411 Or 854 00:34:19,964 --> 00:34:20,443 morning, 855 00:34:21,641 --> 00:34:22,360 or crying, 856 00:34:23,239 --> 00:34:23,958 or pain, 857 00:34:24,997 --> 00:34:26,515 for the old order of things, 858 00:34:27,327 --> 00:34:28,601 has passed away. 859 00:34:29,715 --> 00:34:30,034 Friends, 860 00:34:30,592 --> 00:34:32,184 our tears of sorrow, 861 00:34:32,901 --> 00:34:33,879 over sin 862 00:34:34,255 --> 00:34:35,074 or lost 863 00:34:35,784 --> 00:34:36,683 or deaths 864 00:34:38,019 --> 00:34:41,552 or crazy people trying to shoot political candidates, 865 00:34:43,606 --> 00:34:44,460 all of that 866 00:34:45,137 --> 00:34:46,813 will be wiped away. 867 00:34:47,451 --> 00:34:49,126 It will no longer exist. 868 00:34:50,083 --> 00:34:52,178 And though we may sometimes 869 00:34:52,635 --> 00:34:53,273 doubt it. 870 00:34:54,564 --> 00:34:56,480 Just like that seminary professor. 871 00:34:57,278 --> 00:34:58,097 The promise 872 00:34:58,794 --> 00:35:00,092 of that day 873 00:35:00,550 --> 00:35:01,508 is certain, 874 00:35:03,197 --> 00:35:04,072 But for now, 875 00:35:05,344 --> 00:35:06,083 our journey 876 00:35:06,776 --> 00:35:10,059 to that place of full and complete joy 877 00:35:11,150 --> 00:35:12,183 maybe at times. 878 00:35:13,155 --> 00:35:14,275 A trail of tears, 879 00:35:15,234 --> 00:35:16,534 winding its way 880 00:35:16,994 --> 00:35:17,815 through the valley 881 00:35:18,355 --> 00:35:19,094 of shadows, 882 00:35:20,355 --> 00:35:21,094 but only 883 00:35:21,967 --> 00:35:22,685 for a time. 884 00:35:24,041 --> 00:35:24,838 For weeping, 885 00:35:25,795 --> 00:35:26,911 may last for the night. 886 00:35:28,034 --> 00:35:28,850 But joy 887 00:35:29,301 --> 00:35:29,801 comes 888 00:35:30,251 --> 00:35:30,885 in the morning. 889 00:35:31,914 --> 00:35:32,706 Will you pray with me?