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MATTHEW 5:4

"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN"

I. PHILOSOPHY "CHIEF GOOD AND ULTIMATE END OF LIFE IS HAPPINESS."
        A. With this Christ agrees.
                1. Starts sermon with word happy "condition."
                2. Scripture speaks of joy, unspeakable and full. 
                3. Jesus spoke, much of fullness of joy.
        B. Those goals of men are usually a means to an end. A man seeking
           wealth, or knowledge seeks to find happiness in, or through
           these things.
                1. We don't want to be happy so we can be rich, we want to
                   be rich because we think it will bring happiness.
        C. Christ never aids a man to make this the chief aim in his life.
                1. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God."
                2. Get your life in proper perspective. 
                        a. Get the vertical axis correct.
        D. Happiness is a result of a way of life.
                1. Not discovered by direct pursuit.
                2. Natural outgrowth of right relationships.
                        a. A child does not grow into manhood by trying to
                           analyze how to grow but by following natural
                           appetite for food.

II. "HAPPY ARE THEY THAT MOURN."
        A. Opposite of worldly concept. 
                1. Mourning to be shunned.
                2. Whole scheme designed to occupy your mind in fantasy so
                   no unpleasant thought of reality. 
                3. "Enjoy yourself."
        B. Word mourn in spiritual sense.
                1. Not as mourning for the dead, just as poverty of Spirit
                   not financial woes.
                2. Mourning in Spirit.
                        a. Not found in world.
                        b. Not found much in church reaction against false
                           Puritanism that plagued church in past. "To be
                           religious is to be miserable."
        C. What Christ meant by "happy are they that mourn."
                1. Mourning over our own weakness and sinful state. 
                        a. Paul "O wretched man that I am..."
                        b. Peter went out and wept bitterly.
        D. Progression of beatitudes.
                1. Poor in spirit is inevitable as I confront God.
                        I. see the life He means for me to realize my
                           helplessness and hopelessness, I mourn.
        E. Mourning over sins of others.
                1. Read newspaper don't just express disgust that men can
                   live like that, grieved in spirit.
                2. Jesus at grave of Lazurus.
                3. Jesus looking over Jerusalem.

Ill. "WHY HAPPY?" "FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED."
        A. The man who is mourning is actually repenting. He will find the
           power of the Spirit and forgiveness.
                1. That final lament of despair many times first cry of
                   victory.
        B. I am closer to victory in that hour of mourning over defect,
           than when flushed with the hope of a new human scheme.
        C. "I shall be comforted" by His ultimate triumph..."
                1. "And though the wrong seem so strong." 
                2. "For the darkness shall turn to dawning."
                3. I am strengthened and comforted by this hope.

To what can the man of the world turn for comfort or hope.