Blessed: Experiencing fully your God-breathed intention.
Matthew 5:1–10 (NIV) 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 He began to teach them. He said, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:4(NIV) Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Grief: Suffering that is associated with loss. You lost something valuable to you.
In Grief Remember... 1. Grieving is not a disfunction
Isaiah 53:3 (NLT) He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. Isaiah 53:4 (NLT) Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
2. There are healthy and unhealthy ways of grieving.
3. Everyone grieves differently
4. Sit, don’t quit
5. Emotions are not the enemy
6. People are still imperfect
7. Scars are storytellers “Scars are testimonies declaring life hurts, but God heals.”
8. Not all pain will not be removed, but all pain will be redeemed.
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
Psalm 126:5 (NIV) Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Finding Comfort: Blessed are those who mourn.
Isaiah 61:1–3 (NIV) 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion. to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
1. Our Jesus Psalm 34:18 (NIV) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
John 11:35 (NIV) Jesus wept. John 11:38–39 (NIV) 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb...
2. His words
3. His Comforter “We don’t just get comfort. We get The Comforter.” John 14:16–17 (NIV) 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
4. His church 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (NIV) 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
_____ Psalm 147:3 (NIV) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
1 Peter 5:7(NIV) Cast your cares on him because he cares for you. Philippians 4:7 (NIV) The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 15:13 (NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 5:2–5 (NIV) 3 We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
