1 Peter 1:25 ... the word of the
Lord endureth for ever...
Aurelius Baptist Church 4419 W. Barnes Rd.
(517) 628-2085 Mason, MI 48854
Bible Study . . . The Blessing of
Spiritually Brokenhearted
God’s love reaches out to you and when God’s love touches your need, we call it Grace.
"For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God ... "
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.~~Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.~~Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.~~Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.~~Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.~~Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.~~Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:3-9 KJV)
Pour in Spirit: Spiritual Insufficiency Hunger & Thirst: Spiritual Fervor
That Mourn: Spiritual Heartbrokenness The Merciful: Spiritual Compassion
The Meek: Spiritual Submissiveness Pure in Heart: Spiritual Perfection
The Peacemakers:
Blessed in Hebrew: "shreey" inward happiness
Blessed in Greek: "makariai" happiness from within; "eulogeemenoi" happiness from without
Spiritual Posterity
Jesus, seated on a mountain on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee began to teach, saying, "Blessed are...." Jesus gave seven standards for a happy Christian lifestyle. The words He speaks are strong—they are words of righteousness: words which describe the character of those who are called Christian; those who by word and deed live up to what God expects of them as citizens of His eternal Kingdom; words which should cause believers to examine their motives and actions from the perspective of the cross.
In the "be-attitudes" we feel the very heartbeat of Jesus. Real happiness, begins with a spirit that truly mourns (sorrows) for a right relationship with God. On the mountain, Jesus, the King above all kings, delivered the official manifesto of His Kingdom. Simply put, the Sermon on the Mount was the most profound political and doctrinal statement ever delivered by a reigning Monarch. Archbishop McGee of England once said, "No one can live the Sermon on the Mount unless he knows the King." To those who knew Him (his disciples) and to all others, the words of Jesus are an invitation to partake in the blessings of a restored relationship with God.
The beatitudes are the graces of Christian living–the very essence of a true Christian. Jesus promises real spiritual blessing (inner peace & happiness) in two stages: (l) present to future blessings and (2) partial to perfect blessings. "Blessed" are those who seek God and submit to His leadership and counsel through earth’s many trials, for they shall receive blessings here and now and for all eternity.
Psalm 30:5; Isaiah 61:1-3; 66:2; Matthew 11:6; Luke 6:20-26; John 16:20m 22;
2 Corinthians 5:17; 7:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 1:12; Revelation 21:4
"Go for the gusto" is the world’s approach to happiness. Jesus used the word "blessed" nine times in this passage to declare that genuine happiness (divine peace and joy) is found only in a right relationship with God and with others. Jesus says, in truth, the way to real inner happiness is a lifestyle of humility and self-denial. Those who recognize they are "poor in spirit" (spiritually insufficient and inadequate in their own self-righteousness to stand before God) will, as David, cry,"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of Your salvation..." (Psalm 51:10, 12).
Luke 6:20-26; Luke 18:13; Acts 3:19; Romans 3:9-18, 21-23; 10:9-10
"Go for the gusto" is the world’s approach to happiness. Jesus used the word "blessed" nine times in this passage to declare that genuine happiness (divine peace and joy) is found only in a right relationship with God and with others. Jesus says, in truth, that real inner happiness is a lifestyle of humility and self-denial. Those who recognize they are "poor in spirit" (spiritually insufficient and inadequate in their own self-righteousness before God) will cry out, as did David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me....Restore to me the joy of Your salvation..." (Psalm 51:10, 12).
Luke 6:20-26; Luke 18:13; Acts 3:19; Romans 3:9-18, 21-23; 10:9-10
There is tangible pain, when a person is starving for food. Likewise, there is real and intense soul pain when a person is spiritually malnourished. Many "go for the gusto" by pursuing material possessions or achievements which, ultimately, fails to satisfy the spiritual need of the human heart. Man was created to fellowship with God. When Jesus came to earth, He didn’t offer things, he offered Himself.
Jesus offers a new approach to real happiness in this life, Happy are the spiritually brokenhearted "for they shall be comforted" (Matt. 5:4). There are many types and kinds of sorrows in this life. Some are minor, others touch the very core of our being. In Greek there are nine different verbs to express grief. The term used by Jesus for "mourning" was the strongest, most severe of the Greek words for expressing grief. It is like the mourning that comes when a loved one dies; a deep, inner groaning that cannot be denied. The Apostle Paul understood such fruit of spiritual sorrowing: "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor. 7:10). Spiritual mourning expresses a sorrow for sin and a deep, inner groaning that cannot be denied.
Psalm 32; Psalm 51
Happiness comes when God forgives us and releases us from the bondage and penalty of sin. This freedom (release) is God’s gift of grace. The proof or evidence of having accepted the gift of redeemption from sin is love for God and service to others.
Spiritual happiness, regardless of circumstances, is given to all who truly confess and repent of sin. Sometimes our spiritual journeys lead over bright and beautiful mountain peaks and we rejoice in the goodness of God and enjoy the blessings of His love and care. At other times, when life is just too big for us, we descend into the dry, barren and dusty valleys of the soul’s dark night. It is then, in our weakness, by faith, we draw near to Jesus, and hear Him whisper to our sorrowing soul, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5).
Jesus wept. He reached out in love and healed the suffering multitudes. He was a man acquainted with grief. Jesus knows our pain. Scripture says that God collects our tears in bottles. He knows the pain, loneliness, shame, guilt, failure, and discouragement behind every tear drop, and He cares. Psalm 46:1-3; Isaiah 11:1-5; 52:1313-14; Isaiah 53
When we have wandered from God and no longer feel his presence, He speaks to our spirit and draws us to a place of spiritual mourning that we may enjoy a restored fellowship with our Lord. David knew real sorrow when his son, born of a sinful relationship, died. But, his greatest sorrow was the pain of guilt which he bore for his personal sins. When he cried out in repentance, God turned his sorrow into joy, and he was comforted. David could then say, "Blessed (happy) is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1).
Max Lucado encourages us with this thought:
You’ll be home soon, too. You may not have noticed it, but you are closer to home than ever before. Each moment is a step taken. Each breath is a page turned. Each day is a mile marked, a mountain climbed. You are closer to home than you’ve ever been.
Before you know it, your appointed arrival time will come; you’ll descend the ramp and enter the City. You’ll see the faces that are waiting for you. You’ll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And, maybe, just maybe—in the back, behind the crowds—the ONE who would rather die than live without you will remove his (nail) pierced hands from his heavenly robe and applaud....
The Holy Spirit is our comforter. He convicts of sin and draws us to God. When we fail to listen to Him, there can is no comfort or inner peace, but "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
John MacArthur, in Kingdom Living Here and Now, wrote regarding 1 John 1:9: "What that really means, in context, is this: If we are the ones continually confessing our sins, we give evidence of being the ones who are being forgiven. In other words, the forgiven ones, the subjects of the kingdom, the children of the King, the sons of God, are characterized by constant confession of sin."
Have you mourned (sorrowed for sin) because of unconfessed sin? Have you mourned (sorrowed for others) who have never received salvation (God's gift of forgiveness) for their sins? If you have, then you know the "blessed comfort" of spiritual brokenness that brings blessed happiness now and for all eternity.
Let Go...A little child playing one day with a very valuable vase put his hand into it and could not withdraw it. His father, too, tried his best, but all in vain. They were thinking of breaking the vase when the father said, "Now, my son, make one more try. Open your hand and hold your fingers out straight as you see me doing, and then pull."
To their astonishment the little fellow said, "Oh, no, father, I couldn’t put my fingers out like that, because if I did I would drop my penny."
Smile, if you will—but thousands of us are like that little boy, so busy holding on the world’s worthless penny that we cannot accept liberation. I beg you to drop that trifle in your heart. Surrender! Let go, and let God have His way in your life. – Billy Graham
Jesus wants to bless you with His peace and happiness today. He says, "Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you." If you want to know true happiness in this life and in the world to come, and if you feel the stirring of the Holy Spirit in your heart, why not talk to Jesus right now. If you are sincere, God will hear your prayer.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:9-10).
If you have never asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you may want to begin your prayer with these words.....
Lord Jesus, I come to you in faith believing that you suffered and died that I might have eternal life. Thank you Jesus for taking the punishment for my sin. I know I have sinned, and I ask You to forgive me. I turn now from my sins and receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me............... Amen.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
(Revelation 22:21)
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