The Unpreached Point

When preparing a sermon, you try to think through a number of things. You ask questions like…What is the main point of this text? What it the most effective way to communicate this text? How do I break this text down into points that make sense and have flow? And, do I have time to preach all of this? However, in spite of the best efforts to think through flow, timing, and application, God will interrupt your plans. Sometimes you stand in the pulpit and realize that something doesn’t fit, or it doesn’t seem in step with what the Spirit is doing at this moment. 

This was the case on Sunday (Jan. 15, 2017). As we considered the second Beatitude, blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted (Matt. 5:4), I had a point of corporate application in my notes, but I did not sense that this was where the Spirit was leading, so I skipped it. However, I would like to share that with you now. 

You will remember that the focus of our conversation was on genuine repentance. We spoke about the fact there is such a thing as natural mourning and then there is spiritual mourning. The goal, when dealing with our sin, is to experience spiritual mourning. While there is nothing wrong with natural mourning, mourning the loss of a loved one or a relationship, it does not lead to repentance. Second Corinthians 7:10 reminds us that only godly sorrow leads to repentance. By way of application, we spoke of acknowledging our sin, mourning properly, and embracing grace.

In applying this principle corporately, I wanted to look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We always hear this verse applied to the United States of America and the desire to see a revival in our country.  However, I think this is a misapplication. The verse is directed at God’s covenant people, “my people who are called by my name.” In the Old Testament God’s covenant people was the nations on Israel. In the New Testament, the church; not the USA. 

If we want to consider this verse in a New Testament context, then we must look at it from the context of the church. It is the church that needs to humble herself. It is the church that needs to pray, seek, and repent. And when the church does these things, God will hear and bring healing (revival). When the church experiences revival, then our land (the USA) can be impacted, but not before. 

When applying “Blessed are those who mourn” corporately, let us recognize that the church as well as the individual, must take repentance seriously. If we want to see God do exciting things in our midst, we must walk according to His ways. Remember the promise attached to this Beatitude, they will be comforted. Anytime we come to the Lord, broken and contrite, He is sure to lift us up.

Honored to be your pastor,

Darrell