LESSON 3 SPIRITUAL MO URNING Spiritual Mourning Blessed

LESSON 3: SPIRITUAL MO URNING

Spiritual Mourning “Blessed those who mourn for they shall be comforted. ” Matthew 5: 4

Spiritual Mourning PANTHEO – grieve (the feeling or act).

Spiritual Mourning Our EMOTIONAL REACTION to the problems of life that God allows for us to experience in order for us to know what it is to TRUST HIM!

Two Dimensions to Every Christian’s Life PHYSICAL Dimensions (Romans 8: 22) SPIRITUAL Dimensions (Mark 11: 2324)

Sadly, we live far BELOW our privileges We need to OVERCOME

God’s sovereignty takes place in the spiritual dimension What happened to Paul? (Read 2 Corinthians 12: 8 -9)

THE ABUNDANT LIFE Differentiating GOD’S WILL between OUR EXPERIENCE.

A. GOD’S WILL a. SPIRITUAL blessings (Matthew 5: 6 b) b. PHYSICAL blessings (Exodus 15: 26, 1 Peter 2: 24 b) c. PSYCHOLOGICAL blessings (Philippians 4: 7) d. MATERIAL blessings (Philippians 4: 19) e. COMPLETE VICTORY over Satan (James

B. OUR EXPERIENCE • EVEN the most committed Christians still undergo TRIALS and SUFFERINGS in some area of their lives (2 Cor. 4: 8 -9). • God’s people are not EXEMPTED.

REASONS FOR HARDSHIPS D – DISOBEDIENCE in a Christian’s life P – PRAYERLESSNESS E – EXPERIENCE God’s discipline N – NOT PRACTICING one’s faith D – DEMONSTRATE God’s glory

RESULTS OF SPIRITUAL MOURNING F – FULFILL the will of God O – OVERCOME our natural tendency towards self-sufficiency C – CRUCIFY our sinful nature U – UNDERSTAND the power of prayer S – SHOW MERCY to others

RESPONSE TO GOD’S DISCIPLINE P – PATIENCE (James 1: 2 -4) P – POSITIVE APPROACH (Heb. 12: 1113) P – PRAYER (Luke 11: 9 -10)

CONCLUSION: GOD’S AUTHORIZATION: GOD DOES NOT BRING EVIL BUT ALLOWS IT TO HAPPEN.