Curry's Chapel Church
20260104 Ministry of Tears
  • SLIDE: Title
    SLIDE: Scripture Revelation 7::17
    Revelation 7:17 NIV
    17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
    SLIDE: Title

    INTRODUCTION

    There are two kinds of people in the world:
    1. Those who cry.
    2. And those who lie about not crying.
    We cry at weddings, funerals, Hallmark movies, and—if you’re like me—when you open the electric and natural gas bills for January.
    Tears are universal. They’re the one language every human being speaks fluently. And Revelation 7:17 gives us this breathtaking promise: God Himself will wipe away every tear. Not just stop them. Not just explain them. But wipe them. Tenderly. Personally. Eternally.
    Today I want to talk about “The Ministry of Tears.” Because tears are not just something we endure. They are something God uses.

    Main Teaching

    SLIDE:

    1. TEARS ARE A TESTIMONY

    We often think tears mean weakness. But in Scripture, tears are often a sign of faith, love, and longing.
    We see these examples in the Bible:
    Hannah wept in the temple until God opened her womb. 1 Samuel 1:5-28
    David said, “My tears have been my food day and night.” Psalm 42:3
    Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. Lamentations 2:11
    Jesus, Himself wept at Lazarus’ tomb. John 11:35
    If Jesus cried, then tears cannot be a sign of spiritual failure.
    Illustration
    A little boy once asked his mom, “Why do people cry?” She said, “Because sometimes our hearts have too many words and not enough room.”
    That’s good theology.
    Tears testify that we are human, that we care, that something matters deeply.
    Application
    Instead of hiding your tears, let them speak. Let them say: - “This hurts.” - “This matters.” - “I’m not done trusting God.”
    Your tears are not a contradiction to your faith. They are often the evidence of it.
    SLIDE:

    2. TEARS ARE A TOOL

    God doesn’t waste tears. Psalm 56:8 says He collects them in a bottle. Not one falls unnoticed.
    Tears Soften the Soil
    Think of tears like rain on hard ground. When the soil of our heart gets dry, cracked, and stubborn, tears soften our hearts so God can plant something new.
    Illustration
    A farmer once said, “The best crops grow in the fields that have known the most storms.” The same is true of people.
    Joke
    Some of us say, “I don’t cry.” But let someone scratch your car in the church parking lot and suddenly you’re praying in tongues you didn’t know you had.
    Application
    Ask God: - “What are You softening in me?” - “What are You planting through this season?” - “What are You preparing me to receive?”
    Your tears may be watering the very miracle you’ve been praying for.
    SLIDE:

    3. TEARS ARE TEMPORARY

    Revelation 7:17 is not a metaphor. It is a promise.
    “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
    Not some. Not most. Every. — Single. — One.
    God has a Personal Touch
    God doesn’t hand out tissues. He wipes the tears Himself.
    That means:
    He sees every sorrow.
    He understands every ache.
    He remembers every moment you thought you wouldn’t survive.
    Illustration
    Imagine a parent wiping the tears of a child who fell off their bike. They don’t say, “Stop crying, you’re embarrassing me.” They kneel down, lift the chin, and say, “I’ve got you.”
    That’s the heart of God.
    Scripture
    Psalm 30:5 — “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
    Morning always comes. Tears don’t get the last word. God does.
    SLIDE:

    4. TEARS ARE TRANSFORMED

    In Revelation 7, the tears are not just removed — they are redeemed.
    The people in this passage came through “great tribulation.” They didn’t escape suffering; they overcame it.
    God Doesn’t Just End Tears — He Rewrites Their Meaning
    Tears of grief become testimonies of comfort.
    Tears of failure become stories of grace.
    Tears of fear become monuments of courage.
    Tears of repentance become rivers of renewal.
    Illustration
    Think of a stained‑glass window. Up close, it looks like broken pieces. But when the light shines through, the brokenness becomes beauty.
    Your tears are the pieces God uses to make something glorious.
    SLIDE:

    5. TEARS POINT US TO THE SHEPHERD

    Revelation 7:17 says:
    “The Lamb will be their shepherd.”
    Only Jesus can be both Lamb and Shepherd. Only He can say:
    “I died for you.”
    “I lead you.”
    “I restore you.”
    “I wipe your tears.”
    Application
    When tears come:
    - Run to the Shepherd. - Let Him lead you to “springs of living water.” - Let Him restore your soul. - Let Him hold what you cannot.
    Your tears are not a detour. They are a doorway into deeper fellowship with Christ.
    SLIDE: Three Truths

    CONCLUSION: THE MINISTRY OF TEARS

    Let me leave you with three truths to carry home:
    1. God sees your tears. Even the ones you cry in the car so no one notices.
    2. God uses your tears. They soften, shape, and sanctify.
    3. God will wipe your tears. Not just someday — He begins even now.
    Final Illustration
    A pastor once said, “When we get to heaven, the first thing God will do is wipe our tears. The second thing He’ll do is show us why we cried.”
    And I tell you:
    In that moment: - Every tear will make sense. - Every sorrow will bow to joy. - Every ache will be healed. - Every wound will be whole.
    Why? Because the Lamb is our Shepherd. And He leads us home.
    SLIDE: Prayer

    Closing Prayer

    Father, we come to You as people who know what it is to weep. Some of our tears have been loud, some silent, some recent, some buried deep. But today we thank You that not one of them has ever fallen unnoticed. You are the God who sees. You are the God who stays close. You are the God who bends down to wipe our eyes.
    Lord Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, lead us to those springs of living water. Where our hearts have grown dry, soften us. Where our spirits feel cracked and weary, restore us. Where grief has settled like a heavy fog, shine Your light through it. Teach us to trust You in the tears, not just after they’re gone.
    Holy Spirit, comfort every hurting place in this room. For the tears cried in hospital rooms, for the tears cried in the car when no one was watching, for the tears cried over children, marriages, losses, and disappointments — breathe Your peace. Wrap Your arms around every soul that feels fragile today.
    And God, we hold onto Your promise: that a day is coming when You Yourself will wipe away every tear. No more sorrow. No more fear. No more brokenness. Only joy, only wholeness, only You.
    Until that day, help us walk with courage. Help us love with tenderness. Help us trust with open hands. And help us remember that our tears are never wasted — they are held, they are seen, and they are being redeemed.
    We pray all this in the name of Jesus, our Lamb and our Shepherd. Amen.

      • Revelation 7:17NKJV

Curry's Chapel Church
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