WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR US
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
INTRODUCTION:
A. Let’s take a trip back in history - back to 681 B.C.
1. The nation of Judah had fallen away from God, big time.
2. So God had raised up a man, a prophet by the name of Isaiah, to proclaim a message – it was a message of
a. The imminent judgment of God against sin
b. A call for the nations repentance towards God
c. And the promise of God’s deliverance through the Messiah
3. All of this is written in a scroll, known as the Book of Isaiah
4. And near the end of this prophets ministry he writes, For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isaiah 64:4
5. In other words, man just did not understand what God had for him; if only they could.
B. Now move with me up to about 33 A.D.
1. A man known as Jesus: a lunatic in the eyes of some, a liar in the eyes of others; had arrived on the scene.
2. The kingdoms of this world did not want him around
a. The political kingdom sees Him as a threat
b. The religious kingdom sees as a imposter
3. And so he dies upon a cross
4. The words of Isaiah still echo, For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
5. Again, man just did not understand what God had for him; if only they could.
C. Move now with me to about 55 A.D.
1. The apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul, writes a letter to a church that is struggling.
2. All sorts of sin abound in this church: division, immorality, greed, gluttony, suing, misuse of spiritual gifts, and more.
3. And in the very beginning of this lengthy letter he reminisces about a passage in Isaiah, But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor. 2:9
4. Once again, man just did not understand what God had for him; if only they could.
D. Fast forward to today, we read But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Cor 2:9
1. OH, if we could – if we could just see, hear and know.
2. Folks, we can!
3. And this is where the message of blindness, deafness and lack of understanding from Isaiah becomes a message of hope for us.
4. This morning I want to bring you a message of hope and anticipation
a. First we will look at this passage in the context of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians
b. And then I want us to see how this could be an encouragement for us in the future.
5. May God bless us as we seek His will for us.
PRAY
We will begin this morning by taking a look at this passage
I. IN CONTEXT OF PAUL’S LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, 1 Cor 2:1-16
A. Here Paul continues his rebuke of their disunity spoken of in Chapter one: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; 1 Cor 1:10
1. People were choosing up sides: I am following this apostle, this deacon, or this man.
2. They were basing their decision on speech abilities, augmentation styles, sound of their voices, you get the picture.
3. And so Paul says this is not wise and division does not come from God.
4. This must have been the case because he begins chapter two with, And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor. 2:1-4
B. Paul was saying that he came not with the charisma or eloquence of some god, but, rather, that he was speaking by the Spirit and in His power.
1. He was not speaking with or of man’s wisdom – he was speaking the wisdom of God!
2. Notice 1 Cor. 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
a. When Paul speaks of perfection here he is not saying that they have no faults or sins (this church had plenty), but rather he is speaking of those who have come to Christ – who is perfection
b. Only those in Christ can understand the words and wisdom of God.
3. Paul had already stated, in 1 Cor. 1:23 we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
4. This is why he could say, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor. 2:11-12
5. Just as it was with Paul, it is the Spirit of God that allows us to see, hear and understand what it is that God has for those who love Him.
C. So lets put the thought together: when you and I get saved the Spirit of God gives us the ability to see, hear and understand the things of God as we continue to love Him.
1. This is why those in Isaiah’s day could not see, hear or understand – they did not have God’s Spirit in them.
2. Like the rulers in Jesus’ day & Paul’s day – so the rulers of this world today cannot see, hear or understand – the Spirit of God is not in them.
3. We however can see, hear, and understand the things of God, even the deep things of God, because He has given us of His Spirit!
4. First Baptist Church, don’t look at things from man’s perspective, but from God’s, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things (1 Cor 2:13).
D. This is the context of these words to the Corinthians and to us.
From this point I would like to see how this passage might be
II. AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR US IN THE FUTURE, 1 Cor. 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
A. Look at 1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1. Do you get the impact of that statement?
2. We have the mind of Christ!
3. With this in mind when it comes to our future, as a church, I like what Pastor Duran Johnson of greater Bethel Baptist Church said, “Baby, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet!”
B. Let me explain what I mean.
1. I am starting my 10th year at FBCM today! Praise the Lord!
a. But some of you can remember those days before I got here when people said “You don’t need a full time pastor” and “They can’t afford a full time pastor.
b. They could not see, hear, or understand what God was about to do
c. Paul’s words echo, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.
2. Following a church ministry audit in 2002, we came to the conclusion we needed to acquire some land and we started looking in 2003. Initially things did not go so well in our search and some said things like
a. “I told you we don’t need it” and “You will never find some close” and “If you find some you will not be able to afford it.”
b. But we moved forward and put together a Land Search Committee to continue the search in January of 2005
3. Around June of 2006 we finally got a line on 48 acres just east of town
a. Again there were those who said “We can’t afford 48 acres” and “We probably can’t even get the money,” and “If we borrow the money, how are we ever going to pay it back?”
b. Again those words, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.
4. Here we are today, taking a freewill offering to help get the land paid off?
a. Will we pay if off this month?
b. If you are inclined to say “no” remember, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.
5. And there is more:
a. A complete and extensive re-write of our Constitution and Church operations guide in 2005 – with no problems (many thought it could not be done)
b. Starting AWANA in 2004, a ministry many thought would not grow or last.
c. And now we are looking for an associate pastor: some think we can’t afford one: that might be true in man’s wisdom, but what about God’s?
d. Remember Paul’s words from Isaiah? Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit.
6. Here is why it has all happened, None of this has been about First Baptist Church of Mascoutah, it has all been about the glory and honor, and majesty, and grace, and faithfulness, and generosity of Our God and Savior Jesus Christ! AMEN!
C. What does the future hold
1. I don’t know for sure, maybe
a. A Financial Ministry to the community?
b. A Biblical Counseling Center providing biblical God-centered counseling to families in our area?
c. Live internet broadcasting?
d. A large multi-use facility to reach out into our community?
e. A school?
2. To speak frankly, I suppose, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed (and will continue to reveal) them unto us by his Spirit.
3. And here is the best part of it all – GOD IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO BE A PART OF IT!
a. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10
b. He wants us to unit around the gospel; of Jesus Christ, be of one mind and spirit and follow His will for this church and community.
c. To what end? To God be the glory both now and forever, AMEN!
CONCLUSION:
A. I want to read you a portion of scripture as we close. It is found in Eph 3:14-21 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
B. I don’t know all that God has Prepared for us, but I don’t want to miss any part of it! Do you?
C. D. L. Moody said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.” May this be our aim!
