Preached on 10th of July 2011
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:9
The things God has prepared.
Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16
But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, which didn't enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him."
Children of God.
Today I want to speak about the things God has prepared.
When I say these words: ‘things God has prepared’ – what comes to your mind? What are those things that our Lord has prepared? Tell me?
We might immediately think of heaven. I am sure that would be probably the first thing on our mind. And if I would ask you to come up with some Scripture to support this idea, I am sure you would be able to provide some good examples. Let me give you some:
In John 14:2-3 Jesus said:
“In my Father's house are many dwelling places. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.”
So one of those things that the Lord has prepared is a place (‘topos’ in Greek – a spot in space, but limited by occupancy). Jesus ascended to heaven with this promise and we know we can trust Him. However the reason why it is taking Him so long to come and take us to that place is not that it takes Him so long to prepare that place. He is Almighty Creator. It did not take Him that long to create the whole universe with billions of stars and galaxies; so He surely would not have a huge problem to prepare a place for our eternal habitation, even though I guess, if He created this world for our physical existence in the flesh with such a sense for detail and in such a grandeur and beauty how much more the world to come. How much more magnificent, more grandiose, greater, bigger, more colourful, more diverse, sophisticated and amazing will be the one that we are going to!
Surely the world – the new earth that is to come, , the paradise, heaven will be nothing like something that we have already seen or heard of, or could even imagine. Because how that would feel if heaven would be just like a holiday in Bali. Imagine you’d come there and you’d say: ‘Oh yeah! I’ve seen this already. Been there, done that… Nothing special really.’
That would not be heaven, would it?
Heaven will be much more awesome than that. Much more awesome than holiday to Alaska, or even if you were a celebrity, or a royalty and could go and live in the 7 star hotel in Dubai, New York or Bahamas where you pay $ 50,000.00 per night, even that is nothing in comparison to what the Lord has prepared, because the Bible says: “an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” and as great as these hotels, these places might be, they were seen and heard of already, so heaven must be better. So they are not it! Praise the Lord!
When we come to some lovely place on earth we often: ‘It’s a paradise on earth!’ Yet we know that place is not a paradise. It is so far from paradise as heaven from the earth – literally. It is nothing like THE PLACE!
The place the Lord has prepared is not 5 stars, not even 7 stars, not even 10 stars, because in a few years time people might come up with something like that, and in the years to come we will be amazed again and again how beautiful how awesome, how amazing things people can build.
But if people can build things like this, could you imagine what God can build?
What the Lord has prepared is simply beyond and above anything and everything, beyond any expectations, beyond any imagination, beyond any engineering and gadgets people might come up with now or in the next 100 centuries (if there will be any).
And the angelic room service! We just have NO IDEA! Can you imagine that? No you can’t because if you could imagine than Jesus would be liar because He said it “didn't enter into the heart of man” what He had prepared. And I am willing to trust Him. And to tell you the truth, I can’t wait to see and to hear.
By the way, have you notice that He mentioned also hearing – that new place will be a very interesting as far as the sound effects go. And some people who had some quick preview speak about that.
So THE PLACE is one thing that the Lord promised to prepare and just have to stop talking about it, because we just can’t know much about it. Just wait – and make sure that you’ll get there.
There is another wonderful promise in Hebrews 11:16, according to which God has prepared a heavenly city for the descendants, the seed of Abraham (whether physical or spiritual or both).
“But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
This is just more specific description of that place that the Lord has prepared. In Revelation 21:2 the Bible says:
“I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.”
The place, more precisely new heaven and new earth will welcome the faithful ones and there on this new earth will be that place, new city, eternal Jerusalem – the dwelling place that Jesus said He would prepare.
Revelation 21:3
“I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”
Then in Matthew 25:34 we read:
“Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
This is the second thing that is mentioned in the Bible as prepared for us by God. The Kingdom. It is not the same thing as THE PLACE. Why do I say that? Have you noticed since when is the kingdom prepared?
“prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”
So then this is not something that Jesus went to prepare after His ascension to heaven. This is not something that is called “the place” to be made ready. The kingdom was prepared from the foundation of the world, which means from the times of creation, the kingdom of God was prepared, was ready as an inheritance for the blessed children of God from the very beginning.
What is the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world?
In Matthew 13:34-35 the word of God says:
“Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the multitudes; and without a parable, he didn't speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world."
Things hidden from the foundation of the world were the principles of the kingdom that He explained to them in His teachings; it was the whole idea of God and us living together in harmonious relationship. Every word He said, every principle He taught, and every command He gave them were part of this. That’s why when they asked Him about the kingdom He told them: “The kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21).
So when Jesus spoke about the kingdom, He did not speak so much about the place, heaven, but loving relationships, forgiveness, caring and looking after the needy, releasing the prisoners etc. The kingdom is displayed not in power and visible displays of strength but in the inner man that is transformed by the power of God to the glory of the King.
Here on earth we try to live by the principles of this kingdom and we are enabled to do that by the power of the Holy Spirit. There in the new place, this will be done without trying, it’s not going to be daily struggle and hard work; no more rebuking the evil, fighting the temptations and striving for the best, because “There will be no curse any more” (Revelation 22:3).
In Luke 1:17 we read about John the Baptist who was also a prophet of preparation for the kingdom:
“He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
John was instructing people how these kingdom principles will look like in the practise. Repentance was the way and the fruit were required.
He prepared the place, prepared the city, new heaven and the new earth, He prepared the kingdom but now we are getting to another thing that the Bible says He has prepared for us:
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”
He prepared even the good works that we are to do. The works of the kingdom, love, ability to care and look after the needy, power to forgive – all of these (and many more) are His gifts, prepared and given for those who love Him so that we can spread His kingdom wherever we are – in our city, in our neighbourhood, in our workplace. He has prepared those good works – they are not yours, so all credit is His, not yours, He must be glorified after those works are done.
If you do something good and the only person who gets pat on the shoulder is you and none of the glory is give to God, something is wrong there.
‘He will no give His glory to another’- not even you - (Isaiah 48:11). And if you take glory that belongs to Him, do not expect the pat on your shoulder from Him, even thou you might get a lot them from the people around you.
He prepared the place, the city, new heaven and the earth, He prepared the kingdom and He prepared the works. Is that all? No! Actually the list is probably endless, but let us read a few more Scriptures.
When the disciples discussed the kingdom of God with Jesus, they asked Him to give them some positions. When He asked them: Are you able to drink from the same cup and be baptised with same baptism than I am?
“They said to him, "We are able." Jesus said to them, "You shall indeed drink the cup that I drink, and you shall be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with; but to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but for whom it has been prepared." (Mark 10:39-40)
We do not fully understand how this works with those different positions in the kingdom – or should we rather say: we don’t understand at all, but it looks like that absolutely everything up to the smallest details, including allocations of the heavenly addresses to particular people and any positions that might be held there, all is already prepared. The Trinity must have had their AGM right in the beginning and they’ve decided it all, so that there is no last minute rush or no misunderstanding, or double bookings, or some periods that there would be no chairman of the board.
Jesus said: “Who will sit at my right hand and at my left hand is already prepared. Don’t you worry. I have no say in it now, it has been decide long time ago.”
Even this is part of that “an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear”.
Place, city, works, kingdom … prepared by God.
A woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Matthew 26:12 also did it as a preparation. Preparation for a burial. “For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.”
Anointing is a preparation. When we die to ourselves, when we are born again and anointed, we are ready for the kingdom. The power of the Holy Spirit makes us ready.
But the Bible speaks also of some not so happy things that the Lord has prepared. Just have a look in Revelation 14:9-10.
"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand,
he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.”
Matthew 25:41 speaks of something else prepared by God:
“Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.”
God’s judgment, wrath of God and eternal fire are also prepared.
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” – and cursed is every eye and ear that will see and hear these prepared things.
But I do not want to finish with that gloomy picture of eternal condemnation. Rather remember the words of the Psalm that we all know.
Psalm 23:5
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.”
And with this verse I want to lead us to the final thoughts. As we have heard God has prepared very many things. Some were prepared from the very beginning, from the creation of the world, some were prepared after Jesus left the earth, some are prepare for us after we die and some are prepared now, ready to be used.
Psalm 23 reminds us of what is prepared for us now, today, here. God prepares a table. The table speaks of God’s provisions. It also says that this table is in the presence of our enemies – it means in the midst of adversity, when the world is going through one economic crisis after another we experience His provisions, His manna falling from heaven.
In the last days when God’s anointing will fall on all flesh this is God’s promise to His people:
Joel 2:25-26
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you. You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied, and will praise the name of Yahweh, your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; and my people will never again be disappointed.”
This is the table of the Lord in the presence of our enemies. Whatever the locusts (the symbol of the enemy) ate in the past will be restored! God’s grace, the divine bug spray, the locusts are gone, God’s table full.
My cup overflows.
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear”
Did you ever apply that to God’s provisions in the last days - these days?
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” how the Lord will bless His children in the last days before His glorious appearing. Why would He do that? Why would God want to make us rich?
It is not like in Luke 12:20
"But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared--whose will they be?'”
You see – in that parable the man, the owner prepared for him. It was not God’s provision, or at least not seen by him as such. But what we are talking about here are God’s supernatural provisions for the last days, days of hardships, days when the time will be short and harvest plentiful and we will need to cover a large areas and be part of a mighty harvest. And that will require some money as well.
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” so get ready for the unseen and unheard of even in the financial area. Whatever you think of it – I do not want to go do deep into this matter, but I believe we will see an unprecedented outpouring of God’s blessings in the last days for the days will be short and the work great. And I want to be ready.
And last but not least:
As we read through the 1 Corinthians chapter 2, we can see that Paul just before saying
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear”
spoke about preaching the gospel, he spoke about the wisdom and most of all he spoke about the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit.
And I believe that this is the most important part:
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” means that God has prepared for us, believers in this city to perform such works of the Holy Spirit that the world has not seen yet. When Jesus performed some miracles He said that we, His followers will do even greater works (John 14:12).
Jesus would not lie. He knew we will do those works, because He has prepared them, together with His Father and they sent the Holy Spirit so that we could do them.
So today as we are gathered here today we are not here to hear some motivational speaker. I am not a motivational speaker. I am God’s trumpet:
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear yet of the things God has prepared for those who love him." They are ready, they are to be downloaded – free. But you need to click – download now – Execute now!
If we don’t then “An eye will not see, and an ear will not hear” – at least not ours and those around us. God’s promise must be fulfilled, so if not us, God will find somebody else. He always does. But I rather be part of God’s action plan for our city.
So as I read “An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” – I read again what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians:
“We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this on words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
Did we hear?
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” yet the things that are freely given to us by the Holy Spirit. The anointing, impartation, gifts of the Holy Spirit, the manifested power of God….
“An eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear” yet, but they will. Will you be part of it? Are you ready for the impartation so that an eye can see and an ear can hear?
What will be your answer? Amen.
Endnote mini sermon:
3 part Jonah’s message:
What did God prepare for Jonah?
Salvation first – after he rebelled, after he disobeyed. Just like us.
Jonah 1:17
The Lord prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights
Protection, provision for the journey. Just like for us.
Jonah 4:6
The Lord God prepared a vine, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the vine.
Some necessary testing of the faith and trust – suffering as gift and lesson from God.
Jonah 4:8
“It happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
Amen. Amen. Amen.
