Unspeakable Words
2 Corinthians 12:1-5
Introduction: Last week, I said the Word of God mentions the word "unspeakable" three times:
- 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift."
- 2 Corinthians 12:4, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
- 1 Peter 1:8, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."
I also said that, in these verses, we find God's unspeakable Gift, His unspeakable Words, and our unspeakable joy.
- God's unspeakable Gift is Jesus. The fact, that God gave Jesus, leaves us unable to declare its wonder.
- God's unspeakable Words were too sacred to divulge.
- Our unspeakable joy is joy so full it defies description.
In this message, I wish to emphasize God's unspeakable words. The story surrounding 2 Corinthians 12:4 is just as amazing as the truth found in it. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:2 that he knew a man above 14 years ago who was caught up to the third Heaven. In this passage, the man Paul knew was Paul himself. What was it that had happened fourteen some odd years before?
The Apostle Paul had journeyed to Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. There, he ministered the Word of God and performed miracles in the name of Jesus. In particular, Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, had brought healing to a man who was crippled in his feet from birth and had never walked. The Word of God records that Paul "Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked." (Acts 14:10) Because of this, Paul and Barnabas were viewed as gods by the people of Lystra. Then, the Bible says in Acts 14:19, "And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
I believe that Paul was indeed stoned to death, but God performed a miracle, and Acts 14:20 records, "Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe." It is a difficult thing to survive a stoning. During this time, Paul apparently visited Heaven, and, just as Lazarus was returned to this earth, so Paul was returned to continue his ministry. Lazarus was dead for four days, and Paul for only a few minutes. Both were brought back to life by the power of God. This is the story Paul referred to in 2 Corinthians 12. In these verses, he relates what happened to him when he went to Heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:4 tells us that Paul was told things he could not repeat to anyone on earth, "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." In other words, God said to Paul, "I'm going to tell you some things that I don't want you to tell anyone else." What did God tell him? We don't know, because God told him not to tell anybody, and Paul kept God's secret. These were God's unspeakable words.
Why didn't God want Paul to reveal the secrets of Heaven to anyone on earth? Because it wasn't time yet. It wasn't until more than 51 years later God revealed to the Apostle John the mysteries of Heaven.
I find it interesting that God trusted a man to keep one of His secrets. This teaches us that there are things God reveals to some and not to others. I think this is proven in the fact that all of us have met Christians who seem to know God and His Word more intimately than we would ever hope to. Have you ever read a passage over and over again only to have another Christian teach you something about the verse that you had never known before? I believe this is not because people are stupid, but because there are some people to whom God gives understanding because of their trustworthiness. God reveals His truth to those who will use His truth for others. The Bible makes this very clear.
- "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." (Deuteronomy 29:29)
- "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14)
- "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD." (Psalm 107:43)
- "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)
- "I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." (Psalm 119:100)
- "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30)
- "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
- "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21)
God greatly desires for one who will think like He thinks, like what He likes, love what He loves, and do as He does. God is greatly pleased when He finds someone who will live this way. You see, God does not share His secret things with those who do not care for what He cares for. We are the same way.
- We do not cast our pearls before swine.
- Neither does God.
God wouldn't share those secret things, that belong to Him, with a carnal mind.
- Ungodly thoughts.
- Ungodly habits.
- Ungodly entertainment.
- Ungodly language.
- Ungodly jokes.
The passages we read earlier give us some insight into how we can have the Lord share the secret things, that belong only to Him, with us.
1. God has secret, unspeakable things that belong to Him. - Deuteronomy 29:29
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."
- This is one of the wonderful things that helps us to love God even more. He knows more than we know.
- God's ways are above our ways and past finding out!
* "Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number." (Job 9:1-10)
* "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?" (Romans 11:33,34)
2. God shares unspeakable things with those who fear Him. - Psalm 25:14
"The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant."
- The word "fear" here means to be afraid of high places. It is the apprehension of danger. It means to tremble.
- This would be like climbing to the top of a high place. Up there, even in fear, I can see what others cannot see.
- On the ground, I have no fear. I also do not see the unseen, and, otherwise unknowable, beauties.
- Its application is that those, who fear the Lord, take Him seriously at His Word.
3. God shares unspeakable things with those who obey Him. - Psalm 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."
- "I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." (Psalm 119:100)
- "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21)
- "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD." (Psalm 107:43)
* To "observe" means to guard, protect, and give heed to.
4. God shares unspeakable things with those who seek the lost. - Proverbs 11:30
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
- I don't know why, but it seems that the Lord is very willing to share what is in His heart with those who do that which is closest to the heart of God.
- Jesus came to seek and save the lost. This is why His Father sent Him, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
- I guess those, who seek the lost, please the Lord a great deal.
5. God shares unspeakable things with those who serve Him. - Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
- Why would the Lord want to share His secret things with those who do not care to serve Him?
Conclusion: This can be summed up simply; God shares unspeakable words with those whom He trusts with His heart. Are you one with whom God can share His secret things?
