Finish/It! - 1 Corinthians 2:9
Finish/It! • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 62 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today, we are going to begin a sermon series about some Scripture that many of you may have on the wall, but that often go unfinished when quoted or completely taken out of context. Every one of us pastors comes across this so regularly that I thought, why not turn it into a sermon series?
Our Purpose is simple: As we go through the next few weeks, we are going to put these verses into proper context and then look at what we can apply from them.
We are going to do this in a three point format. Text, Context, and Application.
Today’s Verse:
Today’s Verse:
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
PRAY.
Point 1: Text
Point 1: Text
We so often hear this text quoted, most times at funerals but so many stop at verse 9 and never finish the statement. In fact, I think I have maybe heard it finished one time in my life when preached.
9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
Point 2: Context
Point 2: Context
Background
Background
Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church around 53-54 AD from Ephesus. He is sending his letter for two purposes:
To have them look at their lives through the lens of the Gospel and to address divisions among believers. This is something the modern church really needs to pay attention to.
Four years prior to this letter, Paul had spent 18 months in Corinth. He was intimately familiar with this church and pens his letter from Ephesus. He sent this letter to remind them and to restore them. This letter was about putting things in order.
Scripturally in verse 9 and 10, Paul is referencing:
4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
This verse amends the statement in Isaiah saying::
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
You see, in the Old Testament, the spirit rested upon them. In the New Testament the Spirit is within them, and it is through this Spirit that we are able to know and understand the deep things of God.
17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
Jesus was speaking of a divine exchange. After He ascended to heaven, the Comforter came, and He told us clearly what the Comforter would do.
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
This speaks of: Conviction, Discernment, and Revealing involving the deep things of God.
This is why it is critical when you read your Bibles that you pray first and ask God to have His Holy Spirit open the text to you.
This is why where our discernment and conviction comes from.
You know that feeling in your body when you see someone teaching heresy or leading people from God? That is the Holy Spirit at work.
In fact, the Bible says that:
It is made abundantly clear in:
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Let’s look at the whole pericope now that we have context.
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
Which leads us to the application.
Point 3: Application
Point 3: Application
We must be utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal the things of God to us which include His Word, conviction, and spiritual discernment.
Verse 11 told us that no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God and as we covered in John, He will only speak the words He hears from the Father, so if we are going to know God and have an intimate relationship with him, we must acquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit.
This comes from prayer, fasting, worship, and time at the altar.
When we become utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit to reveal the things of God to us, then we can truly operate for the kingdom.
Altar call.