Introduction

1 Corinthians 2:9 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.

What is the Apostle Paul referring to in this verse? Is he referring to future blessings? Is he referring to the glory which shall be revealed in us at Christ returns to this earth for His people? Is he referring to the future glory that awaits us believers in heaven?

Many times this verse is applied to Heaven and I believe we could do that. Oh, how little we know about Heaven and the future glories of Heaven. We can say Heaven is so glorious and that no eye has seen, and no ear has heard, neither has entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him. 

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2: And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3: And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2: In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3: And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5: And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Oh, how beautiful Heaven must be!

We read of a place that's called heaven,

It's made for the pure and the free;

These truths in God's Word He hath given,

How beautiful heaven must be.

Refrain:

How beautiful heaven must be,

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

Truly we can describe Heaven as, "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."

Though we could applied this verse to the glories that awaits us in heaven, understand that the main context in 1 Corinthians 2:9 is not Heaven at all. So what is it? That's what I invite you to consider this morning - the Benefit; the Beneficiaries; and the Benefactor.

What is this great blessing? Who are the recipients of this great blessing? Who is the bestower of this great blessing? Let's reflect of the the Benefit; the Beneficiaries; and the Benefactor.

I — The Benefit

1 Corinthians 2:9 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.

What is Paul referring to in this verse? What is it that the eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has enter the heart of men? What are the things that God has prepared for them that love Him, which Paul is talking about?

As I have said, though we could applied this verse to the future of heaven understand that the main focus in this verse is not Heaven at all but the wisdom of God. It is the wisdom of God centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. This theme of the wisdom of God centered on Jesus Christ and Him crucified dominates the first two chapters of this epistle. 

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2: For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

This wisdom of God is described by the Apostle Paul as mystery; it's hidden wisdom which none of the prince of this world knew.

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9: 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.

The Apostle Paul speaks that this hidden wisdom cannot be discovered by human reason. 

1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

In the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God. In other words, in God's wisdom it pleased Him that the things which God hath prepared for them that love him should not discovered by man's own reason and intellect. 

But now, this wisdom of God which is centered upon the person and work of Christ and a mystery and hidden to the unconverted is now revealed. And to whom is it revealed? Who are the recipients of this great benefit? 

II — The Beneficiaries

Who are the recipients of this benefit?

1 Corinthians 2:9 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.

The recipients of this great blessing of Jesus Christ and the salvation of Jesus Christ are them that love Him. It is revealed to them that love God in Christ. It is not because of this that God has blessed them, but this is the evidence that God has blessed them. They are those that love Him. That is the character of the beneficiaries, they love God. 

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

How do we know He loved us?

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

When a person comes to realize that God loves him with an everlasting love; though he does not deserve to be loved, though he is unlovely and unlovable he cannot help but fall in love with God. 

To whom is this wisdom of God revealed to? To whom is this great blessing of Christ and His salvation made known to? It is made known to all who love God; to all who have been born again by the Spirit of God. All that God has done for His people is not understood by the unconverted but is understood only by the born again by the Spirit.

III — The Benefactor

Who bestows this benefit? Who is the source of this blessing? 

1 Corinthians 2:9 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. 10: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

The source of this great blessing is God and is revealed by the Holy Spirit!

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

We know that man is prone to be exceedingly proud. Man thinks by human reasoning and probing, he can attain the knowledge of God. 

Job 11:7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? 8: It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

Man thinks that through the power of his own intellect and through the power of his own reason, he can know and understand God and His wisdom. But Paul reminds us that the world by wisdom knew not God. In other words, in spite of all the world's wisdom; in spite of all its intellect and education, the world do not and cannot know and understand God and the things of God.

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

When it comes to understanding the things of God the wise and the learned are clueless but the unschooled are mighty in Scriptures.

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

The Jewish religious leaders were amazed at Peter and John, who were powerful and bold preachers although they were uneducated and untrained. 

True understanding of the Word of God; true understanding of the things of God is not dependent upon worldly wisdom. 

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Jesus promised His disciples in John 16:13 that when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide them into all the truth. Praise the Lord that the Comforter has come! He has come to indwell, to bear witness and to illumine those who have been born of the Spirit. By His Spirit He has enable them that love Him to know in experience the wisdom of God centered in Christ and His cross.

Closing Thoughts

The truth that we need the ministry of the Holy Spirit should at least lead to two results:

1. It is Humbling

It is humbling because a person may read to all eternity, and never learn anything by it, unless it is illuminated by the Spirit.

This is David's consistent and constant prayer as he approaches the Word of God.

Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 

Psalm 119:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

Psalm 119:125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.

Psalm 119:144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. 145: I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

Open my eyes, that I may see

Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;

Place in my hands the wonderful key

That shall unclasp, and set me free.

Open my ears, that I may hear

Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;

And while the wave notes fall on my ear,

Ev'rything false will disappear. 

Refrain:

Silently now I wait for Thee,

Ready, my God, Thy will to see:

Open my eyes, illumine me,

Savior divine!

2. It is Encouraging

This doctrine of the Spirit's illumination should not only humble us but it should also encourage us. It should be an encouragement to us ordinary people that we can read the Bible with profit.  We don't have to be rocket scientist to read our Bible. We don't need to have advanced degrees in Bible and theology to be able to read and understand God's Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit, all of God's people can understand His Word. This is a book that our Heavenly Father has given for our benefit, and for which He has made special provision through His Spirit for you to understand.

1 Corinthians 2:12: 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.

Let me close by asking these questions: Do you love Jesus Christ? Do you love Him because He first loved you? 

1 Corinthians 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

If you are lost today, oh how you need to humble yourself and cry to God to enlighten you; to help you see your desperate condition and need. O, call upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from you sins!

AMEN!