Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/18071/the-things-which-god-hath-prepared-for-them-that-love-him-quality-good/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] If the Lord shall be pleased to help me, I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the first epistle to the Corinthians, in chapter 2, verse 9, and the first half of verse 10. [0:25] But as it is written, I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [0:44] But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. The first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 2, verse 9, and the first half of verse 10. [1:05] In this word, you get a wonderful summing up of how a sinner is made meet for the inheritance of the saints in life. [1:30] It is a very brief compendium of what saith the Scriptures. And it brings us down to a bedrock truth. [1:48] Lowered down in the chapter, the Apostle Paul emphasizes what you will be taught to believe if God is your teacher. [2:04] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness unto him. [2:18] Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. This is a striking wording. [2:29] I have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. [2:44] In ought me not the subject as grace is given. It might be helpful to say just a word or two about that viewpoint of it. [2:56] And now, when you weigh matters up nowadays, think of what the eye has seen. Think of what the ear does here. [3:08] And think of the manifold wonders on the earth. Scientific wonders. Which have entered into the heart of man. [3:22] So that, every day there seems to be something new being made manifest. Which man's eye has discerned. [3:36] His ear has heard. And his heart has pondered it and conceived it and planned it. And it makes news. Every day. [3:49] And yet, it remains a solemn reality. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard. Neither have entered into the heart of man. [4:02] By any dint of what the eye can see. Or the ear listened to. Or the heart of man can see or study. The religion which alone will do to live by and die by. [4:19] Such religion is that which a man cannot receive. Except it be given him from heaven. And there you start. [4:30] With the ABC. Of learning. What is true. Ye must be born again. Then your eye. [4:43] Will be a spiritual eye. Then your ear. Will be a spiritual ear. Then your mind. Will be a spiritual mind. [4:56] And you will possess a new heart. A new nature. And that will enable you. To enter into the things. [5:07] Which God hath prepared. For them that love him. And now I want us to Lord. To help me. To work out this line of things. [5:18] A little. And. It must be. Well understood. That. [5:31] You have got to be prepared. For the things. Which God hath prepared. For them that. Love him. God hath revealed them unto us. [5:44] By his spirit. And now that brings us down. To what I have told you many times. Many of you receive it and believe it. [5:56] Some of you as yet. Do not. Revelation. Revelation. Revelation. [6:08] You cannot. Enter into a right experience. Of what is true. And possess that religion. [6:20] That God is the author of. By any dint. Of intellectual study. Nor by education. [6:32] Which is good in its place. But is for time alone. And not for eternity. Education. Cannot fit you for eternity. [6:44] Fit you for time. Help you to fill a useful niche in life. An honourable sphere. And serve your generation. And be a benefit and blessing. [6:55] While you live. But when you come down to die. You will have to realise. That you must have something. Which. [7:08] God has revealed to you. Watching can find out God. God. God. God. When I was a lad at school. [7:19] We used to say something like this. God never meant. That man. Should scale the heavens. By strides of human wisdom. [7:32] No. No. The starting point is. Ye must be born again. Are you? Am I? [7:42] Do not take it for granted. That you are. Oh. It is very solemn. That people. [7:54] May be religious. To a great degree. And might be likeable. On account of it. Because they seem to be useful. [8:06] Amiable. And doing. What purports. To be a good work. But that can be. And it not proceed. [8:22] From that religion. That is of God. You have only to look. In Matthew's gospel. And I say this. [8:32] In all sincerity. For I am. Terribly anxious. That none of you. Should be deceived. In the things of God. I say. You have only to look. Into Matthew's. [8:44] Gospel. And see. What is recorded there. And if it has never shaken you. I can tell you. It has shaken me. [8:55] Many times. In my long profession. Of the name of. Jesus. Then shall the king say also. [9:07] Unto them on the left hand. Depart from me. Ye cursed. Into everlasting fire. Prepared for the devil. And his angels. For I was an hundred. [9:18] And ye gave me no me. I was thirsty. And ye gave me no drink. I was a stranger. And ye took me not in. Naked. And ye clothed me not. [9:29] Sick and in prison. And ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him. Saying. Lord. When saw we thee unhungered. Or a thirst. [9:39] Or a stranger. Or naked. Or sick. Or in prison. And did not minister unto thee. Lord. We were doing it all our life. Then shall he answer them. [9:50] Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch. As ye did it not. To one of the least of these. Ye did it not to me. You do need to. [10:04] Think of that scripture. To the church at Corinth. Examine yourselves. And see. Whether ye be in the faith or no. And you want something from God. [10:15] To make it plain. That you were born again. And that your religion will do. To live by. And to. Die by. [10:26] What you want dear friends. Is what you sung about. In the opening hymn. Spirit of truth. Come down. Reveal the things of God. [10:36] You will find. If the spirit of truth. Comes down. And does reveal. The things of God. To you. [10:49] That there will be. Much you will have to do. Before God. With whom you have to do. You will come into that scripture. [11:02] More than you have done yet. Seek ye first. The kingdom of God. And his righteousness. And all these things. Shall be added unto you. You will learn. [11:16] This scripture. Be content. With such things. As ye have. Godliness. With contentment. [11:26] Is great gain. A little. That a righteous man. Hath. Is better than the riches. Of many wicked. All the things of God. Are beautiful. [11:37] And blessed. And when they are. Revealed. To you. What do you feel? Compared with Christ. [11:48] In all beside. No comeliness. I see. And the one thing. Needful. Dearest Lord. Is to be one. With thee. [11:59] I refer again. To this scripture. Because it might be a little help. To you. And that is what I am here for. [12:09] As grace is given. To help you. To hope in God. But the natural man. Receiveth not. The things. Of the spirit of God. [12:20] And now. Some of you. Do hope. That you have received. Somewhat. Of the things. Of the spirit of God. And now. [12:31] If God has granted you. That great mercy. Then there is a word here. Which. Should encourage you. But blessed are your eyes. [12:43] For they see. And your ears. For they hear. The Savior said. To his disciples. For verily I say unto you. [12:54] That many prophets. And righteous men. Have desired to see. Those things. Which ye see. And have not seen them. And to hear. Those things. Which ye hear. And have not heard them. [13:07] The prophets. Look forward to the day. When Jesus Christ. Should be born. Obeyed by birth. Mysterious. But the disciples. Were in his company. [13:18] As he went about. Doing that great work. His father had given him to do. Blessed are your eyes. For they see. And your ears. [13:30] For they hear. Is it the truth concerning you? In that day. Shall the deaf. Hear the words of the book. [13:41] The ears of the deaf. Shall be unstopped. Is this your confession of faith? One thing I know. Whereas I was blind. [13:53] Now I can see. The natural man. The natural man. Receiveth not. The things of the spirit of God. For they have foolishness unto him. [14:05] Neither can he know them. He may be wonderfully well educated. And very wise. Filled with the learning of this world. [14:17] And making a right use of it. In his sphere. But with the things of God. They are spiritually deserved. [14:28] Do remember the house. This is what troubles us. With some of you dear young people. You do not want as yet. [14:40] The things of the spirit of God. What you want. Is the things to do with this life. And you want to do as you like. And live as you list. [14:54] And according to how you think about it. There is no reason. As you judge. Why you should not do it. Why you should not be allowed. [15:11] To live such a life. But that you should be kept. Inside the covers of the word of God. What is the reason? [15:23] He that being often reproved. [15:34] And hardeneth his neck. Shall suddenly be destroyed. And that without remedy. You are just living in the crater of a volcano. [15:46] If you want to live as you like. And think you can do it. Any day. There may be an eruption in that volcano. [15:58] And you will be swallowed up. At the bottom of it is hell. I wish you would think about it. And at least reverence the things of God. [16:13] And not turn your backs upon them. As though they are of no value. Or you think you can make use of them another day. [16:24] When you are old and grey headed. But maybe. You never will be old and grey headed. Like crowded forest trees we stand. [16:38] And some are marked to fall. The axe will smite at God's command. And soon will smite us all. And this thought comes to me. This Sabbath afternoon. There is one. [16:51] Under Union Chapel roof at this time. Who must be the first in this assembly. To be marked to fall. Either the preacher in the pulpit. [17:03] Or one of you in the pew. Might not be one old and grey headed. Might be a teenager. I wish you would think about it. [17:17] There it is too late. Only this frail and fleeting breath preserves me. From the jaws of death. Soon as it fails it once I am gone. [17:27] And plunged into a world unknown. But this is the gist of it. This accounts for. How man behaves. [17:39] And fights against God and godliness. The natural man. Receiveth not. The things of the spirit of God. And his attitude is. [17:51] We will not have this man to reign over us. Oh but when a sinner is born again. What a wondrous change. There is in one's outlook. Jesus is the one thing needful. [18:05] I without him perish must. Gracious spirit make me heedful. Help me in his name to trust. And with pleasure in him. [18:16] As my portion boast. I hath not seen nor ear heard. Neither have entered into the heart of man. [18:28] The things which God hath prepared. For them that love him. And now coming down to bedrock truth. You will look at the character. [18:40] Them that love him. Does it include you? It is a high attainment to love him. It is wonderful to find something in our heart that would do it. [18:58] I like the hymn writer's approach to it. I sometimes feel myself inclined. To love him if I could. I often find another mind averse to all that's good. [19:13] But that inclination. Where does that come from? Not what you are by nature does it? [19:23] Shall I read it again? But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God. For they are foolishness unto him. [19:36] Now if any of us this Sabbath afternoon find in our hearts. A gracious inclination. To love him. [19:48] In our text. And all that has to do with him and his. It is that which has been revealed to us by the spirit of God. [19:59] And we love him because he first loved us. There is one more viewpoint of this subject I would like you to think about. [20:10] It says in this word. In our subject. Them that love him. And now the apostle Paul was quoting that scripture. [20:23] From the book of Isaiah. And there it reads like this. Follow it along. For since the beginning of the world. [20:35] Men have not heard. Nor perceived by the ear. Neither hath the eye seen. O God. Beside thee. [20:47] What he hath prepared. For him. That waiteth for him. And now. You might have many searchings of heart. [20:58] As to whether you do love him. Whether you belong to them. That love him. Or you do hope you do. But you do know of a truth if you wait for him. [21:11] Let your consciences tell you. What is truth about it? Them that wait for him. Is that your attitude in everyday life at times? [21:24] As grace is given. Wait for him. Wait on him. The Lord bless you. [21:37] Blessed are all they that wait for him. And what do you wait on him for? Surely it is this. Spirit of truth. [21:49] Come down. Reveal the things of God. Lord. I want to belong to thee and thine. I want a living interest. In eternal realities. [22:01] I want to participate in the favour that thou bearest unto thy people. I want to know that my religion would take me to heaven. I want to know thou art the author of it. [22:15] I want to live right. And to die right. This prayer and this ambition mine. Living and dying to be thine. Do prayerfully think on the character here. [22:31] Them that love him. God is love. And thee that loveth is born of God. [22:41] Love is the golden chain that binds the favoured souls above. And thee is a hair of heaven who finds his bosom glow with love. [22:53] I've told you sometimes. I repeat it. I like that word glow. It is very suggestive. And to find it in your heart at times. [23:05] Is a wonderful mercy. Glow with love. Then you feel. Everything that's dear to him. To me. [23:15] Is also dear. And there is always this feeling. When you get a little realisation that you do love him. [23:26] Oh that my soul. Could no one love him more. His. Beautiest grace. His majesty adore. Live near his heart. [23:38] Upon his bosom lean. Obey his voice. And all his will esteem. Yes. Them that love him. [23:50] Them that wait for him. With them numbered may we be now. And in eternity. And now I want to look at the subject from another viewpoint. [24:05] But as it is written. I have not seen. Nor ear heard. Neither have entered into the heart of man. The things which God hath prepared. [24:19] For them that love him. I want to look at some of those things. And this is worded as only the spirit of God would word it. [24:33] The things which God hath prepared. You must never think of God. Doing. Anything that he does. [24:45] Otherwise. Than it being prepared. The Puritans have a saying. You have heard it. [24:56] And forgotten it. Till you are reminded of it. Heaven is a prepared place. For a prepared people. There is a very striking word. [25:09] That John the Baptist's father used. As to what would be the outcome. Of the ministry. Of John the Baptist. A people made ready for the Lord. [25:24] And now that is the outcome. Of the preaching of the gospel. Wherever men are ordained of God. To preach it. In that measure of success. Great or small as the case may be. [25:36] That attends their labors. It is to make a people ready. For the Lord. And that they may be fitted for the skies. Made meek for the inheritance. [25:48] Of the saints in life. And now this. Word before us. Refers to. The things. Which God hath prepared. [26:01] For them that love him. When did he prepare them? Before the world was built. [26:14] A time was born. The things which. God hath prepared for them that love him. Were prepared then. No preacher can tell you much about it. [26:27] Because it is. Oh so difficult. To define the things of God. In words. You prayerfully ponder this word of the hymn writer. [26:40] He fills his own immortal now. Ask God to help you. [26:53] Enter into the majesty of it. And the mercy too. He fills his own immortal now. His eternal thought. [27:04] Mark the adjective. Thought. Moves on. His undisturbed affairs. God sees the end. From the beginning. [27:16] And it is all before. Is. All see in eyes. As a whole. Yes. And the things which God hath prepared. [27:29] For them that love him. Were prepared. In the covenant of grace. Ordered in all things. And if ordered. [27:41] Then they were prepared. The preparation. Preceded. The ordering. Therefore. [27:52] There is a sure guarantee. The secret of the Lord. Is with them that fear him. And he will show them. His covenant. He will show them. [28:05] That they are in it. Yes. And now. One outstanding thing. Of the things which God hath prepared. [28:21] For them that love him. Is a wonder. Scheme of salvation. Good William Gadsby. [28:35] Used to say. It was rather a. Strange expression. That the scheme of salvation. Was of such a nature. That man could not moray. [28:50] And God could not improve upon it. And that is the truth. Prepared. A number which no man can number. [29:02] Of sinners to be saved by grace. And get all the good. Ordained in the covenant of grace. And God to receive all the glory. Thereof. [29:14] Yes. And as I thought on this subject a little. There is a very striking word in the Psalms. Where Jesus Christ is referred to. [29:26] In what is called a messianic Psalm. Referred to prophetically. A body hast thou prepared me. And now what an amazing. [29:38] Thing that was. And you and I have got the. Privilege to contemplate it. By living faith. Go to Bethlehem. And see the thing that came to pass there. [29:54] The eternal son of God. And his divine nature. Taking. Human nature. Into union with his own. His divine nature. [30:07] Seen among men. Verily man. Verily God. Clothed in a body like our own. And yet. [30:18] The holy. Harmless. Undefiled. Son of God. A body. Hast thou. Prepared me. That holy thing. [30:32] Which shall be born of thee. Created by the Holy Spirit. Wonderful it is to think of Mary. [30:47] When she said to the angel. Be it unto thy handmaiden. As thou hast said. And at that moment. This prepared thing. [31:00] Was brought to pass. And Jesus Christ. As verily man. Was conceived in her womb. Bow down. Sense and reason. Faith only reign here. [31:12] Take off her shoes. From off her feet. In a gospel sense. The place whereon. You and I are standing. And contemplating that truth. Is holy ground. But. [31:23] It is. One of the things. And the one of the. Outstanding things. Which God. Prepared. For them. That love him. God so loved the world. [31:37] That he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him. Should not perish. But have everlasting life. Not only so. [31:52] Righteousness. Is one of the things. God has prepared. And now what a mercy. That is to think about. Because. You and I have got. [32:03] None of our own. Wherein to appear before God. Oh but there is the righteousness. Of God. Which is by faith. In Jesus Christ. [32:15] And that is prepared. For them that wait. For him. Them that. Love him. If guilt. Lies heavy on you. [32:30] On your conscience. If guilt. Disturb thy peace. To Satan. Harris thee. Behold the saviour's righteousness. Which sets the guilty free. [32:43] Oh which is a wondrous thing. Which God hath prepared. Righteousness. To make poor sinners. [32:56] Justified. Before God. And that is a great truth. That God can be just. And justify the ungodly. [33:09] I bring near. My righteousness. Says Jesus. To them that love him. Them that wait for him. Take his filthy garments off. [33:21] Clothe him with a change of rain. The world. And then. There is this thing. Which is prepared. And them that love him. [33:34] Them that wait for him. Are glad to make a right use of it. Think of the mercy seat. What a wonderful preparation. That is. Whereby God and man. [33:47] Can meet together. On friendly terms. And you know. I remind you. That you can stand at any time. Anywhere. At the foot of Jacob's ladder. And by living faith. [33:59] See the Lord standing above it. To deal with your case. Your circumstances. And appear. On your behalf. For that ladder. Is still set up. [34:11] On the earth. In other words. Let us therefore. Come boldly. Unto the throne of grace. To obtain mercy. And find grace. [34:23] To help. In time of need. The things. Which God. Hath prepared. For them. [34:34] That love him. And every one of them. That love him. Will participate. In the benefit. Of the things. Which God. Hath prepared. [34:45] In his time. His way. For he has prepared. The time. When they shall receive. The blessing. Of the things. Which. Are prepared. [34:57] Remember that. The time he has set. To heal up. Thy woes. For season. Most fit. His love. To disclose. Until he is ready. [35:07] To accomplish. His will. Be patient. And steady. And wait on him still. There is a fountain. [35:18] Open for sin. And that is a thing. Prepared. For them. That love God. In that day. There shall be a fountain. [35:28] Open for sin. And for. Uncleanness. Jesus. Jesus. Blood. Through earth and skies. Mercy. Eternal. Mercy. Christ. [35:40] And I might add this. I can only give you hints. To prayerfully think about. As the time goes. So swiftly. There is a gospel table. [35:52] Prepared. For them. That love him. Them. That wait for him. And now. I want this to be. Well understood. When you gather. [36:03] Around the gospel table. As you do. In the attitude. Of worship. It will be well. For you. To weigh up. [36:13] Before God. As to whether you are. Prepared. The word of God. Says. Blessed are they. Which do. Hunger. And thirst. After righteousness. [36:24] For they shall be filled. Sometimes you find. The gospel table. Is indeed prepared. And there is something. In the gospel. [36:35] Proclamation. That is made helpful. A blessing. A benefit. To you. And now. Behind all that. There is this word. [36:47] Prepared. God has prepared you. With an ear to ear. A heart to receive. The word of his grace. [36:59] And he has prepared you. In your soul's. Exercises. To be on the stretch. To hear. What God the Lord will say. Otherwise. [37:11] You might be sitting in the view. As hard as the seat you sit on. And asleep. I'm not fitting any caps on. I don't see anybody asleep. But you can be like that. [37:25] On exercise. And yet. Around the gospel table. You need to be prepared. To receive what God has prepared for you. [37:36] Then you can say. To watch men. To watch men. Yes. And it is good. When you come inside. That scripture. Blessed is the people. [37:48] That know the joyful sound. They shall walk. Oh Lord. In. The light of thy. Countenance. I have not seen. [38:00] Nor ear heard. Neither have entered into the heart of man. The things which God hath prepared. For them. That love him. [38:13] And I might add this. Look in the word of God. What is prepared there. Whatever you need. For comfort. Or counsel. [38:24] For caution. For confirmation. For correction. All is in the word of God. Thy word. [38:36] Is a lamp unto my feet. A light unto. My path. There are precious promises. Exceeding great and precious promises prepared. [38:48] And there are precepts. Exceeding great and precious. Precepts prepared. To instruct you. In the way of righteousness. The word of God. [38:59] Is prepared. For them that love him. Them that wait for him. Yes. And in all your. [39:12] Cases. Your circumstances. It should be your attitude. What set the scriptures. The new. Dear young people. Remember. If you have got. [39:22] Godly fathers and mothers. That is how they have to behave. Before God. In dealing with you. What set the scriptures. It is not so much. [39:33] What they say. Because they say. What the scriptures say. You say. What you say. Well. If you contradict. The scriptures. [39:43] In your life. And with your lips. And think you will live outside. The covers of the word of God. I would just quote. One scripture. [39:54] He that rejecteth me. And my words. Theth one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken. Should judge him. At the last day. And now. [40:06] That is a very solemn. Consideration. I think of many of you. Dear young people. Especially as I am far on. [40:16] In life. Even in time. And I think of those. Words of Moses. The man of God. Sometimes I think. My heart will break. If some of you were lost. [40:29] All that they were wise. All that they understood this. All that they would consider. Their latter end. There is no greater. [40:42] Happiness. On the earth. To be known. Than to participate. In the things. Which God hath prepared. For them that love him. And for you. To be taught. To love him. And to be brought. [40:53] To wait for him. And wait on him. Oh that the Lord. Would bless you. And shut you up. In that scripture. Ye must be born again. [41:10] Neither have entered. Into the heart of man. Says Paul. The things which. God hath prepared. For them that love him. And then. [41:22] For his people. He has prepared. Everlasting consolation. He has prepared. Happiness. Worth a name. All earthly happiness. [41:33] Though it be lawful happiness. What is it. But blowing bubbles. And there you can see. The pretty colors. The bubbles burst. And you have nothing substantial. [41:45] To show. All earthly happiness. Is passing and perishing. Says Moses. The man of God. Happy art thou. [41:56] O Israel. Who is like unto thee. O people. Saved by the Lord. Yes. Happy is he. [42:08] That hath the God of Jacob. For his health. Whose hope is in the Lord. Is God. One more thought. As I come to the Amen. I could have said. [42:20] That one of the things. God hath prepared. For them that love him. Them that wait for him. Is his all wise providence. Which means. Them that love him. Them that wait for him. [42:32] Look on in life's journey. Like Manoah and his wife. And the angel did wondrously. And Manoah and his wife. Looked on. As I read to you. [42:43] Whoso is wise. And will observe these things. Even they shall understand. The loving kindness. Of the Lord. But then. [42:55] This life is not for long. And we shall soon get to the end of it. Some of us. And some of you dear young people. [43:07] May arrive at the end of your life. Much sooner. Than you expect to. And it will be well. For you. To ponder these things. [43:17] In your heart. In my father's house. Many mansions. Or many mansions. If it were not so. I would have told you. [43:28] I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am. [43:41] There ye may be. Also. Oh what. What an amazing thing that is. Which no preacher can say much about. There you see. [43:52] As I told you. Heaven is a prepared place. For a prepared people. For now. What is your attitude to these people. Prepared people. [44:05] Do you say. Let me amongst thy saints be found. Are you glad sometimes to sing. When thou my righteous judge shall come. To take thy ransomed people home. [44:19] Shall I among them stand. But as it is written. I have not seen. Nor ear heard. [44:31] Neither have entered into the heart of man. The things which God hath prepared. For them that love him. But God hath revealed them. [44:41] Unto us. By his spirit. Oh that every one of you. Under union. And chapel room. Might have this religion. [44:53] Which is by revelation. For this alone. Would do to live by. And die by. And this alone. Will give you a passport. [45:04] To get through the gates of God. Amen. Amen. Number 10. Number 10. Number 10. [45:14] Number 10. Number 10. June 11. Number 10. Number 10. Titans. Number 11. John Knights. Number 10. 9. Month. Number 10. [45:27] Number 10. If you ofy. I was child. From a wedding. My love.치 by. [45:37] Tonight. Thank you. [46:08] Thank you. [46:38] Thank you. [47:08] Thank you. Thank you. [48:08] Thank you. Thank you. [49:08] Thank you. Thank you. [50:08] Amen. Amen. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, the communion of the Holy Spirit be upon us and all who love the truth everywhere. Amen. [50:33] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. [50:45] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.