EYE HAS NOT SEEN

Eltham Baptist 18th Nov 2012

No. 397

"However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 1 Corinthians 2:9

This is one of my favourite scriptures, and brings such strength to my heart especially when life gets boring or really hard. The Devil said to me as I prepared to preach on this verse; "How can you preach a message on this verse especially after Nick has just died?" "You were believing that he would be healed and he wasn't, so this scripture isn't true." I have gone ahead anyway for one thing we need to realise is that God always answers prayer. Sometimes He says 'yes' and other times He says 'no', or 'wait' but it's always an answer for our good. Even when He says nothing it's still an answer for we must just trust Him to work it all out without knowing what's going on. If He wanted us to know something important surely He would let us know.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Rest in the truth that God is always working everything out for our good. Those times when we don't understand right now we shall understand later.
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

We were reminded again at the funeral of the inexpressible joy and awesome experience that Nick is now having in the presence of Jesus. Nick has opened his eyes in heaven and is now seeing Jesus - 'awesome.' This is really the only time we should be using this word 'awesome', when it's in relation to Jesus and not when it's to do with a good meal, a great movie or some pop music. Not only is Nick seeing Jesus as someone passing by in the distance like the Queen on her royal visit, but He's seeing Jesus and Jesus is seeing him. He's experiencing the gaze of someone who really loves him and understands everything about him. Jesus knows what he has been through here on earth, and He can satisfy all his desires and dreams to the uttermost from now on. Jesus doesn't just love you, He likes you. You can love someone without even knowing much about them. Guys can fall in love with a girl and yet never have spoken to them. Liking means that you know something more about that person. Jesus likes us because He knows us and He is interested in us as well. He's not just patronizing us to make us happy. In the African culture the African people often say things nice because they know it will make you happy. If you are travelling somewhere and ask an African man how far it is till you get to your destination. They often say it's only a little way to go, when actually its 20 kilometers away, as they know that's what you would like to hear. Jesus isn't like that. He is extremely interested in us. He has written (tattooed) your name on the palm of His hand.
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Isaiah 49:16

He died for you. Would you die for someone? A mother may die for her child or a husband for his wife but it's always because they love them. What a privilege it is when the Queen stops to shake someone's hand or ask them a question. You wonder if she really means it or just was trained that way. Some young girls don't wash their hands for ages after shaking hands with their idol, but here we have Jesus standing and coming to us and welcoming us into heaven. Imagine what it must have been like for Bartimaeus when he was healed of blindness and opened his eyes to see Jesus. He is the luckiest man alive for the first person he ever saw was Jesus.
"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus stopped and said, Call him. So they called to the blind man, Cheer up! On your feet! Hes calling you. Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said, Rabbi, I want to see. Go, said Jesus, your faith has healed you. Immediately he

received his sight and followed Jesus along the road." Mark 10:46-52

I was looking again at the cripple being healed and walking in Acts 3:2-8. How amazing.
Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, Look at us! So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the mans feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. Acts 3:2-8

Not only did he walk for the first time in his life which was a miracle in itself, but did you ever think about how he started walking without any training as well? Babies need to learn to walk, and this man was healed and walked without any training before. Amazing - Gobsmacking. One day we will experience the 'ultimate blessing' when we see the awesome face of Jesus and experience His amazing pure love, unhindered, but in the mean time we have to live down here on earth with all its disappointments. The love of Jesus towards us is being interfered with by a fallen world and Satanic forces. One minute we can be on top of the world and the next we are in the pits - why?. God's love is still there but it has gone behind a cloud like the sun. We have to learn to live positive here if we want to have a victorious life. God has given us promises like 1 Corinthians 2:9 to build up our faith and keep our heads above water. We may see some amazing things now and then but end up all negative the next, and that is because we all 'leak'. The positive leaks out of us so easily. How we forget all the good times when we are depressed, we have to train ourselves to walk by faith daily otherwise we will be like a roller coaster. How many times have you been 'Gobsmacked' in your life? What wonderful events impressed you indelibly? As I quickly try and think of different things on the spur of the moment I remember the time I saw 2 'fire rainbows' in the sky while praying on the beach at Oakura. The time a monkey came into the kitchen in Zimbabwe and sat on Bernice's shoulder. The time I came out of my tent in Zimbabwe and was met by a giraffe. My marriage day with my beautiful wife at my side. The day I came back to New Zealand after such a long time and was met by all my friends and family at the air port. The view I had ahead on the way home as I came over the Mahoenui Hill of the Awakino Gorge in the distance. Fitzroy Beach when the waves are really pumping at 6 foot with an off shore wind. The Mountain on a windy day capped with a halo of cloud. These are some of those experiences that 'gobsmacked' me. The trouble is Satan robs us of the lasting joy of remembering these times. When we feel down or depressed we often forget to rebuke Satan. I am really aware of how Satan can affect me as I prepare to preach an important message. I often feel sick and oppressed before hand, but when I rebuke him it all lifts and I can enjoy the moment once more. God wants us to experience and enjoy things that we have never had before down here on earth. Expect to see great things as well. Develop your faith muscles now. I know many of us are disappointed and even angry that we have lost Nick. It didn't happen the way we wanted. Do we now rip up the bible and say it doesn't work? I remember reading of a question asked a great minister who was used in healing. Thousands had been saved and healed through his ministry, yet he was quick to point out that many weren't healed and he couldn't explain why. Did he give up just because of those who were not healed or would he be encouraged by those who were. It's the glass half empty or the glass half full scenario. If you persist in being negative all the time then you will end up with nothing that can make you happy anymore and you'll never see any good even in the land of the living. You'll end up like Scrooge in Christmas Carol or the Grinch. God wants us to keep lifting our faith up high.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," Ephesians 3:20

You may say that you are not worthy, and that is true, you are not, BUT Jesus is worthy. In ancient times you brought a lamb to the Priest for your sins to be forgiven. If the lamb was found worthy then you could go away forgiven and accepted by God. It was the lamb not you that got you

accepted. On your best or your worst day you can come to God and say that you come in the 'name of Jesus' and you will be instantly accepted. Hallelujah. Continue to expect great things from a great God. mailto:ghotter@live.com http:hottersermons1.blogspot.com