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. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have

been freely given to us by God.(I Corinthians 2)

The Things Of God

How do we know what God wants from us?

God’s Things• Have been revealed - I Cor. 2:10-11

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.

(I Corinthians 2)

God’s Things• Have been revealed - I Cor. 2:10-11• Written, understandable - Eph. 3:3-6

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which,

when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the

mystery of Christ),

5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6

that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and

partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

(Ephesians 3)

God’s Things• Have been revealed - I Cor. 2:10-11• Written, understandable - Eph. 3:3-6• To make us complete - 2 Tim. 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for

every good work.(2 Timothy 3)

God’s Things• Have been revealed - I Cor. 2:10-11• Written, understandable - Eph. 3:3-6• To make us complete - 2 Tim. 3:16-17• All that pertains - 2 Peter 1:2-4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power

has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious

promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine

nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world

through lust.(2 Peter 1)

God’s Things• Have been revealed - I Cor. 2:10-11• Written, understandable - Eph. 3:3-6• To make us complete - 2 Tim. 3:16-17• All that pertains - 2 Peter 1:2-4• No other gospel - Galatians 1:6-9

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in

the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but

there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to

you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say

again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have

received, let him be accursed.(Galatians 1)

God’s Things• Have been revealed• Written so we can understand• To make us completely equipped• All that pertains to life and godliness• No other gospel allowed• So, we can know the “things” of God;

His mind revealed to us.

Setting The Standard• By what authority? - Matthew 21:23-27

23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the

elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By

what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this

authority?”

24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will

tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John—

where was it from? From heaven or from men?” …

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we

say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a

prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

(Matthew 21)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? - Matthew 21:23-27– From heaven? Or of men?

• Name of the Lord - Colossians 3:17

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord

Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(Colossians 3)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? - Matthew 21:23-27• Name of the Lord - Colossians 3:17• The will of the Father - Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the

kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in

heaven.

22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied

in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many

wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew

you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

(Matthew 7)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? Heaven or men? • Name of the Lord• The will of the Father• Expressed in:–Commands (“this do” - I Cor. 11:24-25)

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;

this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper,

saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as

often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

(I Corinthians 11)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? Heaven or men? • Name of the Lord• The will of the Father• Expressed in:–Commands (“this do” - I Cor. 11:24-25)–Approved Examples (Acts 20:6-7)

6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread,

and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and

continued his message until midnight.

(Acts 20)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? Heaven or men? • Name of the Lord• The will of the Father• Expressed in:–Commands (“this do” - I Cor. 11:24-25)–Approved Examples (Acts 20:6-7)–Necessary inference (Matthew 3:16)

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting

upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well

pleased.”(Matthew 3)

Setting The Standard• By what authority? Heaven or men? • Do all in the name of the Lord• Must do the will of the Father• Expressed in:–Commands (“this do” - I Cor. 11:24-25)–Approved Examples (Acts 20:6-7)–Necessary inference (Matthew 3:16)

The Silence of God• Secret things belong to God - Deut.29:29

29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may

do all the words of this law.(Deuteronomy 29)

The Silence of God• Secret things belong to God - Deut.29:29• Not beyond what is written - I Cor. 4:6

6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself

and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond

what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one

against the other.(I Corinthians 4)

The Silence of God• Secret things belong to God - Deut.29:29• Not beyond what is written - I Cor. 4:6• Silence prohibits - Hebrews 7:11-14

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for

under it the people received the law), what further need was there

that another priest should rise according to the order of

Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of

the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to

another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is

evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke

nothing concerning priesthood.(Hebrews 7)

The Silence of God• The secret things belong to God, but

what He has revealed belongs to us!• We must not think or go beyond what is

written• Silence prohibits, it does not permit

No person on earth has perfect knowledge, but God has revealed by His Spirit all things that pertain

to life and godliness.

That revelation authorizes us to act in ways that please God, and His silence prohibits us from doing

what pleases us instead.

So, who do you want to please? Will you respect

God’s will and His authority over us and do

those things that are from heaven rather than men?