Discovering the Deep Things of God

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
I have been waiting for Emmaus Baptist College to switch over to a new software system for record-keeping since February, but this week, the time finally came. I’ve been told for months about how amazing this new software is, but this week I’ve had the chance to experience it. After looking at it, I feel kind of like the Queen of Sheba was with Solomon when she said, "Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me" (1 Kings 10:7).
The only problem is that it is initially a lot of work. It will be the greatest thing that the college ever did, but the training this week is wearing me out. Honestly, there is a part of me that would prefer to limp along with the old, antiquated, inferior system of record-keeping rather than learn the new way.
I said all of that to say this: that is where many believers live when it comes to spirituality. Our tendency is to stick to what we know even if it is inferior rather than to put forth the effort to experience something that is radically phenomenal. That is what Paul is addressing in tonight’s passage.

I. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS-
I have used this verse many times, but the context of the verse became more clear to me today
This is really not a verse that speaks about heaven and what awaits us one day in glory
It seems that that is the context that the source of this had in Isaiah 64:4
Isaiah was praying for the Messiah’s coming judgment on the world
Isaiah’s frame of reference was an experience with God like Moses had
But Paul is directed by the Holy Spirit to make another application of this verse here
It has not dawned on us the extent to which God has gone to equip us for His service
We never have had anything in our previous experience to prepare us for this experience
Consider the context. Paul is writing about how he ministered among them.
He preached "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
His ministry was not flashy. It didn’t appeal to human wisdom.
But there was a simplicity and sincerity with boldness that impacted their lives
Even reaching back into the previous chapter, the context runs in the same vein:
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."
What God has made available to us as believers is uncommon and powerful
But it is also easily overlooked. It doesn’t fit into our expectations of God’s Working.
If we would explore it, we would find that it surpasses those expectations in its effectiveness
In other words, there is more to the Christian experience than many believers ever encounter
There are abilities and strengths that we often overlook or aren’t even aware exist
Nevertheless, these things are prepared, or made ready by God for our use

II. EXPRESSED EXISTENCE-
I realize at this point that I may have lost some of you. Others may be nervous about whether I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe there are still others hungering for