Are You Provoking the Lord to Jealousy As You Partake of His Table? — Santosh Poonen — Feb 8, 2025
http://rlcf.church River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The sermon uses 1 Corinthians 10 to warn believers that participating in the Lord's Supper without a transformed heart is dangerous. Paul warns that just as the Israelites who ate and drank from one source perished, Christians who partake while harboring idols, immorality, grumbling, or worldly desires risk spiritual death. The central message is that believers must guard against any worldly attachment, as this constitutes provoking the Lord to jealousy, which is far more serious than any outward sin.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Judging ourselves as we approach the Lord's tableAs we prepare to take the bread and cup together, we must examine ourselves with wisdom and learn from the example of the Israelites in the wilderness.1 Corinthians 10:15
Learning from the example of IsraelThough the Israelites experienced God's provision and baptism in the cloud, most of them displeased God and perished in the wilderness because they craved evil things.
The danger of spiritual idolatry and testing the LordWe are warned not to be idolaters who sit down to eat the bread and drink the cup only to return immediately to playing with the sins and toys of this world.
God's faithfulness in providing a way of escapeNo temptation overtakes us except what is common to man, and God is faithful to provide an exit door so that we can endure every test.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demonsPaul warns that partaking of the Lord's table while indulging in worldly entertainments or hidden sins means drinking the cup of a demon.
What does it mean to provoke the Lord to jealousy?When Jesus our bridegroom sees us flirting with the spirit, fashion, and successes of this world, His jealousy burns hotter than any human jealousy.
Avoiding things that are lawful but not profitableEven things that are not strictly forbidden can become the cup of a demon if they fail to edify our brothers and sisters and build up the church.
The source of quarrels and conflictsConflicts in the church arise from selfish pleasures waging war in our members, leading to bitter speech, jealousy, and spiritual murder behind people's backs.
Friendship with the world is enmity with GodFlirting with the world makes us enemies of God, but He jealously desires the spirit He placed in us and gives greater grace to the humble.
Submit to God, resist the devil, and draw nearBy humbling ourselves, submitting to God, and cleansing our hands from double-mindedness, we can draw near to God and receive His true joy.
Cleansing our sin in the fountain of Christ's bloodAs we close our eyes to meditate on the precious blood shed from Jesus's veins, we confess our hidden sins and ask Him to cleanse us completely.
Making a two-sided covenant at the Lord's tableEating the bread and drinking the cup is our way of saying amen to God's covenant and surrendering our bodies, minds, and ambitions to Him 100 percent.
