Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
4 sermons cite this verse
Clearly what was happening was the forms of their old religion were hard to let go of. Why? They were profoundly habit-forming, as is all drunkenness, as is all immorality. If you had spent years of your life engaged with temple prostitutes in a drunken stupor and concoctions by sorcerers, and you came to Christ, could you walk away from that? Would not the temptation be fierce?" And apparently in Corinth, the people were doing that and then coming to the Lord's table. And he says you can't do both of those things. Over in chapter 11... Verse 20, still talking about the Lord's table. He says, "'Therefore, when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.'" What is going on? You're coming together, but it's not the Lord's Supper. It doesn't qualify. Why? "'For in your eating each one takes his own supper first, and one is hungry and another is drunk What? Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? …
III. To show, that as impenitent sinners cannot shun the threatened punishment; so neither can they do any thing to deliver themselves from it, or to relieve themselves under it. This is implied in those words of the text, Can thine hands be strong? It is with our hands that we make and accomplish things for ourselves. But the wicked in hell will have no strength of hand to accomplish any thing at all for themselves, or to bring to pass any deliverance, or any degree of relief. 1. They will not be able in that conflict to overcome their enemy, and so to deliver themselves. God, who will then undertake to deal with them, and will gird himself with might to execute wrath, will be their enemy, and will act the part of an enemy will a witness; and they will have no strength to oppose him. Those, who live negligent of their souls under the light of the gospel, act as if they supposed, that they should be able hereafter to make their part good with God. 1 Cor. x. 22. “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”—But they will have no power, no might to resist that omnipotence, which will be engaged against them. …
The time is coming when the frame of this world shall be dissolved. Christ shall descend in the clouds of heaven, in the glory of his Father; and you, with all the rest of mankind, must stand before his judgment-seat. Then what will be the consequence of this mutual enmity between God and you? If God be your enemy, who will stand your friend? Now, it may be, it does not appear to be very terrible to you to have God for your enemy; but when such changes as these are brought to pass, it will greatly alter the appearance of things. Then God’s favour will appear to you of infinite worth. They, and they only, will then appear happy, who have the love of God: and then you will know that God’s enemies are miserable.—But under this head, consider more particularly several things. (1.) What God can do to his enemies. Or rather, what can he not do? How miserable can he who is almighty make his enemies! Consider, you that are enemies to God, whether or no you shall be able to make your part good with him. “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 1 Cor. x. 22. Have you such a conceit of your own strength, as that you think to try it out with God? Do you intend to run the risk of an encounter with him? Do you imagine that your hands can be strong, or your heart can endure? Do you think you shall be well able to defend yourself, or to escape out of his hand? Do you think that you shall be able to uphold your spirits, when God acts as an enemy towards you? If so, then gird up your loins, and see what the event will be. Therefore thus will I do unto thee?“and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God.”—Amos iv. 12. Is it not in vain to set the briers and thorns in battle array against devouring flames; which though they seemed to be armed with natural weapons, yet the fire will pass through them, and burn them together? See Isa. xxvii. 4. …
1. If we look at the professions which they make in common with the generality of those who are brought up under the gospel. These do in general profess that there is a God, an infinitely great and holy God, who hates sin; and who is every where present, who always sees them, has his eye continually upon them, sees what they do in secret as well as what is done openly; a God, who not only knows all their words and actions, but sees all their thoughts, and who is able to do what he pleases with them, and can save or destroy them us he will. But how does the practice of the greater part of them consist with their profession, when they live in direct opposition to his commands; when they live as though there were no God that had the care and government of the world; and as though he were not a holy God, but altogether such an one as themselves, liking ways of sin as well as they; or as though they thought him a weak being, and not able to do them any great matter of hurt; or as though they thought they were stronger than he, and should be able to make their part good with him another day? 1 Cor. x. 22. “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” How does that wickedness, which many persons who are brought up under gospel light commit in secret, those abominable secret practices of which many young people are guilty, agree with their professing that God is every where present? These things they do not commit openly for fear of human punishment, or for fear of shame and disgrace among men; and yet they commit them boldly, and live on them in the sight of God, upon whose favour they profess that their happiness infinitely more depends than on the esteem of men. …