““Do We Provoke the Do We Provoke the Lord to Jealousy?”Lord to Jealousy?”

““I, the LORD I, the LORD Your God, Your God,

am a Jealous am a Jealous God.” God.” (Exodus 20:5) (Exodus 20:5)

Joshua 24:19-20 (NASB)Joshua 24:19-20 (NASB)

19 Then Joshua said to the people, 19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You will not be able to serve the "You will not be able to serve the LORD, for LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a He is a holy God. He is a jealous Godjealous God; He will not forgive your ; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins. 20 If you transgression or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has harm and consume you after He has done good to you."done good to you."

Isaiah 42:8 (NASB)Isaiah 42:8 (NASB)

"I am the LORD, that is My "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to to another, Nor My praise to graven images.graven images.

Exodus 34:14 (NASB)Exodus 34:14 (NASB)

““For you shall not worship any For you shall not worship any other god, for other god, for the LORD, whose the LORD, whose name is Jealousname is Jealous, is a jealous , is a jealous God.” God.” – cf. Malachi 3:6– cf. Malachi 3:6

Exodus 20:3-5a (NASB)Exodus 20:3-5a (NASB)

3 "You shall have no other gods 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 under the earth. 5 You shall not You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous the LORD your God, am a jealous God… God… - cf. Deut 6:4-5, 13-15; Luke 10:27- cf. Deut 6:4-5, 13-15; Luke 10:27

““Therefore, my Therefore, my beloved, beloved, flee from idolatry” flee from idolatry” (1 Cor. (1 Cor.

10:14)10:14)

““Do We Provoke the Lord to Do We Provoke the Lord to Jealousy?”Jealousy?”

Israel “married” to the Lord, Israel “married” to the Lord, provoked God to jealousy by provoked God to jealousy by her acts of unfaithfulness. her acts of unfaithfulness.

Isaiah 54:5 (NASB)Isaiah 54:5 (NASB)

"For "For your husband is your your husband is your MakerMaker, Whose name is the , Whose name is the LORD of hosts; And your LORD of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.all the earth.

Hosea 1:2 (NASB)Hosea 1:2 (NASB)

When the LORD first spoke When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; children of harlotry; for the for the land commits flagrant harlotry, land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the LORD."forsaking the LORD."

Psalm 78:58 (NASB)Psalm 78:58 (NASB)

For they provoked Him with For they provoked Him with their high places, And their high places, And aroused aroused His jealousy with their graven His jealousy with their graven images.images.

““Do We Provoke the Lord to Do We Provoke the Lord to Jealousy?”Jealousy?”

Christians are “married” to Christians are “married” to the Lord and must prove the Lord and must prove themselves to be faithful themselves to be faithful (Eph. 5:22-33; Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. (Eph. 5:22-33; Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. 12:13; cf. Mat. 19:6).12:13; cf. Mat. 19:6).

Revelation 19:7-9 (NASB)Revelation 19:7-9 (NASB)

7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and 7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for give the glory to Him, for the the marriage of the Lamb has come marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself and His bride has made herself readyready." 8 And it was given to her ." 8 And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. is the righteous acts of the saints. - cf. Rev. 21:1-4- cf. Rev. 21:1-4

Like Israel, are we provoking Like Israel, are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? the Lord to jealousy?

1 Corinthians 10:19-22 (NASB)1 Corinthians 10:19-22 (NASB)

19 What do I mean then? That a thing 19 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the idol is anything? 20 No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I sacrifice to demons, and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in do not want you to become sharers in demons. demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than We are not stronger than He, are we?He, are we?

Like marriage to only one mate, Like marriage to only one mate, we must put away all other we must put away all other

“suitors” or idols and “suitors” or idols and give ourselves give ourselves

completelycompletely to the Lord! to the Lord!

2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (NASB)2 Corinthians 11:2-3 (NASB)

2 For I am jealous for you with a 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for godly jealousy; for I betrothed you I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christto one husband, that to Christ I I might present you as a pure virgin. might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid, lest as the 3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be craftiness, your minds should be led astray from led astray from the simplicity and the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.purity of devotion to Christ.

““Do Do wewe provoke the provoke the Lord to jealousy?”Lord to jealousy?”

““Little Children, Little Children, Guard Yourselves from Idols.” Guard Yourselves from Idols.”

We must watch for We must watch for anything or anything or anyoneanyone that could possibly take that could possibly take the place of God in our hearts the place of God in our hearts and lives.and lives.

1 John 5:20-21 (NASB)1 John 5:20-21 (NASB)

20 And we know that the Son of 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. Son Jesus Christ. This is the true This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little God and eternal life. 21 Little children, guard yourselves from children, guard yourselves from idols.idols.

““Little Children, Little Children, Guard Yourselves from Idols.”Guard Yourselves from Idols.”If we fail to guard ourselves from idols, If we fail to guard ourselves from idols, then we may find ourselves devoted to then we may find ourselves devoted to “God-substitutes”“God-substitutes” in life. in life. Something or someone other than God Something or someone other than God will reign supreme over us! (Ezek 14:3)will reign supreme over us! (Ezek 14:3)In America, there is a great temptation In America, there is a great temptation toward idolatry. (cf. Deut 32:15-18).toward idolatry. (cf. Deut 32:15-18).

Deuteronomy 32:15-18 (NASB)Deuteronomy 32:15-18 (NASB)

15 "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked- 15 "But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked- You are grown fat, thick, and sleek- Then You are grown fat, thick, and sleek- Then he forsook God who made himhe forsook God who made him, And , And scorned the Rock of his salvation. 16 scorned the Rock of his salvation. 16 "They "They made Him jealous with strange godsmade Him jealous with strange gods; With ; With abominations they provoked Him to anger. abominations they provoked Him to anger. 17 "They sacrificed to demons who were 17 "They sacrificed to demons who were not God, To gods whom they have not not God, To gods whom they have not known, New gods who came lately, Whom known, New gods who came lately, Whom your fathers did not dread. your fathers did not dread. "You neglected "You neglected the Rock who begot you, And forgot the the Rock who begot you, And forgot the God who gave you birth. God who gave you birth.

We should We should closely examineclosely examine our our lives to make sure lives to make sure nono form of form of idolatryidolatry is being practiced. is being practiced.

We ask ourselves some candid We ask ourselves some candid questions:questions:

What is my What is my greatestgreatest motivation in life? motivation in life?What am I What am I mostmost enthusiastic, zealous enthusiastic, zealous about in life?about in life?What is What is mostmost important to me in life? important to me in life? What is my What is my toptop priority? priority?Who or what is my Who or what is my greatestgreatest love in love in life? life? Who or what do I hold Who or what do I hold mostmost near and near and dear, in my thoughts and in my heart?dear, in my thoughts and in my heart?

Three of the most common forms of Three of the most common forms of idolatry we must guard against.idolatry we must guard against.

Prioritizing Prioritizing family membersfamily members above above God (Mat. 10:37; cf. Luke 14:26).God (Mat. 10:37; cf. Luke 14:26).Romantic loveRomantic love in which in which nothing nothing else and no one else matters but the else and no one else matters but the beloved (e.g., 1 Kings 11:1-4).beloved (e.g., 1 Kings 11:1-4).Putting Putting yourselfyourself above God above God (2 Tim. 3:1-2a). (2 Tim. 3:1-2a).

There are many other forms of There are many other forms of idolatry we must beware of.idolatry we must beware of.

Money & material possessions Money & material possessions (1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).(1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NASB)1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NASB)

9 But those who want to get rich fall 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have have wandered away from the faithwandered away from the faith, , and pierced themselves with many a and pierced themselves with many a pang. pang. – cf. Mat. 6:19-20– cf. Mat. 6:19-20

There are many other forms of There are many other forms of idolatry we must beware of.idolatry we must beware of.

Money & material possessions Money & material possessions (1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).(1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).

Physical pleasure Physical pleasure (2 Tim. 3:5b).(2 Tim. 3:5b).

Sexual pleasures Sexual pleasures (lust, fornication, (lust, fornication,

self-stimulation, pornography)self-stimulation, pornography) and and alcohol alcohol (or drugs)(or drugs) (1 Pet. 4:3).(1 Pet. 4:3).

1 Peter 4:3 (NASB)1 Peter 4:3 (NASB)

For the time already past is For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, out the desire of the Gentiles, having having pursued a course of pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. abominable idolatries. – cf. Gal. 5:19-21 – cf. Gal. 5:19-21

There are many other forms of There are many other forms of idolatry we must beware of.idolatry we must beware of.

Money & material possessions Money & material possessions (1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).(1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).

Physical pleasure Physical pleasure (2 Tim. 3:5b).(2 Tim. 3:5b). Sexual pleasures Sexual pleasures (lust, fornication, (lust, fornication,

self-stimulation, pornography)self-stimulation, pornography) and and alcohol alcohol (or drugs)(or drugs) (1 Pet. 4:3).(1 Pet. 4:3).

GluttonyGluttony (Phil. 3:18-19). (Phil. 3:18-19).

Philippians 3:18-19 (NASB)Philippians 3:18-19 (NASB)

18 For many walk, of whom I often 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, destruction, whose god is their whose god is their appetite (belly – KJV),appetite (belly – KJV), and whose and whose glory is in their shame, who set glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.their minds on earthly things.

There are many other forms of There are many other forms of idolatry we must beware of.idolatry we must beware of.

Money & material possessions Money & material possessions (1 (1 Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).Tim. 6:9-10; cf. Mat. 6:19-20).

Physical pleasure Physical pleasure (2 Tim. 3:5b).(2 Tim. 3:5b). Sexual pleasures Sexual pleasures (lust, fornication, self-(lust, fornication, self-

stimulation, pornography)stimulation, pornography) and alcohol and alcohol (or (or drugs)drugs) (1 Pet. 4:3).(1 Pet. 4:3).

GluttonyGluttony (Phil. 3:18-19). (Phil. 3:18-19). All of these were a part of ancient All of these were a part of ancient

idolatry (1 Cor 10:7). idolatry (1 Cor 10:7).

1 Corinthians 10:7 (NASB)1 Corinthians 10:7 (NASB)

And do not be idolaters, as And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is some of them were; as it is written, " written, " The people sat down The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to eat and drink, and stood up to play."to play."

There are many other forms of There are many other forms of idolatry we must beware of.idolatry we must beware of.

Money & material possessions.Money & material possessions.

Physical pleasure:Physical pleasure: Sexual pleasures and alcoholSexual pleasures and alcohol GluttonyGluttony

Any sin Any sin continuallycontinually practiced practiced without repentance (Col. 3:5). without repentance (Col. 3:5).

Colossians 3:5 (NASB)Colossians 3:5 (NASB)

Therefore consider the Therefore consider the members of your earthly body members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, and greed, which amounts to which amounts to idolatry.idolatry.

Things not necessarily sinful Things not necessarily sinful in and of themselves in and of themselves that become addictions or that become addictions or

“masters” are idols! “masters” are idols! (1 Cor. 6:12; cf. Mat. 6:24).(1 Cor. 6:12; cf. Mat. 6:24).

Has a Liberty (e.g., TV) Become Has a Liberty (e.g., TV) Become Your Master? (i.e., Your idol) Your Master? (i.e., Your idol) 1 Cor 6:12 All things are lawful for me, 1 Cor 6:12 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but things are lawful for me, but I will not I will not be mastered by anything. be mastered by anything. Matt 6:24 (NASB) "Matt 6:24 (NASB) "No one can serve No one can serve two masterstwo masters; for either he will hate the ; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.cannot serve God and mammon.

When doing God’s will When doing God’s will is disregarded for is disregarded for something or someone something or someone

idolatryidolatry has been committed! has been committed!

Give Your Idols Up for the Lord. Give Your Idols Up for the Lord.

Fellowship with God is Fellowship with God is impossibleimpossible when you practice when you practice idolatry!idolatry!

Deuteronomy 32:19-21 (NASB)Deuteronomy 32:19-21 (NASB)19 "And the LORD saw this, and spurned 19 "And the LORD saw this, and spurned them because of the provocation of His sons them because of the provocation of His sons and daughters. 20 "and daughters. 20 "Then He said, 'I will Then He said, 'I will hide My face from themhide My face from them, I will see what , I will see what their end shall be; For they are a perverse their end shall be; For they are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. 21'They have made Me jealous with what is 21'They have made Me jealous with what is not God; They have provoked Me to anger not God; They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.with their idols. So I will make them jealous So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation, provoke them to anger with a foolish nation, - cf. Isa. 59:2 - cf. Isa. 59:2

You will You will nevernever have a close, have a close, meaningful, right relationship meaningful, right relationship with the Lord with the Lord when idols stand when idols stand

in the way between you and in the way between you and God!God!

Take Action! Take Action! Purge your life of all idols!Purge your life of all idols!

1 Thess 1:9 (NASB) For they 1 Thess 1:9 (NASB) For they themselves report about us themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you with you, and how you turnedturned to God from idolsto God from idols to serve a to serve a living and true God,living and true God,

Give Your Idols Up for the Lord.Give Your Idols Up for the Lord.

““Kneel at the cross, give your idols Kneel at the cross, give your idols up” to draw near to the Lord.up” to draw near to the Lord.

Idols only Idols only pull us awaypull us away from God. from God.

ToTo draw near to Goddraw near to God, , we must go we must go through Jesusthrough Jesus who intercedes for who intercedes for us (Heb. 7:25). us (Heb. 7:25).

Hebrews 7:25 (NASB)Hebrews 7:25 (NASB)

Hence, also, He is able to save Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who forever those who draw near to draw near to God through HimGod through Him, since He , since He always lives to make always lives to make intercession for them.intercession for them.

Let Us Resolve not to Let Us Resolve not to Make Our Lord Jealous Make Our Lord Jealous

and be and be WhollyWholly Devoted to Devoted to Him Always.Him Always.