The End of Envy

Turn to 1 Samuel 18

Intro:

JEALOUSY, ENVY, COVETOUSNESS CAN AFFLICT ALL of US AT TIMES...

OTHERS HAVE:

BETTER LIFE

BETTER STUFF

BETTER SPOUSE

WE’VE ALL HEARD: “the GRASS is GREENER on the OTHER SIDE.”

IT’S EASY to BELIEVE OTHERS HAVE it BETTER...

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OTHER TIMES: PEOPLE, ESP. CHILDREN THINK, “IF I CAN’T PLAY WITH THAT…NO ONE CAN”

POPS BALLOON…KICKS BALL FAR AWAY, ETC.

THIS SIN COMES EASILY....BUT IT’S AN AFFRONT to GOD.

CONTENTMENT & GRATITUDE ARE OFTEN HARD to FIND...

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE’RE TEMPTED TOWARDS ENVY??

(T) This is the question that I hope to answer for you today.

Recap:

2 WEEKS AGO:

FAMOUS STORY—DAVID & GOLIATH…ARMIES of ISRAEL TERRIFIED & UNMOVING....UNTIL DAVID ARRIVES.

UNDERDOG STORY?? —MISSED the POINT!

IF WE’RE DOING GOD’S WORK W/ GOD ON OUR SIDE…WE’RE NEVER at a DISADVANTAGE

DAVID HAD TRUE & LIVING GOD on HIS SIDE...

GOLIATH = UNDERDOG.

DAVID STEPPED OUT in RIDICULOUS FAITH && GOD HONORED HIS FAITH.

TODAY, WE’LL SEE the AFTERMATH of THAT GREAT VICTORY.

DAVID COMING to FOREFRONT...

DAVID’S ANOINTED,, SPIRIT-EMPOWERED,, BUT NOT YET KING.

(T) This is where our text picks up today, so if you’d begin with me now by looking at chapter 18 VS. 1 today. The text says,

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Text: 1 Samuel 18:1-30 ESV

Setting: “David’s Success” (V1-5)

1 Samuel 18:1–30 (ESV)

1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

JONATHAN = SAUL’S SON… MAN W/ GREAT FAITH.

DAVID’S FAITH = INSPIRING…JONATHAN & DAVID BECOME FRIENDS.

&& JONATHAN OFFERS GREAT GIFTS to DAVID.... KNOWING THAT DAVID’S VICTORY is ALL to GOD’S CREDIT!

(V5) EVEN KING SAUL ELEVATED DAVID to POSITION of PROMINENCE OVER MEN of WAR

DAVID:

HEART AFTER GOD

CHOSEN BY GOD...

ANOINTED/EMPOWERED by GOD...

GIVEN GREAT SUCCESS BY GOD CONTINUALLY!! ((THEME in TODAY’S TEXT))

***GOD KNEW HE COULD ENTRUST DAVID W/ SUCCESS BECAUSE of DAVID’S HEART AFTER HIM…GLORY GOES to GOD,, NOT DAVID.

(T) So, DAVID has now been ENTRUSTED BY SAUL with LEADERSHIP AUTHORITY...and GOD has ENTRUSTED HIM with a MEASURE of SUCCESS. Jonathan is now great friends with David, and it seems that everything is going great. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG WITH SUCH GREAT BEGINNINGS? The text goes on to say in VERSE 6...

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Inciting Incident: “The Women’s Song & Saul’s Jealousy” (V6-9)

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.

7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

BIG PROBLEM.

PROBLEM ISN’T SAUL’S LACK of SUCCESS...

or DAVID’S SUCCESS...

PROBLEM = THAT DAVID = MORE SUCCESSFUL THAN SAUL.

REMEMBER: SAMUEL PROPHESIED—KINGDOM GOING to ONE “BETTER” THAN SAUL.

SAUL—SLAIN THOUSANDS

DAVID—SLAIN 10 THOUSANDS

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(Q) ISN’T IT SO EASY FOR US TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT WE’VE GOT UNTIL WE SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE??

SAUL LOVED the PRAISE UNTIL HE REALIZED SOMEONE ELSE GOT MORE.

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Problems w/ Success:

PERSONAL SUCCESS — CAN LEAD to PRIDE & FORGETTING GOD.

SUCCESS of OTHERS—CAN LEAD to ENVY/JEALOUSY

THEY’RE BETTER LOOKING

GOT BETTER JOB

FAMILY

NICER THINGS

SPOUSE

KIDS

ENVY— GROWING RESENTFUL of PERSON...

JEALOUS—BELIEVES YOU’RE MORE DESERVING THAN THEM.

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SAUL’S PROBLEM?? HE WANTED WHAT DAVID HAD: PRAISE of PEOPLE to SAME MEASURE...

ACCOLADES

REPUTATION

AFFECTION of PEOPLE = MISPLACED on DAVID…NOT on KING SAUL!

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2 RESPONSES to TEMPTATION of ENVY:

DEFENSIVE MEASURE: CONTENTMENT

CONTENTMENT SAYS: “GOD WHAT YOU’VE BLESSED ME WITH IS ENOUGH”

MAYBE NOT MORE THAN ENOUGH...

MAYBE NOT EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED...

BUT ENOUGH. ACCEPTING PERSONAL LOT in LIFE...

OFFENSIVE MEASURE: GRATITUDE

BEFORE TEMPTATION COMES…LIVING LIFE of GRATITUDE.

“GOD, THANK YOU, FOR YOUR BLESSING in THIS LIFE...”

THANKFUL FOR:

FAMILY/SPOUSE

MEASURE of SUCCESS GIVEN

WHAT I DO HAVE

GIFTS/TALENTS/ABILITIES...

&& THANKFUL FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON OTHERS!!

“GOD I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU’VE DONE FOR ME…AND I THANK YOU FOR HOW YOU’VE BLESSED BROTHER JONES AND FOR WHAT YOU’VE DONE in HIS LIFE!”

**COMPLETELY FREEING POSTURE!

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IMAGINE: SAUL LIKE THIS…THANKING GOD FOR DAVID’S SUCCESS…

SEE SAUL FORGOT THEY WERE FIGHTING FOR the SAME TEAM!!

DAVID’S SUCCESS = SAUL’S SUCCESS…ALL is OVERCOMING PHILISTINES!

ENVY TURNS FRIENDS, FAMILY, TEAMMATES INTO FOES.

(Q) HOW do YOU THINK THIS APPLIES in the CHURCH??

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SAUL SHOWS DARKNESS in HIS OWN HEART

ENVIOUS...

NOW WORRIED ABOUT LOSING KINGDOM (IRONICALLY!!)

&& EYES ARE SET ON DAVID FOR EVIL.

(T) So, WITH HIS EYES on DAVID, HOW WILL SAUL ACT?? The Scripture goes on to say in VS 10:

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Rising Action: “Saul’s first attempts to kill David” (V10-16)

10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

HARMFUL SPIRIT = BACK AGAIN.

DAVID AT TIMES = MILITARY COMMANDER

OTHER TIMES = COURT MUSICIAN W/ LYRE.

SAUL’S JEALOUSY PEAKS—TRIES to KILL DAVID!

THINK ABOUT THIS (TRAGIC):

DAVID ESCAPES GOLIATH’S SWORD, JAVELIN, & SPEAR...

BUT ALMOST DIES @ HAND of KING SAUL.....

IN GOD’S PROVIDENCE: DAVID ESCAPES UNHARMED… & HE GOES BACK to MILITARY.

(V14) && GOD GRANTS SUCCESS to DAVID in EVERYTHING!!

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THINK ABOUT THIS: SAUL’S JEALOUSY = TRULY DIRECTED @ GOD.....

IF WE STRUGGLE W/ ENVY, JEALOUSY, ETC.... OUR ISSUE is REALLY WITH GOD, NOT THEM!

GOD HAS GIVEN THEM TOO MUCH

GOD HASN’T GIVEN ME ENOUGH.

“GOD YOU’VE BEEN TOO GOOD to BROTHER JONES…AND YOU HAVEN’T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH to ME...”

IS THIS NOT THE MOST AWFUL CLAIM?!

REFRAMING SHOWS HOW UGLY THIS SIN IS.....

(T) So, SAUL is in FEARFUL AWE, SAUL REALIZES that THIS is all GOD’S HAND, and that HE DOESN’T STAND a CHANCE.....

All of Israel and Judah love David, and DAVID’S SUCCESS is GOING THROUGH the ROOF!. So, WHAT DOES SAUL PLOT NEXT??? Well, the text goes on to say in VS. 17,

More Tension: “David’s marriage to Michal” (V17-21)

17 Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?”

19 But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Me-hol-ath-ite for a wife. 20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.”

CONSIDER DEPTHS of SAUL’S DEPRAVITY.....

SAUL MISSES W/ SPEAR…BUT NOW TRIES to USE DAUGHTER to ELIMINATE DAVID.

SAUL WILL LET PHILISTINES DO the JOB.... (SADLY DAVID LATER USES THIS TACTIC!!)

(V17) AGAIN, SAUL USES RELIGION as CLOAK of RIGHTEOUSNESS.... “FIGHT the “LORD’S BATTLES”

SAUL’S RELIGION IS ALWAYS JUST FOR SHOW....

DAVID W/ INCREDIBLE HUMILITY REFUSES OFFER && DAUGHER MERAB is GIVEN to ANOTHER MAN...

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BUT WHEN MICHAL FALLS in LOVE W/ DAVID…SAUL DETERMINES THIS TIME IT’LL WORK.

(T) So, SAUL ISN’T LIMITED at all in the DEPTH of SIN that he’s willing to go to in order to eliminate David and is now USING FAMILY to TRY and EXECUTE this man because of his incredible jealousy. So, the question is, will this work?

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Rising Action: “Saul’s plot” (V22-25)

22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’ ”

23 And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?”

24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

SAUL CONTINUES EFFORTS to ELIMINATE DAVID--- DETERMINES to GIVE MICHAL as WIFE...

SOME of YOU HAVE BAD IN-LAWS.... MAYBE EVEN JEALOUS of OTHERS W/ GOOD IN-LAWS...

BUT NO ONE HAS it LIKE DAVID.

***I’M SURE MANY MEN HERE TODAY WERE ALMOST KILLED BY A FUTURE FATHER-IN-LAW…DARE SAY THAT’S A DIFFERENT STORY.

FATHER in LAWS ARE GENERALLY BETTER THAN POTENTIAL/SOON to BE FATHER in LAWS...

(V23) DAVID RESPONDS HUMBLY W/ OWN POVERTY AGAIN.

NO MONEY for BRIDE-PRICE…HOW COULD a POOR SHEPHERD FROM BETHLEHEM AFFORD the PRINCESS???

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SAUL HAS PLOT:

NO MONEY NECESSARY!

BRING 100 PHILISTINE FORESKINS.

YOU KNOW DAVID ISN’T NEGOTIATING FOR THIS…THESE GUYS WOULD HAVE to BE DEAD...

STATISTICALLY, DAVID WILL DIE B4 BRINGING 100.....

SAUL’S PLAN: DAVID SHOWS UP to WEDDING in CASKET!!

(T) So, again, Saul’s decision to have David killed is sure and SAUL’S AIM HERE is to USE the PHILISTINES and thus to ABSOLVE HIMSELF of the RESPONSIBILITY and GUILT that would surely come. And so we wonder, how will this plan work? The text goes on to say,

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Climax: “David’s success & Saul’s fear” (V26-29)

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines.

And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife.

28 But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.

DAVID LOVES THIS PLAN!....HE CAN’T AFFORD MONEY, BUT CAN AFFORD THIS!

***** DAVID GOES 2ND MILE (BEFORE JESUS TAUGHT SERMON on THE MOUNT!!)

DAVID BRINGS AWFUL PRESENT & DROPS @ FEET of SAUL & TAKES MICHAL FOR WIFE.

MICHAL LOVES DAVID

JONATHAN LOVES DAVID

ALL ISRAEL & JUDAH LOVE DAVID

GOD LOVES DAVID

EVERYONE LOVES DAVID BUT SAUL...

EVERYWHERE DAVID GOES…HE’S SUCCESSFUL. FOR GOD IS WITH HIM.. && GOD HAD SET HIM APART to be KING…SO HE WILL PRESERVE HIM.

(T) So David is continually successful and Saul is continually jealous and fearful and now our TEXT is GOING TO CLOSE in VS. 30...

Resolution/Conclusion: “David’s success” (V30)

30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.

GOD CONTINUES to ESTABLISH DAVID & MAKE HIM SUCCESSFUL...

DAVID = THE ONE BETTER THAN SAUL…GOD HONORS DAVID’S FAITH & HEART AFTER HIM...

(T) And so we should learn from this passage today the idea that,

Homiletical Idea:

All of us should be content with the measure of blessing and success that God has granted to us in this life, for God is faithful to bless His servants.

GOD = FAITHFUL to BLESS DAVID…IT WAS ALL GOD!

IF GOD HAS MADE YOU WILDLY SUCCESSFUL—PRAISE GOD FOR THIS!

IF YOU THINK GOD COULD DO MORE—BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE...

GOD HAS BEEN MORE GOOD to ALL of US THAN WE DESERVE...

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Gospel:

WE OFTENTIMES FORGET HOW UNDESERVING WE ARE…IF WE AREN’T CAREFUL WE COUNT OUR MERIT & THINK GOD OWES US.

GOD OWES YOU NOTHING...

GOD WON’T BE MAN’S DEBTOR, EVER.

WE WERE THE DEBTORS

WE OWED DEBT WE COULDN’T PAY BECAUSE of SIN...

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SOME MAY SEEM “BETTER” BUT ALL FALL SHORT...

GOD’S STANDARD = PERFECT OBEDIENCE… && “LITTLE” SINS ARE JUST AS BAD AS BIG ONES…THEY ALL RENDER US AS TRANSGRESSORS....

GOD MADE a LIST of RULES for HUMANITY....WRITTEN on TABLETS of STONE…BUT ULTIMATELY WRITTEN on HUMAN HEART W/ CONSCIENCE

GOD’S LIST:

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make idols

3. You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain.

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

5. Honor your father and mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness.

10.And last but certainly not least: you shall not covet. (NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE, WIFE, POSSESSIONS, NO BELONGINGS)

LOOKING @ LIST: “I’M NOT MURDERER or ADULTERER...”

BUT WE’VE PROBABLY ALL BROKEN #10....ONLY INTERNAL/HIDDEN ONE in ORIGINAL LIST of 10...

N.T. AUTHOR JAMES: IF WE’VE BROKEN ONE, WE’RE TRANSGRESSORS.

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LAW WAS GIVEN FOR MORE THAN POINTING OUT RIGHT FROM WRONG.

GOOD NEWS: LAW POINTS US to CHRIST.

PROBLEM = WE WERE ALL LAWBREAKERS…WE HAD NO POWER to KEEP LAW…WE’RE ALL CONDEMNED BY LAW…BRINGS OUT OUR DESPERATE SITUATION!!

JOHN’S GOSPEL: LAW GIVEN THROUGH MOSES… BUT GRACE & TRUTH COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

GRACE— GOD GIVING US WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE. “UNMERITED FAVOR” “FREE GIFT”

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

HOW DOES LAW LEAD to CHRIST? SHOWS OUR NEED!

LAW PROVES US ALL to BE LAWBREAKERS...

BY OUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.... WE’RE TOAST!

JESUS CHRIST, the LAWMAKER…BECAME a MAN UNDER the LAW to BE LAW-KEEPER in ORDER TO SAVE LAWBREAKERS...

HOW?? BY BEING PUNISHED AS WORST LAW-BREAKER....

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GOOD NEWS: CAN BE SAVED BY GRACE

BIG SINNER or LITTLE SINNER....STILL SINNERS in NEED of SAVIOR...

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

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2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

THE LAW-KEEPER SUFFERED AS LAWBREAKER FOR US....SO WE COULD RECEIVE CREDIT FOR HIS PERFECT OBEDIENCE!!

GOD LOOKS @ US & SEES CHRIST…CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS & PERFECT OBEDIENCE.

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THAT IS GOOD NEWS.

&& IF YOU’RE a BELIEVER WHO STRUGGLES W/ ENVY…JEALOUSY…COVETOUSNESS...

IF YOU’VE BEEN REDEEMED, GOD’S BEEN GOODER to YOU THAN YOU EVER DESERVED.

NATURAL BLESSING VARIES…BUT WE HAVE SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS BEYOND MEASURE…SEATED in HEAVENLY PLACES in CHRIST...

NEVER QUESTION GOD’S GOODNESS BASED on NATURAL THINGS...

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Takeaways:

Learn about God??

GOD BLESSES HIS SERVANTS.

NOT PROSPERITY GOSPEL

BUT GOD’S BLESSING ACCOMPANIED GOD’S CHOOSING.

ALL of DAVID’S SUCCESS CAME W/ GOD’S PRESENCE.

Learn about Us?

GIVE CREDIT to WHOM CREDIT is DUE…GOD.

SAUL WAS JEALOUS of DAVID…BUT DAVID’S SUCCESS WASN’T TRULY DAVID’S, BUT GOD’S FAVOR THROUGH HIM!

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Application

REVISIT ENVY,, JEALOUSY,, COVETOUSNESS...

CHALLENGE YOU: CELEBRATE GOODNESS of GOD in YOUR OWN LIFE && IN THE LIVES of OTHERS!

THINK ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAUL & JONATHAN....

JONATHAN:

SON of KING/HEIR to THRONE...

GODLY MAN/MAN of FAITH...

CELEBRATED DAVID’S SUCCESS…GAVE GIFTS to DAVID…BEFRIENDED DAVID.

SAUL:

KING

WORLDLY MAN/WICKED HEART.

JEALOUS of DAVID’S SUCCESS & PEOPLE’S PRAISE of DAVID...

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WHEN TEMPTATIONS to ENVY COME....DON’T WISH FOR WHAT OTHERS HAVE, THANK GOD FOR WHAT HE’S DONE in THEIR LIFE & YOURS....

BEST DEFENSE: CONTENTMENT

BEST OFFENSE: GRATITUDE

DON’T BE UPSET WITH OTHERS FOR HOW GOD HAS BLESSED THEM DIFFERENTLY!

REMEMBER ENVY SAYS, “GOD HASN’T BEEN GOOD ENOUGH to ME....&& GOD’S BEEN TOO GOOD to THEM...”

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CHALLENGE in CLOSING…IF YOU HAVE CHRIST,, DO YOU NOT HAVE ENOUGH?

IF YOU’VE BEEN SAVED & HAVE HEAVENLY INHERITANCE....IS THIS NOT ENOUGH??

KNOWING YOU GET TO SPEND ETERNITY W/ YOUR SAVIOR…IS THAT NOT ENOUGH?

IF WE’RE IN CHRIST, WE ALWAYS HAVE A REASON TO BE THANKFUL....

CLOSING: LYRICS FROM GOSPEL SONG: “I’M RICH”

He has redeemed and forgiven me for all of my sins

He took me in

He's building me a mansion beyond compare

Hallelujah, I'm a millionaire

Well, I'm rich in faith and hope and love

I got more than my share

I'll be movin' to my mansion just over in glory

Where I'm a rightful heir

CLOSE IN PRAYER