Jealousy has a hidden source

Hey Jealousy

Envious Jealousy

: 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Most likely, you have been caught off guard by a wave of jealousy at some point in your life. Was it a spiritual attack? Did the Enemy make you covetous? Was someone or something working to make you resentful?

Did the Enemy make you covetous? Was someone or something working to make you resentful?

The answer—which may surprise you— is no. Jealousy actually springs from within us, even though we might try to deflect the blame. For example, we may say, "Well, they just shouldn't have that. They don't deserve it, so I'm perfectly justified in feeling this way."

Do you see what is actually going on here? We are not only feeling envious of someone, but we're also saying that our jealousy is the other person's fault! That's simply not true. We are each 100 percent responsible for our own feelings of envy.

Jealousy is a product of the flesh. In the Bible, it is listed among such sins as idolatry, immorality, drunkenness, and sorcery—sins which stand against our holy God and are described as "earthly, natural, demonic"

Envious feelings can lead to unhealthy comparison of one's own success to someone else's. That pattern can grow into a competition to out-perform others—and may result in full-blown fear and resentment.

What a horrible way to live!

Though jealousy is a common emotion, it has no place in a believer's life. So each of us should try to look objectively at our heart motives. Are you plagued with an attitude of jealousy today? Lay your honest feelings out before the Lord, and ask Him to cleanse you of this sinful attitude.

Disclaimer: Over the years I have been impacted by much reading and study.

Envy: The Sin of the Heart

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

What happened here, what made Cain the first child born into the world kill his brother. Well let us look at it. Cain was born of Eve. Verse 1 says that whenever Cain was born she proclaimed,"I have gotten a man from the Lord." She was expecting Cain to be the serpent bruiser that God had promised early in chapter 3. She expected Cain to come in and deliver Adam and her of all their sins against God. They could finally get back to their relationship with God.

But as we know God was not talking about Cain when he said this but he was talking about Jesus. We also know that it wouldn't happen for another 6000 yrs. Eve figured this out and now Cain was in one sense a disappointment. He wasn't the great hero.

We also see that not to long after his birth there came along another child. The baby of the family. No longer was the attention given to him but now he had to share the attention with his brother Abel. He was no longer the center of attention but now he was second. Most of us had this experience especially if you have brothers or sisters.

So this was all brewing in the mind of Cain. Soon Adam shows his sons how to give a sacrifice unto God. Then it was time for Cain and Abel as grown men to start giving sacrifice. Cain probably worked hard to try to impress God with his sacrifice. He wanted to give God his best fruit of ground. Time came for the sacrifice and Cain brings his fruit and he notices Abel brings his flock. Cain probably looked at his fruit and said," God will surly be impressed with what I brought. Boy look at this, this is the best."

But what happens. God accepted the offering of Abel but not the offering of Cain. Not only did he not accept his offering but it says that he had no respect for it he would not accept it.

Cain worked hard for this sacrifice he did it by the sweat of his brow and what happens God rejects it and turns it away. So he got mad. It says,"And Cain was very wroth." He was furious. He was probably burning up with anger. In one way Cain probably said who does God think he is to not accept my sacrifice. Who does God think he is to say that he has sinned with his sacrifice? And who does Abel think he is to offer a better sacrifice. I believe that Cain was just full of jealously with his brother because of his sacrifice.

So then we see that Cain says," I will fix him, I will fix God and Abel." So he began to plan his revenge. Let see I will get Abel to come out to the field with me. He loves the field and the woods he won't mind. I will just tell him that I want to talk to him. And when I have him in the woods I will kill him. No one will know. I will just bury his body and tell everyone that I haven't seen him. I will fix them. I don't need God and his sacrifices anyway I will do it my way.

And so that is what happened. Cain kills his brother and offers God no explanation nor repentance. But what did it? What made the first child to be born into the world become the first murder of this world? I believe our answer is found in jealously. Jealously which led to envy which led to the death of Abel.

This is a very powerful sin in the lives of people. This is the reason we are told in the last of the ten commandments.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.

So we must be careful in our lives about this sin. It affects every walk of life. And it is an easy sin to take up.

So let us tonight look at envy. I want us to look at it three ways. 1. Where does it begin 2. Some of the results of envy 3. What we can do about it.

Lets break this down so we do not have to repeat this mistake and expect a different result

I. When does it begin?

A. It begins when we lust

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient,

deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice

and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

Whenever a person lusts after another person or thing then the result is envy.

Why? Because first it begins with lust. Just a small desire to have what another person has. It may be just money or clothes or cars anything. Next this leads to hatred of the person who has this. Then it leads to a deep desire to have this. All that is on the persons mind is to get this. They love to see others fall to. They don't want anyone to get ahead. This is the envy of position.

Did you know that you don't have to have a top on the basket with crabs in the basket. You don't have to worry about them getting out. Why? Because whenever one tries then the others pull him back down. This is what envy and jealously will do in a persons life.

B. It comes from unbelief

But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

Because of the unbelief of the Jews here they began to envy because of the following of the crowd toward Jesus. They were jealous that attention was no longer on them but was now on the followers of The Way. So it caused envy which in turn resulted in them seeking out the believers and persecuting them.

And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

It also begins with unbelief in God. Whenever people don't believe in God then they don't believe in the justice of God which in turn tells them to look out for selves only. This is what happens when a society takes God out. Then there is no sense of belief and no reason to do what is right. No eternal judgment and no punishment. In turn man for himself. No God.

II. When this begin we see results.

A. We see death as we see in the story of Cain and Abel

B. We see hatred

Hatred of Joseph's brother toward him.

C. We see desire to murder

Saul's desire to kill David in ,

D. We see unbelief

Jews would not believe Paul and spoke against him in

The Answer

III. We can do something about it

A. Through love

. Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Love is the answer to all the sins against our brother. Love. Love wants others to succeed. Love wants others to have a lot. Love wants others to have the best. And in return love stops envy and jealously. Thank God that God himself showed us love that we may show it to others.

B. By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

If we put on the Lord Jesus then there will be no room for the flesh. If we put him in our hearts then there will be no room for envy. If we desire Christ then all our other desires will be taken away.

C. By living in the Spirit

* If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

If we live in the spirit then we will do the things of the spirit. We will not worry about others and their freedom but we will be focused on God and his kingdom. God wants all of us and he can't have it if we are focused on other things of this world.

Let us do our best not to carry envy and jealously in our hearts. It may never be known by another person but God knows. It may never hurt another person but it hurts your relationship with God. Let us not hold grudges, have meekness toward all and love each other and envy will not enter in.

As we pray tonight let us pray for one another that we will be what God wants us to be. People of love and kindness toward all.