THE SPIRIT OF ENVY
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· 180 viewsHow envy effects the christian.
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TEXT: Mark 15:6–10 (NKJV)
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested. 7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. 9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
ILL: Dwight L. Moody once told the fable of an eagle who was envious of another that could fly better than he could. One day the bird saw a sportsman with a bow and arrow and said to him, "I wish you would bring down that eagle up there." The man said he would if he had some feathers for his arrow. So the jealous eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow was shot, but it didn't quite reach the rival bird because he was flying too high. The first eagle pulled out another feather, then another--until he had lost so many that he himself couldn't fly. The archer took advantage of the situation, turned around, and killed the helpless bird. Moody made this application: if you are envious of others, the one you will hurt the most by your actions will be yourself.
I. WHAT ENVY DOES
A. IDENTIFYING ENVY
1. Our text is talking about the Lord Jesus being tried before Governor Pontius Pilate, who was the fifth governor of the Roman province of Judea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from 26-37 AD.
2. The bible tells us that when the Jews brought Jesus before him falsely accusing Jesus, he found no fault in Him or anything deserving of death! Lk 23:4
4 So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” Lk 23:15 15 no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.
a.) And the scripture makes it very clear that Pilate knew the reason why the Jews delivered up Jesus, was because of envy!
B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVY
1. Envy wants to kill or destroy the innocent. The Jews knew that Jesus was innocent yet because of their envy they wanted Him killed. John 11:53 (NKJV)
53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Matthew 12:14 (NKJV)
Pharisees Plan to Destroy Christ
Mark 3:6–12; Luke 6:11
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
2. Envy is filled with anger/ rage. Luke 6:11 (NKJV)
11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
a.) So envy is filled with rage and seeks to destroy.
1. Envy also wants what others have. The Jews wanted what Jesus had , all the attention. They wanted to be in the lime light. Genesis 26:14 (NKJV)
14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
2. Isaac re digging the wells of his father Abraham and prospering , so Philistines envied him. They wanted what he had.
b.) Envy hates the person God blesses. Genesis 4:4–5 (NKJV)
4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. Psalm 68:16 (NKJV)
16 Why do you fume with envy, you mountains of many peaks?
This is the mountain which God desires to dwell in;
Yes, the Lord will dwell in it forever.
II. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN YOU’RE ENVIOUS
A. CONSEQUENCES
ILL: Envy is the weak link in a chain of successes that might have been. It is a self-defeatist attitude that distracts us from the works that might have been, and focuses us on the limitations of the works that others have already accomplished. Lanny Ketchum
1. When you envy someone you lose because what God has for you is far better. King David said, Psalm 16:6 (NKJV)
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
2. David was able discern that what had was God’s best for him. Saul on the other hand did not and lost everything God had for him and his descendants.
a.) Envy kills those who embrace it. Job 5:2 (NKJV)
2 For wrath kills a foolish man,
And envy slays a simple .
1. Envy produces confusion and every evil work. James 3:16 (NKJV)
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
SHAME Feelings associated with (but not limited to) failure, public exposure, disgrace, embarrassment, social rejection, ridicule, and dishonor.
LBD
confusion—literally, “tumultuous anarchy”: both in society (translated “commotions,” Lu 21:9; “tumults,” 2 Co 6:5), and in the individual mind
“The envious man stands in his own light. He thinks his candle cannot shine in the presence of another’s sun. He aims directly at men, obliquely at God, who makes men to differ.”
2. When a believer is envious he or she is taking an indirect shot at God. When you fight God you only hurt your self.
b.) When you have bitter envy towards your brethren in your hearts it will flow out in your words and actions.
III. OVERCOMING ENVY
A. BY HUMILITY
ILL: F.B. Meyer held meetings in North field, Mass., and large crowds thronged to hear him. Then the great British Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan came to North field and people were soon flocking to hear his brilliant expositions of scripture. Meyer confessed at first he was envious. He said, “The only way I can conquer my feelings is to pray for Morgan daily, which I do.”
1. Bible not just speaking about people then that struggled with envy but it apply’s to us today.
2. James says the way to conquer envy is by humility. Like F.B Meyer it takes humility to pray for your rival or who you think is your rival. That means praying for your brother or sister that you have feelings of envy towards. ILL: P. Greg Mitchell said pray, “God bless my bro or sis with the blessings you intend for me.”
a.) What a great prayer, its going to take humility to do it but when you make a choice to pray God will help you. James 4:6 (NKJV)
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
1. I.e. The farther you get away from envy which is rooted in pride the more ever increasing grace will God give. Not saving grace but divine enablement to overcome. 2 Corinthians 12:8–9 (NKJV)
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2. I.e. God said no Paul, you’re going to have to conquer this one but My grace is going to help you through. It would be great if you could just pray,”Lord take this thing away from me.” But God gives us His divine grace to help us conquer it.
b.) Another thing to overcoming envy is: watch what you say! James 3:14 (NKJV)
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
1. Or do not speak it out and deny the truth.
2. It’s going to take effort on your part to overcome envy but if you will choose to and cry out to God for help, He will help you overcome.
ILL: The godly Scottish preacher Andrew Bonar penned a diary entry. He wrote, “This day 20 years ago I preached for the first time as an ordained minister. It is amazing that the Lord has spared me and used me at all. I have no reason to wonder that He used others far more than He does me. Yet envy is my hurt, and today I have been seeking grace to rejoice exceedingly over the usefulness of others, even where it cast me into the shade. Lord, take away this envy from me!”
a.) Can you rejoice over God’s usefulness of others?
