INTRODUCTION
ENVY REQUIRES A CRUEL HEART OF A BELIEVER. THE BURDEN OF ENVY TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY.
THOSE IN WHICH YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH REQUIRES YOU TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS WITH THIS HEART FELT DISLIKE FOR THAT ONE WHOM YOU HAVE NOT MADE AMENDS WITH.
IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY THERE IS ENVY ONE - TO - ANOTHER; MEMBERS ENVIOUS BECAUSE OF THE ATTAINMENTS OF THERE COUNTERPARTS,ENVIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, AND SOME ENVIOUS FOR NO CAUSE, OTHER THAN THAT WHICH THEY HAVE HEARD, YET EVERY SUNDAY THESE SAME CHRISTIANS PROCLAIM TO BE MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD.
THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ARISE:
WHY CAN’T YOU WITHSTAND THIS PERSECUTION?
WHY DO YOU LET THIS EVIL SIRIT EMBRACE YOU?
IS IT TRHAT YOU HAVE NOT BROUGHT YOUR ISSUE OF ENVY BEFORE GOD, OR IS IT AN ISSUE OF WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE, HARBORING THIS OLD BAGGAGE. WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER IS. KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH OUR CHRISTIAN CONDUCT.
ENVY IS DEFINED AS:
1) A PAINFUL OR RESENTFUL AWARENESS OF AN ADVANTAGE ENJOYED BY ANOTHER WITH A DESIRE TO POSESS THE SAME ADVANTAGE.
I COULD NOT HAVE SAID THESE WORDS ANY BETTER THAN THE WEBSTER DICTIONARY, WHICH IS A BOOK INSPIRED BY MAN.
SOLOMON SAID:
IN PROVERBS 8:6
SET ME AS A SEAL UPON YOUR HEART, A SEAL UPON YOUR ARM, FOR LOVE IS AS STRONG AS DEATH, JEALOUSY AS CRUEL AS THE GRAVE.
ITS FLAMES ARE FLAMES OF FIRE. A MOST VEHEMENT FLAME.
EXAMPLES OF ENVY
JOSEPH - JOSEPH WAS SOLD INTO SLAVERY BECAUSE OF THE ENVY HIS BROTHERS HAD FOR HIM.
ABLE - ABLE WAS MURDERED BY KANE BECAUSE OF THE ENVY FOR HIS BROTHER.
I DON’T BELIEVE WE REALIZE WHAT WE ARE DOING TO OURSELVES, SPIRITUALLY OR PHYSICALLY, WHEN WE HARBOR THESE ENVIOUS FEELINGS.
I DON’T BELIEVE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE BRING BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES UPON OURSELVES AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO US WE AVAIL OURSELVES TO A SPIRITUAL DISCONNECTION ON THE OTHERHAND, PHYSICALLY WE ALLOW THESE FEELINGS TO FESTER AND BRING UPON OURSELVES ALL TYPES OF DISEASE.
THE BIBLE CLEAELY STATES THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE ENVIOUS AGAINST EVIL MEN NEITHER DESIRE TO BE WITH THEM. PROVERBS 24:1
THIS IS TO SAY THAT THEIR WILL NO REWARD FOR THE ENVIOUS , BUT FOR THOSE THAT SHUN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENVIOUS THEY SHALL HAVE THEIR OWN REWARD.
SO CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND CHRISTIANN SISTERS HAVE NO PART WITH THE ENVIOUS.
ENVY HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLL IN THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR:
CHURCH FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND MARRIAGES.
TODAY THEY HAVE COMPRMISED AND CALLED THIS ENVIOUS SPIRIT UNRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES, BUT, I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF SATAN.
IF YOU HAVE ENVY IN YOUR HEART TODAY LOOK AT THAT PERSON AND ASK FOR THEIR FORGIVENESS - TELL THEM - PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
MARK 1: 25 - 26 SAYS
AND WHEN YOU STAND PRAYING,FORGIVE, IF YE HAVE OUGHT AGAINST ANY: THAT YOUR FATHER ALSO WHICH IS IN HEAVEN MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES.
WRATH IS CRUEL ANGER IS OUTRAGEOUS, BUT WHO IS ABLE TO STAND ENVY.
I WANT TO ASK - WHO IS ABLE TO STAND?
JESUS STOOD:
IT IS SAID THAT:
HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSION, BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES AND THE CHASTISEMENT FORR PEACE WAS LAIN UPON HIM.
YET THROUGH IT ALL HE SAID:
O’ MY FATHER, IF IT IS POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME,NEVERTHELESS,NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS YOU WILL
O’ MY FATHER, IF THIS CUP CANNOT PASS AWAY FROM ME UNLESS I DRINK IT YOUR WILL BE DONE.
I WANT TO AS - WHO IS ABLE TO STAND?
WE SAY WE ARE CHRIST LIKE - WILL YOU DRINK OF THIS CUP?
WILL YOU SUFFER THE BURDEN FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR WHO IS PERSECUTED, AS CHRIST DID FOR YOU?
I WANT TO ASK - WHO IS ABLE TO STAND?
JESUS STOOD.
THAT THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION MAY BE AVAILABLE TO ALL MANKIND.
WARNING
IF YOU CAN’T STAND TO BE TALKED SOMETIMES
IF YOU FEEL YOU SHOULD BE ALWAYS UP AND NEVER DOWN
I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW NO CROSS SURELY WANT GET YOU A CROWN.
CLOSING
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO TAKE SOMETHINGS WITH A SMILE AND CONTINUE WITH YOUR EYE ON THE MARK, UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD IS IN THE AVENGING BUSINESS.
JUST A FEW WORDS:
UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW IT WAS UNLAWFUL TO STRIVE WITH ANOTHER WITHOUT ADEQUATE GROUNDS.
UNDER GRACE, HOWEVER, WE ARE TOLD:
DEARLY BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.
THIS IS TO SAY THAT WHEN WE TAKE MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS WE LEAVE THE PATHWAY OF GOD. IF WE ARE TEEATED INJUSTLY WE SHOULD GIVR IT OVER TO GOD.
