Breaking The Stronghold of Jealousy

11/16/03

 

Pr. 14:30 (NLT) A relaxed attitude lengthens life; jealousy rots it away.

People are jealous of those who have better houses, nicer cars, more vacation time, a better job, more attractive spouse, happier families, more talents and the list goes on and on.

Jealousy is a emotion of passion and uncontrolled leads to passionate hate.

Families broken, businesses poisoned, relationships destroyed are just a few examples of the devastating results of jealousy.

Jealousy will eat a person’s soul away like cancer.

Jealousy is not a respecter of age. From the earliest age jealousy can begin to control someone’s actions.

Adapted from: “Project for Victims of family violence“, Fayetteville, AR

Jealousy: At the beginning of a relationship a batterer may say that jealousy is a sign of love. This is often reinforced by popular culture. Jealousy has nothing to do with love. It is often a sign of possessiveness, lack of trust an insecurity, which may lead to abusive behavior. For example a batterer may questions his partner about who she talks to, accuse her of flirting, or be jealous of the time she spends with others. As the jealousy progresses, he may call her frequently during the day or drop by unexpectedly. He may try to keep her from getting involved in activities for fear that she will meet someone else. He may even check her car mileage or ask friends to watch her. We are taught that jealousy is a way to measure commitment to a relationship, but the batterer uses his jealously to dominate and control his victim.

The very first murder that ever happened was an act of jealousy.

Gen. 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. ⁴ But Abel brought 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.  ⁶ Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”  ⁸ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

King Saul spent years seeking to kill David for no reason other than the fact that he was jealous of David.

1 Sam 18:5 Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully£ that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul’s officers as well.  ⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:  “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”  ⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.  ¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.  ¹² Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

Jealousy is blinding, jealousy will not listen to reason and jealousy fills the heart with hatred.

David was loyal to King Saul. Twice David had the opportunity to kill Saul and would not do it. Saul showed gratitude only for a moment then quickly his heart was filled with evil and continued to pursue David in order to kill him.

Jealousy is fed through insecurity.

Saul had turned away from obeying God.

It’s impossible to be secure in the love of Jesus when you don’t walk with Him.

Jealousy cannot stand the success of someone else when they themselves are not succeeding.

Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other's business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival.  One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, "I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?"  The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!"

Rom. 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

There are more people who would rather mourn with you than rejoice with you!

The Bible gives us a perfect example of this.

Read Lk. 15:11-31

How many football fans do we have?

Kurt Warner who has been a two time MVP and Super Bowl MVP has taken a back seat to Marc Bulger but he has a good attitude.

To quote Kurt Warner: "I want to see him succeed," Warner told the paper. "I want this team to succeed. I want this team to keep winning. I think if that happens, then I don't get the job back. But that's the way I have to approach it. I've got to put my selfish desires behind me and look at what's best for this team."

This man’s character is being shown more off the field than on the field!

The real test of Christian character is not in the church building on Sunday, but on our jobs and with our families the rest of the week!

Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil£ spirits, and all of them were healed.  ¹⁷ Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ²⁰ “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”  ²¹ At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

Three churches struggled to survive. Then one of the churches called a pastor who was extremely gifted. His sermons were relevant and gripping. His personality had the loving compassion of Mother Teresa coupled with the dynamic charisma of Tom Cruise. He could teach in ways that made people hungry for more. People saw God through his ministry.

Folks began to drift and find their way into his church on Sunday. That's where the problems began; the other two pastors met together and decided that surely God was not in such a flamboyant style of ministry. Obviously, he preached a gospel that was false.

Then they remembered a rumor they heard. Was there some kind of sexual indiscretion? Who knows? The rumor spread. People began to wonder. The pastor's family was shamed, and in a short while they left town. Envy found its mark, and it turned two preachers of the truth into liars. Envy made the cross of Jesus Christ a hypocrisy.

-- Wayne Brouwer, "Taming the Beast," Preaching Today

Breaking The Stronghold of Jealousy!

1. Recognize just how evil, demonic, devastating and sinful jealousy is. You won’t be set free until you first hate it.

Rom. 13:13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

2. Repent sincerely of this evil sin. Admit to Jesus that there is no way you can just make you mind up that you won’t be jealous any more.

3. Ask the Lord Jesus to work at the core of this sin. Where there is insecurity, hurt, rejection, bitterness ask Jesus to heal your heart.

4. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with His Spirit. When we are filled with His Spirit, he changes our heart.

5. Guard your heart with His Word. Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. Meditate on what the Word says about Jealousy.

6. The moment you feel jealousy trying to gain access into your heart and mind–pray and ask for the strength of God’s power to help you.