Anchor Verses:
Ecclesiastes 4:4, 1 Samuel 18:6-9, Proverbs 14:30
Focus Statement:
If you harbor jealousy and envy in your heart you will rot from the inside out, you will hurt innocent people around you, and you will ruin close relationships in your life. But if you can be honest with yourself and the Lord, walk by the Spirit, and practice gratitude, you will allow the Holy Spirit to reign in you and jealousy won’t have the opportunity to grow.
Introduction
- Weeds that grow in the garden of your life can often sneak up on you
- Proverbs 25:28 “A person without self control is like a city with broken down walls”
- Once we learn how to identify and remove these weeds from our lives, we take power away from the enemy
Definitions, Roots, & Examples of Jealousy
- Jealousy is a painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another
- Jealousy is sneaky because we often feel anger for no reason but find ways to justify this
- The root of jealousy is a desire for something you don’t want that you haven’t trusted the Lord with or that has become a part of your identity in a toxic way
Consequences of Jealousy
- Jealousy will rot you from the inside out- Proverbs 14:30
- Jealousy will hurt innocent people- Joseph and his brothers
- Jealousy will ruin close relationships- Cain and Abel, the prodigal son
Walking it Out – How do I deal with jealousy?
- Be honest with yourself and with the Lord that you are experiencing jealousy
- Don’t hide your feelings from the Lord. Allow him to tell you how to feel
- Walk by the spirit (spend time with Jesus) and you won’t gratify the desires of the flesh- Galatians 5:16
- Gratitude reminds us of what we have and that God has provided that for both me and the people around me
- Gratitude places a trust in the Lord to give blessings in His wisdom and timing
