STRONGMAN

IS HIS NAME

What is Jealousy?Definition – “envious: feeling bitter and

unhappy because of another's advantages, possessions, or luck”

Jealousy, along with Pride, is probably the OLDEST sin in the universe

I. First case of Jealousy1. The FIRST Case of Jealousy in the universe was

found among God’s created angelic beings.a. Lucifer – a.k.a Satan; The Devil; Serpent• He was Perfect, beautiful, and was one of the greatest

among the Angels• What Happened? He grew Jealous

– Isaiah 14:12-14 “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

II. Jealousy leads to…1. MURDER

a. Cain• Gen 4:5 “But on Cain and his offering he did not look with

favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. “• By not controlling Jealousy, that leads to anger, we open

ourselves up to the strongman of Jealousy. b. Joseph• Gen. 37:3-4,8 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of

his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him….. His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

II. Jealousy leads to…1. MURDER

a. Cainb. Joseph• Gen 37:3-4,8

– Joseph was favored by his Father Jacob and was given the robe of many colors to signify him being chief over the rest of the family, even though he was the youngest.

– His brothers understood this and began to entertain jealous, hateful, murderous thoughts

II. Jealousy leads to…2. REVENGE

a. Jacob shouldn’t have showed favor to Joseph over his other sons, but that didn’t give his brothers the right to attack him

b. The damning factor is this… they enjoyed it….c. In the End, his brothers ended up far worse than

Joseph and far worse as a family – thoughts of fear and guilt arose

II. Jealousy leads to…d. What should we do with revenge?• Romans 12:19-21 “Do not take revenge, my

friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

II. Jealousy leads to…3. UNGODLY COMPETITION

a. The Spirit of unnatural competition was present between Cain and Abel, as well as with Joseph and his brothers.• It is Dangerous when –

– We “DO” whatever it takes to win a game, regardless of our Godly composure

– We “SAY” whatever it takes to win a boyfriend or girlfriend– We “THINK” whatever it takes – in the sense we think of

ways to manipulate situations by lying, stealing, abusing, etc.

III. How does the Spirit of Jealousy get into our lives?

1. Jealousy enters our lives because we are not SPIRITUALLY MINDED about situations.

a. Rather than thinking, “How can I win them to Christ?” We think, “How can I win.”• This thinking causes works of the flesh, which leads to

strongholds of Satan in our lives.• These full-blown problems are:

i. COVETOUSNESS - to have a strong desire to possess something that belongs to somebody else

ii. ENVY - the resentful or unhappy feeling of wanting somebody else's success, good fortune, qualities, or possessions

iii. STRIFE - bitter and sometimes violent conflict, struggle, or rivalry iv. HATRED - a feeling of intense hostility towards somebody or

something v. DIVISIONS - something that separates things by forming a boundary

between them vi. RESENTMENT - aggrieved feelings caused by a sense of having been

badly treated

IV. What can I do about this Jealousy

1. The Love of Goda. The love of God is the only effective medicine to

heal us of Jealousy and the other works of the flesh related to it• PROVERBS 10:12 - Hatred stirs up dissension, but love

covers over all wrongs.• EPHESIANS 5:2 - live a life of love, just as Christ loved

us and gave himself up for us

IV. What can I do about this Jealousy

2. How can we “GET” the love of God into our hearts?

a. Fall in Love with God• Listen to him when he speaks to you, through his

word• Pray to him• Doing loving acts for God – show affection through

gifts

Final Thought…When The Love of God provides our wants

And needs… then and only then willWe be satisfied and free from the

Spirit of Jealousy