THE SPIRIT OF JEALOUSY

Acts 6:10-11

None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.”

The major motivating factor of persecution is envy. The moment unhealthy competitions and rivalry comes in, evil intentions are not far away.

A Nigerian female musician, Evi Edna Ogholi, sang a song many years ago, the chorus says: "Jealousy

Jealousy

Jealousy

Is the root

Jealousy

Jealousy

Jealousy

Is the root of hatred"

It is one of the cankerworms that brethren must beware of, it is not new, it is as old as the earth itself.

Genesis 4:4-5,8

Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.

One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.

What was Abel's offence, was he the one receiving the gift, NO, if Cain was to be angry with anyone, he should be angry with God who rejected his offering. However envy makes a man disillusioned, he begins to act foolishly.

For the sinful man is as a result of a life left careless to the pollution of the world and the toxin of the first disobedience. For it is what man permits that comes in. See God's warning to Cain:

Genesis 4:7

You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

So every human is confronted with sin, we are expected subdue it and choose to do right.

Thus Christ had to come to pay the price that all may be of the Father again, yet some resist, for man must yet decide the way to go. The choice is still ours. Yes, He said come, yes He said cast all your cares, but it is us that will do the coming and the casting.

So envy is the motivation for persecution, Pilate knew this when the brought Jesus to him.

Mark 15:10

(For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.)

Why did the Jewish leaders persecute the apostles? - envy!

Acts 4:2-3

These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.

They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.

Every natural man has the tendency to be envious!

Titus 3:3

Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

But in Christ this must never be heard among us:

Galatians 5:21 

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

It is the source of bitterness and leads to evil thoughts and actions.

The seed of envy must be destroyed before it takes root, because uprooting it is not easy.

We must not be deceived, it is not lack that causes envy, but foolishness and lack of contentment. We see the rich trying to take the little from the poor. Even David got carried away, he had so many wives, yet he longed for the only one his soldier had.

The Lord save us all from this terrible vice, may our homes, fellowship, work places and nation be free of this evil.

Lord have your way in our lives.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.