TOPIC: ENVY IS EVIL
MEMORISE:
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16
READ: James 3:13-16
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
MESSAGE:
Envy is so serious that Proverb 27:4 says: “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”
This means that wrath and anger are no match for envy. Beloved, it would take divine intervention for an envious person to escape the consequences of his or her actions. Joseph was an object of envy even among his brothers, so much so that they could have killed him if not for God who kept him. In the end however, all those who were envious of the grace of God upon his life bowed to him. Are you an object of envy from your household- biological or spiritual? The Lord will deliver you today, in Jesus’ name.
God’s word is true throughout the ages; thus, we must watch out for our attitude towards it. Jesus said in Matthew 10:36 that “….a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”
Joseph’s story is a lesson for believers who share testimonies of divine happenings that are still at the incubation stage, thus furnishing the enemies with information that could be used against them. Joseph naively revealed his dream of becoming a ruler to his brothers who were already envious. He could have kept the dream to himself and would still have fulfilled his destiny because it was of the Lord. I know this because Psalm 33:11 says:
“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever...”
As God’s children, the Bible is full of assurances of protection for us. Psalm 23, for example, says that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil and that goodness and mercy shall follow us wherever we go.
We must be mindful however, of the kind of people we share our visions, dreams and aspirations with because the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). We must not deliberately rouse the envy of our enemies because grace does not cover frivolity.
While we have the guarantee of the Lord’s protection, we must also be careful not to court envy by our actions or inactions thereby generating unnecessary strife.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please grant me the wisdom not to deliberately stir up envy. Please, protect me and my family from all evil.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: RELATION 7-11.
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 11: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR.
1. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
o Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
2. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
5. I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.
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