BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Envy and Jealousy Envy is a tool of the enemy. It is “a feeling of discontentment or covetousness with regard to another’s advantage, success or possession.” It’s that sick feeling that comes when one sees another’s success. It’s similar to jealousy, which the enemy also uses to create confusion and destroy relationships. To be jealous is to resent what someone has or what has happened in his life. Like envy, jealousy wants to have what someone else has. Look at what envy caused the Philistines to do in verse 15. “For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.” They envied Isaac and wanted to deprive him of what he possessed. If you continue reading in that chapter, you’ll see that Isaac moved and dug new wells, and those new wells flowed. In a land where it was often difficult to find water, Isaac’s wells flowed. The Philistines couldn’t stop the blessing. The envy of others couldn’t keep the blessing from Isaac…and it can’t keep the blessing from you. Eventually, the Philistines admitted that Isaac was, indeed, blessed. They told him, “We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord” (verses 28-29). There will come a time when those who hate, envy and try to deprive you will admit you’re blessed. Now, that’s good news! Destructive Companions Envy is not some simple, innocent emotion. It keeps seriously destructive company. Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like....” These companions were apparent in Acts 13 when the Jews began speaking against Paul. “And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming” (verses 44-45). Envy moved the Jews to speak negatively, contradict and blaspheme. The Jews wanted to deprive Paul of the blessing that flowed through his life and ministry. If you are in ministry, then envy will move others to try to stop you from preaching the gospel, too. That’s the enemy’s ultimate goal. He wants to do whatever he can to stop the gospel from going forth and changing lives. Recognize and Stand As men and women of faith, we must stand against envy with the Word of God. We must recognize when envy is coming against us and even when the enemy tries to infect us with it. First Corinthians 3:3 says, “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” To have a carnal mind is to have a mind that opposes the Word of God. That is not us. We’re changed. We’re saved. We’re spiritual. We have a Kingdom mindset. "Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation [lifestyle] his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:13-16). Some Christians take envy lightly, thinking, It’s not such a big thing. But if it can be a foundation for every evil work—and if it can block the blessing—then you don’t want to tolerate it for one moment. You have authority over it by the Word of God and in the Name of Jesus. Romans 13:13 says, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” Right now, take a moment to consider the situations in your life and even to examine your own heart. Is envy a motivator? If so, take authority over it. If you’ve been persecuted for it, stand in faith against it. If you’ve been a perpetrator of it, repent and receive forgiveness. Don’t let anything keep you from God’s goodness. He’s ready to explode the blessing—and all that it brings—into your life. Recognize this strategy of the enemy—in those around you and even in yourself. The blessings of God are running over. Don’t let anything prevent you from receiving them! V Creflo Dollar is the founder and senior pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga.; World Changers Church-New York; and several fellowship churches across the country. For more information, visit creflodollarministries.org. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ********** ADVERTISEMENT ********** Hear the Word you need from ministers you can trust! Watch Creflo on bvovn® BELIEVER’S VOICE OF VICTORY NETWORK REAL. LIFE. FAITH.® * * * * * * * * * * * dish® CHANNEL 265 bvovn.com apple tv® 4th Generation Roku® YouTube® amazon fire TV Send us your testimonies about how BVOVN has blessed you. KCM.ORG/TESTIFY ********************************************* BVOV : 15

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