Write the Vision (Part II)

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Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:1-4

The Lord directed Habakkuk to write down the vision, and then He explained why this was important. The Lord stated that God’s vision brings clarity to our paths, so we can run with the vision set out for us.

If we are going to run according to God’s vision for us, we first have to ensure that His priorities are our priorities! Many people are seeking God’s purpose and vision for their individual lives, but they neglect how God builds the lives of His children! Our Pastor gave a prophetic message on New Year’s Eve about “building a healthy foundation.”  Having a healthy foundation is also important as it relates to the subject of vision! We cannot run towards God’s vision for our lives without properly securing a solid foundation!

For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’  Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’  But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,  in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. Deuteronomy 30:11-15

The Lord spoke to Moses concerning His people, and He stated that His commands are not too mysterious to be understood. Sometimes people think unless they receive a special word from heaven, they have not heard God. In reality, God’s instructions are not difficult to comprehend nor do they require us to be a theologian to understand them.

For some, God’s commandments may sound like Cliche’ because we have heard them so many times. Hence, they don’t consider them as God’s vision for their lives. The truth is that if we are not serious about following God’s instructions for our lives, we are building on a faulty foundation and are not prepared to run with God’s vision! 

People run from event to event or podcast to podcast to find the latest word of the Lord, but God tells Habakkuk that His word is near us and is on our lips. That tells me that we may know the word of God and proclaim it, but we may not do it!

All of us need to be very cautious about not deceiving ourselves by thinking that if we know the word of God that we must be obedient to it. One of the key areas for a seasoned believer to be deceived is when they justify their disobedience. They use the words such as “You don’t understand”, “You can’t trust them”, “I have been walking with the Lord for years and I know the Bible!”, or “If you only knew what they have done to me…”. These are the words that justify one’s actions to remain in sin, offense, unforgiveness, or hardened heart. Some can also be deceived when they look for people who agree with them, and if they don’t find them they feel rejected and judged.

Some people seek God’s vision and purpose in their lives all the while the Lord is showing them that the foundation still needs more work! Praise God that the Lord is merciful and gracious, but that does not change the fact that His commands still need to be the priority for our lives. When we follow His basic instructions for Godly living and Godly relating to others, we are building a solid and healthy foundation that honors the Lord!

In the above passage, the Lord told Moses that He has set before the people life and good, death and evil. God provides a blueprint for living that is full of His life and His goodness. This is His first and foremost vision!  He tells us that the alternative also exists for those who do not want to build according to God’s instructions.

So what is God’s vision for your life!? Begin with the areas that the Lord wants to shore up in your life. Are there people that you need to forgive? Do you need to expel jealousy, envy, or hatred? Is temper an issue for you? Do you need to stop murmuring and complaining? Is gossip or exaggeration something you struggle with? Do you tend to be lazy or lack motivation? Do you need to learn to live on a budget?  Is the Lord impressing on you to be more generous with your time, talents, and treasures? Any area that the Lord is speaking to you, find scriptures regarding those areas and write them down in your journal or on 3X5 cards and meditate on them regularly. Allow the Lord to rebuild the broken places and build up your life on solid foundation as you run with His vision for your life!

 

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Write the Vision (Part I)

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Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

“Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:1-4

A vision is a prophetic word or picture that God speaks to His children in order for them to become aware of the work of God and to move forward in His purposes. The Bible is full of stories of God’s people receiving a prophetic word or vision from the Lord as they began their process.

For example, Moses tended his father-in-law’s sheep for four decades without, knowingly, being involved in anything spiritual. Moses didn’t have a vision for his life until God appeared to him in a burning bush in the desert when feeding the flock. When the Lord appeared to him, He told him that He had heard the cries of the Israelites enslaved in Egypt, and He wanted to rescue them by sending Moses to them. The Lord explained that He had a land flowing with milk and honey that He was going to take them into. It was already a difficult task for Moses, but without this vision, it would have been much more difficult for Moses to go before Pharaoh and ask for the children of Israel.

In the above passage, as Habakuk stood and watched God, the Lord began to instruct him to write down the vision. Why is writing it down so important!? First, the written vision becomes a point of encounter with God. Second, it becomes a tool for us to remember what God has spoken. Whenever the Lord met the Patriarchs in the Bible, they built an altar in that place as a point of remembrance. Third, by the written vision, we can fight the enemy when he comes to bring doubt, discouragement, and derailment.

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos 3:7

The Lord reveals His heart and His plan to His servants before He begins His work. The vision becomes a vague blueprint as to what the Lord intends to do. Generally, He does not give specific information such as the length of time or the obstacles ahead, but He provides us with enough information to keep us going in the direction that He has set out for us.

When Mary received the vision from the angel about having a baby, she did not have many details.  Basically, she knew that she was going to carry God’s son and that it required her stewardship of this child until such a time that God would reveal His plan for His life. Mary and Joseph had to overcome many obstacles. However, they continued to follow the Lord’s leading every step of the way, and the Lord was faithful to show them what they needed to do.

Has the Lord given you a prophetic word or a vision? If so, what have you done about it? Some may have given up on the vision after years of waiting.  The truth is that God’s vision does not always equate with activity, but it does equate with a process that may or may not appear spiritual.

Allow the Lord to bring to remembrance the words that He has spoken to you in the past some of which He may desire for you to focus on in this season. For others, the Lord may speak a new vision in your life. Incline your ear to Him and make sure you are in tune with His voice. When He speaks, write it down. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit allows us to have continued revelation of the work of God through the vision of God! Praise God for His vision for His children and His desire to walk with us on the journey!

 

 

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Reflect, Remember, and Resolve

Leave a Comment / Maturity, Resolve / By

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7

In David’s era, Kings evaluated their strength by the number of their chariots and horses. However, King David knew that chariots and horses were not the measure of his success or power. Many times God had delivered him when he owned none of those things, and he knew unless God protected him, his possessions had no power to deliver him nor to protect him! Therefore, King David’s trust was in the Lord and he remembered the Lord for His mighty power on his behalf!

In this day and age, most of us don’t have any chariots or horses, but people still put their trust in people or things. The chariots and the horses of our day could be high-paying jobs, impressive education, co-dependent relationships, connections to high places, nice retirement, or a beautiful house! While those worldly things are nice, they are not the answer to life or Godliness! They cannot protect or deliver one from evil. They cannot provide discernment in choosing between right and wrong nor can they bring health and wholeness to a person. Without the Lord we can do nothing! As Paul stated, in Him we live, move, and have our being (Acts 17:28 a). The Lord is the one who gives us strength in the body, soul, and spirit, and He is the one who leads us in the way we should go!

Similar to David, we also are to remember the Lord and His mighty work among us! At the close of 2019, it is good to reflect on this past year and remember God’s mercy and grace in our lives. How has the Lord directed, provided, and delivered you in this past year!?

In addition, evaluate this past year and determine if you had your version of chariots and horses that you trusted in. Was there anything that stole your focus from the Lord having the first place in your life!? Prayerfully, resolve what you could do better and improve upon in the new year. Is it having more regular quiet time with the Lord? Is it to make more time for loved ones? Does social media take too much of your time? Are there certain thought patterns that need to be broken off, so you can live in more joy and peace in life? Is it getting more exercise? Is it eating healthier? Is it saying “no” to distractions, so you can remain focused on your priorities?

Once you determine the areas that the Lord is leading you to improve upon, share your goals with a friend and develop a mutual accountability. Every couple of months, check in with each other and see how the other one is doing.

As we are about to begin a new decade, let us wean ourselves away from worldly chariots and horses and place our focus on more intimacy with the Lord! Have we significantly matured in the last ten years? What were the obstacles to growth? What needs to change in order for growth to occur? Those are all important questions to think about as we are heading into the new year!

 

 

 

The King of Kings Became a Child (Part III)

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Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:1-2

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Matthew 2:13-16

Jesus was born under the nose of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but they didn’t notice or recognize Him! On the other hand, the wise men as outsiders, from a far country, came a long way seeking to see the King of the Jews and worship Him! Sometimes, we think that if we had been raised in a Christian home, we would have had an advantage in knowing God early in life and having more knowledge of Him. Looking at the religious people of Jesus’ day, it is clear that they they had knowledge but no revelation! They were blinded to the reality of who Jesus was even when He walked among them. It was the illiterate and the uneducated who accepted Him more readily and believed who He was!

The wise men came to King Herod looking for the King of the Jews, but this became a point of intimidation for King Herod! He was so scared of this baby that he was willing to take the lives of many boys under the age of 2 to ensure that Jesus was eliminated. How can a baby be so intimidating!? Did he ever stop to ask what was the baby’s lineage that would qualify Him to be the King of the Jews!?

In John 10:10, Jesus stated that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy is threatened by those who worship the King of Kings and attempts to steal the seed of life! He tried to snuff out the life of Jesus before He had the opportunity to grow and fulfill the Father’s mission. He will try to do the same in the lives of people!

Thankfully, Mary and Joseph were warned in a dream about King Herod’s plans and fled to Egypt to ensure that Jesus would not be touched by his men. Similarly, God provides a way of escape from temptations and the trappings of the enemy. We need to remain in tune with Him and listen to His instructions. It would have been very inconvenient for Mary and Joseph to travel all the way to Egypt with a baby on a donkey, but it was necessary if they were going to protect the promised Child!

Sometimes we have to distance ourselves from certain people or situations to ensure that we are not affected by the behavior or lifestyle of others. We have to guard what the Lord has entrusted to us from those things that could endanger our faith or the call of God in our lives. It may feel lonely for a season. It may also cost us something, but if God has directed it, He will provide the grace to go through it until such a time that He opens new doors.

The Lord entrusted the King of Kings in the hands of Mary and Joseph. They carefully paid attention to God’s instructions every step of the way and protected God’s son for the call that He had on His life! Are you stewarding what God has placed in your life? Are you protective of the call of God? We are all carriers of His seed of life in us, and we’re called to steward it for His glory and purpose!

 

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The King of Kings Became a Child (Part II)

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Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1:30-35

The angel brought the good news of upcoming Jesus’ conception and His birth to Mary. Mary had no idea how this was going to happen since she had not been with any man. She only accepted and received the will of the Father. Interestingly, she did not even mention anything to the angel about her being engaged, and neither did she ask the angel to tell Joseph about this exchange. Mary’s pregnancy had the potential to alienate her from everyone and even put her life in danger. Her parents could have accused her of wrongdoing, and Joseph could have accused her of being with another man. In addition, her countrymen could have shunned her for claiming to carry God’s child. Furthermore, the religious people could have stoned her to death. There were many risks for Mary in accepting the call of God in her life. However, Mary trusted God’s plan and did not worry about all the “what ifs”!

The angel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and she would have a holy conception! Those statements were all future tense. Mary was informed about this beforehand, and she chose to humbly accept the call, believe the angel, and receive God’s plan for her life.  This assignment was a great privilege for Mary, but it was also a great responsibility and a costly one for her.

As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. Ecclesiastes 11:5

The only involvement that Mary had in Jesus’ conception was to accept the work of the Holy Spirit in her life. The King of Kings began to take on the human nature in her womb and grow in His stature and wholeness inside of her. Jesus was dependent on His mother to take care of Him while in the womb until such a time that He was ready to be born. The Holy one inside of her grew just like any other baby, but Mary knew hers was someone special who had come from on high!

Similarly, when we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit begins to dwell within us and brings life to our spirit man. Intellectually, we do the works of God and what happened inside of us, but we become born again and the new nature of God begins to grow in us. Mary knew she was a carrier of a Holy child. Do we know we are carriers of His holiness when we receive Him as our Savior and Lord!? Initially, we accept the change by faith. We know we have been touched by God but we don’t completely understand the extent and the ramifications of being born again! At the beginning, the transformation is not visible to others, and it looks like nothing has changed. However, over time when the new life grows inside of us and begins to take on the nature of God, our change will become more noticeable and profound!

The King of Kings who entered the world through Mary’s womb, desires to take His place in our hearts and in our lives. When we make Him the priority and give Him room to grow, we begin to see the magnificence of the gift entrusted to us by God! When we nurture the seed of life in us and recognize His holiness within us, we are compelled to live a sanctified life and to prepare a dwelling place for Him who is holy!

 

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The King of Kings Became a Child (Part I)

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Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

God chose to create humanity in His own image and when He did it, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were with Him in Creation. The Lord stated, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Man was created by the Holy triune God, and He created man and woman in the image of the God-head with three parts all in unity. We are created with a spirit, soul, and physical body. Our wholeness and health depends on our spirit man to receive direction from the Holy Spirit, and for every part of us to be in congruence with one another.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The same God-head (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) who was together in the beginning chose to send the Son to the world in the form of a baby. The King of Kings and the Prince of Peace chose to take the shape and vulnerability of a baby, and he was entrusted to a young humble couple to be raised and protected for God’s purpose! The one whom the government would be upon His shoulder, chose to come in the form of a baby and to be born in a manger away from all the noise, distractions, honor, and the applause of man.

We may wonder, why wasn’t this baby born with a fanfare!? He didn’t need to. God knew man’s condition and the helpless state of humanity. Jesus didn’t come to take a place in the worldly stage. Instead, He came to free people from the bondage of sin, depravity, oppression, false worldviews, and crooked value systems. Therefore, He had no need to be honored by others or to impress anyone. He was there as a physician to heal the sick. He wasn’t there looking to impress the sick or to receive their applause!

Similarly, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords has chosen us as His ambassadors to represent His image on the earth. If we are going to represent Him well, we need to do it His way. He did not seek to be popular or impressive, and neither should we look to receive the applause of man. When we choose to focus on the needs of others for their sakes rather than filling a void in us, our work would be so much more effective. And our churches would become places of refuge for the lost, the sick, and the weary!

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.

 

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The Dangers of Envy (Part IV)

2 Comments / Envy, Fear of God / By

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; Proverbs 23:17

Some people envy others because they see them getting away with evil. I shared in the last devotional about Joseph’s brothers envying him, and they got away with their evil for many years. The above scripture tells us that we need to guard our hearts from envying sinners. This is what Joseph did when his brothers acted unfairly towards him. He did not allow their evil actions to change him or cause him to sin.

In addition, although Joseph was wronged by his brothers, he continued to trust God when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him. Subsequently, she falsely accused Joseph of making advances towards her, but Joseph was zealous for the fear of the Lord and did not sin against the Lord or the Potiphar. Other people’s bad behavior should not stop us from doing what is right.

The good news is that the envy of Joseph’s brothers did not stop God’s plan for Joseph, and their actions even pushed Joseph to be in the right place for God’s plan. Joseph continued to fear God and be faithful to the Lord, and God advanced him despite of all the obstacles.

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. Proverbs 3:31-32

The scriptures clearly direct us not to be envious of those who do wrong.  The truth is that the world is full of those who will act unfairly or in shady manner. Other people’s actions do not change the fact that envy is dangerous and demonic, and it does not produce any good fruit. Furthermore, God is intimate with those whom He trusts and those who live their lives to please Him.

Is it truly worth missing out on our intimacy with the Lord and having His secret counsel over envying others!? God showed His secret counsel to Joseph by allowing him to interpret accurately people’s dreams including Pharaoh’s dreams. The Lord used him in a powerful way even though his brothers had tried to get rid of him to ensure that he will not be their leader someday. However, they could not thwart God’s plan, and the Lord allowed Joseph to be in a position where his brothers would have needed him. After all those years that seemingly they got away with their wicked schemes, Joseph was merciful to his brothers when they came seeking food during famine in their land.

Envy has a toxic and insidious affect, and we must do everything we can not to open the door to this dangerous spirit. Make a commitment not to give room to envy in your life. Sometimes, it will be a battle to refrain from envy. However, we have to keep in mind that pleasing the Lord, having His secret counsel, and remaining healthy physically are far more valuable than being envious. Continue to fight the battle to remain in the spirit and don’t make any provision for the flesh! Like Joseph, we can be a blessing to those who persecuted us instead of envying them. 

The Dangers of Envy (Part III)

Leave a Comment / Demonic, Envy, Lying, Self-Seeking / By

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:14-16

The above scripture gives us a few truths about the dangers of envy.  James tells us that some will boast about envy and self-seeking. Why would one boast about envying!? I don’t think people directly boast about their envy, but they boast about the accomplishments that was rooted in envy! For example, striving can be rooted in envy, so, on the surface, the person can look impressive by what they achieve. Hence, they could be boasting about their accomplishments instead of boasting about envying others.  Envy causes a person to be self-seeking and not to stand being the second fiddle. As a result, envy can compel a person to do all that he/she can to ensure they attain or maintain what is valuable to them!

In addition, the above scripture tells us that some will lie about their motives and will try to hide or deny their envy. On the surface they may look like a dedicated person, but their motives are to push others aside and ensure that they are the ones who hold are at the center of stage. We all need to be discerning of our own motives as well as those around us. A lot of things can look impressive, and every organization looks for dedicated members who are faithful and committed. However, this does not mean that every person has pure motives in doing what they do. We all need to check in with the Lord from time to time and ensure that our heart is pure and we have no ulterior motives.

James goes on to explain that these actions and attitudes are not spiritual but carnal and demonic! This is very sobering.! When a person allows envy to be the motivating factor in what they do, they are opening the door to the demonic in their lives. They are no longer are led by the spirit of God. They may think that they are walking in freedom with Jesus, but envy has held them captive! Now, their focus and desire has shifted from serving God to serving themselves and winning.

Joseph’s brothers are a good example of the damage that envy can produce (Read starting in Genesis 37). Their envy caused them to open the door to the spirit of hatred and murder. Their jealousy led them to get rid of their brother. Furthermore, they lied to their father and acted like they knew nothing about what happened to Joseph. This caused much pain and separation for their father and Joseph. Their intent was to ensure that Joseph did not remain the favorite and his dreams would not come true. Their envy brought about self-seeking and demonic schemes and caused them to even lie about it by pretending to their father that they cared about Joseph!

Are you someone who helps and encourages people to grow and take their place in their God-given sphere? Or do you feel insecure about those who are preferred and try to minimize them? Are you happy for those who are honored? Or do you allow envy to cause you to resent others and their privileged status in life? You may argue that some don’t deserve their position. This is the subject of the next devotional.

 

 

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The Dangers of Envy (Part II)

2 Comments / Distress, Distrust, Envy, Torment / By

A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30

The Bible tells us much about envy and its danger to the person and those around them. The above scripture  tells us that envy brings destruction to the body. People can experience various mental, emotional, and physical issues because they allow themselves to be envious and bitter in their hearts. The fact is that regardless of what others have done, envy does not change anything. It only infects the person who has come into agreement with it. They’re the ones suffering and paying the price for it. In addition, the person remains carnal and inhibits their own growth as I shared in the last devotional. We’re called to guard our hearts from envy. When we keep our hearts sound, our perception and our body remains healthy and whole as well.  

So the women sang as they danced, and said:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 1 Samuel 18:7-10

Saul became Jealous of David and his popularity among people. His envy brought about a distressing spirit that tormented him. At times, David was invited to play music for him, so he could be relieved from this anxiety. The truth is that David would not have been even in the picture if Saul had done what God told him to do. When Saul disobeyed the Lord, God rejected him and chose David to be the future king.

David was anointed by God and he wasn’t the one after Saul’s position. He was just trying to live his life and be a good shepherd boy for his father. He had no ambitions to take Saul’s place. It was Saul’s insecurity and his own disobedience that opened the door to distressing spirit and torment. One of the dangers of envy is that it pollutes our perception, and it causes distrust of others. The envious person may get paranoid and  think that others are out to get them.  Others’ Actions are interpreted as a personal attack and how it might take the envious person out of their position.

As David was trying to be all God had called him to be, Saul interpreted those actions as a plan to take his throne. Saul’s envy made David’s life very difficult, yet it did not thwart God’s plan for his life. The fruit of envy was distress and depression for Saul. Are there people that you are envious of? Can you trust God with your future? Do you believe that as long as you are walking with God and pleasing Him nothing could stop God’s plan for your life?

 

 

 

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The Dangers of Envy (Part I)

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The world is full of competition and backbiting, which makes it a fertile ground for people envying each other. The problem is that envy damages one’s spirit, soul, and body, and it is very dangerous to everyone involved including the body of Christ!

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:3

Definition of Carnal (according to Strong’s Dictionary): having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites; governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God; having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature; human: with the included idea of depravity; pertaining to the flesh; to the body: related to birth, linage, etc.

Paul made a distinction between a carnal person versus a spiritual person by describing how they operate. When someone is carnal, they are operating in their lowest nature. It’s about survival and being better than others,  and it creates comparison, competition, and envy. It all becomes about what they want and how it makes them feel. They rely on their natural senses and their family history to seek truth and make decisions in life.

Paul measured the Corinthian’s carnality by the level of their envy, strife, and division.  Most people would not admit being envious, so the enemy has a hold on them. People keep envy in secret and try to act like it doesn’t exist. Subsequently, envy is not addressed easily because of its private and secretive nature. Hence, envy is only visible with its fruits, which are drivenness, strife, and division.

Once a person opens the door to envy, they stunt their own spiritual development. They cannot grow in their spirit man if they continue to feed their flesh with envy. Paul warned the church members in Corinth that he was only able to give them milk because they were still carnal and not ready for solid food. Envy caused arrested development, and it impacted others through disunity and broken relationships!

Envying is completely opposite of what God desires for His children. How can we build a healthy church if the members are envious of each other!? How can we work in unity with each other when people are worried about who is going to get the credit!? How can Jesus be lifted up when some are focused on lifting themselves up or ensuring that they are at the center of attention? How can we have brotherly love when one cannot be happy for the success of his brother or sister in Christ!?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional