JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

JEALOUSY AND RIVALRY

I would like to thank my heavenly Father for making this ministry possible, and giving me the grace to follow Him. 
Our Scripture reading is found in Genesis Chapter 37, and Ephesians 5:28-33.

When we think of jealousy and rivalry, our minds go back to times in our lives when we have seen this in action.  Could be, our actions, or the actions of others around us, or it could be what we hear from the media; but wherever we hear it, or experience it, we know it is rampant on this globe.

It is very important we know what the Bible has to say about it, so we can avoid it.

Jealousy means:  Possessiveness, resentfulness, morbid suspicion, mistrust, and flaming anger.
Rivalry means: Competition, opposing, striving to win, struggle to surpass, contest, battle of wills.

Wow!

You might say, “I read in the Bible where it says, God is a jealous God.”
You’re right.  We are going there first.
Exodus 20:5,6 —-Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them (referring to idols),nor serve them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the Fathers upon the children unto the third  and fourth generation of them that hate Me;
      and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.
God said it. I am a jealous God.
God will not give His glory to another.
He will not tolerate a rival near His throne.
He is not jealous as the Greeks thought;  of mere success, or greatness; but He is very jealous of His own honor, and will not have the respect and reverence which is due to Him, given to other beings or objects.

What about family ?
There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the family:
Marital
Siblings
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
and so on —-

There has always been jealousy and rivalry in the Church family
And jealousy and rivalry in the work place.
But God wants us to get above that and come out to freedom from this torment, because …jealousy has torment… attached to it.

Let’s look at a family situation in Genesis 37:4,11,18,28,31-32,35, where jealousy between brothers causes much pain to the family.
Our story begins when Joseph was only seventeen years old.
He was shepherding the flock with his brothers, and brought his father a bad report on them. (verse 2)
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors. (verse 3)
4-  And when his brethren saw that their father loved him  more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaecably to him.
5-  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren (brothers): and they hated him yet the more.
He had dreamed they had bowed down in respect to him. (verse 7)
This caused them to hate him more. (verse 8)
In verse 9 and 10, he dreamed another dream, and told it to his brothers and his father. But his father rebuked him and said to him, What is the meaning of this dream that you have dreamed?  Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down ourselves to the earth and do homage to you?
 Verse 11 —- Joseph’s brothers envied him ; but his father observed the saying (his father took notice of the saying and pondered over it) 
Although Joseph was seemingly trying to do the right thing, and his brothers were doing evil things, it seems to me these kinds of dreams should have been kept in his heart, and not shared with his brothers.
We see here to, his father did correct him when he needed it.
In our day and time we would call this a dysfunctional family, because the other brothers were the sons of two other wives. (verse 2)
Joseph was their half brother.

One day, when the brothers were feeding and shepherding their father’s flock; Israel told Joseph, “Go see whether or not everything is all right with your brothers and with the flock, and report back to me”. (14)
     18 – And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
And they said to each other, “Here comes this dreamer, and master of dreams.  Let us kill him and throw his body in some pit ; then we will say to our father, some wild beast has devoured him; and we will see what will become of his dreams!” (verses 19,20)

Reuben heard it and said, let’s not kill him, for Rueben’s plan was to rescue him, and take him back to his father.  Reuben said, “Shed no blood.”  So they took him and stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him in a well-like pit with no water; and sat down to lunch. (verses 21-25)
25-  When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, going on their way down to Egypt.
26-  And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?”
27-  Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites.  And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver, which is a sermon of it’s own, because Jesus was betrayed and sold-out for twenty pieces of silver: —- but let’s go on.
28-  And They took Joseph into Egypt.
29-  Then Reuben , who had not been there when the brothers plotted to sell the lad, returned ; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit.
31,32- They killed an animal, dipped it in the blood and sent it to their father.
34-  And Jacob tore his clothes, would not eat, and went into mourning.
35-  His sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said “I will go to my grave to mourning for my son.”
And his father wept for him.
36-  And the Midianites, and Ishmaelites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh.
39:2- But the Lord was with Joseph. 
As the story goes on we see Joseph being put down and then being lifted up to the number one place next to Pharaoh.

God had given to him the gift of interpreting dreams, and used this gift to lift him up to this great position to eventually help his family in a time of famine, to keep them alive, and because his family had to come to Egypt where they could buy food, they in due time, did bow before Joseph, because reigned next to Pharaoh.
H
In this story, we see sibling rivalry in the worst degree.  Jealousy and rivalry which led to hate and anger and a conspiracy to do harm followed by lies to cover-up. After which, grief filled the family.

Many do not actually carry-out what they think to do to their siblings, but to hate them shows what is in their heart.

Christians struggle with jealousy at times, which brings on curses and severe problems to come upon them, if not dealt with.
I can think of other accounts of jealousy that arises in families, such as one family member is more prosperous than the other.

A Mother-in-law may be jealous of her Daughter-in-law, or the other way around. Sometimes they may see each other as rivals for his attention.
I tell you, this should not be going on in the life of a Christian..  It is walking in the flesh.  This brings so much trouble into the family that does not need to be there.  Get over it!  It grieves your relationship with God.
Woman of God, understand this: the love the son has for his mother, is different from the love he has for his wife.  To try to cause division between either of these two relationships will backfire on you.
Listen to this Scripture in Ephesians 5:28-33 —-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
      For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: (or just like the Lord does the Church).
      For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.
      For this cause (or this reason) shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
      This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.
      Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular (or personally) so love his wife even as himself and the wife see that she reverence (or honor) her husband.
Mother-in-laws sometimes think their son or daughter could have done much better in choosing their spouse: but many times they are looking at the faults of the in-law, and they fail to see their child’s imperfections.
There should be a love bond between in-laws because of the marriage bond of their child to the one they choose. 
God If that child of yours is so perfect and intelligent and such a magnificent Christian, why do you think they made such a bad choice?
Think about it!
I tell you, if more time was spent trying to understand, and praying for that child’s spouse, there would be more peace and harmony in their lives, as well as your relationship with your child; not to mention the relationship between you and God.
If there is no harmony in the family, the children pick-up on it and become like you.
I am sorry to say, jealousy and rivalry are rampant in the Body of Christ as well as in family life.
This shouldn’t be.  Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and change you into that person that overlooks the faults of others.

Pray this prayer with me: Father, I want to be like Jesus. Help me to deal with any jealousy or rivalry in my life.  I repent of it. I know it hurts my relationship with You. Please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.  Bring harmony in every area of my life. In Jesus Name I pray.  Amen.
   

 

     

 

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APPEARANCES

I ASK YOU TO READ THIS MESSAGE WITH AN OPEN MIND AS I, AS AN OLDER WOMAN, TEACH YOU WHAT GOD HAS LAID ON MY HEART TODAY.

IN SCRIPTURE, WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM CERTAIN THINGS AND ACTIONS, SUCH AS: FORNICATION (I THESSALONIANS  4:3); ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL (I THESSALONIANS 5:22); AND FLESHLY LUSTS (I PETER 2:11).

GIRLS (AND GUYS), GOD HAS GIVEN A BEAUTIFUL BODY TO REJOICE IN.

ALL OF US ARE …FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE…(PSALM 139:14).

WHEN GOD CREATED WOMAN, HE FORMED HER FROM ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS; WHICH WAS THE FIRST RECORDED SURGERY. GENESIS 2:21-23 – AND GOD CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP TO FALL UPON ADAM, AND HE SLEPT: AND HE  TOOK ONE OF ADAM’S RIBS, AND CLOSED UP THE FLESH INSTEAD.

          AND THE RIB WHICH THE LORD HAD TAKEN FROM MAN, MADE HE A WOMAN, AND BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. WOMAN MEANS: “AT LAST THIS ONE.” WHY DID ADAM CALL HER “AT LAST THIS ONE?” BECAUSE ALL THE ANIMALS CREATED HAD A MATE.—-…AND THE LORD GOD SAID, IT IS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE; I WILL MAKE A HELP MEET FOR HIM (ONE SUITABLE TO HELP HIM) (GENESIS 2:18).

SO HERE WE GO! IT IS GOD’S PLAN THAT MAN IS ATTRACTED TO WOMAN, AND WOMAN TO MAN.

IN GENESIS 4:1, WE SEE …AND ADAM KNEW EVE HIS WIFE; AND SHE CONCEIVED…

SEX BEGAN.

BEFORE THE FALL, AND RECOGNITION OF GOOD AND EVIL, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR ONE MAN ONE ONE WOMAN TO BE CLOTHED IN GARMENTS. THEY WERE CLOTHED IN THE LIGHT OF GOD, IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN WHERE THERE WAS NO SIN OR CORRUPTION. ALL WAS PURITY AND PEACE. THERE WAS NO SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN ADAM AND EVE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A PLACE OF HOLY COMPANIONSHIP.

DID GOD KNOW THEN THAY WOULD FALL AND SIN? YES, BECAUSE THE SCRIPTURES SAY IN REVELATION 13:8b – …THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD…SO WE SEE, GOD MADE PROVISION FOR OUR SINS BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, BEFORE CREATION. GOD KNEW THE CHOICES OF MAN TO COME, AND GAVE US A SAVIOR THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. IT WAS GOD’S DIVINE PLAN THAT HIS SON WOULD DIE FOR US, AND RISE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY, AND ASCEND BACK TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US. WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME TO JESUS. COME TODAY.

AFTER GOD PRONOUNCED THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN, IT IS RECORDED THAT HE CLOTHED ADAM AND EVE, AND AS HIS WIFE, SHE CONCEIVED A CHILD.

OUR AGE IS NOW CALLED A SEXUAL REVOLUTION: WITHOUT RESTRAINT, PORNOGRAPHY, FREE SEX, HOMOSEXUALITY OT OF THE CLOSET, EXPOSING ONE’S BODY, AND EVERYTHING GOES.

NOW, INSTESD ABSTAINING FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL, IT IS TO BE TOLERANT OF EVIL; DO YOUR OWN THING; MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES! —-WE ARE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT TAGGED-ON ARE THE CONSEQUENCES, OR COULD WE SAY, THE HARVEST OF OUR CHOICES.

TAKE THE CHOICE OF FORNICATION OF WHICH THE DEFINITION IS: SIN, ADULTRY, INFIDELITY, EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR (ACTUALLY IT MEANS ANY TYPE OF SEXUAL PERVERSION, EVEN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. 

LOOK AT I THESSALONIANS 4:3-5– FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION, THAT YE SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION:

          THAT EVERYONE OF YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW TO POSSESS HIS VESSEL IN SANCTIFICATION AND HONOR;

          NOT IN THE LUST OF CONCUPISCIENCE (PERSONAL DESIRE), EVEN AS THE GENTILES (HEATHEN) WHICH KNOW NOT GOD. 

WHEN THE CHOICE TO FORNICATE IS MADE, THERE ARE MANY CONSEQUENCES THAT EVOLVE. IT OPENS THE DOOR TO AIDS, VENEREAL DISEASES, HEARTACHE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, UNWED PREGNANCY, ABORTION, AND THE LIST GOES ON; NOT TO MENTION DOSOBEDIENCE TO,  AND CHASTISEMENT OF GOD. MOST SAY GUILT IS THE HARDEST TO OVERCOME.

WHAT ABOUT OUR APPEARANCE, WHICH INCLUDES CHOICE OF CLOTHING, OUR ACTIONS; WHO WE TRY TO IMITATE; ANYTHING THAT WOULD GO UNDER THE APPEARANCES WE WANT TO REVEAL TO OTHERS WHO ARE WATCHING OUR LIVES?

ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL  (I THESSALONIANS 5:22).

I WAS TOLD BY AN ACQUAINTANCE OF MINE, WHO CONFESSED TO BE A CHRISTIAN, “IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT I AM LIVING WITH A MAN TO WHICH I AM NOT MARRIED. WE DON’T SLEEP TOGETHER.”

I KNEW THE CONSEQUENCES SHE COULD FACE BECAUSE A MAN AND WOMAN LIVING IN AHAOUS TOGETHER, ALONE, WHO ARE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER, SPELLS FORNICATION.

I SAID TO HER, “WE ARE TOLD TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCES OF EVIL.” SHE GOT VERY QUIET AND CONVICTION SET IN. PRAISE GOD, THROUGH A DANGER TO HERSELF, SHE GOT OUT OF THAT SITUATION. FROM THAT DAY SHE STAYED CLOSE TO THE LORD, AND SHE WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT ABOUT MODESTY?  I PETER 2:11 – DEARLY BELOVED, I BESEECH YOU AS STRANGERS AND PILGRAMS, ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS (DESIRES) WHICH WAR AGAINST THE SOUL;

STUDIES SHOW THAT MALES TEND TO BE MORE VISUALLY ORIENTED THAN FEMALES WHEN IT COMES TO SEXUAL AROUSAL. CHRISTIAN WOMEN, THEREFORE, HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY NOT TO TEMPT MEN BY THE WAY THEY PRESENT THEMSELVES. WE MUST KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE EXAMINE PAUL’S INSTRUCTION TO TIMOTHY THAT WOMEN’S CLOTHING SHOULD BE MODEST, DECENT, AND PROPER. I TIMOTHY 2:9a,10 – IN LIKE MANNER ALSO, THAT WOMEN ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL, WITH SHAMEFACEDNESS (REVERENCE TOWARD GOD, AND DECENCY; RESPECT) AND SOBRIETY (OR SELF CONTROL, SOUNDNESS OF MIND) …WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) WITH GOOD WORKS.

THIS IS NOT THE DO’S AND DON’T”S—-IT IS ABOUT POWERFULLY COMMUNICATING OUR INDIVIDUAL VALUE AS WOMEN AND RESPECTING THE VALUE OF MEN. JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE KINGDOM, MODESTY ISN’T ABOUT RULES AND REGULATIONS—-IT IS BORN IN THE REALM OF MOTIVES OR ISSUES OF THE HEART.

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RIGHT REVELATION WRONG UNDERSTANDING

MATT 16:13-26  WHEN JESUS CAME INTO THE COASTS OF CAESAREA PHILLIPPI, HE ASKED HIS DISCIPLES, SAYING, WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT I THE SON OF MAN AM?

AND THEY SAID, SOME SAY THAT THOU ART JOHN THE BAPTIST: SOME, ELIAS; AND OTHERS, JEREMIAS, OR ONE OF THE PROPHETS.

HE SAITH UNTO THEM, BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?

AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, BLESSED ART THOU SIMON BARJONA: FOR FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.

AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALL BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.

THEN CHARGED HE HIS DISCIPLES THAT THEY SOULD TELL NO MAN THAT HE WAS JESUS CHRIST.

FROM THAT TIME FORTH BEGAN JESUS TO SHEW UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, HOW THAT HE MUST GO UNTO JERUSALEM, AND SUFFER MANY THINGS OF THE ELDERS AND CHEIF PRIEST AND SCRIBES, AND BE KILLED, AND RAISED AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.

THEN PETER TOOK HIM, AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM, SAYING, BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD: THIS SHALL NOT BE UNTO ME

BUT HE TURNED, AND SAID UNTO PETER, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: THOU ART AN OFFENCE UNTO ME: FOR THOU SAVOUREST NOT THE THINGS THAT BE OF GOD, BUT THOSE THAT BE OF MEN.

THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME , LET HIM DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME

FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE  SHALL LOSE IT: AND WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.

FOR WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?

PETER WAS GIVEN A REVELATION OF WHO JESUS WAS BUT HE DID NOT UNDERSTADING OF THE CROSS.

 PETER WANTED SALVATION WITHOUT A CROSS.

TODAY A SELF GOSPEL IS BEING PREACHED, ITS ALL ABOUT MAN, AND WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR US.

ITS A GOSPEL WITHOUT SACRIFICE, ITS A GOSPEL WITHOUT A CROSS.

THE CROSS IS AN OFFENSE, IT REPRESENTS DEATH TO OUR WILL, IT REPRESENTS DEATH TO OUR FLESH.

DOES GOD CARE ABOUT OUR NEEDS, OUR DESIRES? YES HE DOES, HE HAS A WAY TO TAKE CARE OF US.

MATT 6:33 SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS : SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.

IF WE SURRENDER OUR LIFE TO CHRIST AND TAKE UP OUR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW HIM, HE ACCEPTS THE RESPONSABILITY OF TAKING CARE OF US.

GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES, WHAT JESUS DID THROUGH THE CROSS IS ALL ABOUT US, BUT THE MOMENT WE ACCEPT THE WORK OF THE CROSS, ITS ALL ABOUT HIM.

OUR LIVES BELONG TO HIM, PRESIDENT KENNEDY SAID SOMETHING I SHALL NEVER FORGET, ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU? BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY?

WHEN WE BECOME A CHRISTAIN, OUR QUESTION SHOULD BE, JESUS, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

WHEN WE COME TO THE CROSS, THERE IS SOME SUFFERING. WE IN THE USA REALLY FACE LITTLE PERSECUTION. FOR SOME ONE TO COME TO JESUS IN MANY NATIONS THERE IS MUCH SUFFERING. I ADMIRE THESE PEOPLE VERY MUCH.

WE NEED REVIVAL IN AMERICA, A REVIVAL OF PUTTING THE LORD FIRST IN OUR LIVES.

A REVIVAL THAT ONCE AGAIN FILLS THE CHURCHES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND PEOPLE.

PEOPLE WHO ARE REPENTING OF THEIR SELF LOVE AND TURNING THAT LOVE TO THE LORD.

REVIVAL BEGINS WITH SELF BEING CRUCIFIED.

WHAT A JOY IT IS TO BE CLOSE TO GOD, WHAT A BLESSING TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE EVER DAY.

FELLOWSHIPING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I AM PENTECOSTAL, AND I PRAY IN TONGUES  A LOT, I LISTEN TO ALL KINDS OF WORSHIP MUSIC AND SINGING.

WE CAN CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT DRAWS GOD’S PRESENCE, IN THAT ATMOSPHERE I GAIN THE STRENGTH TO DIE DAILY.

MY FLESH OR MY OWN SELFISH DESIRES DISAPPEAR IN THE ATMOSPHERE OF HIS PRESENCE, THE OLD MAN DIES AGAIN AND THE NEW MAN STEPS FORWARD.

IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO SAY, JESUS THY KINGDOM COME THY WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE. I ACCEPT  YOUR WILL IN MY LIFE.

PLEASE DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE ON SELF, GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN HIS KINGDOM FOR YOU, SEEK HIM AND YOU WILL FIND IT.

DON’T GO TO HEAVEN AS A TREE STUMP, CARRY SO FRUIT WITH YOU.  

 

  

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