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Guard Your Heart Against the
Enemy of Jealousy
February 10, 2013
Guard your Heart!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we come to the end of our stimulating study on four enemies that affect our hearts. These
four great enemies are present at various times in our lives and can do damage to our heart. Just to review
briefly. Our Theme Verse: Proverbs 4: 23
23 Above
all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
God is placing a great deal of importance on the heart. The Heart is spiritual part of us where our emotions
and desires dwell. It is the very core of our being. We realize that we are made up of two parts – a body
and a soul. Our body is –well- it is what we see. This is the physical part of us. But our soul – that is our
very essence, our being. Our body has a physical heart and our soul has a spiritual heart. Our heart is
different than our mind. Our mind is what processes information both coming and going to our heart.
But, our heart is the seat of our emotions, our desires, and our will and thoughts.
God tells us to guard our heart. Why? Because there is a problem with our heart. The human heart in its
natural state: 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
(Jeremiah 17: 9) The prophet is right in saying – who can understand it. Often it is different to
understand the emotions and thoughts of the heart. But, this we do need to understand – our heart is
deceitful. From the moment of conception, the heart is clouded and covered in the sinful nature inherited
from our parents. Sometimes we like to say, “That is a good person.” No, in our sinful state, we are not
good. But, we need to understand the true nature of our heart if we are going to understand the need for
help and restoration. Jesus himself said that our life, our actions, our words come from the heart and they
aren’t good: 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft,
false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15: 19)
With such a heart as this, we can’t clean it ourselves. King David realized this. When confronted with the
evil of his heart, he realized that only the Savior could cleanse the heart. Our heart is only cleansed by
Jesus: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51: 10)
We studied guilt, anger and greed. So, today, we come to our…..
Fourth Enemy of the Heart: Jealousy – God Owes Me
These enemies create a debt relationship:
Guilt – I owe God
Anger - You owe me
Greed – I owe me
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And now today….
Jealousy – God owes me
First, let me remind you that we often use the words jealousy and envy interchangeably. We understand
that there is a proper “jealousy” but that is refers to God. We will speak to that later. But for now, keep in
mind that jealousy and envy are used for the same enemy that attacks our hearts. If you have been
following along in our book: “Enemies of the Heart,” the author reminds us that jealousy happens because
--- WE DON’T GET WHAT WE WANT. The more we focus on ourselves and our own desires, the less
we are able to focus on God. Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us.
This started way back in the beginning. Let us go to the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4: 1-8:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the
fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of
his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not
look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is
right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it
desires to have you, but you must master it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain
attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
What was Cain’s problem? He was jealous. He didn’t remember all that God had done for him. He didn’t
remember who he was. If only he would have the attitude of Andrew Peterson as he sings:
(Play Song)
It’s so easy to cash in these chips on my shoulder
So easy to loose this old tongue like a tiger
It’s easy to let all this bitterness smolder
Just to hide it away like a cigarette lighter
It’s easy to curse and to hurt and to hinder
It’s easy to not have the heart to remember
That I am a priest and a prince in the Kingdom of God
I’ve got voices that scream in my head like a siren
Fears that I feel in the night when I sleep
Stupid choices I made when I played in the mire
Like a kid in the mud on some dirty blind street
I’ve got sorrow to spare, I’ve got loneliness too
I’ve got blood on these hands that hold on to the truth
That I am a priest and a prince in the Kingdom of God
I swore on the Bible to not tell a lie
But I’ve lied and lied
And I crossed my heart and I hoped to die
And I’ve died and died
But if it’s true that you gathered my sin in your hand
And you cast it as far as the east from the west
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If it’s true that you put on the flesh of a man
And you walked in my shoes through the shadow of death
If it’s true that you dwell in the halls of my heart
Then I’m not just a fool with a fancy guitar
No, I am a priest and a prince in the Kingdom of God
We are priests and princes in God’s Kingdom.
Once again, we turn to the Lord for how we break the power of jealousy. Think of where we have been in
our series. To…break the Power of the Enemy:
Guilt is conquered by Confession
Anger is conquered by Forgiveness
Greed is conquered by Generosity
Jealousy is conquered by Celebration.
The Truth about Jealousy
What are we celebrating? We are celebrating what we have as a blessing from God. Jealousy really
3 You are still worldly. For
reveals a heart that is spiritually immature. Paul says in I Corinthians 3: 3,
since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere
men? (I Corinthians 3: 3) I have been jealous. The writer in Proverbs says this: 30A heart at peace
gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14: 30) We all have had something that has
rotted our bones. So, now it is time for true confession. I am going to reveal one of the things that has
“rotted bones.” Every since I was young, I have wanted to be tall. You might think this a funny thing, but
it was serious for me. I wanted to be tall because I wanted to play basketball. I wanted to see above the
crowd. I wanted to have everyone look up to me – physically. I wanted…well you get the picture.
Jealous is about “I want it, but I don’t have it.” The problem was not with the tall people around me. The
problem was with God. Why didn’t he make me tall? Jealousy affects our relationship with God and with
people. In Proverbs 27: 4, says: 4Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before
jealousy? (Proverbs 27: 4)
Those who envy lack Christian Love. In his great chapter on love, we read:
4 Love
is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. (I Corinthians 13: 4)
So those who are not patient, not kind,….and those who envy…..they lack the true Christian love.
The Source of Jealousy
But like all of our other enemies, we see that this enemy comes from within as well. Paul says in Galatians
5: 19-26:
3
19 The
acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy;
drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit
the kingdom of God.
The source of jealousy is our sinful nature. Notice how we sometimes classify certain sins as big sins.
Adultery, murder, sexual immorality – those are the big ones. Nowhere does Scripture classify certain sins
as bigger than others but if we were to think of this list as the list of “big sins”, notice what is right in there
with sexual immorality and idolatry - envy, jealousy.
Also, notice the warning: those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So, the jealousy of being tall is huge – it affects my relationship with my Savior. Yet, it also affects
relationships with others. James, in chapter 4 of his epistle, further explains this:
4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle
within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you
want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not
receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture
says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?
How to get rid of Jealousy
Jealousy causes strife and hardship. How do we get rid of jealousy? How did I get rid of the jealousy to
be taller? The writer of this book, Enemies of the Heart, speaks of celebrating. We celebrate as we
“Clothe yourself with Jesus.” Again, Paul says in Romans 13 12 The
night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on
the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the
Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13: 12-14)
Clothe yourself with Christ. What does it mean to clothe ourselves with Christ? Earlier, Paul had spoken
of the acts of the sinful nature. But he continues the section with the fruit of the Spirit:
22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus
have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in
step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5: 19-26)
To “clothe ourselves” with Christ is the same as “keeping in step with the Spirit.” Again, the writer speaks
of celebration. Celebrating what we have in Christ, our Savior. So, remember that jealousy is “not getting
what we want.” We are all afflicted with this. So, how did I get rid of the jealousy of wanting to be taller?
I celebrate. I celebrate what Christ has done for me. I celebrate his love, his mercy, his sacrifice. I also go
my Lord in prayer. The writer of Hebrews says:
4
14 Therefore,
since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was
without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4: 14-16)
We can approach the throne of God with all of our thoughts, our desires, our wishes and struggles. He will
take them and sort them out in his will.
1. May the mind of Christ my Savior
Live in me from day to day,
By his love and pow'r inspiring
All I do or say.
2. May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through his pow'r.
3. May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in ev'rything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
4. May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea,
Him exalting, self abasing –
This is victory!
5.
May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.
6. May his spirit live within me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only him.
In James we read, 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come
near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4: 1-10)
This is our spiritual breathing. Over the past four weeks, we have emphasized our spiritual breathing. Let
us one more time come near to our Savior, to humble ourselves and see his love lift us up.
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Drawing our Spiritual Breaths against the Enemies of
Guilt, Anger, Greed and Jealousy
Breathe in: Understand the nature of God's forgiveness towards you.
Pastor:
8 The
LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103: 8-12)
25 “I,
even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more. (Isaiah 43: 25)
Breathe out— Repent of your sin
ALL:
1 Have
mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight, (Psalm 51: 1-4)
Father, jealousy knocks at the door of my heart. Jealousy has entered my heart. Cleanse me
of this sin. Fill my heart with love, forgiveness and grace from your heart.
Breathe In — Trust God that you are forgiven
Pastor:
17 Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come! (II Corinthians 5: 17)
As a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins – especially the sins of
anger -- in the name of the Father, and of the Son , and of the Holy Spirit. He has removed your
guilt forever. You are a new creation.
14 How
much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead
to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9: 14)
Brothers and Sisters, You have breathed in both the love and the forgiveness of your gracious Father. You
have repented of the sin of jealousy.
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Breathe Out — Turn from Sin
ALL: Father, I stand before your altar. There are sins in my mind and heart. There are sins of
guilt, anger, greed & jealousy. In the quietness of your love I turn to you to remove it from my
heart, because I remember your word: 23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and
there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the
altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5: 23-24)
Remove this greed from me, O Father of Love.
Silent Time of Reflection and Prayer
1.
O Holy Spirit, enter in And in our hearts your work begin,
Your dwelling place now make us. Sun of the soul, O Light divine,
Around and in us brightly shine, To joy and gladness wake us
That we May be Truly living, To you giving Prayer unceasing
And in love be still increasing.
2.
Give to your Word impressive pow'r That in our hearts from this good hour
As fire it may be glowing, That in true Christian unity
We faithful witnesses may be, Your glory ever showing.
Hear us, Cheer us By your teaching; Let our preaching and our labor
Praise you, Lord, and serve our neighbor.
3.
O mighty Rock, O Source of life, Let your dear Word, in doubt and strife,
In us be strongly burning That we be faithful unto death
And live in love and holy faith, From you true wisdom learning.
Your grace And peace On us shower; By your power Christ confessing,
Let us see our Savior's blessing.
4.
O gentle Dew, from heaven now fall With power upon the hearts of all,
Your tender love instilling,
That heart to heart more closely bound,
In kindly deeds be fruitful found,
The law of love fulfilling.
Dwell thus In us; Envy banish; Strife will vanish Where you live,
Peace and love and joy You give.
Our heart is only cleansed by Jesus: 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit
within me. (Psalm 51: 10)
Once again, we turn to the Lord for how we break the power of jealousy. Think of where we have been in
our series. To…break the Power of the Enemy:
Guilt is conquered by Confession
Anger is conquered by Forgiveness
Greed is conquered by Generosity
Jealousy is conquered by Celebration.
7
But today is the Transfiguration of our Lord. We read in II Peter 1: 12-21:
12 So
I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly
established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the
tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear
to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember
these things.
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God
the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love;
with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with
him on the sacred mountain.
19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to
it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own
interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they
were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Transfiguration of our Lord is that event when
Jesus allowed his glory to shine forth before three of
his disciples: Peter, James and John. Peter reacted:
“Lord, it is good for us to be here…let us stay here.”
But Jesus would not remain. He needed to leave that
Mount to go to another Mount – Mount Calvary. He
needed to go there because that is what we needed.
This Wednesday….
We begin to Celebrate…..
The Passion of the Christ
Jesus fought all the enemies of our heart and won. He paid for our new heart. He cleansed us with his
blood. Every time we come to God’s House this Lenten season, Christ is cleansing our hearts. In a letter
to the church, there is a prayer for this Lenten Season. Let us rise to pray together:
Our Prayer for This Lenten Season
Blessed Father, how could you love me this much? How could Your love be so rich that it would suspend the
judgment I deserved, placing it instead upon Your Son? I thank you for Your love – help me rejoice in it. I
thank You for Your grace – assist me to bring honor to it. Thank you for your Son’s obedience – enable me to
mirror it. Thank you for your often-mysterious will – teach me to embrace it. Teach me to live a life that is a
holy place for Your presence. For obedience that flows out of love and awe of the Christ, I pray. Amen.
So, with Peter we say:
1. How good, Lord, to be here! Your glory fills the night;
Your face and garments, like the sun, shine with unborrowed light.
How good, Lord, to be here! Yet we may not remain;
But since you bid us leave the mount, Come with us to the plain.
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