Episode 163: Envy & Jealousy - the doorway to "every evil thing"

RELATED WORDS/CONCEPTS to address our “self-deception” Envy - painful or resentful awareness of an advantage or possession (situation) enjoyed by another and the desire to possess the same thing. Theological: Sin of jealousy over the blessings and achievements of others. Jealousy – synonym of envyCovetousness - the feeling of having a strong desire for the things that other people have (situations/circumstances/ministries) DiscontentmentFOMO – Fear of Missing Out ResentmentBitternessJames 3:16  - For where you have envy (jealousy) and selfish ambition (selfishness), there you find disorder and every evil practice. (NIV) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. (NASB) “evil of every kind” (NLT) “confusion and every evil work.” (KJV) “every vile practice” (ESV) “every kind of evil.” (HCSB) “chaos and every evil thing.” “confusion and every perverse work.” “insurrection and every evil matter” ORIGIN of DEMONIC REALM - Satan  / Satan’s Fall – Who? When? What?Ezekiel 28:13-15 – 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God...14 You were an anointed guardian Cherub; I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God. 15 You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. Isaiah 14:12-14 - “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star/shining one/O Lucifer, son of Dawn! What was the devil’s 1st sin? Pride or Envy??ANCIENT JEWISH COMMENTARY - But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are allied with him experience it.  Wisdom 2:24 COMMENTARY OF THE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS Irenaeus (AD 180) - For he [the devil] was envious of God's workmanship  ...becoming envious of man, he was rendered an apostate from the divine law.  Tertullian (AD 210)  - the malignant being who, in the beginning, regarded them with envious eye.  Cyprian (AD 250) - he broke forth into jealous and malevolent envy. ...How great an evil it was... that caused an angel to fall! THE SECRET OF THE AGES - CONTENTMENT  - Phil 4:11 - ...I have learned to be content (to be satisfied) regardless of my circumstances 1 Cor. 13:4 - ...love does NOT envy (therefore envy = hate)Gal 5:19-21 - Envy = work of the fleshOvercoming Envy? 1. Agree that it is SIN, MY SIN? (the devil’s original sin). Serious. 2. Know/Believe = open door for ALL evil3. Learn to be content (wage war on discontentment)4. Grow in love (love does NOT envy!) 5. By the Spirit...STOP - Galatians 5:25-26 6. Put it away/Get rid of it (1 Pet. 2:1) – So, put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander 7. Fixing our eyes upon Jesus! (not on others) – Social Media? 8. Thankfulness