141207 AM The Rotten Effects of Envy

The Rotten Effects of Envy   I.  Envy’s Destructive Appearances in Human History A.There are four people in the world before envy shows up; then there are three people (Gen 4). B.Envy shows up in the relationship of Leah and Rachel, sisters married to Jacob (Gen 29). C.Envy celebrates a triumph as Rachel’s son Joseph is hated and sold by his brothers (Gen 37). D.Envy makes appearance after appearance, even at the end of Jesus’ life (Matt 27:18).  II.  Envy’s Ongoing Insidious Behavior A.Envy _____________: “If I come out on top, I feel pride; if you come out on top, I feel envy.” B.Envy _____________: “You have or are what I don’t have or am not, and I have to change that.” C.Envy _____________: “This is what I really want even more than I want God.” (1 Sam 18:6-9) D.Envy acts out: “If I can’t… I would rather mourn your success and rejoice in your pain.” 1.Against _______ (Luke 15:27-30) 2.Against the ____________ of my envy (anti-Phil 2:1-4) E.Envy ___________. “Envy is the great leveler. If it cannot level things up, it will level them down.             Rather than have anyone happier than itself, it will see us all miserable together” (D. Sayers).  1._______ (Prov 14:30) 2.________ (1 Cor 13:4) 3.____________ (2 Cor 5:14-15) F.Envy is always selfish. Envy keeps score. Envy exalts me to the center of everything. Envy leads            to spiritual disaster.  III.  God’s Antidote for Envy A.Envy is evil fruit borne from a rotten heart that has wandered away from God (Rom 1:28-29). B.Envy is a sin that can be purged from my heart (1 Pet 2:1). C.Envy is a work of the flesh that can be put to death (Gal 5:19-26; Col 3:5). D.God provides hope to the envious through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:3-7). E.______ is the God-shaped antidote for envy (Matt 22:36-40; Rom 12:9-10,14-21; Luke 6:27-28).