The Green - Eyed Monster Envy

Scripture includes a vivid account of envy which resulted in murder, destruction and death. I once heard that, everything we have loses it's value to us when we desire something we cannot have. Men, it is a gray matter when we set our affections on something we shouldn't have because those around us will often do what they can to get it for us.

In this story a king had great riches but was unable to enjoy them because he wanted something he could not have. The king's wife implemented a wicked scheme that gave him his wish, but neither the king nor the Queen counted on the final price of what they had done. The callous eyes of a evil queen stared at her moody husband . It was in her interest to keep everyone around her happy, but the king was exceedingly displeased and dejected. She played the part of a doting wife. "Why aren't you eating? What has made you so upset?" The king answered as though he was a little boy telling his mother who hurt him. Then he replied I asked the man next door if he would trade me his vineyard for a better one or accept money for it, but he refused." "Why would he refuse?" She probed." "because he claims that the law of God prohibits such a sale." With irritation she demanded, "Are you king or aren't you?" Then with a ingenious gleam in her eye, she assured her husband, "Don't worry about it. I'll see that you get that vineyard." The queen was very evil and she despised God's prophets and delighted in destroying them. Why should she allow a neighbor who kept God's laws to interfere with her husband's happiness? So she went about her deadly scheme against the vineyard owner. Now the plot thickens... Letters were drafted and sent out in the king's name to the leaders of the city. "Call the citizens together, proclaim a time of fasting and prayer. Then put the vineyard owner on trial. Hire two men to falsely accuse him of cursing God and the king. then execute him." The leaders of the city followed her instructions. When the report of the man's demise reached the queen, she proudly announced to her husband, "Do you remember the vineyard your neighbor wouldn't sell you." You can have it now. He is no longer living." The king grinned like a spoiled child used to having his own way, but when he left the palace to claim the vineyard he was met by a Prophet of God (Elijah the Tishbite). The king was startled and deeply convicted by the Prophet's words.

"God has a message for you, O King. Isn't it bad enough to kill your neighbor and his family? Must you steal his vineyard, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood outside the city just like they licked the blood of your neighbor's. None of your sons will survive and the dead body of your wife will be ripped apart by the dogs."

Men it's so important that we received wise counsel, and the best counsel comes from the Word of God. Then Ahab refused to admit his guilt / sin against God. He accused Elijah, God's prophet, of being his enemy. When we are blinded by envy and hatred, it is almost impossible to see our own sin. Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife incited him" (1 King 21:25). Jezebel's story is told in 1 Kings 16:31- 2Kings 9:37. Her name is used as a synonym for great evil in Revelation 2:20. Now Ahab was very evil and he holds the title of being the most wicked king in Israel's history.

Several years later that king was killed in battle. As men washed his blood out of the chariot dogs came and licked it. Later still, the General of the army entered the Royal city. The wicked queen was waiting for him. She had painted her eyelids fixed her hair and was sitting in an upper window of her place. Little did she know that this would be her last attitudinizing regal like portrayal.

The general shouted, "throw her down". The servants who surrounded her obeyed and threw her out the window. Her blood splattered against the wall. The general trampled her body beneath his horses. Later, soldiers were sent to bury her, but they found only the skull, feet and hands of that wicked Queen Jezebel. The dogs had eaten her just as the prophet said they would. But even the dogs refused her bloodstained hands, her feet that were swift in running to mischief, and her corrupted mind that found joy at the expense of others when they stood in the way of her evil plans. From (1Kings 21 and II Kings 9:30-37)

Although Jezebel outlined her husband by ten years, she did not escape a violent and humiliating death (II Kings 9:33). In Revelation 2:20, the name Jezebel is used for a false prophetess within the church of thyatira who encouraged idolatry and immorality. Her name is synonymous today with wickedness and treachery. Jezebel's tragic epithet is given in conjunction with her husband's, "but there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel, his wife, stirred up". (I Kings 21:25). An innocent death to satisfy a selfish whim. Naboth refused to sell his inherited land on the basis of the Mosaic Law which was higher than Ahab's desires ( Leviticus 25:23).

"Until next time keep your spiritual wit's about ya"

Humbly Yours in Christ,

Jim

Being Vigilante

"Can We Talk?"

I'm sure that you're familiar with this verse: Love not the world (1 John 2:15-16) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. (16) for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the father, but is from the world. How many times have you heard someone say? "I just love my life" most people who use this phrase are just thinking of material gain, from the sweat of their brow ... We must always put God first, and seek the kingdom of God...

Now the serpent was MORE CRAFTY than any beast of the field which our Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'you shall not eat from any tree of the garden ?" (Gen.3:1). Cloaked as a crafty serpent, Satan CAME to tempt Eve. Let's not forget that Satan at one time was an angel who rebelled against God and he was thrown out of heaven. As Satan we are all created beings, Satan has definite limitations. Satan is trying to tempt EVERYONE away from God, he will not be the victor. God has the final say. In Gen. 3:14-15, God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the woman's offspring, the MESSIAH.

The other day I was watching the local news and they started talking about parents getting ready for the opening of school. All of a sudden I noticed the advertisements that are shown in repetition, TV certainly knows how to capture our attention and the same is true when we walk into a store any store. Have you noticed how attractive successful - looking the models/mannequin's are? The message that they are attempting to communicate to the public is... if you purchase their product you will also become attractive and successful.

Genesis 3:6 says: When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes... They failed their first test. The Lord God commanded the man saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you will SURELY DIE". Eve had never tasted the forbidden fruit. She had tasted other from which was very delicious and enjoyable. When she considered violating God's limitations, she allowed her eye to associate the forbidden fruit with previous pleasurable experiences. The fruit itself was appealing to the eye.

Do you have the same eye that Eve had, can you see yourself with eyes like hers? Friends not only do advertisers use sensually suggestive models to sell their product, but they also encourage woman to overemphasize their eyes. God warns men, "Do not desire her beauty in your heart, "Nor let her capture you with her eyelids". Men as husbands, fathers and grandfathers we must make our families aware of alluring advertising. When one thinks about it, alluring advertising takes the weakest point of a product and tries to turn it into a positive quality. A cigarette company advertises satisfaction, while the liquor industry focuses on life; in reality its product produces death. As an ex-smoker I never found satisfaction so I inhaled up to 1 1/2 packs per day. When we lean on our own understanding, we are not trusting God. We must trust him completely in every choice we make. Depending on our own reasoning means that Satan has a fifty fifty chance of us blowing it again. God wants us to discern between good and evil through his spirit. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. The very temptation of Satan portrayed the consequence of relying on human understanding rather than trusting in divine discernment.

Next time you and your family go into the mall be on the look out for misleading phrases, items that appeal to the lust of the eye. Be aware that some who work behind the register/counter might be working on commission only. Men it's my opinion that he/she might use any tactic to fill their sales quota. They may use a phrase like it's only $xx,xx, or I want you to have this product so I'll do this or that for you. We truly must develop SALES RESISTANCE. "The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps. (Proverbs 14:15) Sales people are trained to move product, so they will point out the positive features of the product in question. They will make broad statements and they will put pressure on you to buy immediately. It's very important to get all the facts. My wife and I, before we make a purchase, especially a high dollar item we check with Consumers Reports. You can subscribe or go on line www.consumerreports.com . be a wise consumer as school opens in weeks.

Have a great day in the Lord.