26/08/2024
OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY AUGUST 26TH 2024
TOPIC: ENVY DESTROYS
MEMORISE:
“A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” - (Proverbs 14:30)
READ: GALATIANS 5:19-21 (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
MESSAGE:
The most dangerous thing about envy is that it opens up the heart to many evil things. Anyone who allows envy into his or her heart is only a few steps away from harbouring many other evils. Cain did not have any intention to murder his brother until envy came into his heart. They must have been very close, but the day envy crept into his heart, it opened up the door to the thought of murdering his brother. In Numbers 16:1-33, Korah and his group rose against Moses because they envied his position and were swallowed up by the earth. When you see someone with something that you would like to have, rather than envy them, be happy for them. Romans 12:15 says:
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
If someone is doing better than you in business, ministry, or whatever, don’t envy them, rejoice with them instead. Yes, you may feel a little envious at first, but the danger comes when you allow that envy to linger and grow in your heart.
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. - (James 3:16)
According to the Scripture above, envy is a partner to strife, and where they exist, there will always be evil. This is why you shouldn’t allow any feeling of envy to linger and take root in your heart. The moment you catch yourself feeling envious of a fellow, work on your mind to expel that envy by replacing it with joy. To work on your mind, you can ask God to help you not to feel envious. You can also start praying for that fellow because it will really get the devil angry as he is pointing out things for you to be envious of, but instead of getting envious, you are praying for the fellow. He will stop trying to get you to be envious after that.
If you allow envy into your heart, you are opening the door for destruction. Proverbs 14:30 says:
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
Guard your heart against the poison called envy, it leads to destruction.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please kill every form of envy in my life, in Jesus' name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: EZEKIEL 13-15
AUTHOR PASTOR E A ADEBOYE
HYMNAL: 31 - YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION
1 Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you,
Some other to win;
Fight valiantly onward,
Evil passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through.
Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
2 Shun evil companions,
Bad language disdain;
God’s name hold in rev’rence,
Nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest,
Kindhearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through. [Refrain]
3 To him that o’ercometh,
God giveth a crown;
Through faith we will conquer,
Though often cast down;
He who is our Savior,
Our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through. [Refrain]
