I’ve been trying to understand, lately, why jealousy and envy are in Paul’s Gal-5 list of who doesn’t go to heaven.
Perhaps this is a clue:
“When you’re in first place,
everyone wants to knock you down.”
— Bob Chapman
(Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from The Alex Jones Show, 11/20/09)
Bob even mentioned the words, “jealousy” and “envy.” Instead of wishing others well and cheering each other on, LOVING our neighbors as ourselves, knowing that we’re in this boat together, “these people are vindictive” (I believe God said). They lash out, wish each other harm, which is reverse-Christianity.
Notice how many relatives of jealousy and envy are in Paul’s Galatians-5 list:
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envyings, murders [James-3 curses?], drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
In the body of Christ, we need each other. We are all uniquely different and are all important. And when one does spiritually well in his/her role, the others have the potential to do better. We should be cheering each other on so the body will be healthy, so we can all better function under the Head, Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 12:
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” ….
25 …there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
“When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” That’s how it’s supposed to be. So then why are the prophets getting dissed — those who speak the word of truth that would make the body more healthy, helping us to right with each other and to again be attached to and led by the Head, Jesus Christ?
1 Cor. 12 continues:
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second* prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps….
So where is the acknowledgment of the prophets in the church today? Are they to be relegated to the “out of sight, out of mind” corner, never to be heeded? “We don’t need prophets. We’re doing just fine, thank you. And if you try to come out of your corner, we’ll shoot you down — James-3 curse you real good. Don’t rock the boat! We like our boat.” Even though it’s sinking, because “The eye can’t tell the hand, ‘I have no need for you.'”
So if I repeat the quote above that I started this discussion with:
“When you’re in second* place,
everyone wants to knock you down.”
Why don’t pastors seek out and find those who clearly hear words from the Lord for the church? Do pastors really think they can lead without prophets?
“Our only hope is to be ONE.” We need all who are called to be leaders to function together.
Let us be ONE!
FREEeeeeeeeeeeeeee————DOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Fenske
Related:
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way
Adrian
I find quite simply the answer to why those people will not and indeed cannot inherit the kingdom is spoken of in James 3
14 ) But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, Do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
15) This wisdom is not that which comes from above but is earthly, natural ( not spiritual ), demonic.
16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
If a person is jealous and envious they place theirselves of more importance than others being self seekers they directly disobey the commandment of our Lord Jesus to consider others before ourselves.
Those kind of people also consider theirselves before God Jealousy and envy are linked to so many sins IE; being unloving, worldly minded, hateful, essentially if a person is unloving we have the hard ( for some to swallow ) words of John, He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love GOD whom he has not seen.
Regards
Adrian
Jeff Fenske
Adrian,
Wow! This is a wonderful, insightful and very pertinent answer! And do you realize what we’re doing? We’re further reconciling Paul and James. Luther said he’d give his Ph.D. hat to anyone who could: http://onecanhappen.com/2008/08/07/martin-luther%E2%80%99s-subordinate-bible-books.
This is the James-3-cursing chapter, which I’ve mentioned so many times, because ‘Christians’ cursing people is epidemic among those who are born-again, especially ‘church’ leaders, who curse others to stay in power.
And amazingly, I still have only seen one book written about James-3 cursing. Other potential authors have probably been James-3 cursed into silence, or cursed into turtle, “can’t get hardly anything done” speed.
This James-text is so pertinent to this post for many reasons. For one thing, it uses the same word as did Paul in Galatians 5: “jealousy.” It is so beautiful how God’s word fits together and makes total sense when we accept the truth about what He’s really saying through these different voices about who goes to heaven!
Also, James talks about jealousy and selfish ambition being in the heart, the place the Bible says to keep pure. “Many read James 3 and say that James is saying that curses come from the mouth. They mainly just say that we need to be careful what comes out of our mouth. But the key is to keep our hearts clean. Focusing on the mouth doesn’t focus on the source of the problem, “Christian’s” hearts.
And James says this is “demonic.” He’s writing to born-again believers who’ve opened themselves up to demons through unforgiveness and anger, and then the demons drive the hate, the jealousy, the cursing of people who are made in the image of God. “How can this be?” But it is, big-time, because hardly any pastors teach this, so many of them being key offenders, themselves.
I had a very detailed prophecy for a pastor which said that he had demons in his heart that needed to be excised:
The prophecy also said that if this pastor wouldn’t repent, the flames would be neck high:
This pastor told me that I made this word up to manipulate him and other person whose name I deleted in this paragraph. But the truth is that I was just writing him a letter in response to a question he asked from the pulpit [this happened a number of years ago], and I started hearing this prophecy which I wrote down that ended up being many pages. There is no way that I would make up a prophecy for any reason. And I thought he knew me well enough to know this for sure.
The really sad thing is if this pastor had done the things God was telling him to do, we probably would have had the Third Great Awakening which could have probably saved America from what now is coming http://onecanhappen.com/2009/02/14/my-10808-prophecy.
But what is also really sad is my fault in this — the plank I had in my own eye…. If I had been more Spirit-led, to not let myself react in the flesh to what I saw going on, then perhaps he would have been more receptive to what God told him through me.
But at the very least, I’ve learned a lot, myself, from the words from God and dreams and visions that I’ve gotten. And this is how it’s supposed to be. The Holy Spirit is supposed to lead us into all truth. The New Testament was never meant to be read without the Holy Spirit’s help. I don’t think I would have understood how demons operate, who really goes to heaven, and the truths on other doctrines had the Holy Spirit not shown me many things directly.
There is a lot of doctrine in just this one prophecy, for example: http://onecanhappen.com/let-us-be-one. And I encourage every believer to listen to and record what God is telling them. And we must be pure to hear only one voice: http://onecanhappen.com/2008/01/07/there-should-only-be-one-voice.
Demons in “Christian’s” hearts are the number one source of division in the body of Christ. ONE can happen only when we purify our hearts, accepting each other’s gifts, so we can all be ONE, Jesus’ heart-cry for us who believe.
Excellent insight, Adrian! Thanks!
Jeff : )
Sabrina
Hi Jeff!
I’m Sabrina and I recently stumbled upon your website and I am so glad that I did! I truly believe this is God’s mercy. I want to ask your advice. I have been lazy throughout university and been overcome by depression. Through loads of prayer and reading the bible and ministry of the Holy Spirit in my life, I have experienced breakthrough, and I’m learning to let go of my vanities and stronghold of fear to experience God’s grace and love. Recently, I have recently felt something bothering my conscience and it is the fact that I deceive and “lie” often. For example, I had told my group project member (who is very strict and scary) that I have submitted my work when in fact I haven’t. I’m still working on it right now but I felt that God wants me to be honest with them. I’m so scared because I fear their judgement. I also feel the need to come clean and confess about my jealousy towards some of my Christian sisters who are the leader of our youth group, and confess the fact that I used to gossip about an acquaintance even though everybody in our circle does it because they said she has bad attitude (they warned to be careful around her). I don’t know what my conscience is telling me to go through radical lengths (confession) but I guess it’s because right now I don’t have peace knowing I was so jealous/a gossiper. I wanted to ask you if healing and forgiveness by God is possible without having to confess to those people? Because I am scared that I will face shame from my friends if I confess.
I read in James 5:16 that “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” I think I know what your answer will be hehe. But I just need a bit of encouragement because it seems to be a tough road towards honesty ahead. I don’t want to go to hell! I know God hates liars, but despite that He loves me and wants me to repent. Please advise?
Thank you! God bless you and your ministry!
Jeff Fenske
Sabrina,
I can’t think of a more thrilling comment in all of my years of blogging, because your attitude here is the key to revival!!!!!!!!!! I’ll explain below.
Thank you so much for asking this important question that few so far dare. The truth will set us free. Many go the opposite direction, looking for assurance that they can go to heaven while having a guilty conscience on earth — which is why once-saved-always-saved is so popular, while being completely unbiblical. This is where this verse is coming into play, as pastors and K-LOVE try to assure born-again Christians that they don’t really have to abide in Christ to abide in Christ:
“For the TIME WILL COME when THEY WILL NOT LISTEN to the sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves TEACHERS AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS; and will TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, and turn aside to *FABLES*” (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
You’re doing the opposite. You have ears to hear instead, which is so wonderful!!! God bless you!!!
This is the way I think too. We need to find out the truth no matter what it is. Here is my own personal story, something that happened to me in 1982:
Another of my NWA chiefs has passed on: Ed Habeger
I’ll be forever grateful for the time he caught me hiding the truth (lying) about the damage I accidentally caused to the bobtail’s door over 35 years ago. I felt so guilty after he confronted me. I then told the truth, and have been honest to a fault ever since — never wanting to feel that again. Thank you, Ed for teaching me that important lesson so early on in life!!!
I also stole some inexpensive fishing lures (flies) way back then, and felt guilty. I then told the truth to the store manager, and gave the store twice of what I should have paid. The manager was so kind and appreciative. But even if he wouldn’t have been, my conscience would still have become clean. I’ve never stolen even a pen from work, ever since. It’s great to be free!!!!!!!
Doing the right thing will result in having a clean conscience now, so when we see Jesus face to Face we’ll have faith to enter, and hear: “well done thou faithful servant” — and see Jesus’ big smile : ) That’s the main thing that matters. When we’re right with God and others, fear goes, and we have peace.
Paul set the example, being able to say:
“Herein I also practice *always* having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:16)
Please watch this. I immediately thought of this lady when I read your comment. And this is glorious:
(video) Asbury Revival, 1970: RECONCILIATION the KEY! — “‘Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?’ … Three days later, she came to me radiant, and she said, ‘I just hit my 34th person and I’M FREE!’”
Reconciliation was also the key to the Welsh revival:
The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 by J. Edwin Orr: A Countrywide Asbury-like REVIVAL! The 4 Points: #1 Confess any known sin, and PUT ANY WRONG DONE TO MAN RIGHT again. #2 Put away any doubtful habit. #3 Obey the Spirit promptly. #4 Confess your faith publicly.
Look at what happened:
Effects of the WELSH REVIVAL 1904-05: Whole communities were radically changed FROM DEPRAVITY TO GLORIOUS GOODNESS. The CRIME RATE dropped, often to nothing. THE POLICE had little more to do than supervise the coming and going of the people to the chapel prayer meetings. The UNDERGROUND MINES echoed with the sounds of PRAYER and HYMNS, instead of nasty jokes and gossip. People who had fallen out became FRIENDS AGAIN!!!!!!!
We could experience this this year, easily, as others also do what you will probably do.
It’s normal Christianity for God to fill His people with joy, which Jesus says he wants to do — John 15 — that our joy will be full!!!
This is the goal of this blog, that ‘ONE’ will happen, “that the world will know” — and we’ll be so happy and confident, resting — Jesus’ desire for us in John 17!
Have you seen my article, Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT”? If you’re still not sure of what to do, the verses in this article would be good to read.
“No condemnation” happens when we walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.
When we do right we’ll feel right.
When you do right in your situation you’ll feel right afterward.
If we feel condemnation, it’s important to not cut the wire to the warning light, like many are using anti-depressants to partly do. We need to acknowledge what we’ve done and then do the right thing to be free.
I would suggest doing whatever you have to in order to have a clear conscience — peace in your heart — rest. This lady at Asbury apologized to 34 people, and then became so happy, when she was free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And you doing the right thing can inspire others, which can help real Christianity happen even this year!!!!!!
If people treat you meanly after you do the right thing, you can then pray for them with a forgiving heart, as Jesus said to pray for our enemies. Perfectly loving casts out all fear, the verse in 1 John really says.
It’s possible that they’ll repent from being mean then, and may end up reconciling to those they’ve hurt.
You can start a cascade of reconciliation by obeying the Holy Spirit yourself, which can then encourage others to also to be led by the Holy Spirit too.
The Holy Spirit will lead you as to whom to apologize to. He can even give you words of wisdom in His still, small voice. Listen and obey.
Please let me know what happens.
Thanks a ton for honestly seeking the truth, instead of doing what so many are doing. It’s tragic and scary how many go to their graves without reconciling — meeting Jesus while having condemnation in their hearts….
The sooner we do it the better. It’s good to just get it over with, to be free!
Imagine what will happen when reconciling becomes the norm for many, and the Holy Spirit fills us with His love in response. The joy of the Lord will be our strength!
I can’t wait.
Thank you, and I’ll pray for these people who have such a bad attitude towards you. Many, including Christians, are in bondage to evil spirits, which have a right to influence them, having opened the door to sin.
Our warfare is against evil spirits, not people. We should pray for them to get free too.
God bless!!!!!!!!!!!
Power to the Peaceful,
Jeff : )