www.scatteredchristians.org
Another Sermon for the Scattered and Starving Bible Believing Christians All Over the World Wide Web
2005 - Touchet Baptist Church, Touchet, Washington - Pastor Mike Paulson - 2005
Learning the way of God more perfectly - Acts 18:

Envy
To feel uneasiness, mortification or discontent, at the sight of superior excellence, reputation or happiness enjoyed by another; to repine at another's prosperity; to fret or grieve one's self at the real or supposed superiority of another, and to hate him on that account.  To grudge; to withhold maliciously.

Pain, uneasiness, mortification or discontent excited by the sight of another's superiority or success, accompanied with some degree of hatred or malignity, and often or usually with a desire or an effort to depreciate the person, and with pleasure in seeing him depressed.  Envy springs from pride, ambition or love, mortified that another has obtained what one has a strong desire to possess.


Examples of Envy

of Isaac
Genesis 26:13,14

Rachel
Genesis 30:1

of Joseph
Genesis 37:3-8
Genesis 37:11
Genesis 39:2,3; 21-23

of Moses
Psalm 106:16
Numbers 16:1-3

Neighbours of neighbours
Ecclesiastes 4:1-4
Ecclesiastes 4:6

of the Devil - the anti-christ
Ezekiel 31:3,9
Isaiah 14:16,17

of Jesus by chief priests
Matthew 27:18
Mark 15:10,11

of Paul (and us who preach Paul's gospel to this day)
Acts 13:38-45

of Paul (and us who preach Paul's gospel to this day)
Acts 17:1-5


The lost world is full of envy!
Romans 1:29
Titus 3:3

Modern Christians and their modern bibles are full of envy towards the KJB - thus against us!
I Timothy 6:4

Even 'real' Christians can get carnal and envious!
I Corinthians 3:3
II Corinthians 12:20

Today, folks are envious of Bible Believing Christians
who strive to walk a rightly divided walk
and learn the way of God more perfectly!

 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19

 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:5

We are in the light of the LIGHT - and they hate it - but they are still envious of us!
 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
II Samuel 22:29

For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
Psalm 18:28

They call the light dark today!
 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20

We have the very light that they need!
 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalm 119:105
 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Psalm 119:130


Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles is to turn them from darkness to light!
 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God,
that they may receive forgiveness of sins,
and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 26:18

People are envious of those Bible Believing Christians who grow in ...
...the walk of Paul's gospel of Salvation - I Corinthians 15:1-8; Ephesians 1:12,13
...the walk of Paul's walk - Philippians 4:6,9
...the correct gospel of Peter - II Peter 2:18-20
...Revelation in it's proper division - Rev 1-3; 4-18; 19,20,21,22
...the four Gospels as Old Testament - Hebrews 9:14-17
...Acts as a transitional book from OT to NT
...I, II, III John as spiritually applicable only
...Hebrews and James to Jews doctrinally
...OT as ensample to still learn from!

(this is not meatn to appear to as boasting, because all of us still wrestle with some of these,
but these are some of the things that folks see in a Touchet Baptist Church Bible Believer...
and are envious...

We have a music that actually does please God! (they go after the flesh)

An awareness of proper growth! (not in gainful numbers, but in the Book in our lives)

We have a true deliverance in more areas than one (they only say set free)

We have the spirit of truth - the very truth itself!  (not an imitation or a closeness of an 'almost bible')

We have the deep things of God being shown to us!  (even without a great education and diploma)

We have a peace of God from the God of peace (based on the Book and our walk of love towards Him, not out of bondage and obedience)

We are given an understanding of:
    the times; politics, the affairs of this world, disasters, America, kids, teens, jobs, money, etc. (they have doubt, concern, fear, confusion, etc)

Doctrine that is correct as God wrote it and preserved it!  Keeps us from being deceived!  (whatever works for them...!)

Correction (we know it is right and thus is good for us - we can take it, right?)

Instruction in Righteousness(not in our flesh and spirit)

Reproof (don't want it that way - calls it hate speech - can't endure - seek teachings for itching ears - fables)

Eternal Security
based on His words and His work and His walk and His faith!  (not ours!)

Confidence based on truth and proper growth IN Him and not of ourselves!(in numbers and success and having need of nothing!)

An understanding and awareness of the past, the present and future! (base theirs on their history and educational flavour)

Mothers KNOW their children in close detail and can try to do something about it!  (leave it up to the educators, the liars, the deceivers)

Contentment
    how we live on what we earn, etc. the hardships of life, etc.  (they must just keep buying to prove that gain!)

Final Authority in all matters of faith and practice!  (they are their own authority or it is passed off to some scholar, etc.)

God's last counsel for this age which would give us more gold, raiment and sight!  (they are mixed up in church ages, etc.)
    Rev 3:18

Close fellowship with the complete Trinity (God loves everyone and fellowships no matter what!)

    John 14; Rev 3:20, etc.

WE ARE NOT TO BE ENVIOUS OF...
...the world's ways!
Romans 13:12,13

...the foolish of the world and their prosperity! - (the 'good' and 'successful' lost)
Psalm 73:3

...lost 'sinners!' (the bad lost)
Proverbs 23:17
Proverbs 24:1
Proverbs 24:19
Psalms 37:1

...towards one another!
Galatians 5:26


Envy brings ...
...confusion and evil work! - James 3:16
...rottenness of bones! - Proverbs 14:30
...falling! - Proverbs 27:4

We should NOT be envious during these 'last days!'

 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:
walk as children of light:
Ephesians 5:8

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
I Thessalonians 5:5