Love is the truth that will ultimately overcome jealousy. We are told in 1 Cor 13:4-8:
Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails….
Cain allowed the jealousy he felt toward his brother\’s acceptance by the Lord to drive him to an even worse sin, murder. Jealousy, or envy, is still found as a root cause of murder in the world. We are even told that Jesus was crucified because of envy (see Matt 27:18; Mark 15:10), and the persecutions that rose against the apostles and early church were because of jealousy (see Acts 5:17; 13:45).
How will the church be used to shut this door of hell which can lead even to murder? First, we will not have authority over the devil in others if he has a root in our own lives. Jealousy can ultimately lead to murder, but it is also the root of many seemingly lesser, but destructive sins. As we read before in James 3:16, jealousy is usually linked to selfish ambition. The result will be disorder, or division, and can be the opening to “every evil thing.”
Jealousy is almost always found to be the true root of divisions within the body of Christ today. Men will usually try to justify their actions by claiming that their reasons are something else, but the real root is usually jealousy. It can rise in the heart of any of us. If it does and we do not repent of it, jealousy can destroy the work of Christ, or will at least do it damage. Even so, in the end the church will prevail against this terrible gate of hell. How?
Jealousy divided the first two brothers, but love will ultimately unite those who are in Christ, so no evil will be able to stand against them. We are told that “the gates of hell will not prevail against the church,” singular (see Matt 16:18). When we are united, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. When we are divided, they will. But love will ultimately prevail, and before the end there will be a church that stands together in unity because they love one another. Let us determine in our hearts right now that we are going to be controlled by love, not envy. If we do this we cannot fail because “Love never fails.”
- YHVH was merciful to meet Saul on the road to Damascus because of his zeal for YHVH though from a wrong perspective. Pray that during this season there shall be such a supernatural experience for many Moslems who seek for the LORD from a wrong perspective (Acts 9:1-9).
- Pray that YHVH will raise kingdom citizens around them who will explain the gospel; and where YHVH will use you, to put His words in your mouth so you convey the gospel of salvation and the kingdom to them and rightly divide the truth to them.
- Ask that as they seek for truth and life in this season, YHVH will appear to many of them in whichever way they will understand and receive Him (Act 10:1-8).