Stronghold Part 5 – The Stronghold of Jealousy/Envy

This list is NOT exhaustive, so you may encounter a stronghold or symptoms that aren’t listed.

You can recognize that a stronghold exists when any of the symptoms produced by that spirit are HABITUALLY PRESENT.

JEALOUSY

Envy
Spiteful
Gossip/Slander
Betrayal
Critical Nature
Judgmental
Suspicious
UnChristlike Competition
Cruelty

• Definition from the KJV Dictionary

JEALOUSY, n. jel’usy.

1. That passion of peculiar uneasiness which arises from the fear that a rival may rob us of the affection of one whom we love, or the suspicion that he has already done it; or it is the uneasiness which arises from the fear that another does or will enjoy some advantage which we desire for ourselves. A man’s jealousy is excited by the attentions of a rival to his favorite lady. A woman’s jealousy is roused by her husband’s attentions to another woman. The candidate for office manifests a jealousy of others who seek the same office. The jealousy of a student is awakened by the apprehension that his fellow will bear away the palm of praise. In short,jealousy is awakened by whatever may exalt others, or give them pleasures and advantages which we desire for ourselves. Jealousy is nearly allied to envy, for jealousy, before a good is lost by ourselves, is converted into envy, after it is obtained by others.

Jealousy is the apprehension of superiority.

Whoever had qualities to alarm our jealousy, had excellence to deserve our fondness.

2. Suspicious fear or apprehension.

3. Suspicious caution or vigilance, an earnest concern or solicitude for the welfare or honor of others. Such was Paul’s godly jealousy for the Corinthians.

4. Indignation. God’s jealousy signifies his concern for his own character and government, with a holy indignation against those who violate his laws, and offend against his majesty. Ps.79.

 

The stronghold of jealousy reveals how focused you are on other PEOPLE rather
than on God. The spirit of jealousy traps you into unChristlike attitudes toward others — people for whom Jesus Christ died. And these attitudes can erupt into verbal assault through gossip, or insinuation, or slander.

Don’t be fooled by the pleasant countenance or smooth manner of those who
are influenced by the stronghold of jealousy. In order for them to deal with the
feelings of jealousy inspired by this spirit, they must recruit others to side with
them. Their technique is to discredit those of
whom they’re jealous, often by raising suspicion about them.

The spirit of jealousy can incite you to malign someone just so you can feel better about YOURSELF in comparison. Because this stronghold is so horizontally
focused on people and the things of this world, it negatively impacts your WHOLE
family. If your children hear you bemoaning your lack of certain material
goods, they too are going to zero in on  wanting stuff. Whatever their friends
have, your kids will nag YOU for it!

Cain was jealous of his brother Abel’s favor with God. But instead of using his frustration to find out why God wasn’t pleased with him and fix the problem, Cain opted instead to murder his brother. Jealousy is not a characteristic of a God-fearing person. Gen 4:3-7

Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

 

Jealousy is one result of false teachings.

1 Timothy 6:3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

 

 

James 3:14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

 

Jealousy rejects Biblical teachings.

Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

 

Acts 17:5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

 

Jealousy motivates religious people.

Mark 15:9But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

 

Jealousy is self destructive.

Job 5:2For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

 

Proverbs 14:30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

 

 

Jealousy is a major function of self-righteousness and arrogance; therefore it is a major factor in Christian backsliding and degeneracy. Jealousy causes a Christian to develop a system of legalism or false spirituality, to set himself up as a role model for what Christianity should be, then to try to get others to accept their model of false self-identity.
While jealousy is part of the pride complex of sins, it generates its own suite of sinful reactions, including: bitterness, vindictiveness, implacability, ambition, competition, verbal sins, and revenge tactics.
Jealousy is a system of self-justification. You cannot solve your problems when you are trying to justify yourself.
The filling of the Holy Spirit cannot co-exist with jealousy; they are mutually exclusive. Therefore, jealousy keeps a person from glorifying Christ.
Jealousy is a discontent with the blessings of successes of other people, a resentment of other people for what they have received. Therefore, it is total selfishness and is incapable of love. Love and jealousy are mutually exclusive.
Jealousy is tyranny, in that it comes from an attitude of possessiveness of another person, and therefore stifles the other person’s volition. Jealousy destroys freedom because it intrudes upon privacy.

Tear down the lie with the truth of God’s word. With God there is unlimited good. God has an unlimited supply of goodness and blessing for everything on earth.

Psalm 145: 7-9

7They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

God wanted Cain to know this truth but Cain allowed the stronghold of jealousy to take over and it finally destroyed him.

Is there are small sign of this stronghold in your life? Take care of it now.

 

 

Related articles

• Stronghold Part 4 – The Stronghold of Heaviness (alookintomymind.wordpress.com)
• Stronghold Part 3 – The stronghold of bitterness. (alookintomymind.wordpress.com)
• Strongholds pt.1 (alookintomymind.wordpress.com)