Summary:

We can abide in the blessing of the Lord. However, to keep the blessing operating in our lives, we must keep our hearts free of envy. When we allow our hearts to be filled with envy, we stop the blessing from working in our lives. It is imperative that we make a decision to examine our hearts and eliminate envy.

  1. Isaac sowed seed in a land where there was a famine. The blessing on Him caused Him to prosper despite the famine (Genesis 26:1-12).

    1. Abraham had passed his blessing on to his son Isaac. As a result, Isaac prospered despite the bad economic conditions.

      1. There were others who sowed seed in the land who did not receive a harvest.

      2. However, Isaac received a hundredfold return—the blessing was operating in his life.

      3. Famine or economic downturn cannot stop the blessing from working in your life.

  2. Isaac became so wealthy that the Philistines envied him (Genesis 26:13-15).

    1. When you are operating in the blessing, people will envy you.

      1. Envy is a feeling of discontentment about someone else’s success.

      2. Envy causes people to hate others because they are successful; they want to deprive them of their success.

    2. We must examine ourselves to be sure we are not harboring envy, because it is wicked.

      1. Envy will cause us to do hateful things that we never thought we would do.

  3. The chief priests and elders envied Jesus; they hated Him so much that it drove them to have Him crucified (Matthews 27:11-18).

    1. The chief priests and elders envied Jesus because of His power and success.

      1. A reprobate mind-set causes people to be filled with unrighteousness, including envy.

      2. The reprobate mind is void of good judgment (Romans 1:28-29).

    2. The flesh is a mind-set that goes against the Word of God (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Corinthians 3:3, AMP).

      1. When we are envious, we are unspiritual and carnal.

      2. Hate is born out of envy. Envy and murder go together—they are the manifestations of a mind-set that opposes God’s Word (Galatians 5:21).

      3. Where there is bitterness and envy, there is confusion and every evil work (James 3:13-16, AMP).

      4. People do all types of evil things when they are envious of others.

    3. The Jews envied Paul when they saw multitudes of people coming to hear him preach the Word (Acts 13:44).

    4. We should not just tolerate envy; it will stop the blessing from operating in our lives (1 Peter 2:1).

      1. The blessing on your life can be seen. God will cause even your enemies to call you blessed (Genesis 26:27-29).

      2. God is a God of justice. He will give us justice for the injustices we have endured (Isaiah 61:7-11).

      3. However, we must continue to examine our hearts, and be sure we do not allow envy to settle there.

      4. Envy begins when we compare ourselves to others or become covetous of what someone else has.

      5. We should be sure we are operating in honor and decency, refusing to operate in envy and strife (Romans 13:13).

      6. We must learn to rejoice when others are blessed and be happy with the portion God has given us.

Scripture References:

  • Genesis 26:1-15

  • Matthew 27:11-18

  • Romans 1:28-29

  • Galatians 5:19-21

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3, AMP

  • James 3:13-16, AMP

  • Acts 13:44

  • 1 Peter 2:1

  • Genesis 26:27-29

  • Isaiah 61:7-11

  • Romans 13:13

Pastor Robert Bagonza

Senior Pastor Redeemed Church

www.mrolec.org