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| Are You Jealous? |
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Here are some notes from our Sunday's lesson (Genesis 37). Joseph means the Lord Will Increase. Though his brothers harmed him, God would still make him great. Joseph talked too much. He was the favorite child of Jacob, and God spoke to him in dreams. The dreams revealed that Joseph would rule his brothers. For all the dreamers out there, be careful who you tell your dreams to. When God gives you that special robe of many colors, don't go around showing it off because your own family will try to strip you naked. Matthew 22:36-40 reads, 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Clearly, Jacob's sons did not obey the greatest commandment. The brothers were jealous of Joseph, desired to kill him, ripped off his special robe, dropped him into a pit, sold him like a slave, and lied to their father about the whole incident. Proverb 6 reads, “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Jacob’s brothers indulged in the detestable sins God hates. 91:14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. Father, forgive us for breaking your greatest commandment. Heal our hearts so we can love you with our entire being. Wash our souls with your Word. Renew our minds, Father, and strengthen us so we can love you with all our strength. Help us to cleave to you and love you. Deliver us; protect us from evil, and teach us your name. Let our tongues speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Let our eyes focus on your Word. Let our hands not shed innocent blood. Let not our feet lead us into temptation. Let not our attitudes cause us to become trouble makers. Let our hearts not plot revenge. Change us today. If we are jealous today, Father, give us more assurance in you. Show us your love for us in little ways throughout the day. Increase us like you did Joseph. As parents, help us not to have favorites. Teach us how to love our children equally. Father, cleanse us in your Son's blood. We praise your name, Father. Amen. |
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| To add a comment to "Are You Jealous?" |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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Love this Word and prayer. |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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That is what our pastor is preaching on. Hmmm.... |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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| Wow. |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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| We have to be so careful...can't tell everything. |
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| August 30, 2009 |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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Did Joseph really do anything wrong? His brothers already hated him because he was favoured over them as the first born of Jacob's beloved Rachael. That was the real root of their jealously. When I look at Joseph....I see an unspoilt pure heart....
No as for the jealous brothers....their sin of jealousy was nothing compared to the sin of slavery and treachory that occured with the rulers of Egypt who enslaved the descendents of Joseph. Joseph and his brothers and descendents could have returned to home after the 7 year drought was over....but for some reason the remained in the land.....initially they were under the protection of Pharoah....but as subsequent generations were raised up.....Pharoah's hand turned against the sons of Jacob and Joseph......whose sin was greater....the jealous brothers or the treacherous Egyptians.......
THe message of the Triune God is very very simple:
1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind
2) Love your neighbor as yourself
When we do the above somehow God will work out all of the other details, he will guide us through His Holy Spirit through each day so that we hear His voice and if we mess up a bit an don't hear it quite right...He is ALWAYS there as a gentle loving Father to push us back on the foot path....HE IS LOVE FIRST and FOREMOST.....HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT US HIS CHILDREN....GENTLE and TENDER....and that is how we are to be with one another....
Too much of the Church and organised structured church is about self imposed religiosity....that has nothing to do with the Love relations God has for each one of his sons and daughters individually.....
Fall in love with Him Destiny....embrace His love and trust him....that's what I have to do.....I have been on this road now for 37 years....He found me at 15....shook my world upside down....and no matter how my love and faith waxes and wanes over the years....His love for me is immovable....unfathomable....unshakeable....insurmountable....UNBELIEVABLE!! |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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Joseph bragged about his dream and he snitched on his brothers a lot. I can also see him showing off in his coat. The reason I say this is because after being in prison, he became humbled, and told Pharoah God can interpret the dream (not big boy Joseph). I love Joseph. Maybe he was just naive though. |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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"Too much of the Church and organised structured church is about self imposed religiosity....that has nothing to do with the Love relations God has for each one of his sons and daughters individually....." Amen...it's all about loving God. Praise the Lord. I can just feel your confidence. Thank you Lord for your love. Help us to love you in return. |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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| Amen!!! Hugssss |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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How we see Joseph is more a revelation about how we see ourselves than anything else. Father deals with us where we are at. To me, I see nothing wrong with sharing what I have heard whispered to me by him; to me Joseph was merely being transparent; he was merely sharing an experience that he had with the Lord. When we share our experiences we've had with the Lord, it is a blessing to some and a threat to many. It is a threat to those who think of gifts as being a sign of acceptance or as a reward due to a persons behavior. They hate those who have received a greater grace because they believe they deserve it and you don't. They don't get it that we really don't deserve it...that's why it's a Charis [gift of grace]. So if Joesph had not shared his dream and worn his robe he would never have ended up in Egypt and his family would never have been saved. God foreknew what Joseph's family and brothers would do in response to the dream...they meant it for evil, but God meant it for good! And Joseph so understood that, that he completely released [forgave] his brothers! Blessings!
Craig |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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| Craig, thank for breaking that down. Some people cannot stand to see others blessed. Sad. |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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I'm blessed. Hard times, yes. Trials and tribs, yes. But blessed. So I ought not be jealous of other believers and especially not of unbelievers b/c I have what they need. Do I get jealous sometimes? Sometimes it's more of the fact that "how come they aren't going through all these trials?" or stuff of that nature, yes. I admit it. |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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| Lara, you think that too (lol). You are so honest. I love it |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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| We are blessed. Joseph was blessed, but he had to spend time in jail for nothing. |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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Destiny! It wasn't for nothing! It was a testimony to the genuineness of his faith; his faith grew strong giving glory to God! :-D Nothing is for nothing for those who belong to God! :-) Craig |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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Meaning, he didn't violate the woman. That's what I meant. But you are so right when you say nothing is for nothing for those who belong to God :)
All things work together for good. Yeah! Yeah! Yeppeeeee! |
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| August 31, 2009 |
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Jealously unchecked in our hearts can cause us to do things we would not normally do sister Destiny!
It can eat at you and fester into anger...
Blessings In Him... :o)
Herman |
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| September 01, 2009 |
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| I love the fact that Joseph was bitter but finally forgave his family. Joseph is my boy! |
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