Articles . Gary Miller . Volume 13 | Issue 16

The Jealousy

“But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.” Acts 5:17

People were being saved spiritually, and healed physically. Demonic spirits were being cast out of others who were under oppression or in the possession of forces of darkness, from the pit of hell. The Father was being glorified, by the work of The Spirit, in the name of The Son. In short, a movement of God was in full expression, in the city of Jerusalem, and it was drawing people “from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem.” (Acts 5:16) What could possibly go wrong?

The leaders of the system du jour, The Temple Cult, took offense. It didn’t fit into their plans, or reflect well on them. They were jealous of the notoriety the uneducated, unlicensed leaders of this movement of God were receiving, from the people. This only happens…EVERY TIME!

While the people of Jerusalem were being filled with The Spirit of Christ, the leaders of Israel were being filled with the spirit of jealousy. Leaders, full of themselves and in authority, are often the first to take offense at a movement of God. Any movement that overshadows their sphere of influence, and insinuates they are irrelevant must be intimidated into submission. People in authority do not give up power willingly. If God intended for an Awakening to take place, He would have cleared it with them, before He released it to their people.

Note to self: Don’t be surprised if God sends the next Great Awakening, without asking permission from denominational leaders who have been postponing it for years, by manipulating a man-made machine, designed to shine more glory on themselves, than on Him.

Jealousy: rooted in the Greek word for “zeal” can mean
1) excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spirit

a) zeal, ardour in embracing, pursuing, defending anything

1) zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing

2) the fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal

b) an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy

Where does this kind of stuff come from? Glad you asked.

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” James 3:16

Note to self: When you see the smoke and smell the sulfur of jealousy, remember it can be traced to the fires of Hell. This is a BBQ you want to skip. If you feed on it, it will poison you and everyone around you.

Jesus told His disciples, He saw Satan fall from Heaven, like lightning. (Luke 10:18) When Christ’s Kingdom gains ground, Satan’s Kingdom loses ground. This makes Satan jealous, and he unleashes his associates when it does.

“Christ foresaw that the preaching of the gospel, which would fly like lightning through the world, would wherever it went pull down Satan’s kingdom. Now is the prince of this world cast out. Some have given another sense of this, as looking back to the fall of the angels, and designed for a caution to these disciples, lest their success should puff them up with pride: “I saw angels turned into devils by pride: that was the sin for which Satan was cast down from heaven,..” Matthew Henry

Pride, and jealousy each react, violently, when wounded. The punctured pride of a leader is often the result of having thin-skinned knees. Praylerless leaders are rubbed raw by being forced to admit, God can use people they deem unqualified.

Prayer puts callouses in the right places. Calloused knees prepare a tender heart. A calloused heart is the result of thin skinned knees. Prayerless leaders resemble the blind leading the blind, and only prayer can remove the scales from their eyes, and enable them to see what God is able to do, without their permission.

There is so much at stake, in a world so desperately in need of the next Great Awakening. Pray with bent knees and opened eyes. Prayer will keep your knees calloused and your heart tender, so you won’t miss out, on something only God can do. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

copyright, Dr. Gary and Dana L. Miller
All Rights Reserved