Gospel Light Society Podcasts

Gospel Light Society Podcasts

By Daniel Whyte IIIReligion & Spirituality
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Gospel Light Society Podcasts episodes

  • How to Overcome Temptation, Part 137 (Envy) (Onward Christian Soldiers Discipleship Class #261)
    Proverbs 27:4
    This verse warns us that the sin of envy is worse than the sin of wrath and anger. Anger and wrath lead to many cruel acts, but envy is a deep-seeded sin that lies within the heart and mind of man far longer than a sudden outburst of rage. You can avoid someone’s sudden wrath and return when they have cooled off, but envy retains anger, and adds more anger to it the longer the envied enjoys perceived prosperity. Charles Simeon said, “It is the happiness of another that gives pain to the envious man; and the destruction of that happiness is the great object that would afford him pleasure. Its actings, indeed, are not open, like those of wrath and anger: on the contrary, they are as secret as possible; and they put on, as far as possible, a specious garb, a garb of candour and of equity. But its inseparable attendants are of the same odious character with itself: namely, “debates, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.” Indeed, it is very nearly allied to murder: for, as it is invariably connected with, anger, it is murder in embryo: and hence in the Scriptures it is generally associated with murder: “The works of the flesh,” says the Apostle, are hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders:” and in another place he says of unconverted men, that they are “full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters,” and so on. It indeed may appear harsh to load this principle with such horrid accusations; but they are true, and all verified by experience. Wherefore did Cain slay his brother? it was because he saw his brother receiving from God tokens of approbation which were denied to him. And whence was it that Joseph’s brethren took counsel to slay him? it was on account of his enjoying higher favour with his father than they, and his receiving more remarkable communications from God. But, in truth, we do not view this principle aright, unless we see in it the very image of the devil himself. No other principle in the heart of man bears so strong a resemblance of the devil as this. See our first parents in Paradise, as happy as it was possible for creatures in a state of probation to be. The devil saw and envied them their bliss, and never rested till he had robbed them of it. Nor does he behold one of their descendants turning to the Lord, without using every effort in his power to divert them from their purpose, and to destroy their souls. And what does he gain by this? Is he himself rendered happier by depriving others of their bliss? No: he only augments his own guilt and misery!; and yet such is the malignity of his disposition, that he can find no employment to his mind but this: and, so far as he is capable of a momentary mitigation of his pains, he finds it only in robbing man of his happiness, and God of his glory. This is the very character of the envious man.” The Bible is full of examples that show how deadly envy is, from murderous acts by humans to the works of the devil himself. Those that envy the good fortune of others will be continuously angry at them. Go to God and reject the temptation to corrupt your heart by being envious of others.
    1 hr 8 min

About Gospel Light Society Podcasts

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Gospel Light Society is a global ministry that seeks to present the Gospel to all people, in every language, around the world, over the internet. People all over the world need to hear about the love, peace, and joy that only comes through Jesus Christ. For many people, they are not free to practice their Christian beliefs in their country. For others, they do not feel comfortable in a public place of worship. Because of this, millions of people search for God on the internet. In many languages, GLS seeks to share the Gospel of Christ to those who contact us and then help them to grow in the saving knowledge of Jesus by connecting them with a church or a home Bible study group.