To the Jealousy/Envy/Zeal Title
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To some other character traits mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
A. It can be good...
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Good if it has a good purpose
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Galatians 4:18 - Zeal for others / interest in others is good, IF the purpose
is good. [In this specific instance, described in v. 17, the purpose was
bad.]
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Godly zeal: it does exist!
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2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul: had a godly jealousy/zeal for the Corinthian's spiritual
well-being.
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One of the ways it can be produced: the result of godly sorrow and repentance
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2 Corinthians 7:7,11 - Zeal / intense concern for Paul's well-being: It was the
result of godly sorrow / repentance (concerning things Paul wrote to them
about). This zeal (& other characteristics they now had) brought
encouragement to Paul.
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God commands people to have zeal (along w/ repentance)
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Revelation 3:19 - Be zealous & repent of lukewarmness (also: God rebukes /
disciplines those he loves)
B. It can be bad...
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Bad when it is not an expression of love
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1 Corinthians 13:4 - Love is not jealous.
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Bad when it is an expression of our old, corrupt nature (the "flesh")
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Galatians 5:19-21 - a list of "the works of the flesh" - People who have
these things in their life will NOT inherit the kingdom of heaven.
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See also Romans 13:13 (v. 12-14), below.
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Bad when it is a "deed of darkness"
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Romans 13:13 (v. 12-14) - We are told to put aside the "deeds of darkness"
(v. 12) - to walk (live) ... without jealousy. (V. 14: It is an expression
of the "flesh" - our corrupt nature. And we must not yield to the desires
of that nature.)
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It results in humiliation & grief in godly people (when they see it in
others who claim to be "Christian").
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2 Corinthians 12:20-21 - Paul to Corinthians: I'm afraid I'll find you with ...
jealousy... that God will humble me & I'll be grieved...
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This type of jealousy /zeal is worldly
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1 Corinthians 3:3 - you are acting worldly, like "mere men"
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We are commanded to NOT have it
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Romans 13:13 (v. 12-14) - walk (live) ... without jealousy
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If we have this type of jealousy / zeal, we are not to be proud about it,
or lie about how evil it is!
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This type of jealousy / zeal will hinder the answering of our prayers
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James 4:2-3 - You don't receive what you ask for because you ask with evil
motives.
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A. Zeal for God
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It is bad if done in ignorance.
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Acts 22:3 - Paul, before his conversion, was zealous for God and persecuted
the Christians
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Romans 10:2 - The unsaved Jews had a zeal for God, but it was based on ignorance,
rather than on knowledge. (They were trying to gain righteousness through
their own efforts.) [NOTE: Proverbs 19:2 makes a comment about zeal that
is not based on knowledge.]
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Zeal for God's House - It showed Jesus' attitude of zeal & honor for
God himself.
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John 2:17 (see v. 13+) - Jesus opposed those who turned the temple into a
means for financial gain. His Father's house was NOT to be turned into a
marketplace.
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NOTE: No other verses in the New Testament specifically mention "zeal for God" in
a good sense, but there are several passages in the Old Testament that do. [See
PART 6 of this study.]
B. Zeal For the Law [ceremonial rituals], etc.
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It was good/acceptable for the Christian Jews to have this type of zeal.
[NOTE: They were not attempting to gain salvation through it.]
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Acts 21:20 - Thousands of believing Jews... all zealous for the Law [v. 21+
They had been falsely told that Paul was telling Jews to abandon the Law,
whereas he was actually only telling Gentiles to not adopt it.]
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It is bad if this zeal is an attempt to earn salvation, or if man-made tradition
is actually what is being followed.
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Galatians 1:13-14 - Paul was zealous for his ancestral traditions more than
his peers were.
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Philippians 3:6 - Paul was so zealous of his Judaism that he persecuted the church
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A. The good type of zeal / jealousy - examples: [This includes having intense
concern for, or interest in, other people.]
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Jealous for / intensely desiring another's spiritual well-being
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2 Corinthians 11:2 - Paul: jealous for the Corinthian's spiritual well-being. He
does not want them to be led astray from a pure devotion to Christ. He wanted
them for God; false teachers wanted to take them away!
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2 Corinthians 7:7,11 - Zeal / intense concern for Paul's well-being: produced by
godly sorrow / repentance (concerning things Paul had to write to them about).
This brought encouragement to Paul.
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Zealously/diligently praying for others
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Colossians 4:13 [KJV] - zeal / concern in praying for you (Colossians, etc.) [most
translations: concern / diligence (hard work) in praying... . Though from
a different Greek word, the meaning is almost the same.]
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Zealous to help others
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2 Corinthians 9:2 - Enthusiastic zeal to help (give to the needs of) others - it
encouraged others to also help
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Zealous to do good
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Titus 2:14 - Jesus saved us for this purpose: that we might be zealous to
do good works.
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1 Peter 3:13 - If you are zealous for what is good, there is no reason for
people to harm you... but even if you are harmed, you are blessed. [KJV:
if you imitate what is good...]
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Zealous to use one's spiritual gifts -See section C, below.
B. The bad type of zeal / jealousy - examples:
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Jealous that people are interested in hearing the good news about Jesus (=
having an intense desire to keep them away from the good news)
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Acts 5:27 - The religious leaders were so filled with jealousy [zeal for
their own "cause"] that they arrested the apostles and put them in jail.
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Acts 13:45 - The Jews - jealous that so many people wanted to hear Paul's
message, that they started speaking against what Paul said.
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Acts 17:5 - The Jews - jealous when so many people became convinced of Paul's
message, that they started a riot.
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Jealous because of favoritism shown to another
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Acts 7:9 - Patriarchs were jealous of Joseph (who was shown favoritism by
his father, etc. - see Gen. 37) Of course, the favoritism was not necessarily
good, either! But it was not a legitimate excuse for their own sin.
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Zealous to gain converts who would then become zealous followers of those
who converted them (instead of zealous followers of the truth of the gospel).
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Galatians 4:17 - The false teachers were zealously attempting to win-over the
Galatians, so that the Galatians would zealously follow them.
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Zealous / jealous to exalt one leader above another
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1 Corinthians 3:3 - jealousy & strife among the Corinthians - arguing over which
leader was the best
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Galatians 4:17 - This would also happen once the false teachers had gained their
converts. (See section "3," above.)
C. Zeal in the use of spiritual gifts - it can be good or bad.
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It is good if the focus is on the gifts that build-up others
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1 Corinthians 14:1 - Desire [have a zeal for] spiritual gifts, but focus on the
gifts that benefit others.
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1 Corinthians 14:12 - Instructions to those who ARE zealous of spiritual gifts:
Focus on those gifts that build-up others in the church.
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1 Corinthians 14:39 - [Illustrating the proper focus] Be eager (zealous) to prophecy
[a gift that builds-up others], but don't forbid speaking in tongues [a gift
that doesn't build-up others]. (v. 40 - Do all in a proper and orderly manner.)
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Zeal for gifts can be bad if love is not given the highest priority
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1 Corinthians 12:31 - Two possible interpretations (based on context): 1) Go ahead
and desire (be zealous for) good gifts, but place your highest focus on love,
or your gift will be worthless (see ch. 13). 2) All of you are zealously
desiring (going after) what you consider to be the "best" gifts, but you
need to go after love, instead.
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PART 4: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE BAD KIND OF ZEAL/JEALOUSY
[These things show how bad jealousy really is.]
A. Persecuting & opposing those who preach the truth
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Acts 5:17(+) - The apostles were put in jail
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Acts 13:45 - They opposed Paul's message & spoke evil things about the
truth
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Acts 17:5 - Rioting, turmoil, false accusations...
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Galatians 1:13-14 - Persecuting the church of God, being zealously fanatical
for ancestral traditions
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Philippians 3:6 - Persecuting the church
B. Sinful conduct of various kinds
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Romans 13:13 - wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality & promiscuity,
rivalry
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1 Corinthians 3:3 - strife or quarreling
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2 Corinthians 12:20-21 - quarreling, anger, arguing, slander, gossip, arrogance,
disorder; also impure living, sexual sin & sensuality
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Galatians 5:19-21 - a list of "the works of the flesh (corrupt nature)" -
People who have these characteristics in their lives will NOT inherit the
kingdom of heaven.
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Philippians 3:6 (& context) - high religious "standards"
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James 3:14 - selfish ambition
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James 3:16 - worldly, unspiritual, demonic "wisdom"; disorder & every
kind of evil practice
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James 4:2 - lustful greed, murder, fighting & quarreling
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PART 4: AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE BAD KIND OF ZEAL/JEALOUSY
A. Doing things that are incompatible with jealousy (things we should be
doing anyway!)
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Romans 13:13 (v. 12-14) - Behaving properly / decently; "clothed" with Jesus
Christ
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1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Exhibiting the characteristics of love
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2 Corinthians 7:7,11 - [Various attitudes regarding sin & godly conduct; concern
for others (Paul), etc.]
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Galatians 5:20, 22-23 - Having the fruit of the Spirit
[Of course, there are LOTS of things mentioned in the New Testament, which are
incompatible with jealousy. These are just the verses that contain the word
"jealousy" (or the equivalent) somewhere within the context.]
B. Some specific responses we can have
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Continuing to obey God
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Acts 5:17 (see v. 29 & the whole context) - The apostles reply, when
told to stop teaching in Jesus' name (by the jealous / envious religious
leaders): We should obey God, rather than people.
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Continuing to speak the message
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Acts 13:45 (v. 46-47) - Being willing to speak the Word to those who were
willing to listen (turning away from those who were unwilling to listen)
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Moving to a location where people are willing to hear the message (applies
to those who have been sent out to preach the word)
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Acts 17:5 (v. 10-11+) - The Jews - jealous when so many people became convinced
of Paul's message... Paul & Silas went to Berea
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NOTE: This doesn't apply to everyone. Though Paul & Silas left, there
were other Christians who remained there.
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Warning them about their sin; speaking the truth to them
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1 Corinthians 3:3 (+ context) - "You are being worldly." (V. 3) "Stop boasting about
people." (V. 21) "We are only servants of God (and God is the one you should
focus on)."
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Being filled with grief / humility
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2 Corinthians 12:20-21 - Paul to Corinthians: I'm afraid I'll find you with ...
jealousy... that God will humble me & I'll be grieved...
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A. About making others jealous
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People making God jealous - it's a dangerous thing to do!
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1 Corinthians 10:22 - [It can happen if we try to have fellowship with BOTH God
& demons...] Are we trying to provoke him to jealousy? Are we stronger
than he? [Think about what could happen if God decided to show his strength!
The things mentioned at the beginning of the chapter (punishments inflicted
upon Israel) are intended to be a lesson for us!
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Paul making Israel jealous (This would occur when the Israelites saw the
Gentiles receiving blessings that were originally intended for Israel.) Paul
hoped that it would result in some Jews turning to Christ
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Romans 10:19 (prophetic - quote from Deut. 32:21 about Israel's judgment
for apostasy) - I will make them jealous / envious by those who are "not
a people."
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Romans 11:11 - Salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous
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Romans 11:14 - Paul considers his ministry to be a very honorable / glorious
one, in the hope that, through it, some of his fellow-Jews will become envious
of the blessings the Gentiles are receiving... and want to be saved, too!
[Don't forget that these blessings were originally intended for the Jews,
but because of their sins, the Gentiles now have the opportunity to receive
them.]
B. A "zealous fire" - will consume those who are unrepentant / those who
reject the truth
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Hebrews 10:27 - the only thing left for them to look forward to is judgment
and raging fire which will consume God's enemies.
C. A "Zealot" (One who was a member of a certain Jewish political party that
struggled for political independence from Rome.)
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Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13 - one of the apostles: a Zealot named Simon [Note: he
was also called a "Canaanite," not from the early name for Palestine (Canaan),
but from a Chaldean word (kananites) for "zealous": Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18.
Some translations use the word "Zealot" in these two verses, since that term
is more familiar and causes less confusion.]
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A. Zeal for God & his ways
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Elijah - 1 Kings 19:10,14 - Elijah talking to the Lord: He described himself
as being very zealous for God (in contrast to the rest of the nation). He
was told that there were 7000 others who were also loyal to the Lord.
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Jehu (maybe) - 2 Kings 10:16 - He seems to have started this way. But something
apparently went wrong. By the time he was finished with his "mission" of
destroying Ahab's idolatrous family, he himself was deserving of judgment.
(See Hosea 1:4.) Maybe he went too far, by killing people who were innocent.
Or maybe it was because he did not remain faithful to the Lord, but turned
to the idolatry that Jereboam introduced into Israel. (2 Kings 10:31)
B. Zeal for God's honor
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Phineas (a priest) - Numbers 25:11, 13 - (read the context) He killed two
people who were dishonoring God by their sexual immorality and idolatry.
Because of what he did, the plague God sent against the nation stopped. (Read
1 Corinthians 10... we should learn from Israel's example and NOT do what
they did!)
C. Zeal for God's words
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(Author of Psalm 119) - Psalm 119:139 - His zeal was so intense that it wore
him out! Contrast this with the attitude of his enemies, who were quick to
dismiss them from their minds.
D. Zeal for God's house (Implied: a zeal for God)
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David - Psalm 69:9 - As with the author of Psalm 119, David's zeal was so
intense that it wore him out! Those who hated God were venting their hatred
on him (David), because of his love for & loyalty to God - shown by his
attitude toward God's house (the temple). This is also a prophetic reference
to Christ, and is quoted in John 2:17.
Of course, there is another sense in which God doesn't need to have
humans "zealously defend" him. After all, he is God and can take care of
himself!
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Summarize the difference between the good and bad types of zeal/jealousy.
How can you distinguish between them? We need to strive to have the one and
to get rid of the other.
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How is godly zeal/jealousy a display of love? How is evil zeal/jealousy
incompatible with love (1 Corinthians 13:4)?
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How much godly zeal/jealousy do you have in your heart? What can/will you
do, so that it might increase? How much worldly (sinful) zeal/jealousy do
you have in your heart? What can/will you do, so that it might decrease?
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How do you respond when you see the bad type of zeal/jealousy... 1) in yourself?
2) in others (both when it is directed against you, and when it is directed
against someone else)? If you find that you have difficulty responding in
a way that honors God, what are some things you can begin to do this week,
to start changing the way you think and act? (This is the meaning of the
word "repentance.")
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Why should you have godly zeal/jealousy? What are some specific things you
can do this week that will increase your godly zeal... 1) in the way it is
expressed toward God? 2) in the way it is expressed toward other people?
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How can you encourage godly zeal/jealousy in others?
** REMEMBER THIS! **
To whatever extent we succeed in replacing sinful zeal/jealousy with godly
zeal/jealousy, we must give God the praise, rather than ourselves. Such changes
are possible only because of changes God has made in our hearts. Without
these changes, it is the natural inclination of our hearts to choose what
is evil.
APPLY IT TO YOUR "EVERY DAY" LIFE!
Most people use the word "zeal" only in reference to "religious things" or
"fanaticism." Yet the same action and heart attitude can exist in any area
of life. The question is: On what do you focus your attention? What types
of things do you like to think about throughout the day? If you could do
whatever you wanted, what types of things would you choose to do? Contrast
these things with the things you don't normally think about, or wouldn't
normally choose to do. (Example: Some people claim that they love God, and
that he has "first place" in their life. But they focus all their attention
on...) Now answer the following questions:
What types of things do you focus your attention on? What do you like to
think about and do? In other words, what is your zeal/jealousy focused on?
[If your focus is on something you have (or are), it could probably be called
"zeal," whereas if your focus is on something you don't have (or aren't)
it could probably be called "jealousy."] Based on your answer to these questions,
as well as what you learned in this study, determine what "plan of action"
you need to work on, this week.
[Having considered the questions in this section, if you now view zeal/jealousy
in a somewhat different way, you may wish to look again at the questions
under the section entitled: "Things to Consider."]
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The type of jealousy that is focused on in this study places emphasis on
the desire to have, or keep something. If you find that you have a desire
not only for you to have something, but also for someone else to not
have it, you may benefit from the study entitled
"Envy."
Dennis Hinks © 1998
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