Gloria Copeland — Envy—The Devil’s Personal Poison Part 2

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:01:25 +0000

Actually, “natural” is precisely what envy is. It’s part of what the Bible calls the “natural” or “carnal” mind. It’s a mind programmed by the devil to be in direct opposition to God.

Another biblical term for it is “the flesh.” Envy is listed as “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5, and it’s put alongside some other very serious sins including: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such” (verses 19-21).

That’s not exactly a pretty list, is it?

Most believers would never purposely engage in any of those fleshly activities. How then does envy get into our lives?

It sneaks in without announcing itself. It slips in unnoticed.

Suppose you go to church, for instance, and you see Brother Smith with a new car. Suddenly a thought comes to your mind: Why does he have a new car? He didn’t even need it. I’m the one who needs a new car.

Or suppose you see Sister Jones in a beautiful new dress. As you sit down next to her, you notice how dowdy your dress is compared to hers. Suddenly you feel like someone’s ugly stepsister.

You may not think much more about it—consciously. But later, you notice you’re a little irritated or depressed. You can’t quite put your finger on why you feel that way. After all, you were having a good day until a little while ago. What happened?

I’ll tell you what happened. Envy crept in and poisoned you with a feeling of ill will and discontent because of another’s success or advantages. Envy made a move on you.

Gloria Copeland

Gloria Copeland — Overcoming Through Dedication

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:01:38 +0000

The question arises: “If walking in the spirit is
the key, how do I start?” Romans 8:5-13 is the answer.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things
of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that
the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because
of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that
dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors,
not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after
the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

If you put your mind on the things of this world,
you’re going to walk after the flesh. You may not want to,
but if you play around with the world long enough,
you’ll go in that direction. If you continue in sin,
you will become dominated by it. You’ll become a slave
to whatever spirit you continually yield yourself to obey
(Romans 6:16). It’s your choice. Do you want to follow
after your flesh, or do you want to mind the things of the spirit?

The reward of following after the spirit is life
and peace. The whole world is seeking satisfaction,
but they’re seeking it in the things of this world.
They have no peace because they’re carnally minded.
Peace and fulfillment will not be found in the things of the flesh.

A carnal mind is simply one that is not subject
to the law of God. The Amplified Bible says sin is
“lawlessness…being unrestrained and unregulated
by His commands and His will” (1 John 3:4).
The carnally-minded man thinks the way the
world thinks. The spiritually-minded man thinks God’s
thoughts. He keeps his mind on the things of the spirit
and conforms his thought life to the Word of God.
There is no other way to enjoy life and peace
except to be spiritually minded and subject to God (Romans 8:5-6).

As you yield your mind and body to
the ways of God, His life will come out of you
and quicken, or make alive, your mortal body.
Your spirit man will rise up and become dominant.
The voice of your flesh will subside and you’ll
overcome evil with good. You will notice in the
New Testament that the Apostle Paul wrote continually
to the churches about mortifying the deeds of the
body through the Spirit.

Romans 8:13-14 should be read together:
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but
if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the
body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God.” Led to do what?
Led to mortify the deeds of the body!
The Holy Spirit will prompt or lead you
to mortify the deeds of your body.

Gloria Copeland » carnal

Gloria Copeland — Envy—The Devil’s Personal Poison Part 2

Gloria Copeland

Gloria Copeland — Overcoming Through Dedication

Gloria Copeland