Text: Acts 5:17-26

= Church in Kingdom Conflicts: Mt. 16:18 - I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Topic: Overcome the Spirit of Jealousy

= Similarity in Kingdom Conflicts

Acts 4:2 - They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

Acts 5:3 - Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

Acts 5:17 - Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

1Thessalonians 5:23 - May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How Can We Enjoy Our Mental Health in this

world?

1. 1. Source of Jealousy - Diagnosis

Acts 5:14 - Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

= Who are they that were Jealous toward the disciples of the Early Church?

Vs. 17 - Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

Mt. 27:18 - Pilate knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

= What does Jealousy Reveal about Human Characters in the Bible?

(1) You are still UncleanMark 7:21-23 - For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’”

(2) You are still Young1Cor. 3:1-3 - Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly— mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still

worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

(3) You are still LackingGalatians 5:19-21 - The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions,

Factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

= Why did Certain People Envy Jesus Christ during the three-year of his Public Ministry?

Mt. 27:18 - Pilate knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

(1) Jesus’ Fame“Envy is a certain kind of distress at apparent success on the part of one's peers in attaining the good things” (Aristotle)John 11:47,48 - The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the

Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

(2) Jesus’ PersonalityMt. 13:54-58 - Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed.

Envy consists of pain or distress “to feel displeasure and ill will at the superiority of another person in happiness, success, reputation or the possession of anything desirable.” Envy is often compared to rust which devours iron: “As oxide eats up iron, so is the envious devoured by this passion.”

Vs. 54-56 - “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Vs. 57 - And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

Vs. 58 - And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

2. 2. Operation of Jealousy - Danger

Vs. 18 - They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

= Why is Jealousy Often Dangerous when Left Unhandled?

Vs. 17 - Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.

(1) They are DrivenVs. 17-18 - Then the high priest and all his associates were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

(2) They are InsensitiveVs. 19-20 - But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

Vs. 23-24 - “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.

(3) They are SecularVs. 25-26 - Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

(4) They are StubbornVs. 28 - “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Vs. 29-30 - Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead— whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

Acts 4:10 - It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

(5) They are ExtremeVs. 33 - When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

3. 3. Cure of Jealousy – Medicine

Vs. 29 - Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!

= What are the Suggested Medicines to be Applied for Jealousy?

(1) Check out Your Love 1Corinthians 13:4 - Love is

patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

(2) Check out Your Growth1Corinthians 3:2-3 - I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

(3) Check out Your Change2Corinthians 11:2 - I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.

= How do You Get the Best Effect of the Medicine You Apply for yourself?

Galatians 5:13a - For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.

(1) Apply Your Medicine for Options

Vs. 13 - For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

= Good Option for freedomVs. 14 - For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

= Bad Option for Freedom Vs. 15 - But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

(2) Apply Your Medicine for the Spirit

Vs. 16 - So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

= Contrast of the Two Opinions

Vs. 29 - Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!Vs. 33 - When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.

(3) Apply Your Medicine for Victory

Vs. 17 - The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

How Can We Enjoy Our Mental Health in this

world?

Source of Jealousy - Diagnosis Operation of Jealousy - Danger Cure of Jealousy - Medicine