Spirit of Envy

DeAnna Willman photo micheile-henderson@unsplash

Thus says YHWH the God of Israel, “I anointed you king over Israel and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of YHWH to do what is evil in His sight?” 2 Samuel 12:9

David had been promoted by YHWH from shepherd of his father’s sheep to king of Israel. He was entrusted with the lives and leadership of the people of God. He had at least 6 wives, lots of wealth, respect from his people and from other nations, a beautiful palace, and so much more. But, just as in the garden, the enemy convinced David it wasn’t enough. The lying spirits of envy, greed, and lust came together to convince David to despise the word of YHWH. He received information from the spiritual realm and perhaps reinforcement from the non-conscious. And David listened. He didn’t just hear their lies, he listened. He agreed in his mind (considered and chose) that they were speaking truth. That agreement within his mind led to coveting, unrighteous use of his authority, adultery, deception, poor leadership, poor example, dishonoring of another man and his wife, taking Yah’s name in vain, and even murder (consequences). And through Nathan the prophet, God confronted David with his sin. He basically told David, “I gave you a great deal. All your blessings came from me. But instead of being grateful, you took from another what I determined to bless him.” David stole Uriah’s wife and his life. Both had been given to Uriah by God as God determined to bless Uriah.

I believe we can see another example of the spirit of envy in a parable told by Yeshua. Matthew 25:14-29 we find the parable of a king who goes on a long journey but leaves with his servants what he knows they can successfully manage. Two of those servants go forward with what they received and invest into the kingdom. The third servant buried his gift claiming that the king was harsh and demanding. He told the king upon his return that he was returning the gift as it was given to him, without any investment or management of the gift. The third servant apparently didn’t see the gift he was given as good enough, nor did he see the king as generous enough. He obviously had chosen to believe the wrong idea about the king and had no gratitude for what the king had given him. I believe there was also envy. Envy that he had been given only one gift, while the others had received more. In David’s case, he had the 5 talents but decided that he also needed to have Uriah’s one talent.

The lying spirit of envy tells us that we don’t have enough, or what we have isn’t as good as what others have. It tells us that God is holding out on us and favoring others. It tells us that we need something that God has not (or not yet) given us. That He is harsh and demanding, favors others over us, and if we want to improve our lot, we must grab those things for ourselves. Which when believed will lead to behaviors that despise the word of God and separate us from Him relationally. We will try to take for ourselves what others have, and perhaps will work in our own power to make happen for ourselves what we desire.

This happens when we fail to live and believe the truth that God knows us so intimately that He knows, and gives, those things that will bless us and gives what we are able to successfully manage, enjoy, or invest back into His kingdom. Envy turns our eyes away from what God has given us and giving Him glory for it, to seeing only what others have/what we do not have. We fail to see that what He has given others is what He knows is best for them and no two people are the same. What blesses another, what another is purposed and asked to manage/invest in this life is not going to look the same as what will bless or has been purposed and given to another to manage/invest/enjoy in this life. Nor will one person’s relationship with God look the same as His relationship with another.

That is not favoritism. It is intimate knowledge of each person He created. Intimately knowing everything about each person, including what will/won’t bless them. Intimately knowing and giving blessings to be enjoyed. And intimate knowledge of each one’s ability to successfully manage and invest what He gives. He loves you so much He will not give you something that will cause you to fail in what He has called you to do. He will not give you something that will hinder your walk and relationship with Him or others. His love prompts and requires Him to provide you with exactly what you need, when you need it. And your gifts will rarely look exactly like the gifts He gives another.

This was an area where I had to truly repent. Low self esteem within my life allowed envy to enter and I had given it authority in my life. I was continually comparing what others had, including their relationship with God, to what I thought I should have. I didn’t compare those things to what I DID have. NO, I was failing to see what I DID have. I was instead insisting that I should have what others had, that somehow God was failing me. I was looking at their gifts and coveting them. I had buried the talents God had given me. I was in bondage to envy. Praise Yah for loving me so much He convicted me of this bondage and sin!! Deliverance and truth have set me free to cherish the relationship I have with our Father, to be grateful for what He has given me and to be excited about the work He has laid before ME. It has also empowered me to rejoice in how He has blessed and even relates with others. HalleluYah!

Are you giving thanks and praise for what your Heavenly Father has given and purposed for you? Are you thanking Him for loving you so much that He gives you exactly what He knows will bless you exactly when you need it? Are you trusting Him for blessing and providing for you, even when you don’t see it, or when you see something that belongs to another? Are you giving thanks and praise for the things our Father has given your brothers and sisters, esp those gifts that you might desire but do not have? Matthew 25:29 tells us that those who are faithful with what they have received will receive more. Not because they deserve or want it, but because they gratefully and faithfully trusted and obeyed the king while going forth with the gifts He has already given.

As with other lies, when they are believed, when the conscious mind chooses to believe envy over truth, the energy and chemicals released will often put the body into fight or flight. It just may not seem as obvious as when facing a real danger or fear. But, how does it make you feel toward another whom you envy? How does it make you feel toward yourself? Whether you recognize how the body is responding, those responses from that thought are slowly putting the body into dis-ease. The heart will take the brunt of those chemicals and energy being released by the thought of envy.

This week make a list of the gifts you have received from our Father. We know that Uriah had life and a wife. All of us can start with the life we have each been given. Then, take inventory of how you are enjoying and being blessed by those gifts. Which gifts should be used for investing in the kingdom? How? Are you doing so?

And take inventory of your relationship with our Father. Where has the enemy lied to you about God and His relationship with you? Finally, ask God to show you where you have walked in agreement with the lies of envy. Confess. Repent. Cast out and replace those lies with truth, gratitude and praise. And continually fill your “house” with those three, so envy cannot return.

Until next time….

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:19-20

Below is an example of how to deal with the spirit of envy if you find that is one of the lying spirits you need to expel from your life…

Gather- I’ll never have nice things.. how come he has _____ and I don’t? I wish that I had her gift of _____; how come God doesn’t relate to me like He does with him/her?; I sure wish I had _____ like he/she does; I don’t think that person deserves _____ like I do; I should have been the one to get _____, not him/her….;

Reflect- I envy what others have and how God relates to others; we grew up “poor”; I watched all my friends get new things while I always had hand me downs; I’m not rejoicing with others in their blessings or their relationship with God; I am coveting; I am doubting God’s love for and relationship with me; I doubt God gives me the “best” He has to offer me, rather I have believed He gives it to others. How does believing this lie make me feel? How would I live if I didn’t believe this lie? How can I know it is a lie? What is the truth?

Write/Dump- on paper as it comes to you. Continue writing as you go through the next step.

Reconstruct- God enables me to build wealth (Deut 8); He provides all I need and more (Matthew 7:7-11); He has done so much for me and been extremely generous to me (list your blessings); He gives me what He knows is best for me (Matt 25:15; Rms 8:28) I want to rejoice with others in their gifts, anointings, and in their relationships with God. I want to rejoice in my own gifts, anointing, and relationship with YHWH.

I want to feel gratitude for everything. (James 1:17)

Action-I confess having believed and walking in agreement with the lying spirit of envy. In Yeshua’s name I rebuke and command the spirit of envy to leave now- you no longer have authority in my life.

Live- I will rejoice in and give thanks for what God has given others; both in word and in prayer I will give thanks to God for what He has provided instead of focusing on what I do not have or on what others have that I do not. I will commit to memory the scriptures that tell me the truth about God’s love and provision for me. I will actively stop myself when I sense envy trying to enter my mind and heart. I will then face the liar and speak the truth into the situation. I will ask ____ to pray for and with me regarding my coming against this stronghold in my life for the next 63 days and beyond.