By Joseph had a dream. Actually, he had two dreams. In the first, his sheaf of grain rose and stood upright, while the sheaves of his brothers gathered around his and bowed down to it. In the second, the sun, moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him. These dreams were hard for his brothers to accept. All they knew was that Israel loved Joseph more than the other sons because he was born to him in his old age. The word says that they hated Joseph and had nothing kind to say about him. Then Joseph dreams that his brothers and his parents would both bow down to him. Terrible jealousy arose, to the point that they devised a plan to kill him. However, these dreams were speaking to the future of Joseph and how he would be positioned to help his family in days to come. His life was spared and he ended up in charge of the whole land of Egypt and second in charge to pharaoh.
We all have dreams. Sometimes those dreams are understood by others, sometimes they are not. Some will support the dream, others will fall into comparison and end up in jealousy. Honestly, jealousy is selfish at its core. Maybe we feel like someone else is getting ahead, making more headway or being more effective than we are. Maybe they’ll gain more influence than what we have or tread on an area where we have taken ownership. Whatever may be the cause, jealousy is selfishness at its core.
Jealousy is strongly tied to envy. Jealousy causes us to feel threatened, protective, or fearful of losing our position or influence to someone else. Envy is wanting what someone else has, like attributes or possessions. They are not always connected, but can be.
What is even worse, jealousy and envy are tied to murder. This is exactly what transpired in the account of Joseph and his brothers. They attempted murder.
Now, most of us would never literally attempt to murder someone. But it’s truth that life and death are in the power of the tongue.
(Prov. 18:21) With our words we bless or curse. Yes, that is equated with destroying our brothers and sisters. If we pay attention, we can easily recognize the root of jealousy. Do we feel threatened, protective or fearful of losing influence in ‘our’ area of ownership? Does it cause a rise in us? It sure did with Joseph’s brothers.
See, the thing is, Joseph was raised up to be a source of help to his family. Because the brothers hated him, they weren’t able to receive the dreams as anything positive. Their jealousy of him caused them to despise the fact that he might have influence over them.
In our time, there is great Kingdom work to be done. We all play a part. To be effective, we must recognize that we each have a role, a dream, a sphere and be secure in the part that we are called into. At the same time, we must recognize that we are a body and we are interconnected. That means there may be cross pollination.
Now, before we jump to saying yes and amen, let’s think about it for a moment. Susie Q has a ministry unlike ours and we rally around and support Susie Q because we feel no threat or need to protect our area of influence. But then there’s Mary May and her calling rubs a little too closely to ours and all of a sudden, we become territorial, feel threatened and protective over what we are called to do. Isn’t it funny how we can be?
Joseph was being positioned to help his family and a region. What he was purposed to do wasn’t recognized by his family but God saw that His purpose prevailed. Many of us are also being positioned to help others in the days to come. We come from many different walks of life, experiences, and areas. But our end goal is the same. Being positioned for a greater purpose to be a help in days to come.
Leading is serving, not gaining influence. However, influence may come as we serve. This is the time to rally the troops and recognize that we are all on the same team. We are the corporate body called to walk in unity to fulfill the high calling of Christ Jesus. We will accomplish more together. We need each other and we will need each other even more in the days to come. Even more so with those who are around us and have similar callings.
To be effective in the place of prayer, in the things we are asking of the Lord, our motives must be pure. Now, in all honesty, that is probably not the case all of the time. Sometimes we ask amiss. We get a little skewed in our thought processes and areas tucked away in the crevices of our hearts start to rise to the surface. If we spent our whole lives trying to protect ourselves as a defense mechanism, we may still find that seeping out of our hearts when things feel challenging. There’s no shame here. Just the need for transparency and honesty.
Let’s thank the Holy Spirit for His Word that is a lamp unto our feet and a light to our path. He illuminates the way. Let’s make it a priority to rid ourselves of any jealousy or envy with the help of Holy Spirit. Let’s make it our aim to truly work together for the good of all.
There is a coming move of God that far surpasses anything we have ever seen. Whole cities and regions will give freely of what they’ve received. Cross pollination will happen often as we truly are able to give and receive. We will walk together to take regions and there will be no need at all to self protect or feel threatened. Not with our true brothers and sisters. Yes, there will be imposters, but when we truly see Truth, as a person, we will recognize those who come disguised as wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Lay down every weight and let’s run together. Get rid of all envy, jealousy, corrupt talk, self protection, and be secure in who you are called to be. Be willing to truly link together and thus share in all things. There’s no need to feel threatened anymore. Time is short. We can take things so far but an army can take whole territories.
We are better together.
Let’s do this!!
Gen. 37:1-36
James 4:2-3 (Amp)
You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.
Deidre Gaines resides in West Virginia with her husband and best friend, Richard. She has three grown children and one granddaughter. Deidre is a Licensed Minister, Prophetic intercessor, blogger (Shamar), speaker and encourager with a heart to see the nature of Jesus put on display for the world to see. She is passionate to see His love, unity, presence, power and authority transform hearts, cities, regions and the nations through bringing glory and honor to His name. Deidre desires to see the church walk in the fullness of His Kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, Matthew 6:10. She enjoys spending time with her family, sports, crocheting and being outdoors. Especially taking rides in the side by side with her husband Richard.
by leaps and bounds 