Genesis 4:1-16 - Adam was intimate with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, “I have had a male child with the Lord’s help.” 2 Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but Cain worked the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you furious? And why do you look despondent? 7 If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” 10 Then He said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground! 11 So now you are cursed, alienated, from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. 12 If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 13 But Cain answered the Lord, “My punishment is too great to bear! 14 Since You are banishing me today from the soil, and I must hide myself from Your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord replied to him, “In that case, whoever kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” And He placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. 16 Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence.
Genesis 4:4-5 - The Lord had REGARD for Abel and his offering, 5 but He DID NOT HAVE REGARD for Cain and his offering.
שָׁעָה(ŠĀʿÂ) LOOK AT, LOOK TO, REGARD.
“The basic idea of šāʿâ is “to look at with interest.” It is never a casual or disinterested glance. This can be seen in the following expanded definitions. In Gen 4:4–5, it means “to look at with approval,” “to approve of.”
IF WE DON’T LEARN TO RULE OVER ENVY IT WILL BRING DEATH TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
Genesis 4:7 - "If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
HOW TO WIN SKIRMISH WITH ENVY: RULE OVER IT
R - RIGHT POSTURE OF HEART & MIND.
HOW TO WIN SKIRMISH WITH ENVY: RULE OVER IT
R - RIGHT POSTURE OF HEART & MIND.
U - UPLIFT OTHERS IN THEIR BLESSINGS
TO UPLIFT OTHERS, REPLACE ENVY & JEALOUSY OF THEM WITH EXCITEMENT & JOY FOR THEM.
HOW TO WIN SKIRMISH WITH ENVY: RULE OVER IT
R - RIGHT POSTURE OF HEART & MIND.
U - UPLIFT OTHERS IN THEIR BLESSINGS.
L - LEARNING FROM WHAT LEAD TO ENVY.
SELF-CONFRONTATION OF ENVY
• Why am I reacting or responding this way?
• How could I have better positioned my heart, thoughts attitude and actions leading up to this.
• Did the other person knowingly and purposely set out to attack me.
• What can I learn from them?
• What is God trying to teach me?
• Is there another sin that is causing this envious skirmish with me?
HOW TO WIN SKIRMISH WITH ENVY: RULE OVER IT
R - RIGHT POSTURE OF HEART & MIND.
U - UPLIFT OTHERS IN THEIR BLESSINGS.
L - LEARNING FROM WHAT LEAD TO ENVY
E- ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH PERSON YOU ENVY.
Discussion Questions:
Sermon Summary
This sermon initiates the “Skirmishes Series,” focusing on the biblical narrative of Cain and Abel to delve into the theme of spiritual skirmishes mirrored in physical conflicts. The account from Genesis 4 illustrates how internal spiritual conflicts, if unchecked, can manifest as outward, destructive behaviors. Cain's envy and dissatisfaction due to his less favorable offering to God led to the murder of his brother Abel, underscoring the dire consequences of failing to manage one's internal state.
Discussion Instructions and Questions
Begin the session by sharing any insights gleaned from the sermon. Then,read over Genesis 4:1-16, the story of Cain and Abel, and briefly share anything that stood out from the story. Continue with the following questions:
Initial Reactions and Personal Connections:
What was your initial reaction to the story of Cain and Abel? Can you relate to any personal experiences where envy or rivalry influenced your actions towards others?
Analyzing Cain's Emotions:
Cain felt overlooked and disregarded when his offering was not favored by God. Have you ever experienced similar emotions in your relationships, such as at work, in family, or among friends? How did you handle these feelings?
The Role of Spiritual Discipline:
God warned Cain that sin was crouching at his door and urged him to master it. Discuss a time when you felt a similar warning in your heart. How did you respond, and what was the outcome?
Implications of Cain's Actions:
Cain’s decision to kill Abel had severe consequences not only for himself but also affected his relationships with his family and with God. Have there been moments in your life where your actions had unintended consequences on your relationships? How did you address these issues?
Managing Inner Conflict:
The sermon suggests that Cain's true skirmish was with himself rather than with Abel or God. Reflect on a personal struggle where your inner conflict impacted your behavior towards others. How did you resolve or manage this inner skirmish?
Preventing Spiritual Skirmishes:
What steps can we take to prevent spiritual skirmishes like Cain's from leading to harmful actions? Discuss practical strategies to manage emotions such as envy and anger.
Reconciliation and Healing:
Considering Cain's story, discuss the importance of reconciliation and healing in relationships. Share a story where you had to seek forgiveness or reconcile with someone after a conflict.
Applying the R.U.L.E Acronym to Overcome Envy:
Discuss the R.U.L.E acronym as a strategy to win skirmishes with envy:
- Right Posture of Heart & Mind: How do we ensure our heart and mind are rightly aligned with God’s will?
- Uplift Others: How can celebrating others' successes help combat envy?
- Learn from Envy: What can we learn about ourselves when we feel envy?
- Engage in Conversation: How does openly discussing our feelings of envy help resolve internal conflicts?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word which guides and enlightens us. Today, we reflect on the story of Cain and Abel, recognizing the deep struggles we face with envy and jealousy in our own lives. Lord, help us to apply the principles of R.U.L.E in our daily interactions. Give us the strength to maintain the right posture of heart and mind, uplift others in their blessings, learn from our feelings of envy, and engage openly in conversations that lead to healing and reconciliation.
Teach us to walk in Your ways, so that we may not be overcome by sin, but may overcome sin with good. Help us to be vigilant, guarding our hearts against the destructive power of envy, and lead us to live in peace and harmony with those around us. May Your love guide us in all that we do, and may we grow closer to You through every challenge we face.
We ask for Your wisdom and grace to rule over any negative emotions and to reflect Your love and kindness in our actions. Strengthen our relationships with each other and draw us closer to You through every skirmish we encounter. We trust in Your healing power and Your ability to transform our hearts. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
