against the apostles and expelled them from their area. Jealousy aroused all manner of evil in them— blasphemy, opposition, hatred, twisting of the truth, and persecution. Our flesh is no different than theirs. Unless our motives are corrected and unless jealousy is cleansed, all of these things could devour our lives too. We could find ourselves fighting against the purposes of God as did the Jews.

What was the response of the apostles to persecution and rejection? This last verse of the chapter shows how they conquered a persecution complex—they were filled with joy and the Holy Ghost. This is the divine antidote for all self-pity, discouragement and persecution complexes. All of these maladies are remedied by keeping our vessels full of the Holy Ghost and joy. We keep our channels

clear and unblocked by forgiving others and maintaining a rejoicing, thankful spirit.

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