Unmasking The Jezebel Spirit

CHAPTER THREE - A CORRUPTING INFLUENCE:

Unmasking the Jezebel Spirit, Chapter Three, covers A Corrupting Influence, these demonic agents assume our appearance and speak our languages, but their allegiance is to another kingdom. Jesus warned the Church at Thyatira about this spirit. The Jezebel spirit seeks to destroy and silence God’s prophets because in doing so, the enemy destroys the testimony of Christ, which is the spirit of prophecy. “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10). By calling herself a “prophetess,” Jezebel from Thyatira was leading God’s bondservants astray. Until a pastor finally uses his or her godly authority to remove this stay from the congregation, mature prophetic voices will stay away. meanwhile, the Jezebel spirit will seek to implant its own demonic prophets in a church in order to teach the deep things of Satan. Whenever a pastor fears an individual or a demonic spirit more than God, the pastor is unwittingly admitting, “This spirit is more powerful than God.” More than likely this how the Church at Thyatira came to accept the woman Jezebel as a prophetess and teacher.

The apostle John gave a warning in the Church at Thyatira a city in Asia Minor, concerning a person who had embraced the Jezebel spirit. “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.“ Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:20-28. When God resists you, nothing you do will prosper. As you come out from under His protection, you will be powerless before principalities and powers.

Overcoming a Jezebel spirit will require more than simply ending the self-proclaimed and self-anointed rule of individuals who advertise their spiritual gifts. It also requires that God’s leaders humble themselves and repent from using their God-given authority in an unrighteous way, and more importantly, repent for not using their authority. Pastors and leaders must recognize, and then relinquish any methods of control and manipulation they exercise. They must cease to gossip against fellow pastors, leaders or other believers too talk disrespectfully about other ministries, or to revel personal tidbits shared in confidence with them. Pastors and leaders who have privileged information are sometimes the worst offenders of gossip. They must refrain from talebearing before the wineskin tears. To overcome a Jezebel spirit requires that leaders address all rebellion and usurped authority committed by one church member against another. To do this, pastor and leaders must be free of these issues as well. There are three promises are given to those who overcome a Jezebel spirit: First, they will be given widespread spiritual authority over principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers in high places, now as well as in the age to come. Second, pastors and leaders who overcome a Jezebel spirit will be given authority to rule “with a rod of iron.” They only other place “a rod of iron” is mentioned in Revelation 19:15 when in it speaks of Jesus. One who so rules will find his or her authority conditioned by great wisdom. Third, pastors who overcome a Jezebel spirit will be given the “morning star.”

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:26-28). “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). The morning star referred to in this passage is divine authority and favor. Both rewards, “the rod of iron” and “the morning star”, differ from other rewards recorded in Revelation. Moreover, they carry much greater authority than is evidenced today. Although none of the other churches mentioned in Revelation received these three particular promises, neither did they face the formidable task of confronting and removing a Jezebel spirit. Many Jezebel’s present themselves as a watchman to the church, his or her tendencies exist in an intercessor’s heart, then eventually it will be revealed through that person’s speech and/or actions. A true watchman does not use his or her position to challenge and belittle pastoral authorities. Rather, the intercessor humbly lifts them up by praying for them. A true watchman is submissive to authority, whereas someone operating under a Jezebel spirit usurps authority. A true watchman does not seek authority, but he or she prays for those who have authority. A watchman who is submitted to the Holy Spirit has the same attitude as David when served Saul, one of restraint and respect to God’s chosen authority. Finally, the most obvious difference between a true watchman and an individual operating with a Jezebel spirit of motivation, in which is the driving force behind his or her actions. A true watchman is motivated by love in everything he or she does. “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).