<robert@storm-harvest.asn.au> 1 Feb 2002

I have recently been preparing for a seminar on overcoming the powers of the occult. In it we cover witchcraft and by necessity, occult practices. However during my preparation I found it necessary to include a study on both Lucifer and Jezebel. Jezebel mentioned in the same class as witchcraft. Although she is nowhere expressly linked with spell casting or magic, the Scripture testifies, "There can be no peace, so long as the many whoredoms and sorceries of Jezebel continue" (2 Kings 9:22).

Jezebel is both a figure in the monarchy of OT Israel and a principality in the NT. The OT Jezebel prefigures the NT references and shares the same characteristics. Jezebel was the control and power behind the throne of Ahab. Elijah spearheaded his attack on Ahab and accused him of being the trouble, not her. Ahab, essentially because of weak leadership, gave his throne and table to her. Elijah rightly placed blame on him for this. In the NT, John identifies her influence in the church and pronounces judgment on the leadership who 'tolerate Jezebel in their midst'.

• Jezebel will let you be spiritual but not get into the realm of the Spirit. • Jezebel will let you prophecy but use it as a tool to control. • Jezebel will not confront you directly, she will manipulate behind the scenes. • Jezebel will attract using seduction and take after her a following. • Jezebel uses confusion, frustration, doubt, suspicion and division as weapons. • Jezebel encourages false spiritual government and copycat leadership. • Jezebel encourages worship, but not of the one true God.

Control - domination

Jezebel's number one agenda in the OT was to kill the prophets. In the NT she is portrayed as 'one who calls herself a prophetess' but is in fact a false prophet. Notice she calls herself, no one else calls her this at first. She does this because she hates the true prophetic, it brings encouragement, exhortation and comfort to God's people. It shines a light on the path ahead, shows the way, and brings confidence to God's people and she hates that.

Jezebel wants control of the pulpit and control of the people. To do that she will destroy the prophetic. She will undermine it, discourage it, and generally discount it using subterfuge. In this way Jezebel will gain influence of her own among leaders and begin to exert domination in the church. She wants control of the prayer meetings, control (veto) of the prophetic, influence in the worship and especially to direct the congregation through weak leadership.

Manipulation - intimidation

Jezebel will create man fearers, man pleasers or man haters. Her agenda is to get you to fear men (not fear God). She knows that the fear of man is a trap for the righteous (Prov 29:25). If she does not succeed in making you fear the opinions of men, then she will push to make you desire to please them (not God). She knows that man pleasers are no longer servants of Christ (Gal. 1:10). If she does not succeed in making you a man pleaser then she will push to make you hate them (and in doing so hate God their creator). For she understands that anyone who hates their brother does not love God and is not a child of God (1 John 3:10 & 4:8).

Her main weapons in this arena is manipulation or intimidation. Manipulation comes in the form of offers for help that always have a barb. She is always on the hunt for information, which she uses in subtle forms of blackmail. She manipulates situations so that things go her way, moving among the congregation siding people to her cause before making her move. Intimidation comes when she is confronted. She becomes defensive, evasive and throws those very accusations she is guilty of back at you.

Division - seduction

Jezebel's name in Hebrew means 'inability to cohabitate'. Jezebel will divide and conquer, in the time-honoured tradition of undermining (sedition or agitation against authority). She leaves behind her a trail of treason. Jesus stated that a house divided against itself would never stand. Her desire is to antagonise the leader of a fellowship and spiritually castrate them. She will do this using the allure of spirituality, the seduction of sexual attraction or the smooth words of flattery. She does not want to be 'boss', but will always be found behind the scenes of a limp- wristed puppet king. Sedition is listed right alongside witchcraft as a work of the flesh in the Galatians 5 list.

Dealing with Jezebel

The best way to deal with Jezebel is by the Spirit of God, personified in the OT in a man called Jehu, and manifested in the NT with strong leadership. Jehu contended with, went after, tracked down and wiped out queen Jezebel by force. His was an act of violence; he ran her down with a chariot and left her body to be eaten by wildlife.

The Jehu nature is expressed in strong leadership. A strong leader does not control, they empower. Strong leaders do not manipulate, they entreat. Strong leaders do not intimidate, they exercise self- control. Strong leaders do not rally to themselves, they rally to God. Strong leaders do not put up with Jezebel, they expel her. Strong leaders are themselves submitted to authority because they understand the concept of power.

They know that all power comes from God. They know that true leaders are appointed by God, and therefore know their authority comes from Him. Like the Roman centurion, they can say, "I am a man of authority, for I myself am under authority" (Matt. 8:9). A godly Jehu leader will make it their business to fear God, please heaven and love men. He will live a life that can be tested, transparent to interrogation, open to rebuke or correction and above all expressing love.