We are in a last-days battle for the true and pure prophetic to come forth. It is a battle between the demonic powers of Jezebel’s influence and the promised restoration of the spirit of Elijah. In the natural, biblical setting, Queen Jezebel manipulated King Ahab and pressured the prophets into hiding. Elijah came forth with an authentic prophetic mantle to dismantle the ruling false power.
As it was in this historical context, there are parallel lessons for us to learn and apply in our day. It is time to expose Jezebel’s influence and for the authority and anointing of the true prophetic to disarm this fierce, dark force. Let’s look at Queen Jezebel’s background and the tactics she demonstrated.
Background on Queen Jezebel and Her Tactics
A Look at 1 Kings 16:31
“The sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat were seen as minor for him to walk in, for he took Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, as his wife and went and served Baal and worshipped him.”
Ahab married her contrary to God’s command and opened the door to the “religious idolatry” of Baal worship, including acts of child sacrifice and licentiousness, including both heterosexual and homosexual fertility rites.
A Look at 1 Kings 18:4
“When Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them in groups of fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water” (1 Kings 18:4).
Jezebel hated God’s Word and killed off the true prophets of God.
A Look at 1 Kings 18:9
“He said, ‘What evil have I done that you would hand your servant into the hand of Ahab to put me to death?'”
Jezebel was a very prominent supporter of “religious” work, and she fed the false prophets and was their support system.
A Look at 1 Kings 19:1-2
“And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.'”
The abdicating nature of Ahab empowered the Jezebel spirit. She resisted and opposed true godly authority and desired to control and exercise power over everyone. She set herself up against Elijah in particular.
A Look at 1 Kings 19:3-4
“When he saw that she was serious, he arose and ran for his life to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree and asked that he might die, saying, ‘It is enough! Now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.'”
Jezebel caused fear, debilitating discouragement, depression and immobilization.
A Look at 1 Kings 21:5-7
But Jezebel his wife came to him and said, “Why is your spirit so sad that you refuse to eat bread?”
And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”
Jezebel his wife said to him, “Are you not the governor of the kingdom of Israel? Get up and eat bread, and let your heart be happy, for I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
Jezebel controlled by scorn and sarcasm, and she took matters into her own hands.
A Look at 1 Kings 21:11-14
The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them. They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people. Two men, children of Belial, came in and sat in front of him, and the men of Belial witnessed against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth blasphemed God and the king.” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
Jezebel got others to do the dirty work, and she believed the end justified the means. She condoned sin, even murder, to get what she wanted. She attempted to remove good men and kill their spiritual or physical sons.
10 Characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit
“But I have a few things against you: You permit that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols” (Rev. 2:20).
- Jezebel’s ultimate goal is always control.
The Jezebel spirit is always motivated by its own agenda, which it relentlessly pursues. - The Jezebel spirit attacks, dominates or manipulates, especially male authority.
Queen Jezebel usurped political authority of the kingdom. This spirit’s ultimate goal is to conquer or neutralize the prophet because a discerning leader is its greatest enemy. - Jezebel causes fear, flight and discouragement.
This spirit often causes a spiritual leader to flee from his appointed place by character assassination and ruining his reputation. - People under Jezebel’s influence are natural leaders, although often covertly.
The Jezebel spirit attempt to seek out people of influence to win their ear, gain credibility and win endorsement for their toxic cause. - People under Jezebel’s influence are often insecure and wounded, with pronounced egocentric needs.
They are often trying to fill a love deficit. People under Jezebel’s control always have deep, unhealed wounds from sources such as rejection, resistance, fear, insecurity, self-preservation and bitterness, which in turn, spreads its defilement to many. - The Jezebel spirit functions subtlety and deceptively.
People controlled by Jezebel use flattery to win you over to their domination. Jezebel spirits are masters of manipulation by guilt and undermining or discrediting another’s influence. Those under Jezebel’s control use flirtation and are extremely jealous of anyone they perceive to be a threat. - Ultimately, people under Jezebel’s influence are proud, independent and rebellious.
Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Sam. 15:23) and will attempt to control others through any means other than the Holy Spirit. - It takes an Ahab to let a Jezebel spirit operate unchallenged.
Those under Jezebel’s influence do not operate without someone under an Ahab spirit’s influence enabling them to function. - A Jezebel spirit is always in alignment with a religious spirit.
Both Jezebel in the Old Testament and Revelation in the New Testament operated under the cover of religion. Its religious deeds are done for all to see. True and pure spiritual gifts attract people to Jesus, not to the people who exercise the gifts. - The families of people under Jezebel’s influence are often out of order.
Those under Jezebel’s influence control their partners and cause their children to take sides, grow up insecure, disrespect their fathers, feel manipulated and become distrustful toward true authority.
Why Deal With This Spirit?
- For the kingdom’s sake.
This spirit destroys God’s true image in the family and defies His loving order in the church. According to Revelation 2:26-28. there is a great prize for winning this war.
- For the church’s sake.
When we overthrow the demonic stronghold of Jezebel, we secure lineage and legacy within the body of Christ. As Elijah did, we will be able to call down the rain of revival and breathe life into barren places.
- For love’s sake.
Those operating under Jezebel’s snare need to be healed. God loves all people and wants to see every man and woman set free in Jesus’ great name! For love’s sake, God deals redemptively with those under Jezebel’s influence.
- For the children’s sake.
The generational curse of Jezebel can be broken when confronted with the truth of God’s Word and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Order can be restored, and the Spirit of Elijah can be poured out turning the hearts of the fathers to the children.
- For our soul’s sake.
The revelation of the “morning star” is granted to the overcomers. He promises more revelation of Himself!
- For our health’s sake.
Tolerating Jezebel can cause sickness; therefore, overcoming its influence will bring the restoration of health and life.
- For obedience’s sake.
God loves obedience. Obedience is better in God’s eyes than sacrifice. The church at Thyatira left Jezebel alone. God will richly reward the church in a city that will not tolerate its evil in their midst.
We Must Break the Power of this Stronghold
Praying with Authority in Jesus’ Name
Father, I come to You in the great name of Jesus. I confess and renounce as sin my actions and attitudes of manipulation, domination and controlling other people. I repent for operating in the ways of Jezebel. Forgive me. I receive Your love and obediently submit to You.
I resist the devil and stand against this demonic stronghold in Jesus’ mighty name. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I receive by faith my freedom. By the grace of God, I will honor delegated authority in my life and not displace them. Thank You for a new beginning of purity, humility and holiness based in the truth of God’s Word. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free!
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