Who was Jezebel?
The Bible presents us with Jezebel as the powerful and manipulative wife of King Ahab. Ahab was the king of Israel, but the Bible says that Ahab, son of Omri, did evil in the sight of the Lord, even more than any of the kings before him. Ahab also married Jezebel, the daughter of King Et-baal of the Sidonians, and began to bow down in worship to Baal (the male deity of power and sexuality).
First, Ahab built a temple and altar for Baal in Samaria, then Ahab erected an Asherah (the female goddess of fertility, love, and war post). Ahab did more to provoke the wrath of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. The worship of Baal and Ashtoreth included temple prostitution where both men and women performed sexual acts to raise money for religious activities in the temple.
Jezebel was a Phoenician priestess who saturated Israel with the worship of Baal, Asheroth, and other pagan gods. More than 450 Baal prophets and 400 Ashtoreth prophetesses served Jezebel in abominating her sexual practices during the reign of Ahab. The Jezebel spirit is a demonic spirit of perversion, lust, manipulation, mind control, witchcraft, and the occult. The Jezebel spirit is a very powerful demon spirit, but the Lord Jesus can free us and set us free from this bondage and stronghold by leading us into truth and light if we truly desire to be free.
The Jezebel spirit in the church
Whether we recognize it or not, we see the Spirit of Jezebel operating every day in our workplaces, our families, and sadly, even in our churches! When she was a little girl growing up in the Pentecostal church, I was always told that Jezebel was a woman of the world who wore red dresses, bright red lipstick, and painted her nails red. This was the image of Jezebel that many of us grew up with in our minds and the image that some of us still believe to be true.
Sadly there are so many pastors who are manipulated and controlled by this deadly spirit. The Jezebel spirit hates the prophet and the prophetic voice. She will do anything to discredit and kill the prophet with her murderous spirit. Jezebel is a witch and she uses her witchcraft to control and establish her kingdom within the church.
You will see where this spirit will come in and befriend the pastor and his wife along with others in the leadership. He never deals with people he feels are unimportant, other than using them as his puppets and eunuchs. This spirit operates and moves like a snake and operates with the spirit of a python. It will appear to be very friendly. He will charm you with gifts, generous monetary offerings, and be available for whatever the leader needs and wants. It is just when he has the confidence of leadership and has aimed his aim at the heart that it strikes and bites, spreading its poison.
Jezebel will always have followers or as she likes to call her children. Children are as dangerous to the church as she is. She will use these followers to spread the poison throughout the congregation. Lies, confusion, fighting, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, competition, and hatred are just a few of the manifestations a church will begin to see when the Jezebel spirit is operating in the church. There have been many churches that have been divided and totally destroyed by this spirit. Once this spirit has gained control over a church, it takes a great deal of spiritual warfare, prayer, and fasting to break free. Here are some characteristics of the Jezebel spirit that can help you identify her spirit.
10 Characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit:
1. Seeks to gain popularity and favor among influential people and high leadership positions.
2. He will seek out other individuals who he feels are “weaker” to become his followers.
3. He is never humble. Whenever this spirit receives praise, he always responds with false humility.
4. Is defensive and combative when confronted about anything.
5. Loves to teach and seeks to be in control in every situation.
6. Wants to be seen as the most spiritual and powerful. Usually he loves to say long and elaborate prayers.
7. Will not submit to authority
8. Loves to pray and impart evil demon spirits to others, especially in church.
9. Hates the voice of the prophet and seeks to control and destroy those who operate in the prophetic.
10. You will never regret it!
walk in freedom
The Jezebel spirit must be confronted and exposed to end manipulation and rule. If you can recognize any of the characteristics of the Jezebel spirit in his life, he can start by humbling himself and praying to God for forgiveness. Repent for any way you have given yourself to be used by the Jezebel spirit. Begin to walk in the truth of the word of God and the light of Jesus Christ will begin to take you out of those dark places and your liberation will begin a new work in you.
