THE JEZEBEL CONTROLLING SPIRIT

The spirit of Jezebel is one of the cominant evil authorities over our nation. It is in the church and in your family. Our society, the church, families, and individuals personally have been attacked, infiltrated, sabotaged, and robbed b y Jezebel. She is no respecter of persons. This spirit is genderless but seems to work very effectively through women and sensitive male personality types. There are only two classes of people- Jezebels and thos who have been “Jezebelled.”

One of the last letter to the churches strongly addressed the subject of tolerating the jezebel spirit. Revelation 2:20-23 gives a clear picture that it leads astray the best of servants into wrong theachings or sexual immorality. Jesus, through John in the Book of Revelation, gives a strong warning of judgment on the Jezebel spirit. Jezebel seeks to destroy true worship. It misleads and corrupts the church and seeks to neutralize the life of prophets, pastors, and other male authority, by any means- sexual enticement, physical illness, financial misconduct, debilitating docouragement which we call burnout. Jezebel is out to destory the family, morality, and God-ordeianed authority. It is the spirit behind disorder in churches and families, feminism, sexually immoral lifestyles, and abortion on demand.

TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF JEZEBEL

1.         JEZEBEL’S ULTIMATE GOAL IS ALWAYS CONTROL.

The Jezebel spirit is always motivated by its own agenda and relentlessly pursuses it. It is intent on getting what it wants. There may be one in every ministgry of the church and every family, trying to dominate, arrange, and fix everybody.

2.      THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT ATTACKS, CONTROLS, DOMINATES, OR MANIPULATS MEN, EXPECIALLY MALE AUTHORITY (HUSBAND, PASTOR, BOSS).

Queen jezebel usurped political 9earthly) authority of the kingdom. Jezebel in the church at Thyatira usurped spiritual authority. The ultimate goal is to conquer or neutralize the prophet, because a discering pastor, propeht, or Christian leader is Jezebel’s greatest enemy. Jezebels hate and/or distrust men and always question male authoritites. Jezebels cause them to doubt their decisions, capability, manhood, worth, etc. Jezebels will not submit to God’s delegated authority. They control and scorn, sarcasm, sharp tongue, public humiliation, emotional outbursts, nagging, and endless demands (nothing is ever enough). Jezebels are not always brash, overt, aggressive, or bossy. They may be more subtle, otwardly gracious, but just as determined to have their own way. Jezebels may resort to control by tears, fear, rejection, guilt, pouting, silence, sickness, or self-pity.

3.     JEZEBELS CAUSE FEAR, FLIGHT, AND DISCOURAGEMENT

They often cause a spiritual leader to flee his appointed place, as Elijah did. Jezebels are responsible for hundreds of resignations of pastors and spiritual leadefrs a year. Some effects of being “jezebelled” are debiliting discouragement, confesion, depression, loss of vision, despair, disorientation, withdrawal, worthlessness, defeat, burnout, physical illness, financial insufficiency, and an infinite variety of other fiery darts, including death or at lest a deathwish. The jezebel spirit cuts off the life of spiritual leadership. His reputation or ministry may be taken by character assassination or enticement into sexual immorality.

4.      JEZEBELS ARE NATURAL LEADES, ALTHOUGH OFTEN COVERTLY.

Jeezebels seek out people of influence to win their ear, gain credibility, and win endorsement. They try to ally with them, influence them, or establish a bond with them.They seek out places of leadership, are self-promoting, and proclaim themselves to be prophets. They provide inside information and gain a following, and thus lead people to take their eyes off the Lord. That is always an overt or subtle threat to leave and take their loyal followers” with them. This is the blackmailing spirit that operates with Jezebel. The Blackmailing spirit also says, “You owe me. You need me. If you don’t do what I want I will…”

5. JEZEBELS ARE INSECURE AND WOUNDED WITH PRONOUNCED EGO NEEDS

They are trying to fill a love deficit. They seek continual affirmation and stroking of ego through position, being on the platform, occupying the spotlight, singing solos, holding key chairmanships, etc. Jezebels need to be popular, please people, be accepted and approved, be needed, be on the inside, or make other dependent on them. They seek security in the good opinion of others of what they do. They operate on performance-based acceptance. They are striving to prove something to themselves and others-to prove their worth, to get their emotional needs met, to feel good based on what they do. They are perfectionist and legalistic.

            Jezebels always have deep, unhealed wounds from one or more sources:

REJECTION early in life, abandonment or emotional remoteness by father or mother, illness, premature death, neglect because of birth order, loneliness, isolation, or rejection by significant others (for example, because of physical appearance).

RESISTANCE to authority because of bad relationships or bad experience with authority figures in school government, church, or family-correction done in the wrong way or abuse.

FEAR, INSECURITY, AND SELF-PRESERVATION. Fear is the principal entry for the Jezebel spirit to vulnerable, threatened people; Jezebels seek to control in order to feel secure.

BITTERNESS that gets into these wounds, especially against men because of abandonment or abuse. The spirit of jezebel often takes up residence in a person after a wound from the past, usually rejection or insecurity in some form.

6. JEZEBELS ARE TREMENDOUJSLY SUBTLE AND DECEPTIVE.

They intend to get what they want at all costs, but this intention can be cleverly disguised, Jezebels use flattery, saying what you want to hear, to win you over to their domination. Jezebels are masters of manipulation by guilt, gifts, innuendo, insinuation, undermining influence, or discrediting. They may exhibit false humility or submission, while they feed their own pride and seek to get their way. They may dominate, control, and manipulate to gain their own agenda. This mocks God’s ordained order, because it is not true heart submission, just pretense. Jezebels use flirtation and womanly wiles. They are extremely jealous of anyone they perceive to be a threat or who gets close enough to influence someone they want to control. They can emit jealousy into a room, as they play one person against another. They are divisive and send separation and strife into the strongest relationships.

7. JEZEBELS ARE PROUD, INDEPENDENT, AND REBELLIOUS.

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (I Sam 15:23), which is control or knowledge through any other means than the Holy Spirit. Rebellion and independent spirit says, “I will not do it God’s way. I will do it my way. I will get what I want.” Jezebels exalt their won will above God or their God given authority by emotional pressure or soul power. Failure to submit to God’s control ends up in power not of the Holy Spirit to obtain their ends, which is witchcraft. If their intercession is motivated by a controlling spirit, it is witchcraft. Stubbornness, insubordination, or arrogance is like iniquity and idolatry (I Sam. 15:23). When they feel from accountability, this is idolatry of self and pride. “I will ascent and have influence. I am more important than you are. I am the center of attention and conversation.” Pride also resists correction from anybody, because of its insecurity in identity. The self is too fragile to receive correction even in love, so they put up walls of separation, which are inevitable walls of deception. They use various devious means to avoid correction, like tears or discrediting the corrector. Much male-female rivalry is rooted in the control issue of the Jezebel spirit. Rather than believe God to give their husbands wisdom to lead the family in his God-given position, they take matters in their own hands by constant manipulation. In trying to get around God’s order, they open their whole family up to satanic attack.  

There is a maturation process in the Jezebel syndrome, because it is an addiction to power or control. If confronted early on, there is more hope for repentance. If it is fully matured and well entrenched, Jezebels typically refuse to see this about themselves, and without acknowledgement, there is no repentance. Jezebels often lack true repentance, which is confession and willingness for God to change what is revealed. In Thyatira, Jezebel was given time to repent, but she would not.

8. IT TAKES AN AHAB TO LET JEZEBELS BE EFFECTIVE AND OPERATE UNCHALLENGED.

Jezebels do not operate without an Ahab to enable them. Every Jezebel problem is an Ahab problem. What did Ahab do wrong? He should not have abdicated spiritual leadership nor his responsibility as head of his house and his nation, because his family and the nation were destroyed. The leader who will stand against Jezebel must have keep discernment in identifying spirits, a strong commitment to rightly divide the word of God, and a strong sense of submission to his or her own accountability. God removed Ahab and replaced him with Jesus, who dealt with jezebel. Pray for Ahab’s to be healed and strong and released into the fullness of God’s purpose for their lives.

9. JEZEBEL IS ALWAYS A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT.

Both Jezebel of the Old Testament and of Revelation operated under the cover of religion, but that religion was “toxic faith,” Jezebels appear to be religious, can talk the talk, and have a form of godliness. Their religious deeds are done for all to see. Often they claim to pray more, study the Bible more, or know more about worship, ministry, intercession, or missions. They often target the prayer ministry, prophetic ministry, or worship ministry for ambition and control. “A word from God” is the crowbar for leverage. Check the fruit. True spiritual gifts attract people to Jesus, not to themselves. Couterferet gifts emphasize personality. Is there self-promotion or seeking a following? John 16:13-14 says the one who speaks from Himself seeks his own glory or worship. Jezebels claim discernment, but is it really? False discernment is based on mistrust, fear, suspicion, fault finding, hidden agenda, coldness, no love, criticism, judgment, anger, ambition, bitterness, and stirring up strife.

10. THE FAMILIES OF JEZEBELS ARE MOST OFTEN OUT OF ORDER.

Many marriages are a sad re-enactment of parental family of origin where mama wore the pants by dominance or manipulation. The Jezebel syndrome may come through inheritance from the family. The best Jezebels learned it at their mothers’ knee. This spirit is contagious. Jezebels breed Jezebels! Usually Jezebels’ families are out of order. God made women to be soft and strong, submitted and influential. He designed men for loving headship and spiritual leadership. But in the families of Jezebels, the mates have spiritual shortcomings and abdicate the role of leader in the family. These husbands let Jezebel's control and exercise the real authority, although it may be disguised and under cover. Children raised in this atmosphere are caused to take sides, grow up insecure, disrespect their fathers, are manipulated and controlled, become controllers and manipulators themselves. Sons may be either sexual aggressors trying to dominate women or have doubts about their masculinity. Daughters may become aggressive, reject their womanhood, distrust men, and seek to conquer them, or they may enter into a lesbian relationship.

HOW TO AVOID THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT

At least half the battle is won in recognizing the operation of this spiritual force. There are only two categories of people; Jezebels and those who have been Jezebelled. All of us personally, first of all, need to examine whether our lives are in order and free of the Jezebel syndrome, so that God can be free to move. Know the harm that being the object of the Jezebel spirit has done you. By the grace of God, recognize your potential for operating in the Jezebel spirit.

Three realities diminish the effect of the Jezebel spirit. All three are God’s grace gifts for covering and protection.

·         Personal submission to God for Him to develop godly character rooted in humility, equipped by the Holy Spirit and enlightened by the word of God to know what is true (therefore what is false). Knowing the Father-heart of God heals potential places for woundedness to fester.

·         God-directed submission to your God-given family covering (husband or father).

·         Submission to the order of spiritual authority in the church where God has placed you.

WHY DEAL WITH THIS SPIRIT?

1.      FOR LOVE’S SAKE

God loves these Jezebel people. Jezebels need to be healed of the causes of their destructive ways. God wants to redeem them from this curse and use them as major influencers for righteousness. They are tremendously deceived and do not recognize the spirit that they have and that they impart. They have not acknowledged that their religious activities only enlarge the kingdom of self and pride, thereby making them idolaters. They are blind to the knowledge of their true selves and their captivity to this spirit. For love’s sake, God deals redemptively with Jezebels. God has a place for all, because He has anointed and gifted everyone for a special place in the body. Redeemed and set free ex Jezebels are important because of their heart for God and leadership qualities when submitted under God’s authority.

2.      FOR THE CHURCH’S SAKE CORPORATELY.

This is a crucial issue so that we can pray down revival rain, effectively challenge the prophets of Baal, breathe life into the next generation, and anoint the next generation of prophets, as Elijah did.

3.      FOR THE KINGDOM’S SAKE

God has a particular hatred for this spirit, because it destroys His true image in the family and defies His true loving order in the church. 2 Kings records the total destruction of Jezebel. The church that deals with this will have authority to bring multitudes, even nations, into the kingdom (Rev. 2:26-28). That is great prize for winning this war. Jesus gave strong promises to the church which deals with jezebel according to the discernment that God gives and in His humility.

4.      FOR THE CHELDREN’S SAKE

This generational curse can only be broken when God confronts it with His truth. Truth always comes with His power for repentance and for freedom.

5.      FOR THE SAKE OF OBEDIENCE.

God held it against the church at Thyatira that they tolerated this Jezebel, left her alone, and allowed her to remain. They took no action against her. Remember what God said to Elijah as he hid from Jezebel in the cave, “What are you doing here? Go forth and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord. For the Lord is about to pass by…(I Kings 19:9, 11)”

6.      FOR OUR SOUL’S SAKE.

The revelation of the Morning Star is promised to overcomers of the Jezebel spirit. The Morning Star is Jesus. He promises more revelation of Himself.

7.      FOR OUR HEALTH’S SAKE.

Tolerating Jezebel can cause sickness.

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT

Let God deal with you before you do surgery on jezebel in someone else’s life. He desires you to be a temple of His presence wherein jezebel finds no place. Be transformed and clean before God about this, not just informed and armed to get after others. God dealt effectively with Jezebel centuries ago, and He can do it again. He must do it again, because He is God

To dispel darkness, simply turn on the light. Responding according to the flesh is not the answer. Don’t retaliate in kind; that only multiplies the evil you are trying to overcome. The spirit of Jezebel is defeated by the name and nature of Jesus worked in us-His love, gentleness, meekness, humility, and blessing. We are following the Lamb (Rev. 19:11-16), and you are only ready for victory when the Lamb-like nature is worked in us.

THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT IS A SIN TO REPENT OF.

If you are convicted that you are operating in the Jezebel spirit and want to be rid of it, renounce it, repent of ways you have used it, ask God’s forgiveness and that of others, sumbit to God and resist it, and receive God’s power to forsake it and move only under the control of His Holy Spirit.

Pray:

Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I confess and renounce as sin everything I have done to manipulate, dominate, and control other people. I repent for operating in the way of jezebel. Forgive me. Jesus died on the cross for this sin and by His blood broke the power of jezebel in my life. I receive Your love and obediently submit to You. I resist the devil, and I stand against this Jezebel stronghold in me. By the power of your Spirit, I receive by faith my freedom in Jesus’ name. Thank You for Your grace for purity, humility, and holiness of heart to see truth, and to respond truly to those You have placed in my life to lead me. In Jesus’ name Amen

BEING JEZEBELLED IN A WOUND TO BE HEALED.

If you recognize that you have been Jezebelled, in prayer forgive the offender, renounce their soulish grip on you, bless them, and release yourself to being controlled by Jesus only and His love and grace.

Pray:

Father, in the name of Jesus, forgives me for tolerating the spirit of jezebel. I forgive  ________ for controlling me by the spiritual stronghold of Jezebel. I renounce the soulish grip that the Jezebel spirit has had over me in the past by control. Free me from all soulish ties of control, I bless this person in Jesus’ name Bring me into the freedom and joy of true submission to You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

From More Prayer Portions Sylvia Gunter. The Father’s Business P.O. Box 888014 Atlanta, Ga 30356

Permission granted to reproduce individual pages for prayer purposes.

EXPOSING A JEZEBEL SPIRIT