The Obsession With Jezebel

Within a fringe element of the church, known as “deliverance ministry,” there is an obsessive fetish with demonic spirits who are blamed for virtually everything wrong in society and within the culture, and are believed to be the instigators of Christian misbehavior. The goal of ‘deliverance’ ministers is to cast out demons of darkness, who somehow are able to cohabitate with the light of Creator God who has taken residence within the spirit, mind, and body of the Born-Again Christian when they became the new Holy of Holies at the moment of salvation (see Luke 9:1-2; 1 Cor 2:16, 6:14-16, 19-20; 1 John 2:13-14, 3:8 4:1-5,15-16).

The primary demonic creature taking all the blame is called Jezebel, the mother queen of heaven. Jezebel is mentioned only once in the New Testament in reference to the behavior of a person calling themselves a prophetess in the church at Thyatira (see Rev 2:18-29). It is important to note that the verses are not talking about the culture or society, but about the specific church at Thyatira, where the so-called 'spirit' of Jezebel was alive and well.

Those who cause division, or are labeled as arrogant when questioning the pastor or church leadership because they don’t agree, or challenge something that has been said or done; or desire to take a serious look at what has been taught; or what they may be getting involved in; or stand up for women in ministry roles within the church; or are seen as a seducing threat by insecure wives, are often called a gender-neutered Jezebel.

Along with the trouble makers, those Born-Again Christians who have struggled in the past, or even currently, with any sexual addiction, are considered being possessed by one of the seemingly infinite legions of Jezebel spirit clones, and therefore, need deliverance.

Jesus compared this ‘prophet’ in Thyatira to the evil wife of King Ahab, who did more to “provoke” God “to anger than all the kings of Israel before him”(1 Kings 16:33). Jesus was a tad bit upset with the church at Thyatira because they "tolerated" (Gk: aphiémi - permitted, allowed) her to teach them in a leadership role which was, and still is, strictly forbidden by Scripture (1 Tim 2:12; see 1 Cor. 11:3, 7-9, 14:34-35). By doing so, the church gave her carte-blanche to lead the members away from God and use what had the appearance of prophetic gifts, to introduce members of the church to demonic rituals and practices, as well as the offering of sacrifices to idols.

The Bible makes no mention of a “spirit” of Jezebel but clearly shows that the actual Jezebel in the Old Testament and the ‘Jezebel’ of the New Testament are actually operating in the works of the flesh and the old sinful nature, such as manipulation, false prophecy, heretical teaching, political maneuvering, seduction, usurping authority, etc., rather than the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:19-21).

God adamantly stated that He wanted “dogs” to “eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field” and did not want people to commemorate or remember her by saying “Here lies Jezebel” in any form or fashion (2 Kings 9:37). Yet, some have a counter-productive obsession and fear about the Jezebel “spirit” infiltrating the church and continue to chase after her/it, as well as discuss and write about her/it when “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7 NIV).

Becoming a Conqueror

The most effective way to stop the incessant study of demons and the hunting of them is to spend more time knowing “nothing except Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2 NIV). Becoming a conqueror over ‘Jezebel” is to be "self-controlled and alert" because the "enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8 NIV).

The evil one is always testing the Born-Again Christian as he prowls around making a lot of noise and putting fear into the hearts of God's people. However, satan is not a lion; he just makes a noise like one. Jesus is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah..." (Rev 5:5), and has already triumphed over the works of the enemy!

The Bible implores the reader not to “let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Eph 4:27 NIV). The Greek word for “foothold” in the above verse means a place of influence in one's life. Sin provides the enemy with an opportunity - even with Christians - if they persist in it.

Humility is the most potent weapon Christians have to fight against the enemy because it is the exact opposite of him. They overcome the enemy “by the blood of the lamb” through humility and their “testimony” by living a life of repentance and laying down their life for others; “for they did not love their lives but laid them down for him” (Rev 12:11 TLB, see also Rev 2:4-7, 14-17).