Understanding The Dark Spirit Of Jezebel Series

ELIJAH—A MAN OF LIKE PASSIONS

11 Jezebel—Understanding Her Dark Spirit

TEXT: 1 Kings 19:1-8

1 Kings 19:1-8 KJV And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. [3] And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. [4] But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. [5] And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. [6] And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. [7] And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. [8] And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

Revelation 2:18-29 KJV And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; [19] I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. [20] Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. [21] And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. [22] Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. [23] And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. [24] But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. [25] But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. [26] And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: [27] And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. [28] And I will give him the morning star. [29] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I. BACKGROUND ON JEZEBEL

-The Lord knows our works as we come to understand when we read the message to the church at Thyatira. It is important for our lives to be marked by good and godly works in a manner we honor God and His kingdom.

-But we also know that in this walk with God there are obstacles and hindrances that often come into play. Sometimes these obstacles are people who have spirits that live inside of their souls. At the end of the day, in the conflict between Jezebel and Ahab, we can see what real spiritual warfare looks like.

-Some of the modern day theologians and prominent evangelical pastors want to completely dismiss the idea of spiritual warfare and make it a limitation to what takes place in the mind with temptations, outward circumstances, and weaknesses in our thinking. We cannot afford to just think that the force of evil only works in the framework of the mind, it is very prominent in our world at this present moment.

-Jezebel—Calls herself a prophetess according to what we find in the text in Revelation. This is a self-proclaimed title that she puts on herself. Self-aggrandizement and self-recognition are key matters in people like this.

-If we look back to Acts 15 at the Jerusalem council—There were some principles that were developed there and they still hold true for us today.