In an episode of Star Trek: Deep space nine, entitled, "Paradise Lost," aliens know as changelings infiltrate key positions in Starfleet. These aliens had assumed human form and had taken the appearance of trusted members of the Federation. Their purpose was to create confusion and fear of Earth. Just as the changeling's sent their agents to sabotage the Federation, Satan sends his own dark forces to disrupt the work of the Church. These demonic agents assume our appearance and speak our language, but there allegiance is to another kingdom. Just as the Federation needed to learn to discern the presence of changeling's, so the body of Christ needs to identify those operating under the Jezebel spirit.
Scott, who pestered a very large Midwestern church, was puzzled about the multiple defections in his leadership team. Yet carefully chosen and trained a remarkable team. He now suspected that another staff member was leaving. Then, the light began to done: one of his staff members met with the woman who had once been a member of a witch’s coven. She incidentally mentioned that she recognized two women who regularly attended the church as being which is from her former coven. Although it was assumed they were Christians, it was later discovered they were still practicing witchcraft. During the church services, the duo would set on the front row and quietly chant under their breath. Tragically, these witches were able to derails Scott's strong leadership team by sending demonic curses against them.
Take Warning
The apostle John gave a warning to the church at Thyatira, a
city in
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all of the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to you each and one of you according to your works. Now to you I say, and to the rest of Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, you have not known the depth of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nation's -- He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels -- as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning Star -- REVELATION 2: 20-28
Imagine how the church in Thyatira felt when they read "I have this against you...." (REVELATION 2:4). God gave them a choice: remove the unrepentant Jezebel or suffer God's judgment. Few, if any, the trees are as dreadful as this one. To fall under God's judgment is a fearful thing. When God resist you, nothing you do will prosper. As you come out from under his protection, you will be powerless before principalities and powers.
Removing an unrepentant person from a church is the same principle in which the produce manager at a grocery store does "freshness checks" throughout the day. He knows that one peach with the rotten spot can spoil the entire barrel because the decaying acid will spread to other peaches. Eventually, the entire barrel will become bad because of one bad peach. Therefore, rotten produce has to be identified and removed in order to save the remaining peaches.
The principal of removing sin from the body was why the
apostle Paul commanded
the church in
Leading Bondservants
Astray
Jesus warned the church at Thyatira about the spirit. The Jezebel spirit seeks to destroy and silence Gods profits because in doing so, the enemy destroys the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). By calling herself a "prophetess," Jezebel from Thyatira was leading God bondservants astray.
Over the centuries, many of the Lord's bondservants, apostles, and profits have been attacked by the Jezebel spirit. Those who survived the campaign of the spirit often vacate their church posts and moved to other locations. Until a pastor finally uses his or her godly authority to remove this spirit from the congregation, mature prophetic voices will stay away. Meanwhile, the Jezebel spirit will seek to implant its own demonic profits in a church in order to teach the deep things of Satan.
Whenever a pastor fears an individual or a demonic spirit more than God, the pastor is unwittingly admitting, "This spirit is more powerful than God." More than likely this was how the church at Thyatira came to accept the woman Jezebel as a prophetess and teacher. Obviously they knew of her problems, because Scripture says they tolerated her and knowingly indulged her deviant beliefs and practices. More than likely, they were intimidated by her ruthless control in insubordination. Subsequently, she procured a church leadership position.
To agree with the Jezebel spirit is portrayed in Scripture as committing spiritual fornication with her. By allowing an individual influence by a Jezebel spirit to remain in leadership, the leaders were causing God to judge not only Jezebel but the church as well (Revelation 2:22). However, God told them this could be avoided simply by removing the unrepentant individual.
God's Judgments
... And all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts --
Revelation 2:23.
What a solemn and challenging responsibility faced the pastor in Thyatira! Not only was the Lord going to let all the churches know the result of what happened, but he was going to let them know the judgment -- or the blessing -- that would happen to Thyatira whereby, if they did not repent. In doing so, got not only judged their actions but they're hidden motives that allowed them to tolerate Jezebel's lawlessness.
A Singular Burden
... I will put on you no other burden -- Revelation 2:24.
The simple yet overlooked phrase in Revelation 2:24 indicates the singular weight of importance that God gave to removing this spirit. The church at Thyatira was charged with only one task -- to remove Jezebel. Since God referred to the task as a "burden," we can sense the extreme difficulty of removing a prophetess who was in leadership. Undoubtedly, it would involve a devoted effort by all the church leaders, as well as the entire church body to overcome this morally compromising influence.
Overcoming a Jezebel spirit will require more than simply ending the self-proclaimed and self-anointed rule of individuals who advertise their spiritual gifts. It also requires that Gods leaders humble themselves and repent from using their God-given authority in an unrighteous way, and more importantly, repent for not using their authority.
A Pastor Who Cried
“Jezebel”
Michael seemed very self-assured and confident nevertheless, beneath his charming exterior, he was full of insecurities. At this his second pastorate; Michael faced complaints from church members that reminded him of his first pastorate. Anticipating another failed situation, he began to respond defensively and harshly to criticism. He grew suspicious and controlling. Easily provoked, Michael would shift the blame for various problems on to others -- often charging innocent people with "having a Jezebel spirit." During his third year, a new couple began attending his church. After several surprising encounters, Michael realized that both the husband and wife operated under a mature Jezebel spirit. There was only one problem: Michael had used the term "Jezebel” so many times that no one believed him now.
To make matters worse, the leadership began to point a finger at Michael's own issues of control and manipulation. Thrown off balance by their suspicions, Michael felt as though he was the person on trial. Six months later, this couple boldly proclaimed in a Sunday morning service they "were anointed by God" to pastor the church. A week later, Michael was forced to resign and the couple became co-pastor's. Within a year, however, the church closed its doors!
Unrighteous Authority
...For in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you judge practice the same thing -- Romans 2:1.
Michael and pointing the finger was condemning himself. His actions only serve to empower the Jezebel spirit in his church. If he had not been guilty of the same issues, Michael would have recognized the difference between the innocent and those with a Jezebel spirit, thereby avoiding the painful consequences that ensued.
Pastors and leaders must recognize, and then relinquished, any methods of control and manipulation they exercise. They must cease to gossip against fellow pastors and other believers, to talk disrespectfully about their ministries, or to reveal personal tidbits shared in confidence with them. Pastors, who have privileged information, are sometimes the worst offenders of gossip. They must refrain from tail bearing, before the wineskin tears.
Making private accusations and listening to accusations without a proper witness also needs to be ceased! Pastors must avoid capitalizing upon exploiting their church members spirituality, coercing them to do what they want done. This is called "domination" and is a fleshly counterfeit of what it means to righteously exercise spiritual influence and authority. To overcome a Jezebel spirit requires that leaders address all rebellion and usurped authority committed by one church member against another. To do this, pastors must be free of these issues as well.
In order for the flock to understand proper authority, leaders need to teach on biblical authority. Overcoming a Jezebel spirit involves recognizing and restoring whatever relationships were overturned and any God ordained authority that was stolen by the spirit. In later studies, we will address this more fully.
The Rewards of
Righteous Authority
... And I will give to it each one of you according to your works -- Revelation 2: 23B.
Exercising righteous Authority has a reward that corresponds to the very thing we have overcome. The pastor who overcomes a Jezebel spirit that seeks to usurp his or her rule will be given a greater sphere of rule and authority. This is what the apostle John said when he wrote the Lord's admonition to the church Thyatira:
And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nation's -- He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potters vessels -- as I also have received from my father; and I will give him the morning Star -- Revelation 2:26 -- 28.
Three promises are given to those who overcome a Jezebel spirit. First, they will be given widespread spiritual authority over principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers in the high places, now as well as in the age to come. Raking the spirit's power on earth -- individual by individual -- disintegrates the rule of dark powers in the heavenlies.
Second, pastors who overcome a Jezebel spirit will be given authority to rule "with a rod of iron." The only other place "a rod of iron" is mentioned is Revelation 19:15 when it speaks of Jesus. Ruling with a rod of iron does not mean being tyrannical. Rather, one who so rules will find his or her authority conditioned by great wisdom. Such pastors will uphold the discipline and principles of God's Word. When a Pastor is like a rod of iron, he or she cannot be easily bent or manipulated.
Third, pastors who overcome a Jezebel spirit will be given the "Morning Star" (Revelation 2:26 -- 28; 2 Peter 1:19). The Morning Star referred to in this passage is divine authority and favor.
Both rewards -- a rod of iron and the morning Star -- differ from other rewards recorded in Revelation. Moreover, they carry much greater authority than his evidence today. Although none of the other churches mentioned in Revelation receive these three particular promises, neither did they face the formidable task of confronting and removing a Jezebel spirit.
Watchman at the Gate
It is imperative to be discerning about those who bring destruction to the church. It is, therefore, the role of humble intercessors to stand as watchmen at the Church's gate. It is the responsibility of intercessors to sound the alarm when they discern someone who might injure the fold. Consequently, it is vital for every church to have a strong intercessory ministry in order to prevent the spirit of Jezebel from doing its destructive work.
How does a Pastor discern who are the true watchmen? On the television episode Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the changeling's were quickly discerned by a simple blood test. Although they look human, they were bloodless. Likewise, true watchmen can be discerned by what is inside of them. There are several ways their true spirit becomes evident. One way is through their words. Jesus said:
... For out of the abundance of a heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth things-Matthew 12:34-35.
If Jezebelic like tendencies exist in an intercessors heart, eventually it will be revealed in that person's speech and/or actions. Such a person was so lawlessness or divisiveness in a church. However, a true watchman does not use his or her position to challenge or belittle pastoral authorities. Rather, the intercessory humbly list them up by praying for them.
Another way a true watchmen becomes evident is by the fruit of his or her spirit. Scripture clearly defines what the fruits of the spirit are:
But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law-Galatians 5:22-23.
We must watch to see and to know those who labor among us. We must know them deeply-what they believed, what they listen to, and what they say when they pray.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and it's fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruits-Matthew 12:33.
A true watchman is submissive to authority, whereas someone operating under a Jezebel spirit usurps authority. A true watchman does not seek authority, but he or she prays for those who have authority. In a best case scenario, a watchman who is submitted to the Holy Spirit has the same attitude as David when he served Saul-one of restraint in respect of God's chosen authority:
The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord's anointed-1 Samuel 26:11 a.
Finally the most obvious difference between a true watchman and an individual operating with a Jezebel spirit is the motivation, or driving force behind his or her actions. A true watchman is motivated by love in everything he or she does. In writing his love treatise, the apostle Paul offered the Corinthian church the following gauge from which to discern true and false workers of the Gospel:
love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; there is all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things-1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
Our Challenge Today
How will we respond? Will we recognize and confront the counterfeit and destructive voice, will we deal with our own issues that may blind us or cause us to overreact? Pastors must arise in lead like Jesus Christ, the bright in morning Star who outshines all other prophetic witnesses and who destroys the works of the evil one. The pastor and the church that seek to obey God in this matter will be given a greater sphere of authority. Remember:
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you - Deuteronomy 30 1:6.
We thank you for joining us this evening and invite you to return again next week when we continue lesson for in our series unmasking the Jezebel spirit.
Next week's lesson spinning the web of deceit.
This series is based on the book unmasking the Jezebel spirit previously titled the veiled ploy written by John Paul Jackson.