We are going to start tonight with a story:

“Rebecca wore an emerald green dress. Although she was not very attractive, Rebecca carried herself seductively. Something about her auburn hair and the way she dressed gained the immediate attention of those around her. As the congregation began to worship, her voice could be heard singing over the others.”

“Sadly, Rebecca was unaware of the spirit that was driving her need to be noticed. In her mind, she was simply trying to live a spiritual life. However, Rebecca had never addressed the wound that created her need for public affirmation. In fact, when confronted with this in the past, she denied any problems in this area. Nevertheless, her need for recognition saturated everything she did. Consequently, she had to be removed from a church staff position.”

“Rebecca believed the pastor withheld the recognition she truly deserved. Therefore, she began to subtly criticize him as not being spiritual. She asked others to pray that God would cause him to listen to her, because she felt that God had given her insight that would change the church. When this tactic failed, Rebecca looked for other avenues of support. She found a sympathetic ear with the associate pastor.”

“Demurely, Rebecca began to ask the associate pastor questions that possessed a hidden agenda. He was unaware of Rebecca’s motives and how she intended to use his words to rally grassroots support for her cause. She was planning to overthrow the senior pastor and replace him with the associate pastor. She believed that his sympathetic ear would insure her further influence and power.”

“Rebecca had began getting bolder in her claims. She used her former church position and began to twist the associate pastor’s words, saying the senior pastor was preaching heresy and that he was theologically unsound. She would take the associate pastor’s words out of context and insert them strategically into conversations and made it appear as though the associate pastor agreed with her. However, this tactic unraveled when a counselor approached the pastoral team. Several individuals had confided to the counselor that Rebecca had convinced them the church was becoming cultish. This further fueled their insecurities and fears.”

“The final straw came when Rebecca, while spreading a lie, was overheard by the associate pastor’s wife. Rebecca was saying that the entire leadership team had asked for the senior pastor’s resignation. She further claimed the senior pastor had vehemently refused, saying he would never leave the church. Supposedly he was going to publicly apologize to Rebecca for dismissing her. When the associate pastor’s wife heard all this, she realized what was going on. She shared what she had overheard with the pastoral team. Slowly, the shroud began to dissipate and each later realized he or she had been subtly turned against the senior pastor after being approached by this woman. The leadership team apologized to the senior pastor for entertaining Rebecca’s gossip and becoming ensnared by her web of lies.”

How can the church become ensnared by such things where even the leaders can be deceived? The church at Thyatira had just as much difficulty seeing the deception. People who are influenced by a Jezebel spirit can complicate and confuse many areas of church life including doctrines and authority issues.

No church, no matter how large or strong, is exempt from an attack of a Jezebelic spirit. As a matter of fact, there is a greater chance of attack in a large or strong church. Although no church is exempt, they are in a sense a bigger prize if the spirit can succeed, and if the spirit cannot be stopped by the pastors, leaders, intercessors, and prophetically gifted individuals.

The Jezebelic spirit is also not limited to denomination. The only thing that may vary is the severity or tactics used.

Not all who are used by a Jezebel spirit set out to destroy a church or gain power over their leaders. Many are deceived in thinking they are more spiritually gifted or sensitive than others. They tend to assume they are always correct. They are seldom aware that their actions fall into a Jezebelic category.

There are certain characteristics that go along with this spirit, but remember, a single characteristic that you see in someone, does not necessarily mean that person is influenced by a Jezebel spirit. They may simply be spiritually and emotionally immature. We will look more at these characteristics in the coming lessons.

Whenever three or more characteristics exist, there is an indication that the person may be influenced by a Jezebel spirit. While some traits may be noticeable, others may be unseen. A prolonged manifestation of any Jezebelic trait warrants a closer look at the life of the person and situation.

This spirit works best when coupled with an Ahab spirit. This is often found in men. Although men can also move within the Jezebelic spirit. Some will attempt to move into high levels of church government, such as Absalom, who appointed himself judge and talked to all that had grievances when they came in the city gate. He would be kind and won the hearts of the people. (2 Samuel 15:4-6). He convinced people that he could take care of them better than his father, King David.

“Over the years, I have watched assistant pastors and elders flow in what some have called an ‘Absalom spirit.’ But it is also a masculine form of a Jezebel spirit. In their need to gain recognition and prove they are anointed, they openly or covertly subvert God’s appointed authority and engage in lawlessness, thinking they must take action for the sake of the church and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. But they secretly go about building their own empire, which is designed to dismantle any other authority.”

Another story: “Andrea began attending a church that was known throughout the city to be a strong supporter of prophetic gifting. Soon, she began to regularly attend morning prayer meetings. Due to her faithful attendance and presumable prayer life, people began to look to her for advice. Andrea became referred to by many as a ‘prophet.’ Flattered by the attention, she subtly encouraged that reputation.”

“Meanwhile, Andrea searched out all who had prophetic authority in the church. She sought out the senior prophetic voice, asking questions designed to flatter him. She also asked him to mentor her. However, behind his back Andrea began to undermine his abilities and gifts. She spread gossip and questioned his prophetic words for the church. By the time he discovered what was going on, the web had been spun. He was perceived as an ‘old wineskin’ that should be discarded and Andrea became the new prophetic authority. Disheartened, he left the church. Within two years, the church lost all prophetic and intercessory small groups, and church membership declined from 800 to 250 people. Saying the church had lost its cutting edge, Andrea moved to another church where she repeated her actions.”

As in the story of Andrea, the goal, influenced by the Jezebel spirit involves control and how disagreements in leadership are handled. Any person that is carrying true spiritual authority as a prophetic leader, is a threat to the Jezebel spirit.

Since this Jezebel spirit counterfeit’s the prophetic giftings, callings, and authority, a prophetic leader will be targeted. Especially if the prophet is held in high regard by the church. A prophetic church must realize that if the spirit of Elijah is going to return -- so will its counterpart -- the Jezebel spirit.

One of the first moves of the Jezebel spirit is to remove established prophetic authority. If the Jezebel spirit can wedge itself between the prophetic leader and the pastors and rest of the church, then it will work to overthrow the prophetic leader. They do this through discrediting them. “Ironically, the person who operates under a Jezebel spirit will have insights that appear spiritual even to those of the Pastoral staff.

This is done through seduction. The Jezebel spirit will seek to gain favor. They will do this by putting themselves on the same level with the prophet. “I’m just like you. I seem to know what your thinking and feeling. We are kindred spirits.” This soulish tie will attack the prophetic leaders mind, will, and emotions. Sometimes this joining manifests sexually.

This spirit “talks” spiritually, but it’s strength comes from the soul, and is deadly to the gifting of it’s prey. Some of this demonic spirits goals are to dilute revelation, bring about corruption, defilement, disregard, and distain of God’s true prophetic voice.

The Jezebel spirit seeks intimacy with power. It may use fascination and charm to gain friendship and confidence -- an illegitimate familiarity the person craves. Just as believers are joined by the Holy Spirit so a person with Jezebel spirit seeks to be joined to another’s soul under the guise of a spiritual joining.

You can usually track a soul tie from a godly man or woman with a Jezebel spirit. It begins in the soul, and stems from an emotional need seemingly being met by the Jezebel spirit.

For a male leader this often comes in the form of sexual needs and desires. This season of seduction may end up climaxing into physical adultery. This breaches covenant. Their influence and authority is forfeited, the ministry is destroyed and the kingdom of God suffers great loss.

However, if when being seduced they discern and resist with help from the Holy Spirit, destruction can be avoided. James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

A Jezebel spirit creates desire, longing, lust, and an appetite for sin. When the urge is not curtailed by the Holy Spirit, it creates an intense craving. Reasoning will not change or stop these desires. Repentance and deliverance are needed.

For a female leader, the soul tie shows itself as a consuming and magnetic desire to be around that person. They will become best friends, soul sisters, soul brothers, or soul mates. The person with a Jezebel spirit may try to take over the leaders group. As the relationship deepens, the leader may feel as if they are being suffocated by the friend.

Some people with Jezebel spirit form soul ties by praying and by “laying hands on” a prophetic leaders hoping to impart the seed of its spirit. Such people may not know they are imparting a demon touch. They may also want to pray along side a prophetic leader. They feel compelled to pray for others but this isn’t inspired by God.

Another ploy is through flattery. They come across like a “kindred spirit” who understands their pain of being misunderstood. This causes the prophetic leader to let their guard down and open up to the Jezebel spirit. They may reveal a weakness. The leader’s weakness blocks the perception and discernment of the prophetic leader.

The prophetic leader must confront the flattering or seduction. When challenged the initial reaction is usually cowering or humility. However, it will rear up doubled in strength and attack like a cobra. Such volcanic rage can become quite formidable.

Once the leaders see this, many fail to act and remove themselves from the soul tie. Often the soul tie makes them feel guilty for not maintaining the relationship. Jezebels manipulatively use this ploy.

Prophetic leaders must understand that they have not been given the authority to overthrow a Jezebel spirit. They can only reveal the spirit to their pastors. In Israel, God did not ask the prophet Elijah to remove Jezebel. In fact, Elijah showed signs of fear and depression by sulking and running away. So it was Elijah’s job to forewarn Jehu, to whom God gave the authority to remove her. Likewise in Thyatira, God did not ask the prophets to remove Jezebel. Instead He addressed the pastor, who wields a type of apostolic and kingly authority on the behalf of his flock.

If a prophetic individual tries to deal with another person’s Jezebel spirit, it simply counter prophesies his or her downfall. 1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do [to me,] and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." A Jezebel spirit will often cause prophetic people to run from their responsibility. Prophetic people simply need to remove themselves from relationships with those influenced by the Jezebel spirit and seek their own healing.

Proverbs 7:21-23 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it [would cost] his life.

The prophetic realm is not the only target of a Jezebel spirit. A Jezebel spirit will target a pastor and the church staff, seeking to find the weakest link in order to sever it and gain favor in subtle ways.

For a pastor, it will seem unbelievable that such a “spiritually mature” person could have anything but the highest of motives. The more a pastor is blinded to Jezebel’s identity, the more likely he or she will fall prey and embrace the “gifted” person. Over time, it will become more difficult for a pastor to recognize that this individual operates with a controlling spirit that seeks to conquer the pastor and divide the church.

“Troy had a great anointing from God. Thousands attended the churches he had started and to which he had been given oversight. Mighty signs and wonders followed him. He moved in words of knowledge with incredible accuracy. He was disciplined in prayer, fasting, and was an avid student of Scripture. The magnitude of God’s anointing on his life was revealed in his sermons and writings. Even in the early days of his ministry, an apostolic mantle was evident. Nevertheless in ignorance, Troy fell into a trap.

When counseling a woman, Troy discovered that she was a witch. Without intercessory assistance, he attempted to deliver her. Pretending to be delivered, the witch built a web of flattery, telling Troy how great he was. She claimed that when he prayed, she felt God’s touch like never before.

Shortly thereafter, subtle changes began to affect Troy’s life. His hunger for spiritual things began to dissipate. His prayer life, fasting, and Bible study diminished. He excused his disinterest as being due to an ever increasing workload. Thus, the trap was set.

After her departure, two other witches were sent by the coven to attend Troy’s church and petition Satan to destroy both Troy and his church. These women attended intercessory meetings and began to exert influence on others as they rose to leadership roles. As their influence blanketed the church with deception, they even convinced the intercessors that Troy’s wife was a spiritual hindrance to him. Eventually, they “prophesied” that God would take her life so that Troy would become the great man of God he was destined to become.

One witch became Troy’s secretary. Each day, she made constant innuendos to him and the staff about his wife’s shortcomings. Entertaining the lie that his wife was holding him back, Troy slowly agreed with the forces of darkness that “the Lord should take her home.” He began to ask God for an illness unto death to come upon his wife. Troy’s wife actually became very ill, but when she was near the point of death, God intervened.

Then, Troy’s seductive and vivacious secretary reverted to a new strategy. She hinted that his wife had actually been sent by Satan to keep Troy from producing a godly “man-child seed.” As unbelievable as this sounds, she convinced Troy that she alone carried this golden seed that would be perfect from their sexual union. Being enmeshed in such a web of deception allowed these palatable and silly lies take root in him. Troy eventually divorced his wife and married this woman. Within nine months, he developed prostate cancer and died. The women inherited all his wealth. She later drew another pastor into her web and married him. He also died.

Troy’s story is an example of how someone with a “mature” Jezebel spirit will seek to destroy a man of God through manipulation, deception, and sexuality. This spirit imparts its curse much like the venomous black widow spider that destroys its mate after sexual union. Furthermore, with sexual immorality comes a curse of sorcery that results in physical illness and death to the one who joins in the seductive ploy. Revelations 2:22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

Someone with a Jezebel spirit is attracted by the allure of the pastoral anointing. As light draws a moth, so a pastoral anointing draws a Jezebel spirit. Any power outside its own threatens loss of control. This spirit, therefore, Drives an individual to do anything to gain and maintain control over others. A Jezebel spirit is ruthless and deceptive, even to the person who manifests this spirit.

When a Jezebel spirit attacks a pastor’s wife, the attack may began to manifest as a barrage of confusing thoughts, as physical or mental illness, or as an emotional breakdown. When a Jezebel spirit becomes more brazen, it will begin to insinuate to others that the pastor’s God ordained destiny is being hindered by his wife’s lack of spirituality. As this spirit becomes bolder, the person may begin to pray openly that the pastor’s wife change or die, in order for the pastor to fulfill God’s call. Obviously, these actions describe the work of someone who has become a “mature” Jezebel spirit.

Not surprisingly, an individual with a Jezebel spirit often tries to become part of the church staff. If a position is unavailable, the individual may try to provoke someone leave or seek their removal from a position. even more astoundingly, the individual may brazenly declare to close friends that he or she should have been pastor, or at least the pastor’s wife.

The individual may even suggest she can bear a “godly seed,” which could be portrayed as a child or a glorious church. Tragically, when this situation is not dealt with, the pastor’s marriage often fails and he marries the Jezebel.

As astounding as this may seem, this scenario is played out around the world scores of times each year. Satan is crafty. Whether it’s Naboth’s vineyard or a new spouse, a Jezebel spirit will stop at nothing until its goal is obtained. The church at Thyatira was warned about these very issues. We, too, are warned by the Holy Spirit about these issues still present in the church today.