Uncovering The Roots

Korah and his followers had been planning to launch a revolt for quite some time. It was evident that Moses and Aaron were old and feeble. Their leadership had only brought further wandering in the desert! Korah and his fellow Levites had continued to challenge Moses and his ridiculous demands. Looking across the great congregation, Korah felt confident that Israel would be stronger under his leadership. Someone like himself must arise and oppose the old man.

Suddenly, Korah heard a voice cry out. It was the voice of Moses. “Depart from the tents of these wicked men!” Moses proclaimed to those near Korah. “Touch nothing of theirs or you will be consumed by their sin!”

As people began backing away, Korah and his family -- as well as his followers and their families -- stood at the door of their tent. What was Moses up to now?

Facing the congregation, Moses began to announce, “By this you shall know that God has sent me to do these works, for I have not done them of my own will! If these men die naturally like everyone else, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord causes the earth to open its mouth and swallow them up with all that belongs to them and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord” (Numbers 16:28-30).

As soon as Moses finished speaking, Korah felt the ground tremble. Suddenly, the earth split apart beneath his feet. Korah, his family, and all their belongings fell into the abyss. Then the ground closed over them. Although it all happened in a matter of seconds, Korah must have felt the horror of knowing he was about to die and that he had come under God’s judgment. Those around them fled, trampling over one another, fearing that God’s judgment would touch them, too. Then without warning, a strange fire came out of Heaven an consumed the 250 followers of Korah.

1. A Root of Rebellion

Korah had exalted his will above that of Moses. Likewise, a Jezebelite will behave his or her assessment of a pastor’s leadership is correct and attempt to launch a revolt. Since God places all authority in position, rebellion against that authority is lawlessness against God.

For those who operate with a Jezebel spirit, rebellion is at the core of their being. Thinking they have heard from God, they exalt their will above God’s will or above pastoral authority that God has placed over them (Hebrews 13). Whenever our will is served by our desires, we are worshipping our self-interests, not God’s. We, in essence, have become our own idol.

God equates rebellion with witchcraft, which is defined as power gained by the assistance of evil spirits. (1 Samuel 15:23). It makes little difference whether an individual is cognizant of the evil spirits influencing him or her. In Scripture, Jezebel was distinguished by witchcraft (2 Kings 9:22a). So, it should not be surprising that a Jezebel spirit operates through witchcraft (rebellion), even in the early stages of this spirit’s rule in someone’s life.

Imposing on Others

The spirit of witchcraft imposes its will by manipulating others. Raping the value of each individual’s decision-making capabilities and establishes its own “higher” authority at the expense of its victim. It may involve an expression of illegitimate authority that has been usurped. It may also involve an unrighteous expression of legitimate authority. For instance, a pastor may use his or her authority unrighteous by manipulating others in the Body.

At the heart of such actions is an attitude of irreverence -- devaluing an individual who is made in God’s image. This spirit also portrays disrespect for the preciousness of the human will. God gave us the gift of free will and God Himself does not violate it.

Manipulating others does not make an individual a witch -- someone who had covenanted with Satan. Nor does it mean the individual is a practitioner of magic, hexes, potions, and incantations. But it suggests that a person is masking his or her true intention.

A Jezebelite allows others to become sacrificial pawns in order to accomplish his or her plan. Its followers are simply convinced the Jezebelite is right and the pastor is wrong. Initially, most believe that by imposing their will they are only seeking to build God’s Kingdom. They are not in touch with their own rebellion that blinds them to what God is doing. Those who practice manipulation in their homes and in personal relationships will do the same in church settings, unless the error is corrected. For a church to flourish, however, control and manipulation must cease.

Things Done in Secret

In Scripture, the word most often used for witchcraft is the Hebrew word anan, which means to cover or to act covertly. This is exactly what the Jezebel spirit does. Although, an individual may not be a practicing witch, nor a mature Jezebelite with the aim of destroying a church or pastor, he or she may still have a spirit of witchcraft.

A person can be a Christian and operate in the spirit of witchcraft without realizing it. This spirit has long been hibernating in the Body of Christ. Sadly, it operates through some of the Lord’s chosen vessels. Even mature prophetic or intercessory individuals can periodically operate under the influence of this spirit, if there are doors that remain open through old wounds. Evidences of these wounds not being healed would include struggling with feeling overlooked, undervalued, or rejected. Or struggling with bitterness, criticalness, and anger.

For example, Terry and Lisa were active in church for their entire fourteen years of marriage. Terry has a great job in telecommunications and Lisa loved staying at home with their children. Terry was a good man. He just wasn’t passionate about spiritual growth. Playing golf on Sunday was more relaxing than attending church.

Lisa had sought to obey God, but it always seemed to result in misunderstandings, dashed hopes, and eventual pain. It seemed that every church they attended had major problems. They always seemed to find themselves right in the middle of the fray.

Sobbing at the kitchen table, Lisa could not understand why they had been asked to leave the church. They were only trying to help people. After all, she could not help it if she “sees” what others do not. The pastor could be a great man, but he would not listen to her. If only he would. Many stood beside her. Why didn’t the pastor? The person overseeing the prophetic ministry was totally against her. Still, Lisa had managed to become the assistant prayer leader and had overseen seven of the fourteen prayer groups. She dreamed one day of leading them all.

Since childhood, Lisa had always wanted to be a pastor. If given the right situation, she would lead the church through intercession. She would make their prayer ministry the largest in the state. She would be the key to the pastor’s success. With her strategic know-how and his authority, they could have built the largest church in the city. Missionaries would have been sent to the nations and hundreds of prophets would have been trained with the new training program that she longed to implement. It was a shame that someone’s petty jealousy had stopped her.

As Lisa listened to herself, she noticed anger and bitterness spewing out of her mouth. “Why not?” she argued with herself. She had been wronged again. She knew Terry would simply shrug his shoulders and give her a token response, “I’m sorry.” Lately, she had wondered if their marriage would make it. Sometimes she wondered if she had married the wrong man.

Lisa does not know it, but she had already embraced the first level of pride and self-promotion that would lead her down the road to greater deception by a Jezebel spirit. One of the initial evidences of a Jezebel spirit influencing a person is how the person handles disagreements with authority figures. It is not wrong to disagree with a leader; it is what you do with the disagreement that may be Jezebelically inspired. We must follow the proper protocol for conflict resolution as outlined in Matthew 18. We also need to consider the examples of Esther and Haman, David and Saul.

Self-Centered Behavior

Like Lisa, a believer influenced by a Jezebel spirit may not intend to destroy a church. However, individuals who operate in varying levels of rebellion and witchcraft have destroyed many churches. Thus, witchcraft is able to work through an individual who tries to take control.

Manipulative control is strengthened with each successful endeavor. Full of self-pity and pride, an individual’s soul is endangered by deeper demonization. This type of witchcraft can be performed without occult involvement, even by Christians who profess Jesus as their Lord. People who operate in more mature forms of witchcraft are determined to impose their will, no matter what the moral cost. In the case of Jezebel, her use of manipulative control resorted to murder.

Not only is witchcraft displeasing to God, it hinders relationships in which honesty is vital. Since witchcraft violates the will of others and their ability to choose, it greatly damages a husband-wife relationship. It is also destructive in parent-child relationships and relationships with other family members. In situations in which conflict arises, those who operate in this spirit refuse to communicate truthfully, and sometimes not at all. Furthermore, they will employ artful, unfair, or insidious means to gain advantage and achieve their goals, thinking their cause justifies their actions.

Today, God is crying out for godliness and righteousness to arise. When God appoints leaders, it is a prophetic statement that He intends to advance His Kingdom on Earth. Therefore, every advance comes through God’s appointed leaders. A Jezebel spirit will seek to abort God’s advance by usurping the rule of pastors and leaders.

The summons to take dominion and authority in the Earth is not a call for oppressive domination. Domination is actually a fleshly substitute for the godly exercise of true, God-ordained authority.

2. A Root of Bitterness

… looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled ~ Hebrews 12:15

Rebellion, in all its forms, has several roots, one of which is bitterness. Bitterness opens a door by which a Jezebel spirit slithers into a person’s soul undetected. Bitterness often takes hold in our lives when we feel we are being overlooked for recognition or honor. Self-pity sets in and people, knowingly or unknowingly, begin to seek ways of getting attention to display the gift they believe they have.

Bitterness resides in our soul, because it is a mental stronghold linked to selfishness and pride. Bitterness may be directed toward God or anyone whom God endows with authority. Since bitterness often is a reaction to a perceived injustice or to unjust authority, it will provoke a person to react against all authority, whether just or unjust.

Bitterness brings despair. But since bitterness is tied to pride, this despair will drive people to design schemes that promote their gifts. Bitterness is truly sinful. It deeply damages people and leads to lawlessness. As with all sin, bitterness must be recognized, repented of, and healed through God’s grace.

Sour Fruit

A root of bitterness will produce varied fruit. It may birth immorality (Hebrews 12:14-16), lifelong anger and resentment, or a pattern of broken relationships. Moreover, a root of bitterness is contagious. A bitter spirit will infect the spirit of many others.

The Cross is the stopping point for all bitter roots. Jesus alone is the Great Physician who can deliver us from demonic torment. His anointing alone turns us from our rebellious ways. A bitter, rebellious heart can be transformed into a grateful, obedient heart, as it is touched by the grace of God. After such deliverance, the person must decide to submit to God-given authority. Submission is a decision -- rather than a feeling -- which an individual makes. A continual practice of submission will produce meekness. Remember, Jesus said that the meek will inherit the Earth (Matthew 5:5).

3. A Root of Bondage

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear ~ Romans 8:15a.

A root of bondage leads to fear and produces spirits of legalism, depression, servitude, enslavement, and control. Someone enslaved to a Jezebel spirit -- either as its vessel or as its victim -- cannot taste true liberty.

Scripture says that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). Freedom brings about responsibility and accountability. Yet, those who operate with a Jezebel spirit will welcome responsibility, but not accountability. They will perceive accountability as slavery and avoid it like the plague.

Often individuals in the grip of this spirit are unable to sense their adoption as a son or a daughter of God. They feel isolated and uncared for. While striving to meet their own needs, they embrace a victim mentality because life “owes” them something. Even if they are given an extravagant gift, they exude a lack of gratitude, feeling they deserve whatever was given to them. In fact, they always feel more should have been given to them.