Damascus Road Ministries
Dynamics of Discipleship
March 26th and 28th, 2007
What Spirit is Controling Me?
Discovering the Spirit of Jezebel? (Part 1)
The Spirit of Jezebel is a personality that rules the flesh with a ruthless and destructive force that destroys whatever is in its path. This spirit is a product of CONTROL governed by the flesh. It is a behavior that operates through a person to control by the use of manipulative, domineering and intimidating tactics. The next three course lessons will deal with several different aspects of the control spirit!
I.Who was Jezebel?
a.The Biblical character, first appears in First Kings 16, when she marries Ahab, king of Israel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king and high priest of the Baal worshipping Sidonians. Baal worship was closely associated with obsessive sensuality and often involved sex acts. Jezebel, as a daughter of this perverse kingdom, was raised in an atmosphere where sex was a path to power and influence. Ahab, King of Israel, was completely subdued and dominated by Jezebel. Jezebel then introduced the worship of Ashtoroth to Israel. This goddess, represented in Canaanite culture by the moon, was a power-hungry goddess of love and sensuality. Priestess-prostitutes filled her shrines and serviced her worshippers. The lure of these legal, readily available erotic encounters was more than the men of Israel would resist.By Jezebel’s influence, 10 million Israelites left the worship of God for Baal and Ashtoroth. Only 7000 people in the entire nation were not swayed by her control.
b.The spirit is not gender specific. In women it serves as Satan’s answer to a male-dominated world, giving false protection where a woman seemingly never gets her rights not has the protective love of a father or husband. In men, the controlling spirit is almost always motivated by insecurity, jealousy and greed.
c.She was a religious person but a worshipper of self will often wielding her powers against the true prophetic flow of God through influence, her hatred of repentance, humility and prayer because they destroy her strongholds of stubbornness and pride.
II.What is Jezebel’s Purpose?
a.To destroy leadership and the prophetic. Jezebel likes to appear close to leaders, and use their influence. She likes to use the power and influence of others to accomplish her goals and control her environment. In 1 Kings 21:8 we read " Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of the city."
b. She prefers to remain concealed in the background, while she manipulates situations and leaders. Jezebel is often associated with pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. She will use any form of sensuality at her disposal to gain influence and control. Jezebel uses sensuality, but make no mistake, Jezebel is seeking CONTROL. Lusts are merely tools used to weaken others in order for her to accomplish her goal of control. In many cases sex is not involved at all.Jezebel’s greatest enemy is true spiritual authority. As Jezebel opposed Elijah and Herodias opposed John the Baptist, so Jezebel today opposes righteous authority.
III.Who runs in the same circle with the Jezebel Spirit?
a.Those who will do the dirty work for him/her, often by stirring up innocent people who allow their emotions to get the better of them and they lose control.
b.Those who lack self-esteem or the will to stand up to this spirit.
c.Eunuch Spirits: Men or Women she has stripped of their man/womanhood and authority.
d.Church folk and sinners alike. All have been under the influence of this spirit at some point in their lives.
IV.How can we begin to overcome control’s powerful grip?
a.Be ruthless against this spirit. (See 1 Kings 21:23)
b.Stop compromising with this spirit
c.Stop surrendering to your fears
d.We must live in full repentance, walk in total humility and loving truth more than popularity and reputation.
When we combat the spirit and power of darkness as believers, we in essence surrender totally to the person and nature of Jesus Christ. We must be consistent as believers! We must equip ourselves to do battle with Jezebel and it’s control over our lives by consecrating ourselves before God, Praying in the Spirit, and Living the life God has called us to live in Him!