Last May, I had received a prophetic word for the state of California while visiting the beautiful Carmel coast. “The drought is over,” the Holy Spirit said. “The rains are coming back to the state.”
California had been in a physical drought for three or four years officially and had begun rationing water. Thankfully, after receiving this word, the rains began to return and weather stations pronounced a shift into an “El Nino” year, meaning this should be a very wet year. In addition to the word, I had received a prophetic dream pointing to a fresh wave of glory movements—full of purity, power and evangelism—coming out of California, along with a fresh burden to pray.
I have an intercessory history with California and couldn’t help but connect this prophetic word to the analogy of Elijah on Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18. The opening verse of this chapter was a specific instruction to Elijah from the Lord to “present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” They too were in their third year of drought, but the Lord was changing the season. It was also the set-up for the famous showdown between the prophets of Baal, Jezebel and the prophet Elijah.
The story doesn’t end there, however. We read how Jezebel finally received her judgment while Elijah received his reward, being carried away to heaven by a supernatural whirlwind (2 Kin. 9, 12). Although Jezebel and Elijah physically left earth, their conflict has continued on in the spiritual realm with tangible results on earth.
The spirit of Elijah is now at work in the earth to reconcile families (Mal. 4:5-6) and the spirit of Jezebel continues to push perversion, the occult and prophetic deception. She will do so until she meets her final destruction (Rev. 2:20-23; 17). It’s a mystery how this works, but the spiritual impact is real and affects us all. I’ve had my own dealings with the spirit of Jezebel in California and wondered how I would deal with it again and what it meant to the body of Christ at large.
Know this: Between the physical rains and the fresh moves of glory will be a confrontation with this sinister spirit, but not in the way we would expect. Remember that Lord is merciful and His mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). He is not merciful to an evil demonic spirit, but will bring judgment upon it. He is merciful, however, to all who’ve been bound, tormented and have come under its influence. He is working to dismantle this spirit by healing its countless victims. Let me explain how.
Years ago, there was a moral failure on our pastoral team. It was devastating, and the circumstances of the extramarital affair were hard to accept. There was also a woman who orchestrated the adulterous relationship behind the scenes. She didn’t have the affair, but helped bring it together. This woman appeared very spiritual, prayerful, even prophetic, which was quite confusing at the time. I learned after some research that she fit the classic definition of a Jezebel spirit, and I had vilified her as an evil person in my mind for years. I never considered her worthy of redemption because, after all, she was a Jezebel! Much later, I had wondered about the root cause of her actions and if change would ever be possible.
I’ve dealt with others who seemed to fit much or parts of the classic description of a Jezebel spirit: controlling, manipulative, false prophetic, hatred for authority, religion, pride, seductive, intimidating, deceptive and so on. Most of them were women, but not all. And I was frustrated that I had never successfully cast out a Jezebel spirit from a person and neither had our deliverance teams. When we told that spirit to go, it didn’t go!
Instead, the person had to go if we were ever going to be rid of it.
I believe that I finally figured out why. We see two women by the name of Jezebel mentioned in the Bible, one in the Old Testament and then one in the New. They are Queen Jezebel, Baal worshipper and wife to King Ahab, and then Jezebel from the church of Thyatira, an idolater and self-proclaimed prophetess (1 Kin. 16; Rev. 2). These are not the same woman, but two different women having similar sins and evil behaviors. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence.
Then we read about a demonic principality, the “great harlot,” and how it promotes in the nations the exact behavior we find in both Jezebels and in those we know who act like them (Rev. 17). Consider the deep spiritual dimensions attached to Jezebel’s behavior and then consider Jesus’ remedy. Unlike other demonic spirits that afflict people, He didn’t say to cast a spirit out. Instead, He instructs Jezebel to repent with a serious warning (Rev. 2:21).
Why repentance? Biblical repentance means to change your mind. When someone is under the influence of the Jezebel spirit, they aren’t possessed in the traditional sense. Jezebel had to repent because the stronghold had been built into her mind. She had become Jezebel in her personality and behavior.
This typically happens as this principality unleashes sinister and targeted circumstances into a person’s life to create the needed mental strongholds, resulting in the patterned behaviors (i.e., childhood sexual or physical abuse, severe neglect, trauma and so on). Not everyone with a difficult upbringing comes under this influence, but the trauma is intended to create it. When you encounter a person under the Jezebel influence, realize their wickedness today is a deep-seated response to traumatic conditioning yesterday.
Repentance isn’t easy, however. Change can feel like a personal death since the behaviors are so deeply ingrained. A woman in our church had shared her story recently: “I hated my husband and verbally abused him. I finally tried to kill him and ended up in jail.”
Although she was a Christian, she didn’t fully surrender her life to Christ until she was incarcerated. The root of her behavior was childhood sexual abuse coupled with strong family matriarchs who taught her never to trust men. “I had to learn how to stop controlling people,” she said.
Today, she’s a medical professional and a powerful speaker, equipper and minister in our church. We have several stories of women just like her. Women who couldn’t control their rage, destroyed their marriages, hated authority, lied compulsively, used sex to get their way, and on and on … all women who’ve been abused or traumatized having been set free by the Word and the power of God.
What Do I Do if This Is Me?
If you recognize yourself in this article, know that God loves you and has already made a way out for you. You need to be delivered in your soul, but how? The Bible instructs us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Rom. 12:2). To renew our mind, we meditate in His Word. We read, speak out loud, write and memorize Bible verses that reshape our thinking and behavior. For example, “Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow” (1 Pet. 2:1). As we review this verse over and over and others, we will begin to reshape from the inside out.
We will change. The Bible says His Word can divide soul and spirit, meaning it’s so sharp that it has surgical-like ability to cut things out of your soul (Heb. 4:12). He also promises to restore your soul (Ps. 23:3), and restoration happens as we renew our minds with His Word.
What if I live with, work with or attend church with a person under the influence of Jezebel? Each situation is different, and you have to choose your battles. Pray specific Scriptures over the person and then set firm boundaries with them depending on their actions and who they are to you. Remember that a person under the influence of Jezebel can’t control you, seduce you or bewitch you unless you allow him or her to do so. In a church, be very diligent when they begin tearing down leaders behind their backs. This is the first signal of trouble. Remember, they hate authority but this hatred has a root cause. Show a lot of love, but confront them, immediately asking them to right their wrong with that leader.
Once they know the boundaries and know they’re loved, it creates enough safety for them to start changing. If they are destructive and won’t repent, don’t feel bad for removing them from your circle or fellowship. If you’re their target, however, pray and strategically confront. Don’t be their victim.
I’m seeing keys of freedom coming like rain from heaven to the body of Christ in California—not just in California, but beyond the borders and into the nations. In His love, He’s healing and strengthening our weaknesses. He is actively dismantling the influence of Jezebel in our midst. Glory!
Jennifer Eivaz is a vibrant minister and international conference speaker who carries the wisdom and fire of the Holy Spirit. She presently serves as an executive pastor with Harvest Christian Center in Turlock, California, and is focused on raising up a passionate and effective prayer community that is tempered with love and hears the voice of God accurately. Jennifer loves the presence of God and is a prophetic voice to her church and to others. Her teaching style is authentic and aimed at the heart, having been built on her personal testimony of God’s incredible goodness and miraculous display in her life and in the life of her church. She is married to HCC’s Senior Pastor Ron Eivaz, and they have two wonderful children. Visit her website at jennifereivaz.com and read her blog and jennifereivazblog.com.
For the original article, visit jennifereivaz.com.
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