The Soul Redeemer: From Victim to Victory (7 page)

"Because it disguises itself under a front of religiosity and offers perks such as knowledge of God, His word and false prophecy, Christians who are not spiritually wide awake may think this is a godly thing and may not notice that they are being enticed by religion devoid of relationship with God." 

Nicole said, "Wow, I get it.  Unless the targeted victim, or any of us for that matter, stays very close to Jesus and chooses to recognize and renounce the lies that we are being fed, we most likely will not be aware that we are being led into a web of deceit and ultimate destruction."

Casie agreed. "The Jezebel spirit is attracted to people who are usually very intelligent, talented, charming or charismatic.  They may be someone who has a true heart for God, has leadership potential and who has been given many spiritual gifts.  It looks for those with open doors in their lives that it can attach to, and then begins to deceive them into using their personality and gifts for its own purpose rather than God's." 

Nicole said, "Churches are always in need of people who are willing to serve.  I can see how they could ignorantly welcome and give a place of service to someone under Jezebel's influence."

Casie said, "Another big open door in church leaders is pride, or rather the lie that that says that they are spiritual enough and successful enough that they won't fall into sin; or that they are exempt from God's judgment or punishment of their sin.  They begin to tolerate just a little sinful thing; justify it; then they tolerate a bigger sin and justify it, until they are consumed with it.  I've heard it called the sin of presumption."

"So the Jezebel spirit always attaches to people who are leaders?" Nicole asked. 

"No," Casie answered.  "I've also seen Christians with the Jezebel spirit who are never in leadership positions other than in their home.  They just attend the services and Bible studies and sit quietly waiting for opportunities to cause division and strife. 

"They don't see it like that of course.  What they see is that their lives are chaotic and full of seemingly hopeless circumstances.  They talk about their problems time and again.  They ask for prayer continually, but things never change and they continue to complain, criticize, and wallow in self pity. 

"When they are given Godly counsel, they don't do it.  They'll offer up all kinds of excuses why they can't, and if they are confronted on this, rebellion or confusion takes over.  They may be blinded to the hope that change is possible, or they may be comfortable in the unhealthy way they gain attention from their problems.  But all the while, Jezebel is stealing attention and time away from the ministry that God desires to do."

Nicole said, "In my mind I'm seeing a vision of a very sick woman lying on her bed with a large cauldron of drinking water sitting beside her.  There are things inside the water that are defiling it and causing her to be sick, but she is unwilling to remove them or to have them removed.  She wants to be well but is not willing to part with the cause of her sickness because she believes that she needs them."

"That's a pretty accurate picture of a person who has come under the influence of Jezebel and who continues to allow it to rule them," Casie said.  "The person likes the benefits they gain from Jezebel and doesn't see how they are being manipulated and used.  Once they have been seduced by this spirit who feeds their sense of self and pride, the spirit claims its territory, sets up its throne and begins to rule through manipulation and control.  The victim doesn't see what is happening, but they gradually take on the nature of the spirit instead of Christ's nature. 

"They believe that they are superior and know what's best for themselves and others.  They will be pleasant as long as those around them are compliant, but they often become verbally and physically abusive when they are disobeyed or challenged."

Nicole said, "I can see that.  I've known women with this spirit who constantly belittle and correct their husbands, and at times will verbally undermine and assault them when they try to assert opinions.  I've known some who become physically abusive to their children and discipline in anger and with punishment that is way out of proportion.

"This also reminds me of something I recently encountered.  A friend came to me asking for counsel in handling a situation at work because I know her boss, Aubrey.  She works in a Christian organization.  Aubrey has become so manipulative and controlling of her, that she has begun demanding more of her time, even her off hours.  She has tried to reason with her and to say no, but Aubrey manipulates her through false praise and guilt trips, anger, threats and intimidation, and even misuses the Word of God to make her point.  It is beginning to cause major problems in her family relationships.  She's being pushed to a breaking point and doesn't want to quit because she really cares about her job and Aubrey."

"That's typical of the Jezebel spirit," Casie acknowledged.  "This spirit can be identified by the fruit that comes from a person's life who is dominated by Jezebel.  Their lives are characterized by pride and of doing what is best for themselves.  Any sign of humility or submission is simply manipulation to get what they want. 

"They won't listen to reason and their view of God's Word and His truth is skewed; their relationships are in ruin; there is a trail of hurting and traumatized people left in their wake, and there is stubborn refusal to attempt reconciliation unless it suits their purpose; they become defensive when confronted because they see confrontation as rejection; they will viciously oppose and attack anyone who confronts them; and they refuse to repent.
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"Because this is a religious spirit, the victim is usually blinded to their sin.  They can pray beautiful prayers and are often given prophetic words and spiritual insight; but the prayers are actually a religious front for manipulation, and the prophetic words and insight, even if they quote scripture, are based on false demonic knowledge.  Witchcraft."

Nicole thought about the ways this spirit attached to people.  "You mentioned that the Jezebel spirit was attracted to wounded people, and I'm also thinking that generational lines are another major factor in transference. 

"In the situation I just described, Aubrey's personality suddenly changed when her mother died.  There had been no relationship between them for many years until her mom was on her deathbed.  Because she had always desired her mother's love, Aubrey formed a relationship with her in the last months of her life.  Soon after the mother's death, Aubrey began to take on her mother's nature which has continued to dominate her, and she's even begun to exhibit some of the same physical problems her mother had!"

Casie said, "It sounds like Aubrey opened herself up to her mother's demons because of her wounded soul and the desire for her mother's love.  This is why it is so important for people's broken hearts to be healed.  Pain distorts reality and the deception and manipulation is not easily discerned.  The spiritual blindness and desire for hope of unfulfilled love opens the door for the devil.  In this case, it looks like Belial may have opened the door for the Spirit of Jezebel."

Casie stood up and stretched, then said, "Death is not the only way the spirit can be transferred though.  Jezebel will claim the unborn child of a pregnant woman who is dominated by it so that the child will be raised up under its influence from birth.  Aubrey may have even been under its influence from conception without recognizing it, which would have been an open door to receiving the demons that left her mother upon her death." 

"Wow.  This just strengthens my belief in the importance of dedicating our babies to the Lord Jesus from the moment of conception, and of making sure that ungodly soul ties have been severed," Nicole said as her thoughts moved on. 

"The woman Jezebel in the Bible was married to the king of Israel.  He should have been the one in power, but as it turned out, Ahab basically handed his power and authority over to her through his tolerance for and love of sin along with his complacent spirit.  Do you think that is relevant in the spiritual sense as well?"

"Totally," Casie agreed as she sat back down on the bench beside Nicole.  "This is why husbands, parents, pastors, leaders and bosses need to take their positions of authority very seriously.  Behind every Jezebel spirit, there is an Ahab spirit; someone who should be leading but has knowingly or unknowingly given that authority over to a controller and manipulator."

"So women need to be on guard against Jezebel spirits and men against Ahab spirits?"  Nicole questioned.

"Well, in a sense.  It seems that human nature under the curse works out that women tend to usurp men's authority and men tend to let them, but that doesn't mean that only men are vulnerable to Ahab and women to Jezebel." 

Casie explained, "The open door for the Ahab spirit is usually complacency or laziness…taking the easy way out.  It is rooted in lack of love for God, or a greater love for something or someone other than God, such as in a 'people pleasing' mentality.  Those who are vulnerable to this spirit are easily seduced and readily give in.  Any person who abandons their area of responsibility and gives that authority and control over to someone else for any reason is opening the door for the Ahab spirit. 

"The open door for the Jezebel spirit is usually rejection, woundedness, insecurity, bitterness and resentment.  When a person, woman
or
man,
has experienced these things, fear, pride and the desire to control is like an open invitation to Jezebel who is all about pride and control. 

"Behind its false front of enticing charm, Jezebel is really all about hatred, rebellion and control.  It hates authority, and because God placed man in authority over women and because men are usually the authority figures, it hates most men and will undermine them as it tries to gain control over them."

Nicole interrupted.  "It sounds like Jezebel may be the power behind the homosexual agenda."

"I think you're right." Casie continued, "It hates God, and it hates godly relationships.  Jezebel uses seduction or perverted enticement of any kind that will pull others into its sphere of influence and build ungodly soul ties.

"It will do anything to achieve its goal of gaining control and obedience to its will.  It hates God's people who are functioning in the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.  It even hates its victim.  And it hates to be told 'No.'"

Nicole said, "It seems like people who are under the control of this spirit have trouble believing that they are under demonic influence, and when I mention Jezebel, they usually tell me that they are not sexual seducers and are not operating in sexual sin.  They don't see the problem.”

"We do tend to think of sexual seduction as its trademark," Casie said.  "However, even though the victims may not acknowledge sexual sin, in my experience, most have either engaged in some type of ungodly sex at some point in their life, or were sexually abused.

"Jezebel's nature is that of a warrior and sexual seduction is only a part of its web.  Sexual desire has the strongest fleshly pull on most people, which is why this spirit uses it so much.  However, Jezebel has a host of demons working under it who use many tools of manipulation such as flattery, sensuality, anger, rage, confusion, chaos, self-pity as is 'poor me', religious rules and legalism, false words of prophecy such as 'God said….,' and the misuse of scripture. 

"It dominates through fear, intimidation, blackmail, criticism, deception, accusations; it will even turn and attack either its victim or another who opposes it.  And it will do all of this without remorse for its actions or regard for its effects on others." 

Nicole took a deep breath.  "Uh-oh.  I've operated in some of these things at different times."

"We all do at times, yes," Casie confirmed.  "But the question is, did the Holy Spirit convict you of this?"

"Oh boy, big time!"

"And you repented?"

"Yes, as soon as I realized it."

"Well," Casie said, "that shows that the Jezebel spirit wasn't able to stay attached.  It hates humility and repentance and will only attach to those who refuse to see their sin and to repent, because these things as well as intercessory prayer, tear down its strongholds of stubbornness and pride.  It knows that those who are in submission to God and to proper authority, are elevated to a position of authority over the spirit, giving them the power to destroy it and its mission."

"I believe what you are saying.  In looking back at my life, I can see how I was under the influence of Jezebel in my marriage.  I didn't trust Jake to make the right decisions, and so I would try to manipulate him into doing what I wanted.  Thank God that he didn't usually fall for it!  Of course, I didn't understand at the time what was behind my desire for control.  You said something about Jezebel's mission?"

Casie answered, "Its mission is to stop the work of intercessors, prophets, and spiritual warfare; to destroy God's true ministers and His ministry; to put an end to anyone who is submitted to God and is functioning in the true gifts and power of the Spirit; to at best cripple those who have a true relationship with Jesus and whose life and ministry is honoring God.  And this does include godly husbands. 

"It uses the victim's gifts and talents for its own purpose and agenda; then it will undermine and destroy them so that they won't be effective in God's kingdom, much like a black widow will kill its mate."

"Black widows!" Nicole interjected.  "Remember your dream where the black widow was killing the bees inside of a little dollhouse sized church and I saw the vision of one on the wall?  Do you think that God was beginning to show us that we would have to deal with this Jezebel spirit?"