Although we live in 2017, the battle between Jezebel and Elijah is not over. The war is still being waged, and we are warriors in that great struggle. Like Elijah in his day, we in our day are agents of the kingdom of God. Our responsibility is to stand firm and resist the spirit of Jezebel whenever it attacks.
Think back on our study of Elijah, and consider the impact of Jezebel.
Elijah was strongly blessed by God. For seven years the Lord had carefully protected Elijah. God trained him and fed him in the wilderness. When Ahab’s armies sought to kill Elijah, the Lord kept him safe. In the great showdown at Mt. Carmel, at Elijah’s request the Lord sent down fire from heaven and dramatically defeated and killed the priests of Baal. All Israel fell at his feet in repentance, worshiping the true God.
Elijah was greatly blessed. He was trained, courageous, victorious, and clearly in charge. Yet, when Jezebel sent Elijah a single threat, the great prophet suddenly turned coward and fled into the desert. Anxious, depressed, and miserable, Elijah hid in a cave.
How did this happen? Elijah enjoyed supernatural protection for seven years. He watched fire fall from heaven and defeat his enemies, yet when a single angry woman threatened him one time, he lost his confidence and strength and ran away. He moaned in self-pity and depression, begging God to kill him!
The reality is that Elijah was engaged in a great spiritual battle. Jezebel was much more than simply the daughter of the king of Sidon. Jezebel communed with false gods, and she had given herself completely to pagan idols and their wicked ways of worship. Undoubtedly, Jezebel opened a gateway to Satan and his evil spirits.
I believe Jezebel was endowed by the evil one with the power to intimidate and rob a person of courage and confidence; she had the power to create fear and drive a person to anxiety and depression.
I believe, as well, that the spirit of Jezebel still operates today, and that leaders in particular are vulnerable to the spirit of Jezebel. The enemy is aware that the role of leadership in our society is monumentally important, so he uses the spirit of Jezebel to attack and derail people in positions of leadership.
Some leaders are susceptible to anxiety and depression, so that is how the spirit of Jezebel attacks. Other leaders are vulnerable to pride and arrogance, so that is the point of attack. Still other leaders are susceptible to sexual seduction, so that is how the spirit of Jezebel seeks to exploit. When the leader falls under the spirit of Jezebel, the group under the authority of the leader suffers. This is true in a society, a company, a school, a team, or a family.
The spirit of Jezebel wants to paralyze with fear, condemnation, depression, apathy or whatever it takes until the leader withdraws. The answer for those under Jezebel’s attack is put on the full armor of God and stand firm.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore!!” (Ephesians 6.10-14)
Again, the battle between Jezebel and Elijah is not over. The war is still being waged, and we are warriors in that great struggle. Like Elijah in his day, we in our day are agents of the kingdom of God. Our responsibility, therefore, is to stand firm and resist the spirit of Jezebel whenever it attacks.
The Lord is calling.
