For although they knew God, they
neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the
glory of the immortal God of images made to look like mortal man and birds and
animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the
sinful desires of their heart to sexual impurity for the degrading of the
bodies with one another. They exchanged
the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than
the Creator- who is forever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:18-25).
Mentioned in the Old Testament,
Jezebel is one of the most evil women to walk this Earth. Evil has a face. Its primary purpose is to kill, steal and
destroy (John 10:10). The woman
killed, destroyed and stole from the Lord and his people. Her pathetic and sad end may not be
remembered as much as her murderous rampages.
But let us not forget, God has a plan.
Jezebel killed the Lord’s prophets,
disgraced the Temple
and built idols to Baal for worship and praise (1 Kings 16:31-33). She was
ruthless, cunning and manipulative. Once
when her husband Ahab threw himself into a temper-tantrum for the inability to
purchase a vineyard from Naboth, sweet Jezebel threw a party. She invited all the town’s people, gave Naboth
the sit of honor, the prominent position at the table, then had two murderous
men, “scoundrels”, falsely accuse Naboth,
stone him to death so Ahab could plant his vegetables in the vineyard (1 Kings 21). Her depravity knew no bounds.
I think what surprises me the most
about these type f people is the complete disregard for human life, but also
the audacity to think there is no accountability. The prideful mindset that believes you can do
anything you desire, including murder, to achieve fulfillment and never have to
answer for the destruction in your wake is nothing short of mind boggling.
There is no reasoning with these people.
There is no conversation that can turn the tide from evil to good. Only the very breathe of God can do that.
We live in a world where men and
woman, maybe not to the scale of Jezebel, but have the “Jezebel Spirit”. These people stop at nothing to achieve their
desires: slander, gossip, manipulate, use, abuse, threat and accuse others whom
are innocent, but unfortunately hinder success. We all know of someone who has
cheated, lied and manipulated their way to the top. We’ve read of individuals who have “sold
their soul” for fame and fortune, forsaking all others including their own
dignity, living shameful lives broadcasted for all to see. There are some who follow these depraved
minds, willing to go down in flames with them, but there are also a remnant who
will stand up for righteousness. God
told Elijah, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not
bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18).
Evil will never win. For a time or a season it may appear to gain
the upper hand, but God will use all evil situations and turn them to good. This Jezebel spirit was also mentioned in the
book of Revelation. To the church of Thyatire, Jesus of Nazareth accuses them
of tolerating an ungodly woman, “Nevertheless, I
have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a
prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and
the eating of food sacrificedl to idols.
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is
unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed
of suffering and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer
intensely, unless they repent of their ways.
I will strike her children dead.
Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and
minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatire, to
you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the Satan’s so-called
deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what
you have until I come.” (Revelation
2:20-25).
My prayer is you are in a Christian
church alive to the Holy Spirit, the reading of God’s Word and Truth. Many are sheep in wolves clothing, tickling
the ears of the congregation when what we actually need is meat, not milk! I do
want to address one more issue before we pray.
If a wicked person repents, has that broken, contrite spirit God will
not turn away, we as Christians should never turn them away either. Let us never forget the Apostle Paul.
“I
persecuted the followers of the Way to their death, arresting both men and
women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the
Council can testify. I even obtained
letters from them to their brothers in Damascus,
and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.” (Acts 22:4-5) This is the same Paul who wrote 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, “Love is patient, and
love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It is not
rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record
of wrongs. Love does not delight in
evil, but rejoices with the Truth. It
always protects, always trust, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.”
Yes, this
is the same Paul, but with Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Evil can be turned to Good. What the enemy attempts and tries to destroy,
God can use it for good (Genesis 50:20).
I am thankful for Ananias’s obedience to the Lord, running to Paul and giving
him a Word from the Lord (Acts 9:17-19). I am thankful for Barnabas’s encouragement to
Paul and standing beside him in truth (Acts
10:27). Our arms should never too
short to those who come to our church from living in the “World”.
Let us pray to the Living God and CONFESS the Word;
Father,
The
Bible says you will never reject a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart
the Lord will not despise (Psalm 51:15). Lord, I repent of my sins. I admit I am a sinner, living in the world
and following its desires and cravings (Ephesians
2:3). I desire to know Truth, come
to Christ, so I confess with my mouth and heart you are Lord (Romans 10:9). I desire to change. I desire to know you and the power of your
resurrection. Forgive me of my sins, as
I start a new life, for I am a new creature in Christ, the old has passed and
the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I
want to know this love written for in 1
Corinthians 13. I desire to have a
love that is patient and kind. I never
want to be rude, self-seeking, easily angered, holding on to bitterness,
frustration and disappointment. Your
love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the Truth. This love protects, trusts, hopes and
perseveres and I desire this love. (1
Corinthians 13:4-8).
Help
me to open my arms to those who need Truth, those who are coming in to the
church from the “world” and those who are repenting of their sins. For I know and remember, we’ve all followed the
ways of the world, were dead in our transgressions and sins (Ephesians 2:1).. Help me to love them and see these new
Christians the way you do, their gifts and talents and encouraging them along
the way.
I
pray to be a living, breathing epistle for you and your kingdom. Teach me your paths, show me your truths and
guide me into all righteousness for your names sake (Psalm 25). I know you understand all temptations and I submit in
all humility the capability of falling, backsliding or sinning. But as David prayed when you exposed the sin
in his heart, “Wash me clean and I will be whiter than snow, let me hear joy
and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice!” (Psalm 51: 7-9). Thank you for your forgiveness and mercy. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth I pray,
Amen.
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