I see a lot of posts about fighting ‘the Jezebel spirit’ and most of them don’t seem to have a clue. I don’t write this glibly. I recognise the warnings in Jude about not slandering celestial beings as I say to principalities and powers – ‘The Lord Himself rebuke you.’
While it’s not always obvious in the fight, looking back on 30 years of church leadership, I realise I have been in this battle more than once – and by the grace of God and the prayers of the saints I’m still standing, in no way do I have all the answers here, but I have the scars from the wounds.
This post is in no way a definitive word on what is a terrible assignment the enemy loves to send against the church and its leaders, but many of the books and articles I have read on this (in hours of need!) either tend toward simplistic answers as if we are bound to win – or leave you hopeless because we usually lose the fight.
BEFORE WE GET INTO IT – let me be clear we have to talk about this but it’s not about gender. Jezebel is not a woman. We are talking about a corrupting demonic principality that can operate through anyone whether male or female, anywhere, any time. Leading like Jezebel is no more about male or female than when I say ‘Lead like Jesus.’
Scripture references warn us about spiritual methods or motive to gain influence – (a word used by witches as a means to get your own way). In the end it’s about leadership, and that it isn’t just important what gets done – but how – will we lead like Jezebel -or Jesus?
I’m prompted to write about this as in my daily Bible readings I am going through Revelation and as I start to prepare more for a series later in the year on the 7 letters in Revelation therein; where Jezebel gets a mention in a church where in the name of tolerance a church left itself wide open to be torn apart.
But my first reference would be to learn from the struggle over Naboth’s Vineyard 1 Kings 21.
It’s not just a moral tale but a masterclass in Machiavellian mischief – what happens when desire gets corrupted by power, cloaked in manipulation.
Jezebel didn’t just play dirty. She played spiritual. And that makes her tactics even more dangerous.
1. Desire Isn’t the Problem. Coveting Is.
Ahab wanted a vineyard, but it was not his to demand.
Naboth refusal to sell his ancestral land, in line with the Mosaic law (Leviticus 25:23-28) “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He would not sell, thanks very much.
But Ahab’s greed and entitlement mutated – into coveting. The king decided he must have something God has not given him and he would not be happy until he got it. He wanted to take / take over another man’s life (Naboth’s past, present and future). Coveting is more than wanting what someone has. It’s wanting someone else to not have it.
“Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” 1 Kings 21:4
He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. He’s supposed to be a king, he’s just a big baby.
That’s the crack where the Jezebel spirit slips in. She tells him off, then tells him how to act like a king, how to lead – her way.
2. The Jezebel Spirit Looks Supportive – Until It Takes Over
Where Ahab represents passivity, Jezebel fills the leadership vacuum with a “solution”: “Don’t worry, cheer up – I’ll get it for you.”
What could be wrong with that? It sounds helpful, loyal, right? How could anyone object?
But you don’t see the strings attached – until she wants to pull them. This daughter of an evil priest hatches a plot, forges letters, steals authority that is not hers, gets others alongside as she lies to frame an innocent man – but of course makes it sound very spiritual:
“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” 1 Kings 21:9
CLUE: The Jezebel spirit disguises domination as devotion.
It starts with a motive, manipulation and a message that sounds reasonable – but ends with murder.
3. Jezebel Isn’t Always Loud – But Always Wants Control
Jezebel is a “master of disguise”, often cloaking controlling behaviour through spiritual gifting, often sounding like the most spiritual person but with the most dangerous and carnal of intentions.
This evil Queen didn’t need to be the head – but wanted to be the neck! No platform required, just access – to be the power behind the throne. She sought to get the elders onside so that discernment would be dulled by deception, working behind the scenes to quietly hijack legitimate authority and use it to control outcomes.
CLUES: watch out for suggestions of secrecy or phrases like:
- “Leave it with me.”
- “He/ she/ they don’t need to know.”
- “I’ll make it happen.”
4. Discernment Dies Where Flattery Lives
Jezebel used religion to kill a righteous man who was simply holding out for God’s truth where the Lord had put him. She threw a fast, seated Naboth with honour, and having set him up with flattery – turned it all round to destroy him with lies.
The most twisted and unexpected part? His neighbours joined right in. Nobody stepped up to defend him. Why?
CLUE: Discernment dies when faking, fear and flattery take over.
One moment they celebrated Naboth. The next, they’re stoning him. How could they be so blind and fall in line with it? Remember this fight is not a matter of flesh and blood. It’s a spiritual battle!
When stoning happened you were never stoned by one person – it took a crowd to join in.
It’s always amazing to me to read how quickly Naboth’s own kinsmen, people who were close, totally turn against him. Didn’t it even occur to them, how one minute they were honouring him – the next they’re throwing stones? Couldn’t they smell that spirit?
Where is their discernment? One after another, people join in and form the crowd throwing stones.
I’ve seen it happen. When this spirit is at work, even good friends turn on you.
He stood alone. Nobody defended him when he was falsely accused, nobody protested: because this spirit had infiltrated – and that’s what it does – to rob the future and destiny God has in mind.
We might think ‘How could they all fall for it and side with Jezebel?’ until we remember –
5. You Might Be Leading Like Jezebel Without Realising It
This terrible spirit especially targets churches that are growing well but where the leaders are getting complacent or under pressure. It targets the prophets and watchmen first and operates most freely when leaders tolerate it whether out of weariness, apathy, or fear of confrontation.
if you’re growing to like accolades without accountability, beware. Jezebel thrives in environments where charisma outruns character, where fear of man overrides the fear of God.
We may not see it because it’s not always obvious – especially in ourselves! It whispers messages through our insecurity or massages our pride. But before looking around at others –
Ask yourself:
- Do I sulk or shut down when things don’t go my way?
- Do I ever guilt people into saying yes?
- Do I withhold, withdraw, or spin the story to maintain control?
- Do I demand my rights above my responsibility?
6. The Better Way to Lead
I often teach on what I call The Scale of Power: because Power is not necessarily a bad thing of course, the old adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely is not true because of course only God has absolute power! But it’s all about how we use it:
- WIN/LOSE: I win, you lose. Jezebel territory – domination, manipulation, control.
- WIN/WIN: You win, I win. Better. Fair. Common ground. The best the world has to offer.
- LOSE/WIN: I lose, you win. Kingdom / servant leadership. Countercultural. Christlike!
Jesus wasn’t manipulated. He was surrendered. Opposite spirit.
Jesus wasn’t controlling. He was trusting. Opposite spirit.
He washed feet when others grabbed for thrones. He gave up power, in love.
Jesus humbly stoops to lead by truth, sacrifice and love.
Jezebel leads with lies, domination and control.
Which spirit are we operating in?
7. To Defeat Jezebel, Lead in the Opposite Spirit
it wasn’t the prophets who had the anointing to bring Jezebel down. Elijah didn’t do it. Elisha couldn’t do it. Even when Ahab was dead and gone, Jezebel stayed there in her position for a long time.
An anointed and appointed leader had to step up. She lingered for years (and another 10 chapters) until a king with holy authority (Jehu) came at her head on and they took her head off. Jehu drives fast and head on, he cant be stopped by offers of a false peace – cutting through all the lies, intimidation, flattery, seduction and fear thrown at him for doing so, before she was finally thrown down by the eunuchs surrounding her.
Jezebel spirits succeed in their assignments where leaders around her become like that eunuchs entourage – benefiting by association and too scared to confront.
Of course that’s hard in the natural but we have to fight with the weapons of our warfare knowing it’s primarily a supernatural battle that we fight not with swords but with the sword of truth, with humble authority, godly character and much prayer!
FINALLY
We have to watch over ourselves as much if not more than others here – remembering it can start with coveting and sulking and wanting what isn’t ours. That leads us to examine our motives and methods of influence, how we interact with others, to get what we need. In words and actions.
Because even if it’s a legitimate end, there are many means to get it. There are godly ways and ungodly ways. If we see ourselves leading or influencing in the wrong way, we have to watch out for that. We have to challenge it and turn around, repent.
The main question we have to ask then is not of others but ourselves – Are you leading like Jesus—or Jezebel?