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GOOD NEWS Letters & SERIES Teachings>
JEZEBEL, WITCHCRAFT and YOU! By: Rev.A. Bascon
JEZEBEL, WITCHCRAFT and YOU! By: Rev.A. Bascon
Most of us have heard of Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethobaal of Tyre. King Ethobaal was king of the Phoenician empire.Ahab saw how beautiful Jezebel was, and soon after, he married her. Being married to King Ahab of the Northern Kingdom during the time the nation of Israel, was divided into Northern (Israel) and Southern (Judah) kingdoms. She uses her control over Ahab to turn him away from God (Yahweh), and toward the worship of the Phoenician god, Baal. Israel begins to backslide, and the Hebrews are led into idolatry, sexual immorality and they become subject to tyranny.
Her fater,King Ethobaal,was responsible for fertility and livestock. He was from a background of idolatry and worship
of strange gods. Ahab,came from a god-fearing family; but, like his father,he chose to turn away from God. In 2KINGS 15:22-Jezebel was able to influence King Ahab. How did she do it?
Jezebel was referred to as a harlot who utilized witchcraft.
Jezebel may remind us of of the woman in Revelation who sat upon the beast of seven heads and ten horns.
It is the Devil, Satan's job to keep people in darkness. (Remember: He is the Prince of the Power of the air). He blinds the minds of men from receiving the glorious Gospel of Christ! And, what happens when a person does receive Christ, and His Gospel? Answer: The devil will do all that he possibly can to trick a person to turn away from the Truth of the Gospel. Like as in the Garden. God warned Adam and Eve not to eat of the forbidden fruit. The serpent, most subtle and sneaky, was able to deceive Eve and she became disobedient toward God. Do you suppose that this was the first incident that the devil tried to get a person to disobey God? He would take the first opportunity to take Adam down. Why Adam? Because Adam was the first man; or, because the devil was probably unsuccessful upon trying to bring Adam down, so he turned to Eve. Adam might have said something like: "It is spoken....I am not going to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,'lest I die!" Satan was not able to bring Adam down, so as tricky and subtle as he is, (remember: he can also appear as an angel of light), he might have come in disguise. He would come and approach him
in a way that you don't even know it was him.
So then, he would go to the woman. And, in comparison to the man, according to the Word of God, man is supposed to be the stronger and, the woman the weaker vessel. Eve was deceived, bewitched by the devil, who Jesus says is: the Father of Lies, a murderer from the beginning.
Man did not invent witchcraft, sorcery, divination, horoscopes etc.. In old biblical times, those who practiced such things, would be killed. Now, if you are a Christian, all you need to know is the Scriptures! Horoscopes will give you a big fat lie and take you down! Satan bewitched Eve. She gave the forbidden fruit to Adam, and he took and ate. Do you think that it happened with no discourse or argument between them? I believe that Adam took the fruit with no resistance. When we disobey God, well...here's what happened. Scripture says, disobedience is as a spirit of witchcraft. And, stubborness as iniquity, idolatry, worship of false gods etc..
In 1 SAMUEL 15:23 God tells Saul -"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of God, He has also rejected you from being king!" Here we have: rebellion, witchcraft, stubborness and iniquity. If we reject God's Word because disobedience and stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry, I ask you: how does this apply to us who are 'born-again?' What about from a place or office of authority? Or, what about the ministry? If I, as your Pastor disobey God, and all of a sudden I have sinned and suppose that sin is the spirit of witchcraft.
How many folks would want a witch or warlock (a male witch) for a Pastor?? No way!
The word "witch" in Hebrew means: "to whisper a spell,"
to enchant or practice magic. In other words, a sorcerer.
Webster's dictionary defines a witch as: a woman practicing sorcery, usually through a medium or aided demonic, unclean spirits or one who casts spells. A warlock is defined as:
A male practicing witchcraft. Both a male or female can be guilty of practicing witchcraft.
In the Book of Galatians, Paul questions the Galatians: "Who has bewitched you?" When Eve took of the forbidden fruit, she disobeyed God. Who is of disobedience? Answer: the Devil is. Immediately, Eve took on the nature of the devil. And, for that reason, every human being takes on the 'fallen nature' at birth.
Everyone of us were born with the nature of the devil! For that reason, we see innocent babies and toddlers, when you question them about something that they did that might have been wrong or dangerous for them, what kind of answer to we often get from them? Yes... quite often they will lie to us. Whoever taught them to lie? They didn't have to be taught to lie. It is their 'fallen nature,' the nature of the devil. In JOHN 3:16, God has an answer for the 'fallen nature.' "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior; and, become a partaker of God's divine nature. 2Pe 1:4 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." Eve eats of the forbidden fruit, takes on the nature of the devil, turns to Adam and says: "Take a bite." Adam thinks to himself:
"Ummm...would I rather spend the rest of my life with a monkey? Either this fruit or the monkey!...No way! So, he takes a bite!
Remember: God took a rib from Adam and created the woman.
When Adam awoke, he saw the woman, and said..."WOW! She is just the one that I want to spend my life with!!"
Could Eve have used a little stubborness? Could she have said,
"No God, leave me alone! I'd rather do it my way!" Stubborness is as iniquity and idolatry. We all know, God's Word is for us, and we should want to believe God and be obedient to His Word!
Webster's dictionary defines 'witch' as an old ugly woman..
However, Jezebel was an attractive beautiful woman. She was a worshipper of Baal. She used "manipulation" on her husband
King Ahab and cast a spell on him. Ahab turned to Jezebel's god; and, they began to worship the devil.
Jezebel was so evil and she loved to kill the prophets of God. Remember in 1Ch 16:22 "Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."
Now, the great Prophet of God, the Prophet Elijah, who had tremendous power and favor from God; yet, he was so fearful of Jezebel! And, as we read of Jezebel, we see that she wore the pants in her house!
Now, HUSBANDS, in order to have peace in your house, do you have to always 'give in' to your wife? Watch out! Could there be some "manipulation" working here? Perhaps it might have taken many years to develop.
However, LISTEN UP here HUSBANDS...This is the Biblical order: JESUS, husband, wife and children. (from the oldest to the youngest). Again, let me repeat: the BIBLICAL ORDER in God's Word is: JESUS, husband, wife and children.(from the oldest to the youngest). Remember:the Word of God tells us: the woman is the weaker vessel. 1Pe 3:7 "Likewise,ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,and as being heirs together of the
grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
Husbands, if this is the case with you and your wife, you need to repent, for you are being disobedient to God! Some wives might say: "But, I respect my husband." (in the Lord)
Well... why am I talking on 'witches' and 'warlocks?" Maybe, because of Halloween? Answer: Not only for Halloween; but, for the spirit of witchcraft that is destroying so many homes!
Look at the divorce rate today! Even in the Christian communities! There's actually nothing happy about Halloween!
Those who sell the Halloween merchandise, they say are in more than a 10 Billion dollar business! Haunted houses, kid's Halloween costumes and accessories, sugar kicks for kids...do you think that the devil is not happy?? He is the destroyer! Happy Halloween? No way!!
Folks may say: "It's no big deal if you dress up like Satan or a witch. Satan is so subtle! Isn't that what the Word of God says? Satan wants to make his plan fun! Yea...let's have a party! That's what we so often hear. Anything that does not glorify God, I want nothing to do with it! We usually turn off the lights and evacuate the house on Halloween.
ACTS 8:9- We are warned not to fool around with Satan's tricks such as: Reading of tea leaves, psalm readers, fortunetellers, horoscopes, wigi boards etc.. We read here, how folks were bewitched by a certain man called Simon. Simon bewitched the people, making himself to be a servant (sorcerer, warlock) of the Most High. The whole place was bewitched! Folks would say: "This man is the great power of God!" (Acts 8:10)
In Acts 8:7-We read that these demons and unclean spirits were literally possessing the people!They were bewitched,demonized!
But, as we read on in ACTS 8:12- We read that Philip preached Christ to them! (Someone was whispering spells and caused some of these people to become paralyzed!) But, when Philip preached
the Gospel, the people were freed! And the people all saw this!
Simon claimed to be someone great and the people became bewitched and astonished by his sorceries for a long time. They
were under the bondage of Satan: crippled, under witchcraft etc.. and some were set free! There is Power in the Word of God!
The Word of God saved and delivered them from witchcraft!
ACTS 16:16-18- We see the Power in the Name of Jesus when Paul cast out a spirit of divination that was possessing a young girl. Paul cast out the unclean spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, and the spirit came out the same hour! Yes, there is
POWER in the name of JESUS!! Take the Word of God, and examine
it yourself. See if there is any evidence that there just might
be a manipulative spirit of witchcraft in your house. If a man
(in the Lord), is not the head of your house, it is a big indication that a great change needs to take place. If you disobey God's order, you are in sin! And, because you reject the Word of God by refusing to submit to your husband (in the Lord), God will also reject your office or whatever position of power or authority that God may have you serving in.
May we all be obedient to God's Word and God's order for our lives. God says that His commandments are not burdensome.
1Jn 5:3 "For this is the LOVE of God, that we KEEP his commandments: and his commandments are NOT grievious."
Lord bless you and yours!
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