Jezebel Did Not Repent

“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.
[Revelation 2:19-25 NKJV]

Jesus, through the apostle John, addresses what is best described as an unrepentant seductive spirit -- a Jezebel spirit — which can quickly overtake an individual, then a church, if it is allowed to do so. And that is a crucial point in the letter, because you allow that spirit to take up residence. This spirit is the complete opposite of all that God wants His people to be; for despite their love, service, faith and patience, the Thyatirans had allowed themselves to be seduced away from God.

There is a heavenly pattern and a structure to these letters, so it is no surprise really to see that the Church at Thyatira is right in the centre of it. Jesus has His harshest words for those drawn away by Jezebel. Just see what the effect was of Ahab marrying her ...

And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshipped him.
Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
[1Kings 16: 31-33 NKJV]

Immediately on binding himself to Jezebel, Ahab found that his focus had changed, losing any sight he may have had of God; seduced away to worshipping a wooden image — wood being a type of the natural man without God. He threw in his lot with Baal (adversary; to have dominion over; master; etc)

The Lord has given us authority over such spirits, and it is for each one to claim that authority in Jesus’ name.

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
[Luke 10:17-20 NKJV]

... hold fast what you have till I come.

PRAYER: Lord, help us always to look to you and resist the seducer; the evil one who seeks to lure us onto the path to destruction; keeping us bound to the world. Give us the discernment, Heavenly Father, to recognise Jezebel and to claim Your authority in overcoming her imprecations. In Your great mercy, Lord, protect us, that we may indeed 'hold fast'.

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"Have Mercy On Me, O God" -- GRAHAM KENDRICK

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OSWALD CHAMBERS -- RUN TODAY'S RACE
Wednesday 2nd September 2020
"Perfect love casteth out fear," but to say "therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed," is only possible when the love of God is having its way.

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