THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING A JEZEBEL IN THE CHURCH

First of all, in order for you to have the evil spirit of Jezebel, you must be a woman! Why is this?

Jesus made this very clear while admonishing the church of Thyatira. He told them: 

“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray.” Revelations 2:20 NLT

Here is Jesus specifically emphasizing the word “THAT”; you are permitting “THAT WOMAN” – that Jezebel, that is because Jesus was referring to the infamous wicked woman ‘Queen Jezebel’ from the Old Testament days, who was known for undermining the authority of her husband King Ahab, by controlling and manipulating him and taking over his leadership. (See 1. Kings 21)

The reason the Jezebel Spirit only pertains to women is because men have been given natural authority from God, it’s not something they would need to fight to get, they already have it as the Bible says, “But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” 1. Corinthians 11:3 NLT

Women, on the other hand, have not been given that same authority, and they would need tools to try to take that position of leadership that the man has. This is where the Jezebel Spirit comes in. A demon will come to a woman presenting different tools she can use to gain power over the man. 

These tools are, among many others: manipulation, control, domination and seduction. For a wounded or scorned woman, these tools come as a temptation she cannot resist, and she grabs them, and starts using them. This is the moment she opens the door to become possessed by the demonic spirit that promises to provide her with everything she needs to accomplish her goal. She may or may not even be aware of what a devastating spirit she has just welcomed into her life.

When a man seems to be using some of the same tools as the Jezebel woman does, it is not because he has the Jezebel Spirit, but rather a power-hungry spirit that comes from being an extremely wounded individual, who has most likely been abused in one way or another and need to control and manipulate his circumstances out of fear of being hurt again.

Secondly, in order to be a woman operating in the Jezebel Spirit in the realm of the church, you need to be able to teach people to commit sexual sin and make them idolize and worship you and lead them away from a relationship with Jesus Christ. To do that, they must follow your false teachings (deeper truths,’ as they are called—depths of Satan, actually). (See Revelation 2:20+24)

Thirdly, to have the Jezebel Spirit, you must be a narcissist, someone who is not able or willing to admit any wrongdoing. You think you are never wrong and therefore you will never repent or take any ownership! As Jesus said it: “I gave her time to repent, but SHE DOES NOT WANT to turn away from her immorality.” Revelation 2:21 NLT

SNIPPET OF MY UPCOMING NEW BOOK, “IS YOUR PASTOR A SHEPHERD?”

My experience as a travelling minister for over 25 years to hundreds of churches all over the world has been overall very negative. The Bible speaks about many of the exact same wrong things I have encountered in the churches. 

Here are some examples:

Pastors, who in their greed make up clever lies of sowing seeds in exchange for financial breakthroughs and healing, only to get hold of people’s money. (See 2. Peter 2:3)

Pastors, who instead of caring for the congregation that God has entrusted them and making sure to be a good example of a true humble follower of Jesus Christ to them, instead control every aspect of the members’ lives - including their finances, by obligating them to pay tithes (10% of their income) and special offerings. Those who don’t tithe will be excluded from any ministering function in the church, because they are not seen as “faithful.” (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

Pastors, who are preaching with deceit, impure motives, and trickery. They try to win you with flattery, pretending to be your friend just to get your money! (See 1. Thessalonians 2:3+5)

Pastors, who give special attention and a good seat to the rich person who comes into their church dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, while to the poor person, who is dressed in dirty clothes, they say, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor.” (See James 2:2-4)

Women pastors, who teach men and have authority over them, contrary to what the Apostle Paul instructed the church: “I do not let women teach men or have authority over them.” 1. Timothy 2:12 NLT

On several painful occasions, I have also experienced pastors, who love to be the leader, refusing to have anything to do with me and my wife and instead make up evil accusations against us for no reason at all. Not only do they refuse to welcome us, they also tell others not to help us! And if they do help us, these pastors kick them right out of the church! (See 3. John 1:9-10)

Sadly, most of the pastors I have dealt with do not have the gift, the calling, or the qualifications to be a shepherd - a true pastor! Many, who call themselves pastors, have no business shepherding people because their actual gift is that of a teacher, prophet, evangelist or other! Only those whose gift is to be a pastor (including the apostle, who operates in all the gifts) should be shepherding. If a man is pastoring without the specific gift of a pastor or apostle, he will not be able to lovingly shepherd/care for the people, but will instead end up wounding them! It is no wonder there are so many dysfunctional churches out there.

Here are the qualifications a pastor (also called a bishop) must have:

“He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?

He must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.” 1. Timothy 3:2-7 NLT

A pastor must care for the flock that God has entrusted to him. He must watch over the people willingly, not grudgingly—not for what he will get out of it, but because he is eager to serve God. He should never lord it over the people assigned to his care, but lead them by his own good example. (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

     

  

WARNING: BE AWARE OF JUST SUBMITTING TO A CHURCH LEADER | By Edwin Christiaan

The church, or the Body of Christ, today is split and fractured into literally countless denominations, fellowships, associations, and the like. Many of them will not allow fellowship with a brother or sister from another church or denomination. Many pastors, church leaders, and ministers tend to be very judgmental and look down their noses at others, who do not belong to the same group as they do. They are proud and arrogant. Too many are prone to “judge their brother” because of doctrinal errors on minor points (or what some might call “major points”), when they themselves have major problems with attitudes, hidden sins, and a wrong spirit. They control the flock with false teachings and doctrines, fleecing them financially, and in doing so, these leaders cause major wounds and hurts in the people!

So, before you commit or submit yourself to a church and its leader or leaders and support them financially, it is important that you should follow these guidelines:

·      First of all, a church leader or pastor must be a man and not a woman! (See 1. Timothy 3:1) Why? Because the Bible does not allow women to teach men or have authority over them!  (See 1. Timothy 2:12)

·      Secondly,

“A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall!” 1. Timothy 3:6 NLT

·      Thirdly,

“A church leader or pastor’s life must be above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.  He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.  He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.  For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?” 1. Timothy 3:2-5 NLT

·      Furthermore, a church leader must care for the flock of God that is entrusted to him. He is supposed to watch over it willingly, not grudgingly — not for what he will get out of it (moneywise), but because he is eager to serve God. He should never control the people assigned to his care, but lead them by his good example. (See 1. Peter 5:2-3)

·      A church leader should never impose the Old Testament Law of Tithing on the people, obligating them to pay 10% of their income, and in doing so, binding them to his church or ministry. Why? Because the Bible clearly says in the New Testament that, 

^“You must each decide in your heart how much to give!” 1. Corinthians 9:7 NLT

And,

“On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned!” 1. Corinthians 16:2 NLT

·      A church leader must preach the word of God! He must be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. He must patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching, leading the people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ! (See 2. Timothy 4:2)

·      A church’s leaders’ responsibility is to equip the people to do God’s work and build up the church, the body of Christ! (See Ephesians 4:12)

ONLY if a church leader or leaders pass the above qualifications, can you obey them joyfully and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your soul, and they are accountable to God. (See Hebrews 13:17)

The Bible says that you should,

“Remember your leaders who first taught you the word of God! Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and trust the Lord as they do.” Hebrews 13:7 NLT

It also says,

“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.” Galatians 6:6 NLT

And furthermore that,

“Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!” 1. Timothy 5:17-18 NLT

Conclusively, we should always be like the people of Berea in the Book of Acts, who searched the Scriptures day after day to see if what the apostles Paul and Silas were teaching was indeed the truth! (See Acts 17:11)