There's so many teachings on Jezebel... but how about Abigail?
Jezebel...
Voice of dysfunction
Speaks to the clown in you
Rejects the Lord
Witchcraft
Challenges boundaries
Glorify self
Rebellious
Abigail...
Voice of discernment
Speaks to the king in you
Fears the Lord
Wisdom
Creates boundaries
Glorifies
God Submissive
2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb. (1 Samuel 25:2-3)
Abigail was a woman of good understanding who married Nabal. Nabal was evil & his name means fool.
4 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 5 David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. (1 Samuel 25:4-5)
10 Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my [c]meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” (1 Samuel 25:10-11)
David sent men to go check on Nabal & offer peace, but Nabal answered in a way that allowed David to want to go to war with him.
14 Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he [d]reviled them. 15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. (1 Samuel 25:14-15)
When David wages war against them, Abigail responded wisely.
She knew how to speak & respond to a king.
23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. (1 Samuel 25:23)
As Abigail saw David, she responded with wisdom & peace. And David was impressed.
32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! 33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. (1 Samuel 25:32-33)
Learn to be a woman like Abigail who knew how to stop warfare & speak to a king!
10 Characteristics of Jezebel
#1 High level witchcraft - control, intimidation, manipulation. (1 Kings 18:4)
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? (Galatians 3:1)
Jezebel operates out of the spirit of witchcraft.
#2 Causes fear (1 Kings 19:1-2)
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” (1 Kings 19:1-2)
After Elijah won the battle at mount Carmel & slayed all the Baal prophets... Jezebel sent a threat his way.
#3 Seduction & sexual immorality
20 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. (Revelation 2:20)
#4 No repentance (Revelation 2:20)
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. (Revelation 2:21)
#5 Loves attention & power
#6 Take control of weak leaders who lack discernment.
31 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 worshiped him. (1 Kings 16:31)
#7 Wolf in sheep's clothing.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15)
#8 Heavy on demonic wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. (James 3:13-15)
#9 Works of the flesh
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, (Galatians 5:20)
#10 Idolatry
metaphor: deceptions & seductions of idolatry
5 steps to be transformed in Christ...
1. Repentance
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
2. Seek God
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
3. Word of God 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
4. Know who you are in Christ
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
5. Increase discernment
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (Jude 1:20)