Here’s an excerpt from Chapter 7 of my new book, “The Heart of the Prophetic.”

Now bear with me for a moment while we compare love, edification, comfort and exhortation to control, one of the devil’s ways of perverting the purpose of prophetic ministry. To control is to exercise restraining or directing influence over, or to have power over another person. Prophets need to exercise self-control through the power of the Holy Ghost, but have no business seeking to control anyone else. Yet, I’ve seen a few too many prophets’ ministries sidetracked by this spirit, which is commonly called Jezebel.

Jezebel gained her reputation as an enemy to the prophets of God in the Old Testament era. While dogs devoured the wicked Queen Jezebel, make no mistake, her spirit is alive in New Testament times. Indeed, Queen Jezebel is infamous for her antics in the Book of I Kings. Jezebel is charged with murdering many prophets and cutting off the voices of others that fearfully hid in caves (I Kings 18:4, 13). The Book of Revelation exposes this spirit’s operation in the New Testament age as one that “calls herself a prophetess,” to teach and seduce the Lord’s true prophets with lust and idolatry (Revelation 2:20).

Jezebel’s Revenge on Elijah

The spirit of Jezebel is still targeting the spirit of Elijah. In other words, the false prophetic, controlling, manipulative spirit is on the hunt for those who carry the prophetic mantel. Queen Jezebel failed miserably in her attempt to kill the Prophet Elijah. Yes, he took the bait of fear and ran into a cave, but he remerged and went on to anoint others who would thwart the agenda of the wicked queen and ultimately take her out. That spirit, though, did not die. The spirit that was influencing Queen Jezebel, the spirit of control that we refer to as a Jezebel spirit today, never stopped pursuing those who walk in the spirit and power of Elijah.

In fact, in the New Testament we see that the spirit of Jezebel got a measure of revenge on the spirit of Elijah, at least temporally. You remember the scene. It was Herod’s birthday. Herodias’ daughter, Salome, danced for Herod and his guests. He enjoyed it so much he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked, up to half his kingdom (Matthew 14:6). Salome turned to her mother for advice about what to request. I can just see it now.

The Jezebel spirit that influenced Herodias whispered, “This is your chance! You can silence that voice that’s been exposing your sin. Ask for John the Baptist’s head!” And so it was. Herod, though grieved, kept his oath. John met with the gallows and Salome delivered the prophet’s head to her mother on a silver platter. We know the spirit of Elijah that rested on John was unharmed, but John could no longer carry that fiery, reforming prophetic mantle. Jezebel got a measure of revenge.

While Jezebel has not given up on her mission to cut off the prophetic voice, God’s mouthpieces are no longer ignorant to her devices. This powerful principality is now employing more subtle tactics in effort to corrupt the reformation. Yes, Jezebel continues to war against prophets, intercessors and whomever else is carrying the voice of God. Of course, Jezebel’s preference is to use you as a vessel or a eunuch. She wants to flow through you to do her dirty work. If she can’t flow through you, though, she’ll try to take your head as a trophy. Either way, Jezebel has carved out a monumental pothole that will not only hinder your accuracy, it will also lead you into divination.

Click here to learn more about The Heart of the Prophetic.