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Greetings,
The ministry of Elijah, as it is recorded in 1 Kings, is seen as one of “binding” and “loosing”. Israel was found in a condition of sin, being further “seduced” and “witch-crafted” into abominable practices before God by Jezebel, the “queen mother” of Israel, in that she was the wife of the king, Ahab. She should have been a righteous, covered woman, but she, like the meaning of her name (her name means – unmarried, chaste) was an “uncovered” woman. She functioned out from under authority, out from the area of her responsibility. Her manipulative activity served to bring pagan practices to the nation of Israel. She seduced the nation of Israel to seek a relationship with things that satisfy the desires of the flesh and self, rejecting a covenant connection and desire for God and His ways.
The nation of Israel was intended to be a godly nation. Ahab as the king of Israel should have been a godly king. Jezebel should have been a righteous, godly woman, as the wife of the king, but she was not. She was an “uncovered” woman. She didn’t walk under the authority of her husband. She usurped his authority and became the head of the house of Israel. Ahab just simply gave up his responsibilities and authority and followed along at the wishes of Jezebel.
Jezebel was the flesh embodiment of a “controlling, manipulating spirit” that embraces the fleshly needs of men or the self-seeking needs of women as the source of prophetic voice. As a result of her seductress activities all of Israel was led into deception and idol worship. God wanted to fix the situation, so He moved on Elijah by His Spirit to bind up the blessings of God upon the earth, in 1 Kings chapter 17, in an attempt to turn the hearts of the people of Israel back to God. God’s principle is that “whatsoever is bound on earth is also bound in heaven”. By the mouth of the prophet Elijah, and by his fleeing actions that followed, the earth was bound from receiving the blessings of heaven. There was to be no rain or dew found in the land of Israel, both symbolic of the spiritual life and blessings of God. For 3 ½ years Elijah went into hiding. He was bound by God, not by Jezebel. Jezebel did not bind Elijah! God ordained Elijah to be bound! God ordained the prophetic office and the prophetic ministry to be bound for 3 ½ years in order to deal with the sin of Israel. That sin was a connection to things that satisfy the flesh instead of an intimate connection to God and His life-giving authority.
After a period of 3 ½ years the word of the Lord came again through the prophet Elijah to loose the blessing of God through the open display of God’s power upon Mount Carmel, as it is described in 1 Kings chapter 18. The display of God was awesome on Mount Carmel and the prophets of Asherah and Baal were slain. In a time of drought, Elijah poured out water to loose the blessing of God upon the earth. The loosing of water (rain) came about through the acceptance of Elijah’s sacrifice of water by the one true God of heaven and earth; the God who answers by fire!! Now that there had been a “loosing” upon the earth there was an “inevitable loosing” which had to take place in heaven.
1 Kings 18:46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
The name Jezreel means, “God sows”. Elijah had just loosed on the earth. The Scripture teaches that “whatever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven”. This was a time where Elijah should have been confident in the Lord. Elijah had sown on Mount Carmel; therefore, he should have known that God would sow the release in heaven. It was now time to receive the “loosing” of God from the heavens.
1 Kings 19:1 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.”
Jezebel was the flesh embodiment of a spirit of control and intimidation sent to destroy the loosing power of the prophet. She came against the prophet after a great ministry of “loosing”. Seasons of change and increase in the earth are resisted by the spiritual power of Jezebel. Authority brings life, but control and manipulation will restrain that life to some season of creation. Holding on to a season of creation will resist the unfolding season of the Creator. The spirit of Jezebel is a deceiving spirit. It is a seductive spirit. It is very deceiving and inviting to those who resist a path of faith. The spirit of Jezebel comes in the name of prophecy, but it is a prophecy for the will of mankind and creation and not the will of God. It is a voice invoking self-seeking wisdom for tomorrow. It is a spirit that seeks to bind the earth to a season of the past. It is a season of natural sight, fear, and bitter roots. This is not a day to grasp unto the things of the past. It is not a time to hold unto our hurts. It’s not a time to hold unto the pain. It’s not a time to hoard our pleasures. The power of resurrection life is only seen through the power of “release”. Unless there is a death there cannot be a resurrection life! Unless there is a releasing of the things that we have, we cannot receive the increase of what God has! It is important that we remain in the ministry of “loosing” in every season of birthing in the earth. The river of God’s life is constantly flowing through the nations.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
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