OVERCOMING IMMORALITY IN THE CHURCH
THE SPIRIT OF IMMORALITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass...
that he took as wife Jezebel... and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. (1 Kings 16:30-31)
13 ...Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD... (1 Kings 18:13)
25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife
stirred him up. (1 Kings 21:25)
A. The Book of 1 Kings tells us about King Ahab, a king in Israel that did much evil in the sight of the Lord. Ahab’s
own notable evil was significantly intensified because of the influence of his wife Jezebel who “stirred him up” in his
wickedness. Together, they worshipped Baal, the foremost god of the Phoenicians, giving themselves to and promoting
sexual immorality, idolatry (seeking false or “illegal” supernatural power or encounters, also known as sorcery), and the
spirit of murder.
A. The simplest definition of the spirit of Jezebel is that which teaches, promotes, and seduces people to commit
immorality. Just as the lives of Ahab and Jezebel exemplify, sexual immorality is the context in which sorcery and murder
take root and grow in the heart of man.
B. Immorality injures the heart of God’s people. It defiles our spirit and grieves the Holy Spirit within us, keeping us from
connecting with Jesus in a deep way. It prevents us from operating in the prophetic, and entering into our inheritance in
the Lord.
I. THE SPIRIT OF IMMORALITY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire,
and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last
are more than the first. 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... 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations... 28 and
I will give him the morning star.”’ (Revelation 2:18-20, 26, 28)
A. The Jezebel in Thyatira lived hundreds of years after the Jezebel in the Old Testament, yet she operated in the
same spirit. The spirit of Jezebel is not exclusive to one gender. Both men and women can function in this spirit. It is not
just someone that is manipulative or has a strong personality.
1. Those operating in a spirit of Jezebel teach others that it is acceptable to commit immorality while claiming the
grace of God. They embolden others to remain in sin, without requiring them to repent. This is a false teaching on the
grace of God that is not supported biblically. God does extend His grace to us but only in the context of active repentance.
2. Those operating in a spirit of Jezebel use prophecy to seduce others to commit immorality. Two typical approaches of
seduction are:
a. Flattery: This type of seduction uses prophecy to bolster another’s ego. Their guard is brought down by the
pleasant and even grandiose things that are prophesied about them.
b. Threats and warnings: This type of seduction uses prophecy to frighten another with impending trouble or
consequences. For example, they may be told that freedom in an area of struggle is so impossible that it will take a
special “spiritual” (sexual) union in order to get a breakthrough.
B. Though Jesus commended the church in Thyatira for their works––their love, service, faith, and patience—He
also rebuked two groups of people within the church for their involvement in immorality. He urges both groups to repent
so that they may enter into the destiny He has for them.
1. Jesus reproved those who were actually involved in sexual immorality. This included both those who were
seductively teaching others and those who were following their instruction.
2. Jesus also reproved those who were not directly involved in sexual immorality yet who were silent on the issue,
thus “tolerating” it. Immorality was allowed to flourish in their midst, unchecked even by those in authority. It grew to
such an extent that Jezebel was actually an accepted teacher and prophetess in the church.
C. Jesus gave the church in Thyatira three descriptions of Himself. These were to encourage and help them overcome
and to put away all forms of immorality.
1. “Son of God” describes Jesus in His deity. While it is true that Jesus is fully man and fully God, He emphasized that
He was the One to whom they could come for the supernatural power they needed to overcome immorality. The power
of the spirit of Jezebel was, and is, no match for the omnipotence of God.
2. Jesus is also the One with eyes like a flame of fire. He is the One that is able to set our hearts free from the spirit
of immorality. His eyes of fire awaken love in our hearts, empowering and motivating us to walk in holiness.
3. Jesus’ feet are described as fine brass. We who desire to overcome can have confidence because Jesus is
committed to exercising His authority over the spirit of Jezebel (treading upon it). He will bring the spirit of immorality
under subjection and into judgment. Though the spirit of Jezebel thrives now, it will not long prosper. There will come
a day when it will be openly judged and destroyed before the nations of the Earth.
D. When Jesus spoke to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3, He was preparing them for both the great revival
and the great trouble they would encounter––the events spoken of in the remainder of the book of Revelation. These
events would not be ultimately fulfilled in their generation, but in the generation in which the Lord returns, thereby making
His message to these churches applicable to us.
E. Satan’s strategy with the church of Thyatira is the same for the Church in the earth in the generation in which
Jesus returns. Satan seeks to place immorality as a stumbling block in the midst of this generation because he knows
it will minimize the Church’s love for God, and their impact in the earth (the First and Second Commandments).
F. Much of today’s media and entertainment industry is being used to convey the spirit of Jezebel throughout the Earth.
This is one of the most, if not the most, substantial instruments of the spirit of immorality in the Earth today.