He is my Prince of Peace

Jezebel: A woman who is regarded as evil and scheming.

I was not feeling great this weekend so I ended up staying in Pensacola for church instead of driving out to Destin. Although, I missed DWC very much...God is always right on time and ministers to us wherever we go if we are open to His Word. I visited Pace Assembly of God last night. I really enjoy listening to Pastor Joey Rogers. He preached about the Spirit of Jezebel. I have not heard anything about this in the small amount of time being a Christian. So, I am now intrigued and look forward to learning more. I am certainly one who believes that EVERYTHING is a spiritual battle. Read Ephesians 6:10 in God's Word! I think knowing what we are against can help us defeat the enemy. Here are the notes from last night. As I review all of these notes, I have seen how closely the Spirit of Jezebel has been in my life and how I was affected by that spirit...physically and emotionally. Thank You GOD for opening my eyes and ears. As Pastor Joey stated, "We must have compassion on the person but do not tolerate the unclean spirit."
Here are the notes from Pastor Joey Rogers at Pace Assembly of God on "The Spirit of Jezebel."
NO ONE is immune to deception. When we are faced with differences in truth we should ask ourselves, "Is it true to Jesus? and Does it line up with God's Word?"

The Spirit of Jezebel is gender neutral. So, no...Jezebel does not have to be a WOMAN. Personally, as I reflect back in my own personal life, I have seen the Jezebel Spirit affect me through men.

Characteristics of a Jezebel Spirit:

1. Play religious games
2. Camouflages the desire to control with religious talk
3. Seeks teaching and leadership roles
4. Searches the church or organization for allies
5. Relentlessly points out problems in leadership-exaggerates
6. Pretends to be submissive and humble to gain advantage
7. Hides from true repentance
8. Manipulation is a way of life
9. Changes their opinions and contradicts themselves
10. Compromises as needed
11. Probe's peoples character for weak areas
12. Plays one group against another
13. Works friends against friends and destroys relationships
14. Claims to be misunderstood when confronted
15. No respect for authority

The satanic control factor of a Jezebel Spirit needs two things to operate:

1. An idol you cannot live without
2. Fear factor-feeling of loss, isolation, exclusion, failure-workds under the cover of darkness, it operates by suggestion and innuendo

Jezebel hates:

1. Prayer
2. The anointed man or woman of God
3. The Word of God

Symptoms of an attack from a Jezebel Spirit:

1. Confusion, distractions, discouragement, hopelessness, disunity
2. Paralyzing fear, anxiety, depression, despair
3. Unwillingness to resolve conflict-cannot be reasoned with based on the Word of God
4. Picking to pieces through gossip and negativity
5. Guilt or condemnation, shame or self-doubting, spiritual dullness
6. Physical and emotional exhaustion-can't sleep, no appetite and stress related pain

How to overcome an attack from a Jezebel Spirit:

1. Expose it
2. Confront it
3. Break ties with it-repent of sin
4. Seek the Lord in prayer and fasting
5. Find strength to stand against the spirit-through the Word of God
6. Must be filled with the Holy Ghost
7. Worship the Lord

As with most things in my life, I continue to seek wisdom and discernment so I can know which spirit I am dealing with in others and myself. We are given many opportunities to discern with "red flags" and sometimes a huge slap in the face but if we do not pay attention and put on the Armour of God then we set ourselves up for the enemy to come in to kill, steal and destroy. He is not our friend. He hates us and desires nothing more than to destroy our lives, marriages, friendships, careers, and callings in our lives. Put on the Armour of God. We are in a Spiritual battle.

I have wanted to blog for awhile but I have been hesitant (once again) due to emotions. I used to blog all of the time on Myspace and felt comfortable with expressing my thoughts. For many reasons, I feel that I have to watch what I write on Facebook/Blogger. I don't like it.

I have been thinking about people lately. Motives, actions, reactions, loyalty, expectations, honesty and character. I have thought about people currently in my life and those who were only a part of my life for a reason or season. Before I was saved (born again/new creation in Christ), I never trusted a person right away. It took me a very long time to trust...if at all. When I gave my life to the Lord, I think I started trusting to easily...especially other Christians. I am currently struggling with discernment. I used to think I had great discernment but now I think since I didn't trust anyone my discernment "appeared" to be right on. As a Christian, my mind has become clouded and it is more difficult for me to discern "Christians." It is easy to know when something is not right with those who are not saved. It is difficult (for me) to discern the works of the enemy when someone proclaims to live the life as a man or woman of God.

It is no secret that I had a very rough year in 2008 with my ex husband. Many witnessed the work of the enemy so I generally don't have to elaborate. I am not in the bad-mouthing business ...I state the facts and move on...so I will leave it there. I do bring him up only to say that I was "clouded" in my discernment due to the "man of God and christian mask." My ex is only one of several recent examples of clouded discernment when it comes to Christians.

I have also recently lost a "Christian" friend due to pride. Not pride on my side...all who know me know that I am not prideful. I will try to keep things peaceful as much as possible even to the point of apologizing/kissing up when I am not at fault. Are temper tantrums really necessary? I guess being a cancer survivor I look at things as life or death. If I am lying on my death bed....is this really going to matter? If not, I will do everything possible to make amends. Bottom line, I cannot change the hearts of man...only God can. Do people really desire to change?

I am certainly not blogging to slam christians because I AM ONE. LOL! I am a lover of Jesus. Some even call me a Jesus freak...I'm just sayin....ha ha ha. I am blogging for insight. Godly insight. I have thought the safest way to discern is to remove the "christian label" off of people that I meet so I am not clouded. I truly don't know. I don't ever want to be one of those people who turn away due to being hurt by the "church." I don't mean Destiny Worship Center. I mean my "brothers and sisters in Christ."

There are moments where I catch myself closing up. The problem with closing up is that I am to passionate about Jesus. I love Him and want to please Him so that means I love others. It is hard to love others when you have a wall closing yourself inside.

I guess the only thing to do is realize that people are still people despite where they are or where they are not with God. Nobody is perfect. The enemy will try to cause division and sometimes he will accomplish. At the end of the day (I sound like Pastor), all we can do is love on each other and pray for one another.

I have been walking through trials lately that have posed the question..."What is the motivation?" Is it self motivated or God motivated? Are people in my life showing their love without expectations? Expectations can kill friendships and relationships. Showing love with the wrong motivation can kill relationships.

It appears being a follower of Christ makes it harder to discern motives. I have been guilty of thinking ALL christians have the same heart condition. I married a man whom I would have never married if he didn't wear a christian mask. What saddens me the MOST is that people who wear christian masks or have wrong motivations cause the most damage to those who are seeking the Lord. The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of discernment but to a new believer "the mask" can be deceiving.

I say to all of those who are wearing a mask...being a pollyanna...STOP! The bible states that we must NOT make another stumble. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Allow your motivations to be those of God. Trust me...one would rather do without than to be receiving with motivations that are not of the Lord.