Ahab Strongholds and Binding Jezebel

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. (John 8:34 ESV)

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4 ESV)

Jesus shows us that committing repetitive sin binds us to the enemy, making us his slaves. This means it can seem as if we have little choice: we can’t help but to sin. When we do this, the enemy has power over us; He can also afflict us, because he owns us. This is what we refer to as a “stronghold” of the enemy.

Praise God that through the blood of Jesus, we can be set free. First, we must understand how we are sinning so that we can stop doing it and apply the blood of Jesus to our past sins. Jezebel is the one spirit that we must turn from and not operate in agreement with if we want to remove the effects of that sin:

Notwithstanding, I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works. (Revelation 2:20-23 AKJV)

This message is part of the prophecy concerning the return of Jesus, which applies to all Christians until Jesus has returned to rule and reign from Jerusalem. As discussed in the “Removing Jezebel” part of the “Persistent Attacks and Sickness” class, if you are in agreement with her, you will be cast into “great tribulation” until you cease operating under her influence. Ahab was the husband of Jezebel and was undoubtedly influenced by her, so let’s look at scripture concerning Ahab to determine what behaviors were in agreement with Jezebel.

And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him. (1 Kings 16:30-31 ESV Strong’s)

Ahab was a king in Israel who married Jezebel, a priestess of Baal. He worshiped and served this god, forsaking the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. As Jezebel often does, she led her husband into idolatry and worshiping other gods.

For there was no one who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab, incited by his wife Jezebel. (1 Kings 21:25 AMPC)

Those who have an Ahab stronghold will be pushed into action by those dominated by Jezebel. The very first and primary trait of an Ahab is attraction and submission to those dominated by a Jezebel spirit. This includes coming into agreement with manipulation and scheming, and siding with those dominated by her spirit.

1. Submitting to those under a Jezebel spirit, being pushed into wrong action because of them.

He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria. And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. (1 Kings 16:32-33 ESV Strong’s)

This rebellious king did more than worship another god: he built places for others to worship them. An Asherah is an idol of Baal’s wife, whom we would refer to as the spirit Jezebel. Is it any wonder that this spirit had such power in Israel at that time?

Someone with an “Ahab” spirit will idolize others and easily fall prey to someone with a “Jezebel” spirit. Their focus will be on a person, rather than Jesus. We can place two items as the primary traits or characteristics of an Ahab stronghold.

2. Idolizes people: focusing on other people instead of Jesus

3. Creates idols: placing items above God

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” (1 Kings 17:1 ESV Strong’s)

Idolatry and idols place a barrier between us and God. The Holy Spirit is Living Water that flows from every Christian. When someone has an Ahab stronghold, one of the first consequences is that the Holy Spirit will “dry up” in our lives. He will no longer flow through us to others.

Ahab was the king of Israel. The entire country experienced a drought when the leadership was following Jezebel. We can add this as a trait to look for, not only in our lives, but in ministries.

4. Dry, lack of the Holy Spirit

And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth. Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred men of the LORD’S prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here:”’ and he will kill me.”

And Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.” So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. (1 Kings 18:11-16 ESV Strong’s)

We can learn so much from this interaction between God’s prophet and a servant of the king. When Elijah told Obadiah to go and tell Ahab that he wanted to talk to him, Obadiah was afraid to do as Elijah requested. When others tried to help Ahab capture Elijah, he would kill those who did not deliver what was promised. Those under a Jezebel-Ahab leadership will fear talking to the leaders who have anger issues. A Jezebel who is not a leader but subordinate to them will often try and provoke fear of meeting with the leader so that they can have more control.

Obadiah hid the faithful prophets of God and provided for them when Jezebel tried to kill them. This shows us that those under Ahab/Jezebel leadership may still be working for God.

5. Others fear you

   1. Either because of your anger issues or through Jezebel seeking control

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?

And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.” (1 Kings 18:17-18 ESV Strong’s)

A prophet is someone who is a “mouthpiece” of God. They bring messages and wisdom from God. Those who have an Ahab stronghold are in rebellion against God’s ways and will see prophets as troublemakers or someone who “stirs up trouble.” They will fail to recognize that they are speaking from God.

When trouble comes to someone entertaining an Ahab spirit, they won’t want to correct where they have gone wrong. Instead, they will blame others. They may blame leadership for making mistakes, misguiding them, or not doing enough.

When the enemies of Israel mocked God, He gave them into the hands of Ahab’s army, but he didn’t completely follow through.

And he said to the king, “Thus says the Lord: Because you have let go out of your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.” And King [Ahab] of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria. (1 Kings 20:42-43 AMPC)

When Ahab failed to kill the king who attacked Israel, there were consequences. When God’s prophet brought a message of correction, instead of repenting as David did, he became sullen and resentful. This attitude will escalate even further:

And Ahab [already depressed by the Lord’s message to him] came into his house [more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would eat no food.

But Jezebel, his wife, came and said to him, “Why is your spirit so troubled that you eat no food?” (1 Kings 21:4-5 AMPC)

This takes “pouting” to a whole new level. The king sulked in his room and refused food until he got the attention of Jezebel, who then had Naboth killed to obtain the vineyard. Fit-throwing is a trait of Ahab, whether through withdrawing or tattling. This may be disguised as being overly “sensitive.”

[Ahab] king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man, Micaiah son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good for me, but evil.”

The messenger who went to call Micaiah said to him, “Behold now, the prophets unanimously declare good to the king. Let your answer, I pray you, be like theirs, and say what is good.”

But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will speak what the Lord says to me.” (1 Kings 22:8, 13-14 AMPC)

Prophets speak only what God says: they have no choice whether the message is good or bad. An Ahab spirit will take everything personally, viewing correction or redirection as a personal attack rather than an opportunity to grow. They don’t want to hear bad news, even if it is true!

6. Rejects prophets of God who are bringing correction

7. Unable to receive correction, they will blame others or become sullen and resentful.

   1. They may even throw a fit until their behavior is noticed by others.

   2. “Sensitive” to bad news and takes redirection as an attack because they stubbornly want to go in the direction they choose.

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” (1 Kings 19:1-2 ESV Strong’s)

When an Ahab is submitted to Jezebel, they will run to that person to “tattle” or “keep them informed” of what is happening. When they are attacked, they are not the ones who counterattack; instead, they will report to someone who will attack on their behalf.

8. Reporting to a person who will attack your enemies with great harshness.

These are the basic traits of an Ahab stronghold. To get free, you must stop coming into agreement with Jezebel and following after those dominated by her spirit. The prayer to get free is much like the Jezebel prayer, with one minor change:

1. Confess that I have come into agreement with a Jezebel spirit by stating any way you have entertained Jezebel

2. State your desire to agree with the Holy Spirit and no other spirit.

3. Ask forgiveness for words, actions, and support given to those under the influence of Jezebel.

4. Confess for your ancestors if they, too, have come into agreement and been dominated by those under a Jezebel spirit.

5. Plead the blood over all these actions, yours and your ancestors.

6. Ask the Holy Spirit to let you know if you are listening to a spirit other than Him.

Binding Jezebel

Once you have come out of agreement with Jezebel, it is up to you to remain free of the traits or to keep from submitting to them. If family members operate with this spirit, it can be quite challenging not to come into agreement with them. Praise God; He has sent a Helper. Before you interact with someone whom the Lord is still freeing from Jezebel, simply state:

Holy Spirit, Greater is He who is in me than He who is in the world. I ask that you bind any spirit from speaking to me today through (name of the person).

If the person still displays the traits of Jezebel, it means there is an open door in your own life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. This prayer is very effective. You will see that people will forget what they are to say or are unable to talk when you bind this spirit.

• We can bind Jezebel from speaking to us:

  • on a daily basis.

  • after we are no longer operating in the traits or tolerating them in others.

• Once the spirit is removed, it may come looking to have its place back.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he said, I will return to my house from where I came out. And when he comes, he finds it swept and garnished. Then goes he, and takes to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Luke 11:24-26, Matthew 12:43-45 AKJV)

Freedom is often a process like peeling an onion; it comes off in layers. We must be diligent in keeping this spirit from our lives. Removing Jezebel is only the beginning of the journey to total transformation and healing, which may occur in the months following the Jezebel cleanse.