When he introduced her as the person he would like to marry, I knew something was fishy somewhere. But I could not stop them. I had known her to be very manipulative. Not too long, the decisions around their lives and marriage confirmed my earlier thoughts. I know that the situation can still be salvaged if he truly mans up.

Friend, there is the reality of spirit influences in our world today. A born-again person cannot be possessed by a demonic spirit, but he can be influenced. Did you notice that the same Peter who confessed Jesus as the son of God later came under the influence of a wrong spirit? Thank God that Jesus was quick to discern and rebuke that spirit (Matthew 16:16-23).

The spirit of Jezebel is the spirit of witchcraft (1 Kings 21:1-16). You don’t have to be a witch to be a victim of witchcraft operations. There are seemingly simple and innocent acts that make can make you attractive to wrong spirits. Witchcraft spirit functions basically by intimidation and manipulation. It is often found around leaders and those in authority. It wants to use their platforms to perpetuate an agenda different from God’s.

Like Jesus, everyone in authority must be aware of the spirit ruling in the lives of those closest to them per time (Matthew 16:23). In the Old Testament, Jezebel was married to Ahab, and she used that platform to perpetuate her agenda (1 Kings 18:4, 21:5-16). Ahab and Jezebel are a classic example of a weak man married to a wicked woman. Weak leadership in the Church, home, government, work places, etc. are easy targets of Jezebels (Joshua 1:6-9).

As a lady, don’t take pride in marrying a weak man; you may end up as a Jezebel without knowing. Men should man up and lead with strength so they don’t allow a Jezebel in their homes without knowing. It takes a stronger man to marry a strong woman. What God is looking for in a leader is not first brilliance but strength. Most brilliant people are weak when it comes to matters of leadership and authority.

It takes grace and submission to the Holy Spirit to be an assistant anywhere. A lot of people do not intend to be Jezebels, but they lack what it takes to deputize without being manipulative. The devil was so close to authority in heaven that he fell victim to this spirit without knowing (Isaiah 14:12-15). Your best tools of influence around a senior leader are prayer, loyalty, and cordiality.

‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria