The Bible to me has more interesting stories than even Hollywood. Even more amazing is what Hollywood does with those stories–forget that for now–there is one particular story that is on my heart this morning.
That is the story of King Abah and Queen Jezebel in First and Second Kings. Jezebel is the picture of evil, selfishness, lust and power. Abah on the other hand allows whatever Jezebel wants and does what she tells him. Ahab is the king of indifference. Many things in the Old Testament of the Bible are physical stories that apply spiritually in the New Testament–and present day. This to me is one of those stories.
Many books have been written about the spirit of Jezebel, such as the one by Pastor Francis Frangipane, THE THREE BATTLEGROUNDS, that give good coverage of this spirit and how it works.
I want to suggest that both spirits are alive and well hovering and working in our country in our politics. I am not about to suggest where Jezebel is working but rather my concern is how active the spirit of Ahab is, especially in the Christian community. Ahab has a strong apathetic influence over minds, even entire areas (more like a principality than a spirit–check out Ephesians Chapter Six) to do nothing.
We Christians can be very critical…choosing not to like any candidate running for office and think in some bazaar way, not taking any action, not voting will in some way speak for us. Great balls of fire, something is better than nothing. Others Christians may say well, it is in God’s hands, we don’t need to do anything. (Ahab is really busy with dispensing those thoughts)
I am reminded of the Jewish people in the Old Testament telling Samuel they wanted a king to judge over them like all other nations. Samuel argued with them, God argued with them, but they contended and insisted they have a king. God relented and had Samuel appoint Saul King. Notice the peer pressure–“like all other nations”. (I Samuel 8:5) The kings they got from that time forward were evil and oppressive, not all, thank God but many!
We get the people we vote for and pray for. How many of us raise our children to go into politics and make a difference in strong moral, ethical and Godly ways? I know I didn’t.
Most of us do not have the time or the resources to raise up a candidate of our choice, but we sure can campaign, call, email, protest and vote. The spirit of Ahab dulls our minds to a true agenda of responsibility, and Jezebel jumps in with all the reasons we are too busy, too tired, too broke and actually just too preoccupied. You don’t believe that spirits do that—WOW, I hate to think we are void of social conscience all on our own.
Joan, a new friend, reminded me this week of ‘our condition’ and I thank her for that. Busy or not, and I am busy, I am going to start sending protests to Sacramento, because I live in California, against some of the new legislation. Also, to Washington, D.C. I have hesitated in the past because, I reasoned and Ahab agreed, they probably wouldn’t listen anyway. Happy horse-feathers, that’s a lousy excuse, Ahab and Jezebel probably toast champagne on that one!
More importantly I am going to pray for those running for office until the election, as well as those in office. Prayer the Bible says, will move mountains, and I know that to be true. I am not going to moan in my prayers or condemn but forgive and bless the men and women and their families. Not just the candidate I personally support but all the candidates–that God would move on behalf of this country, that the Holy Spirit will draw them into the wisdom and knowledge that will benefit all mankind, and bless our Nation.
Well, Ahab, Jezebel, your term in office for influencing me is over. I plan to take the authority Jesus died and was resurrected to give me, to push for better things, action not apathy, and Divine intervention in all the affairs of men. I pray for supernatural protection for myself, my family and all those who choose to join me in this effort to save the country we know as One Nation Under God!