Don’t Be Like Jezebel sermon notes. Often when anyone in a church, especially a woman, gets on the wrong side of someone, they label the person “JEZEBEL.” It is worse than cussing her. She is a wicked woman. Even the Lord dislikes Jezebel. She is definitely a person to not be like.
DON’T BE LIKE
By Pastor Delbert Young
Don’t Be Like Jezebel sermon notes
Don’t Be Like Jezebel sermon notes
Some people told me last week, who had gotten the notes I gave out, that I did not say something they thought was important concerning DON’T BE LIKE ABSALOM. We talked about getting a root of bitterness out of a heart. I said uncover it and use the word of God – the sword of the spirit – to cut the root from the trunk and dig it out. However, I did not tell us how to do that. We do it by going to the person the root of bitterness is against (Mat 18:15). Absalom would have avoided so much sorrow by going to David and Amnon. The bottom line is to get out the root of bitterness. It is a cancer stealing years of life from YOU.
Scriptures: 1 Kings 16:31-33, Revelation 2:20, 1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 18:19, 1 Kings 18:21, 1 Kings 18:40, 1 Kings 19:1-2, 1 Kings 21:7, 1 Kings 21:14, 1 Kings 21:21-25, 2 Kings 9:7-10, 2 Kings 9:22, 24, 2 Kings 9:33-37, Revelation 2:20-23
Today I want to talk about DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL. Often when anyone in a church, especially a woman, gets on the wrong side of someone, they label that person “JEZEBEL.” It is worse than cussing someone. If a church teaches that makeup is a sin, the church will label women who wear makeup “JEZEBEL.” Jezebel characteristics are usually referenced as “The spirit of Jezebel” as are Absalom characteristics and others, i.e. “Spirit of Korah,” “Spirit of Saul,” etc. However, those are not accurate Biblical terms because those characteristics are not “Spirits.” They are negative aspects of temperaments not submitted to God. They are the flesh – carnal nature – at work. If you are familiar with our temperament study, of what temperament was Absalom? (Eagle)
Let’s learn about Jezebel. Jezebel stamped her name on history as one who takes advantage of situations and people for her own purposes. She was opportunistic, used people, revengeful, malicious, and cruel. Jezebel does not fear God or man, and God, after giving her opportunities to repent, will do away with her and all associated with her. DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL! Don’t be friends/associated with someone like JEZEBEL.
Interestingly, the story of Jezebel is divided into 5 sections: (1) Jezebel’s marriage; (2) Jezebel’s attempt to annihilate the people of God; (3) Jezebel’s killing of innocent Naboth; (4) Jezebel’s death; (5) Jezebel’s legacy.
(1) JEZEBEL’S MARRIAGE:
1 Kings 16:31-33 He {Ahab} not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, BUT HE ALSO MARRIED JEZEBEL DAUGHTER OF ETHBAAL KING OF THE SIDONIANS, AND began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.
Ahab not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam (counterfeit, false religion, man-made religion – removed God’s people from the truth – 1Ki 12:25-33), BUT(conjunction – connect that with) HE ALSO MARRIED JEZEBEL. AND (another conjunction – connect all that with) began to SERVE BAAL AND WORSHIP HIM… Ahab also made an ASHERAH POLE (top and limbs cut from a tree and the trunk carved with the image of Asherah and worshiped – “Totem Pole”). The Bible says God hates it – Deut 16:21, 22).
The entrance of Jezebel into Ahab’s life, as we will see, would be his demise. JEZEBEL URGED AHAB TO DO EVIL (1Ki 21:25). That is what Jezebel does. Ahab knew Jezebel was not of God, BUT (there is that conjunction) he married her and allowed her influence into his life anyway. This took him further from God and brought God’s judgment upon everything in his life. My point is we recognize the evil characteristics of Jezebel BUT allow them and their influence into our lives anyway.
Revelation 2:20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: YOU TOLERATE that woman Jezebel…
Again, this is not a “finger-pointing” series. The question is what has gotten into your own heart because you tolerate Jezebel’s influence? What idol worship did she bring into your life? Don’t try to tell me you do not have some idols – money, success, greed, lust, drugs, alcohol, family (spouse, children, grandchildren), food, etc. You already have some sins of Jeroboam going on – things that take you away from God’s truth (takes you away from reading his word, praying, church services, giving, ministering). DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBELand let her influence bring God’s judgment on your everything.
Jezebel legalized BAAL worship to God’s people. There were possibly a hundred types of Baal gods (1Ki 18:18). The Baal that God’s people constantly struggled with was a Baal worship that would “…promote good yields of corn and grapes.” Baal worship supposedly made the land fertile and crops productive. The Lord God told the people if they would obey his commands and worship him that he would take care of their crops (Deu 7:13; Deu 28). He also told them that if they did not, he would bring judgment on their fields and crops. We want God to bless our “fields and crops” – our life’s productivity. He told us he would if we would seek first the kingdom of God (Mat 6:33). BUT (conjunction), we allow Jezebel to urge us to worship Baal – Baal-Money, Baal-Business, Baal-Workaholic, etc.
Asherah/Ashtoreth was the principal female deity of Canaanite worship.
Asherah worship supposedly gave sexuality and fertility to humans, livestock, and all creatures. It targeted the carnal appetites of sensuality and pleasure. Asherah worship came all the way through history and attaches today to what we call Easter – Easter (Asherah) bunnies, Easter (Asherah) eggs, chicks, etc (fertility, reproduction). She came against the Lord God who promised to bless the fruit of the womb (Deu 7:13) of those who served and obeyed him. Also, Asherah worship frequently moved to temple prostitution (both male and female), the use of pornographic pictures – most images of Asherah are of a naked woman, etc. Jezebel influences hearts today in a big way through our sexuality – porn, prostitution, homosexuality, etc.
Jezebel has a tremendous influence on the hearts of people.
She targets your finances and prosperity with Baal. Also, she targets your sensuality and reproduction with Asherah. She is a powerful evangelist for her gods. Think about this. She persuaded nearly an entire nation for her gods. Jezebel was so effective and influential that she reduced the number who believed in and worshiped God to 7,000 (1Ki 19:18). Her marriage to Ahab gave her the platform needed to work her evil. When we marry her and let her into our hearts, we give her the platform she needs to work her evil in us.
(2) JEZEBEL’S ATTEMPT TO ANNIHILATE THE PEOPLE OF GOD:
As a challenge to and judgment on Ahab, Jezebel, and all worshipping Baal and Asherah, the Lord sent the prophet Elijah. Through Elijah, the Lord spoke a severe 3½-year drought on the land (1Ki 18:1-2). This was an “in your face” to Baal, the god of “fields and crops.” The fields and crops dried up. This was a direct hit on finances and prosperity and no amount of Baal worship could change it. It was also “in your face” to Asherah, the goddess of fertility and sexuality. Nothing was fertile and producing. Man and livestock died and no amount of Asherah worship could stop it. For 3½ years, neither dew nor rain came on Ahab and Jezebel’s world (1Ki 17:1).
I wonder sometimes when things dry up for people if Jezebel got in. I watch things dry up in lives and they never seem to realize that they are worshiping the wrong god. To God’s “in your face” insult to Jezebel’s gods, Jezebel retaliated by killing off God’s prophets.
1 Kings 18:4 While Jezebel was KILLING OFF THE LORD’S PROPHETS, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.
Jezebel was the first great instigator of persecution against the saints of God. Put her on the list of history’s and today’s terrorists. She attempted to annihilate the people of the Lord God. It came to a showdown between the Lord God through Elijah and Baal and Asherah through Jezebel’s false prophets. Elijah said,
1 Kings 18:19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.
Jezebel supported/fed her false prophets. Then, Jezebel trained four hundred and fifty pastors (i.e. prophets) of Baal and four hundred pastors (i.e. prophets) of Asherah. Next, Jezebel began her churches all over the land.
The “showdown” of God vs. Baal and Asherah took place on Mount Carmel (1Ki 18:21-40). It is fun reading if you have not read it. Read it in a modern translation to really get the “in your face” manner of the Lord God. Elijah said…
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? IF THE LORD BE GOD, FOLLOW HIM: BUT IF BAAL, THEN FOLLOW HIM…
The prophets of Baal and Asherah would offer a sacrifice on an altar to Baal. Next, Elijah would offer a sacrifice on a different altar to the Lord God. Whoever’s god consumed the sacrifices with fire would be God and the God followed by the people. Of course, Baal and Asherah could not respond. Our God through Elijah and his gift of fire not only consumed the sacrifice, but consumed the wood, the stones, the soil, and licked up the water in the trench (1Ki 18:38).
1 Kings 18:40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
The Lord God put an end to all Jezebel’s “pastors.” One would think that display on Mount Carmel would convince even the most deceived who was God. It had a major effect on Ahab, but Jezebel remained in her wicked ways.
1 Kings 19:1-2 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
Even after the powerful display and defeat of Jezebel’s gods, she refused to bow to the one true God. Jezebel feared neither God nor man. It did not matter what happened, Jezebel continues to attack and destroy God’s ordained ministries today. DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL!
Have you ever attacked, or maybe attempted to annihilate a child of God? Have you ever hacked someone to pieces with your tongue? I have not gotten to it yet, but, because of doing that, Jezebel died a horrible death and God annihilated her husband, her children, and grandchildren. DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL!
(3) JEZEBEL’S KILLING INNOCENT NABOTH:
Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth would not sell or trade his land. The vineyard was an inheritance from his parents (1Ki 21:3).
1 Kings 21:7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’LL GET YOU THE VINEYARD of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
Jezebel gave instructions to the elders (1Ki 21:8, 11) to ensnare Naboth in a lie and then stone him to death. The elders followed her instructions.
1 Kings 21:14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”
Interestingly, the elders reported to Jezebel instead of Ahab. Ahab got the vineyard. However, that violent evil act by his wife Jezebel was the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.” God sent Elijah to that vineyard.
1 Kings 21:21-25 I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel – slave or free… And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel… (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, URGED ON BY JEZEBEL HIS WIFE…)
The King James version says Jezebel stirred up. The NLT says influenced. Jezebel’s negative influence stirs things up and urges evil on. Ahab died because of Jezebel. All of Ahab’s and Jezebel’s children died because of Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel’s grandchildren died because of Jezebel.
So, have you ever found yourself stirring negative things up? Also, have you ever urged on something that would damage someone? Furthermore, have you ever manipulated, wished for, or perhaps even planned a person’s demise? That is Jezebel. If not dealt with, it will bring disaster on you. It will consume your descendants. It will devour you.
(4) JEZEBEL’S DEATH:
The Lord God avenged the death of his people. Basically, the Lord raised up a man named Jehu to dispose of Ahab’s house including Jezebel.
2 Kings 9:7-10 You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I WILL AVENGE THE BLOOD OF MY SERVANTS the prophets AND THE BLOOD OF ALL THE LORD’S SERVANTS SHED BY JEZEBEL. The whole house of Ahab will perish… As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her…
Jezebel had two sons, Ahaziah and Joram. Ahaziah fell through a lattice. The prophet Elijah told him he would die in his sick bed for his association with Baal, of course, put into him by his mother (2Ki 1:16). Joram died at the hands of Jehu.
2 Kings 9:22, 24 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of YOUR MOTHER JEZEBEL abound?” …Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot.
The heart is the problem. Certainly, Jezebel was the cause of the death of her own children. Jehu next targeted Jezebel herself. He found her and had her thrown from a wall.
2 Kings 9:33-37 “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot… But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands… On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh.
God made certain they could not find enough of Jezebel to bury. Though she worshiped Baal, the god of productivity, and Asherah, the goddess of sexuality and fertility, she was put to death by eunuchs – unproductive/un-sensual lives. Without a doubt, what a horrible end. DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL!
(5) JEZEBEL’S LEGACY:
You will understand this far better now.
Revelation 2:20-23 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You TOLERATE that woman JEZEBEL, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching, she misleads my servants into sexual immorality {Asherah} and the eating of food sacrificed to idols {Baal worship}. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, UNLESS THEY REPENT OF HER WAYS. I will strike her children dead…
The Lord has not changed. He deals with Jezebel today the same as he dealt then. When people tolerate Jezebel in their hearts and minds, it becomes a bed of suffering. Ahaziah, Jezebel’s oldest son, literally suffered and died in bed (2Ki 1:16). UNLESS WE REPENT OF HER WAYS…DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL. God will not tolerate it. Jezebel’s legacy is, at the mention of her name, one thinks of that which is manipulative, negatively influential, evil, cruel, and malicious. Be careful who/what you marry – get in bed with, let get in your heart. Never hack/annihilate a child of God. Leave Naboth – innocent people – out of your schemes. Do not cause God to take you out – REPENT OF HER WAYS! What is your legacy? When people mention your name, what image do they see? So, DON’T BE LIKE JEZEBEL!
Don’t Be Like Jezebel sermon notes
Don’t Be Like Jezebel sermon notes
Other Related Sermons:
Wicked Woman Jezebel sermon video audio notes
Wicked Women of the Bible Sermon Series video audio notes
Revelation Chapter 2, Churches, Son of Man, Angel of the Church at – Revelation video audio notes
Images of Easter – sermon video audio notes
Find Life and Relationships sermon
Also see:
A Dictionary of the Bible | Date: 1/1/1997 | Author: W. R. F. Browning
Wikipedia Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%60Ashtart