but this one thing I have against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, teaching and seducing my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat from the altar of demons.*
This is the Church of Thyatira, they have been established in the teachings of faith and love, "Knowing your works even also your love and faith and service and endurance, even so your latest works greater than the first," but they tolerate this prophetess Jezebel. We see Jezebel in the Old Testament, she married King Ahab and as Queen she led not only the king but most of Israel away from God. So lets look at the similarities between the two. We see a Spirit of control, spiritual forces enslaving the weak in faith to sexual immorality and eating from the altar of demons.
Spirit of control. Jezebel was from a foreign country, who entered the kingdom of God by marriage to King Ahab. In Malachi we see that Judah also commits adultery, divorces the Wife God has given him and marries the daughter of a foreign god, so most likely it is the same spirit. Of course the concept of Jezebel is that of a spirit which is not gender specific, a spirit of control and authority that teaches and seduces through demonic activity. The prophetess Jezebel has entered this Church claiming authority through a gift, one that should build up the Church. For this spirit to enter it must get a foothold through a position of influence and control, whether her influence is intentional or not, she is tolerated. So we see a common theme, both the Queen and Prophetess are in a position of authority. King Ahab tolerated the actions of the Queen, most likely succumbed to her sexual prowess, and this Church tolerates the prophetess, both are leading God's people astray.
Flee sexual immorality. All other sin a person does is outside the body, but the sexual immoral sins against his own body.*
Stronghold of sexual immorality. Jesus said it is not what goes in that defiles a person, but what comes from within.* Paul writes we are under the principle of Liberty, it is not an opportunity for the flesh but to serve one another in Love. All things are lawful but not beneficial and nothing strengthens the Church but faith that is active in love. Paul writes, all other sin is external, but sexual immorality is internal. Thus sexual immorality defiles a person. John writes of a sin that leads to death, would sexual immorality be such a sin? Why does it defile a person? Jezebel the controlling spirit is "teaching and seducing my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat from the altar of demons." The defiling of sexual immorality is related to that of eating from the altar of demons, it is the involvement of demonic activity. "For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?"*
Now then about the food sacrificed to idols we know a idol is nothing and that there is no God but one.*
Eating from the altar of demons. Paul writes that a weak brother can be defiled from eating meat sacrificed to demons. Now, does food or drink defile a person? Jesus said it is not what goes in that defiles a person, but what comes from within.* So what is defiling the weak brother? is it not that he is eating from the altar of demons? If my conscious is strong but my weak brother's is not then by my knowledge I wound his conscious. When I cause a brother to stumble I sin against Christ.* I do not serve my brother in love and break the principle of Love that operates within the principle of Liberty I walk in. Jesus warns of causing a child to stumble, what is done to the least of these His brethren is done to Him. We also see the warning to this Church, "beware I will throw her into a bed of suffering and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their ways."*
You can not drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, nor partake from the table of the Lord and the table of demons.*
There is no condemnation in Christ, none at all for the child of God whose sins have been forgiven. Sin is not counted against him, but as Paul writes whatever you obey you become a slave to. The issue is that sin weighs down, it enslaves, thus the one in sin does not walk in the Liberty in which Christ gives them, they walk in darkness, subjecting themselves to demons, defiling themselves. If someone is living in sexual immorality they have introduced a controlling spirit in the body. If a father commits sexual immorality he exposes demonic activity to his body and his family. The same concept applies to overseers in the Church, if a pastor walks in darkness, partaking from the table of demons, he subjects himself, his family, and the Body to controlling spirits.
Having been set free from sin, becoming slaves to righteousness.*
Paul writes that evil takes advantage through the carnal mind bringing the child of God into captivity to sin. Though the child of God has been set free he can be enslaved to sin, and in such he gives the devil a stronghold. We are not slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, so to be a slave to sin is a wretched state for the child of God, against his true nature. The gift of righteousness is by faith according to grace, so that grace reigns through righteousness, the fruit leading the child into sanctification which end is Life. Without sanctification in truth the child is not transformed in the mind and is under the influence of the evil one. So we see the importance of this reasonable service, a Church not focused on growth of its children doesn't produce the proper environment needed to grow. Growth will not occur under the law but under grace, so a Church using fear of punishment submits its children to controlling spirits of fear. The man struggling with sexual immorality can be "covered" by the church, he is not much of a threat, unless he boasts in it or it is deemed an act that would cast him over to Satan, like the man Paul confronts in the Corinth church, whose sexual immorality was incestuous. Much more important is the influence of a leader, this would subject the body to the same demonic activity.
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.*
Spirit of control. Jezebel was from a foreign country, who entered the kingdom of God by marriage to King Ahab. In Malachi we see that Judah also commits adultery, divorces the Wife God has given him and marries the daughter of a foreign god, so most likely it is the same spirit. Of course the concept of Jezebel is that of a spirit which is not gender specific, a spirit of control and authority that teaches and seduces through demonic activity. The prophetess Jezebel has entered this Church claiming authority through a gift, one that should build up the Church. For this spirit to enter it must get a foothold through a position of influence and control, whether her influence is intentional or not, she is tolerated. So we see a common theme, both the Queen and Prophetess are in a position of authority. King Ahab tolerated the actions of the Queen, most likely succumbed to her sexual prowess, and this Church tolerates the prophetess, both are leading God's people astray.
Flee sexual immorality. All other sin a person does is outside the body, but the sexual immoral sins against his own body.*
Stronghold of sexual immorality. Jesus said it is not what goes in that defiles a person, but what comes from within.* Paul writes we are under the principle of Liberty, it is not an opportunity for the flesh but to serve one another in Love. All things are lawful but not beneficial and nothing strengthens the Church but faith that is active in love. Paul writes, all other sin is external, but sexual immorality is internal. Thus sexual immorality defiles a person. John writes of a sin that leads to death, would sexual immorality be such a sin? Why does it defile a person? Jezebel the controlling spirit is "teaching and seducing my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat from the altar of demons." The defiling of sexual immorality is related to that of eating from the altar of demons, it is the involvement of demonic activity. "For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?"*
Now then about the food sacrificed to idols we know a idol is nothing and that there is no God but one.*
Eating from the altar of demons. Paul writes that a weak brother can be defiled from eating meat sacrificed to demons. Now, does food or drink defile a person? Jesus said it is not what goes in that defiles a person, but what comes from within.* So what is defiling the weak brother? is it not that he is eating from the altar of demons? If my conscious is strong but my weak brother's is not then by my knowledge I wound his conscious. When I cause a brother to stumble I sin against Christ.* I do not serve my brother in love and break the principle of Love that operates within the principle of Liberty I walk in. Jesus warns of causing a child to stumble, what is done to the least of these His brethren is done to Him. We also see the warning to this Church, "beware I will throw her into a bed of suffering and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their ways."*
You can not drink from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, nor partake from the table of the Lord and the table of demons.*
There is no condemnation in Christ, none at all for the child of God whose sins have been forgiven. Sin is not counted against him, but as Paul writes whatever you obey you become a slave to. The issue is that sin weighs down, it enslaves, thus the one in sin does not walk in the Liberty in which Christ gives them, they walk in darkness, subjecting themselves to demons, defiling themselves. If someone is living in sexual immorality they have introduced a controlling spirit in the body. If a father commits sexual immorality he exposes demonic activity to his body and his family. The same concept applies to overseers in the Church, if a pastor walks in darkness, partaking from the table of demons, he subjects himself, his family, and the Body to controlling spirits.
Having been set free from sin, becoming slaves to righteousness.*
Paul writes that evil takes advantage through the carnal mind bringing the child of God into captivity to sin. Though the child of God has been set free he can be enslaved to sin, and in such he gives the devil a stronghold. We are not slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, so to be a slave to sin is a wretched state for the child of God, against his true nature. The gift of righteousness is by faith according to grace, so that grace reigns through righteousness, the fruit leading the child into sanctification which end is Life. Without sanctification in truth the child is not transformed in the mind and is under the influence of the evil one. So we see the importance of this reasonable service, a Church not focused on growth of its children doesn't produce the proper environment needed to grow. Growth will not occur under the law but under grace, so a Church using fear of punishment submits its children to controlling spirits of fear. The man struggling with sexual immorality can be "covered" by the church, he is not much of a threat, unless he boasts in it or it is deemed an act that would cast him over to Satan, like the man Paul confronts in the Corinth church, whose sexual immorality was incestuous. Much more important is the influence of a leader, this would subject the body to the same demonic activity.
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.*
This is how the Jezebel spirit controls and manipulates the weak in faith, it gets a stronghold within and basically seduces the people of God to sexual immorality and to worshiping idols. Did the altars of Jezebel look any different than that of God? I don't think so, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees was that pretended or thought they served God but Jesus said their father was Satan. Sexual immorality might not be so obvious but what is? a controlling spirit. Those who have the gift of discerning spirits would sense this. God's power was shown mightily through Elijah to come against the Queen's prophets but confronting the Queen, the controlling spirit, "he was afraid and ran for his life."* She gets a stronghold through immorality and uses the spirit of fear as a powerful weapon to subject the children of God to demonic activity.
Now, the Spirit clearly says in the end days some of the faith draw away, to follow deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.*
Paul writes that doctrines of demons are being introduced into the church, for what purpose? to defile many and how? What should be the altar of God has become demonic strongholds. Jezebel was leading God's children away, by "teaching and seducing my servants." Some are controlling teachings of authority, possibly introduced to protect from those who wish to control but most likely to excuse away their own sin. Either way such teaching is basically a license to sin. The kingdom of God doesn't fight evil with evil, this is a house divided introducing controlling spirits like that of fear. Ministers are given gifts to serve the people, much like the President who is appointed to serve the people; "of the people, by the people, for the people." The people shouldn't tolerate controlling spirits, those who lord over, who are not servants of the people.
For those who exist of the flesh, the mind of the flesh, yea, the one according to the Spirit, the mind of the Spirit.*
We see the concept that we either exist in the flesh or in the Spirit. We are either born of God or not, existing righteous and if so we exist truth, obedient, lawful children of God. If a child is struggling with sin it is because he doesn't believe who he really is in Christ. So what is needed is to increase faith which is to abide in the words of Jesus. Most likely the child is in a family or Church where there exists a controlling spirit, which seduces him. Such spirits of fear, condemnation, shame, guilt, these things enslave the children of God, subjecting them to demonic activity. Yes, there is no perfect church but to stay in a church where there is such controlling spirits is a task only for the mature. For the one overcoming the evil one, he doesn't need to be subjected to demonic spirits within the body that should be helping him walk in liberty.
For freedom Christ sets us free, stand firm, therefore do not be subjected again to slavery.*
In context Paul is not talking about transgression, though it is a sin that at such a fundamental level this Church of Galatia is trying to be justified by works, living to rules, commandments, and regulations... They are slaves to controlling spirits, and under such a Church, Paul writes, there are all kinds of fleshly activities, biting and devouring one another. Since they judge based upon rules and regulations even making them up as they go to control people, they create a spirit of bitterness within the Church. The double standards, the big beams sticking out of their eyes must be accounted for so they justify themselves by establishing teachings of authority that allow such hypocrisy. These people are bewitched Paul writes, they are not free, being subjected again to slavery.
Therefore buried with Him by the baptism into death, in order that as Christ rose from the dead by the glory of the Father so also we might walk in newness of Life.*
How can a Church walk in Liberty when it doesn't understand and teach such truth? A young man gives his life to Christ, very emotional, tears running down his eyes, he is told baptism is a show of faith, obedience to Jesus, so he is baptized. He is then is told to sacrifice and serve so he does but a while later he feels he needs to baptized again, he lives in defeat, in sexually immorality. Is it his fault? Truly, it is absence of teaching in the Church. Abiding in the truth, he will know the truth, and the truth will set him free, so the teachings of baptism taught correctly would set men free. If one exists "in Christ" he is dead to sin, being in the likeness of His death. One has to die to sin to be in the likeness of His resurrection, thus the one struggling with sin can abide in these scriptures and be set free from the principle of evil that captivates one to sin.
So you too consider yourselves existing not to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.*
If we exist in Christ, we do not exist sin, we exist in Liberty and Life. What is Life if not the pursuit of Liberty and happiness? Not the happiness of the world, but the spiritual blessings we have in Christ Jesus. And we have that which is the Word of Life, the Truth, and the Spirit of Life to guide us. Oh, the power of praise and worship in guiding us into the presence of God, in such fellowship we experience Life and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We know this Spirit of Life but do we know Jesus as the Bread of Life? If we abide in His words they are Eternal Life, which is existing, walking in Liberty, being set free from controlling spirits. We pray, Lord, set your people free.
Set My People Free
Now, the Spirit clearly says in the end days some of the faith draw away, to follow deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.*
Paul writes that doctrines of demons are being introduced into the church, for what purpose? to defile many and how? What should be the altar of God has become demonic strongholds. Jezebel was leading God's children away, by "teaching and seducing my servants." Some are controlling teachings of authority, possibly introduced to protect from those who wish to control but most likely to excuse away their own sin. Either way such teaching is basically a license to sin. The kingdom of God doesn't fight evil with evil, this is a house divided introducing controlling spirits like that of fear. Ministers are given gifts to serve the people, much like the President who is appointed to serve the people; "of the people, by the people, for the people." The people shouldn't tolerate controlling spirits, those who lord over, who are not servants of the people.
For those who exist of the flesh, the mind of the flesh, yea, the one according to the Spirit, the mind of the Spirit.*
We see the concept that we either exist in the flesh or in the Spirit. We are either born of God or not, existing righteous and if so we exist truth, obedient, lawful children of God. If a child is struggling with sin it is because he doesn't believe who he really is in Christ. So what is needed is to increase faith which is to abide in the words of Jesus. Most likely the child is in a family or Church where there exists a controlling spirit, which seduces him. Such spirits of fear, condemnation, shame, guilt, these things enslave the children of God, subjecting them to demonic activity. Yes, there is no perfect church but to stay in a church where there is such controlling spirits is a task only for the mature. For the one overcoming the evil one, he doesn't need to be subjected to demonic spirits within the body that should be helping him walk in liberty.
For freedom Christ sets us free, stand firm, therefore do not be subjected again to slavery.*
In context Paul is not talking about transgression, though it is a sin that at such a fundamental level this Church of Galatia is trying to be justified by works, living to rules, commandments, and regulations... They are slaves to controlling spirits, and under such a Church, Paul writes, there are all kinds of fleshly activities, biting and devouring one another. Since they judge based upon rules and regulations even making them up as they go to control people, they create a spirit of bitterness within the Church. The double standards, the big beams sticking out of their eyes must be accounted for so they justify themselves by establishing teachings of authority that allow such hypocrisy. These people are bewitched Paul writes, they are not free, being subjected again to slavery.
Therefore buried with Him by the baptism into death, in order that as Christ rose from the dead by the glory of the Father so also we might walk in newness of Life.*
How can a Church walk in Liberty when it doesn't understand and teach such truth? A young man gives his life to Christ, very emotional, tears running down his eyes, he is told baptism is a show of faith, obedience to Jesus, so he is baptized. He is then is told to sacrifice and serve so he does but a while later he feels he needs to baptized again, he lives in defeat, in sexually immorality. Is it his fault? Truly, it is absence of teaching in the Church. Abiding in the truth, he will know the truth, and the truth will set him free, so the teachings of baptism taught correctly would set men free. If one exists "in Christ" he is dead to sin, being in the likeness of His death. One has to die to sin to be in the likeness of His resurrection, thus the one struggling with sin can abide in these scriptures and be set free from the principle of evil that captivates one to sin.
So you too consider yourselves existing not to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.*
If we exist in Christ, we do not exist sin, we exist in Liberty and Life. What is Life if not the pursuit of Liberty and happiness? Not the happiness of the world, but the spiritual blessings we have in Christ Jesus. And we have that which is the Word of Life, the Truth, and the Spirit of Life to guide us. Oh, the power of praise and worship in guiding us into the presence of God, in such fellowship we experience Life and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We know this Spirit of Life but do we know Jesus as the Bread of Life? If we abide in His words they are Eternal Life, which is existing, walking in Liberty, being set free from controlling spirits. We pray, Lord, set your people free.
Set My People Free