Do Not Remember The Former Things/ Revelation, King and Priestly Character opposes the Jezebel spirit.

Isaiah 43:18-21; Philippians 4:8; Revelation 1:6; James 2:18-20; Matthew 24:11; Mark 9:42; Revelation 2:22-25; 1 Corinthians 11:30

We are walking in today:  Do Not Remember The Former Things/ Revelation, King and Priestly Character opposes the Jezebel spirit.

Fiveamprayer, we are to walk into this new year with the knowledge that God is doing a new thing.  We give our praises to the Lord, everybody did not get up this morning.  You should be shouting hallelujah!  Thank You God!!  Set your mind and hearts to hear from God.  As God tells us in Revelation 2, "He that hath an ear, let him hear..."   Isaiah 43:18-21 18) Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. 19) Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. 20) The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. 21) This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.  So that they might declare His praise.  We are to declare His praise!!  Come on fiveamprayer, He has been so good to us!!  We must not allow ourselves to dwell in the past or on the former things.    This happens often in our relationships.  Going over it again and again--in our minds, families and churches.  Isaiah offers us comfort and that we must prepare, in this scripture.  Newness is a part of God's character.  The preparation is for us to no longer remember the former things, the things of old.  We don't see the new, looking at the old.  We can miss the goodness of God, being stuck in the past.  We have instruction on how to refocus our minds and what we should be meditating on--Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  We have been given a revelation so that we are not stuck in the past.  God is putting a seal on this year of 2011 with the the book of Revelation.  The unseen being made seen!!  Fiveamprayer, forget the former thing, it is done, finished, over.  Don't remember it any longer.  We come to lift You up, Lord.  To continue to walk in the book of Revelation.  Thank You God for not giving us a spirit of fear!  Give Him honor, glory and praise!  He is worthy and we exalt Him because we have forgotten the former things, looking to the new thing that God is doing!  Holy Spirit have your way this morning!  We need a mighty move of God!  Are you ready for the word of God?!

A Brief Recap: Characteristics of Jezebel spirit.  The Spirit of Jezebel is basically a controlling spirit working through the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  It has, in general, two aims:  To gain identity, glory, recognition, power, and satisfy the need for the "praises of men".  This is a consequence of the desire for love and self-worth focused on self.  There are two main types of the Jezebel spirit:  The high-profile type is generally gregarious, fond of company of others and sociable. Outspoken and highly visible.  The low-profile type is soft-spoken, giving the illusion of being solicitous, a hovering attentiveness motherly, protective, even appearing very submissive. The low-profile type may be the most dangerous, as she is the most difficult to discern. She relies heavily on manipulation for her power, in extremely subtle performances.  For some, suggesting that believers adopt a kingship mentality ignites negative concepts of unwarranted superiority, abuse of authority, unearned respect, and even an uppity attitude.  All of the signs we recognize as those in the characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit.  None of these images, convey the biblical concept of kingship that we are training for to rule in God’s kingdom.

The King and Priestly Character opposes the spirit of Jezebel

When we walk as Kings/Queens we are careful to align ourselves precisely with the Word of God in all our mannerisms.  So what are the benefits of aligning ourselves to the inheritance we gain through Jesus Christ and how do we do it?  To align oneself means to come alongside of or to work together with.  Why is this significant to discerning the Jezebel spirit?  Alignment is a regular maintenance feature.  (For example the wheel alignment and tire balancing on your car is necessary to assure the car gets the best mileage).  In Revelation 1:6 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  We are not talking about a blind submission to some controlling individual that printed “ Pastor, Prophetess, and /or Apostle So and So" on a business card.  It should be clear by now that the proof of any of the 5 fold ministry operations are found in function and not in title.  We are talking about working together with the grace of the Holy Spirit through the function of one or more of the five-fold ministry gifts that Jesus set to build His heritage in the Church.  Faith without works is dead, James 2:18-20
Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one.  Yet, it seems that the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that’s why Jesus gives them this warning.  Jesus said this would happen in Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Those words were first spoken with a view to the end times, but there have always been those who call themselves prophets in the church, but are not.  To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols:  Here, Jesus describes the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin.  Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.  Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idols was likely connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds.  A Christian invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo.  “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the Christian man to go--perhaps even using a “prophetic” word--and when the man went, he would fall into immorality and idolatry.  Which could be similar to our modern day “conferences, business trips or tied to fraternities/sororities”.  The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful.  “No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild.” (Barclay) Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure.  And we are to do the same today.  One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry.  A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.”  Tertullian replied, Vivere ergo habes?  “Must you live?”
My servants: This shows how terrible Jezebel’s sin was.  She corrupted the servants of Jesus, and they belong to Him.  Jesus said, But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)
Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira.  On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, and patience.  Yet there was significant corruption inside the church.  The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.  It is not necessarily a large group following Jezebel.  It only takes a little leaven to affect the lump, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church--especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did. 
Revelation 2:22-25 What Jesus wants the church at Thyatira to do. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast what you have till I come.
I will cast her into a sickbed: Before Jesus tells the Christians in Thyatira what they must do, He first tells them what He will do.  Jesus will chastise this Jezebel, and cast her into a sickbed, along with those who commit adultery with her.  The reference to adultery is important.  It speaks of both literal, sexual adultery and spiritual adultery.  When these Christians honored other gods, they were unfaithful to the Lord who saved them.  For this reason, the figure of a sickbed is fitting.  They were guilty of adultery, both sexual and spiritual.  It is as if Jesus says, “You love an unclean bed.  Here, I will give you one, and cast you into a sickbed.”  What was the sickbed?  It could simply be an image of affliction.  Or, it could be literal sickness that Jesus would allow in the lives of Jezebel and her followers as chastisement.  We know from passages such as 1 Corinthians 11:30 that God can use sickness as a way to chastise us when we are in sin.  The ancient Greek word used here for bed “is also the word for a banqueting couch; and if that meaning is taken, the meaning is: ‘I will strike her down as she sits at her forbidden feasts.’” 
Unless they repent of their deeds: Jesus reveals the purpose for this chastening.  First, it is to draw them to repent of their deeds. They wouldn’t listen to Jesus before, so He has to speak “louder” through a sickbed.  Second, it is to give an example of holiness to other churches:  and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.  Minds and hearts is literally “hearts and kidneys.”  In the mind of the ancient Jews, the heart was the place of intellect, and the kidneys were the place of emotion.  Jesus says, “I know your every thought and your every feeling.” 
I will kill her children with death: “All men die, but all are not killed with death . . . Oh, it is a woeful thing to be killed with death.”

Thank You God for this new years revelation.  Get ready to no longer remember the former things.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  We don't have a Jezebel spirit.  Thank You Lord for using Rev. Duncan to walking us through the book of Revelation.  Thank You God for giving us this revelation as we enter into a new year.  If You don't do another thing for us, You have done so much all ready!  Praise His name!  Truly, truly!  He is worthy of all the praise!  Thank You God for covering us in 2011.  We are going into a new year with new revelations!  We are no longer stuck in the past!  Thank You God, You have taught us so much!  It is all because of You, heavenly Father!  Come up out of this past year, look to God for the new thing!  Make the choice to walk in forgiveness, because of who your Father is.  We lift up prayer requests, those known and unknown.  Have them to no longer remember the former things.  We lift up Priscilla for healing, we are looking to He who is willing and able to heal us!  Thank You God for delivering on Your promise that by Your stripes she was healed.  We come to ask You for forgiveness for the wrongs we have committed.  Thank You God for forgiving us with no condemnation.  We know that when You forgive You cast our sins into the sea where they are remembered no more.  Help us Lord to forgive--truly forgive like You where it is remembered no more.  We must forgive to be forgiven and that our prayers are not hindered.

We seal this prayer in His precious blood: 1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Welcome to the overflow...

Keep walking in this word, getting a revelation for your life and the times that you are living in, fiveamprayer!  Keep seeking after God and His word.  Behold, He is doing a new thing!  Take time out to read the scriptures for yourself.  We lift up Rev. Duncan in prayer, as we walk through the book of Revelation.  Visit us on facebook and have a blessed day!