Tag: bible-study

Spirit of Athaliah

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After reading 2 Kings 11 we learn about Jezebel’s daughter, Athaliah. Most are familiar with the spirit of Jezebel, but there’s also much to learn about the spirit of her daughter. There are many lessons God’s people can take away from this story.

She is certainly a type and shadow of an anti-christ. She hates the true leadership of God. She even attempts to kill the royal family to maintain her power and control. Some believe it was an attempt to kill off David’s lineage so Athaliah’s lineage would outlive the seed of David. The devil is always trying to kill what God is birthing. Pharaoh in Egypt, Herod in Jesus time, dragon trying to kill man-child, and many more examples. It seems to be the same spirit operating in every case.

However Praise be to God, He shows us how to defeat this spirit. First is recognizing true Godly authority and diligently guarding it. The name Joash means “Yahweh has given/supplied.” We need to recognize what is truly from hand of God. This recognition is seeing Jesus Christ as our true leader within our fellowships and even our own souls. Even though God’s people may be under rule of something false, true leadership (Christ Himself) remains hidden in the house of the Lord.

Second is truly praising the King. This is what will stir this false spirit out of hiding and eventually bring it to its demise. The high praises of God in combination of truly making Christ head of our lives and fellowships is what will bring the altars of baal to nothing.

Maybe you feel God’s house has been under rule of an Athaliah. Maybe you even see a form of Athaliah ruling in your life. What should you do? Enter into the house of God and praise the King! Anoint Him. Crown Him. Everything else will flow from there.

In God’s time both Jezebel and Athaliah will be trodden underfoot.

Sins of Jeroboam

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1 Kings 12:25-33

In the books of Kings and Chronicles the success of the kings was often measured by either following after David their father, or committing the sins of Jeroboam. While most reading this will know David was a man after God’s heart, it is less known what the sins of Jeroboam are.

– He made TWO golden calves and said they were the gods (Elohim) of Israel who delivered them out of Egypt. He also said it is too much to go to Jerusalem to worship God. He deceived Israel and made God “convenient.” He put one calf in Bethel (House of God) and one calf in Dan (Judgement). His personal position was more important than serving God in truth due to fear of unity in Israel.

– He made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of people, which were not of the sons of Levi. Ordained people in priesthood who weren’t supposed to be priests.

– He created an imitation feast of tabernacles on the 15th day of the 8th month instead of the 7th month. This is occurring in Bethel, the house of God. 

In the modern church it would seem many of these sins remain and God is going to bring judgement upon them. How many pastors, elders and church leaders know the truth of God, but due to fear of losing their position create golden calves to keep God’s people divided. One golden calf is bad enough, but two created and worshipped (even unto Dan) was a great sin in God’s eyes.

Many in church leadership today are clearly not spiritual Levites and much like Jeroboam are making priests out of people who have no business being priests. Let’s be clear it is God’s desire for ALL to become kings and priests to God, but only when certain spiritual conditions are met. To have church leadership who boldly, publicly and unashamedly live in sin with no desire to repent will identify us with the sins of Jeroboam.

Lastly the sin of creating an imitation feast of tabernacles after the desire of his own heart. God had already laid out His commandments for keeping the feast of tabernacles which Jeroboam disregarded. Much of the church may be doing this through various means. Through the lens of the feast of tabernacles many Christians reject, and even persecute the idea, that Jesus Christ wants to glorify Himself in fullness WITHIN His saints even while we walk the earth. The spiritual fulfillment of tabernacles is God coming and dwelling IN His booths (our body) in fullness. This truth has often been rejected by much of the modern day church for an imitation teaching of the fulfillment of tabernacles. This could include teachings like pre-tribulation rapture and much surrounding the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is much more to be highlighted in the story of Jeroboam and may the Spirit of God illuminate His word. Though it is easy to point our fingers at others who may be committing these sins, may we all challenge ourselves to let God shine His light into our hearts exposing where these sins may still be in our heart.

May we be like David and repent going after the heart of God.