The Principality of Sedition

The principality of sedition is the seventh principality of Satan. The objective of this principality of Satan is to cause mankind to usurp authority; and its attendant powers are the spirit of Absalom and the spirit of Jezebel. "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians 11:3). Absalom inhabits men and Jezebel inhabits women; they both use three captains: premeditation, vengeance, and sorcery. These princes have at their disposal their captains and all lower ranking principalities and powers like idolatry, tradition, lying, disobedience, emulation, judgment, hate, bitterness, haughtiness, etc. to use to fulfill their objective.

THE SPIRIT OF ABSALOM

The spirit of Absalom inhabits men and his assignment is to cause men to usurp the authority of their head—Jesus Christ. Let us examine Absalom, David's son, to better understand how this spirit operates. We are first introduced to Absalom when his sister, Tamar, has been raped by her half-brother Amnon and she goes to Absalom in tears.

And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons. And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant. And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him. Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee? But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant. And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. ... So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. (2 Samuel 13:20-29, 38)

Notice, while David is very angry about Amnon's transgression, no reprimand or punishment is noted in scripture. The punishment as stipulated by the law was for Amnon to have been put to death: "he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity" (Leviticus 20:17; see also Exodus 31:14). Absalom, full of hate for his brother, waits two year for justice to be meted out; however, David does nothing. Absalom's contempt for David's lack of justice causes Absalom to take vengeance into his own hands. Absalom manipulates David to allow Amnon and all of David's sons to attend a dinner. The dinner was a rouse to get Amnon away from David's court: Absalom premeditates and executes the murder of his brother Amnon at the dinner. Absalom usurps David's authority because he had evidently judged David as ineffective. Absalom then flees retribution by going into exile in the land of his father-in-law, Talmai, king of Geshur. After three years, David allows Absalom back into Jerusalem; however, Absalom is restricted from seeing David's face for two years (not seeing David's face connotes disfavor and condemnation. See Numbers 6:24-26; 2 Chronicles 7:14). This "injustice" aggravates Absalom to manipulate Joab, by setting his field on fire, to bring him before David's throne to be forgiven.

So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face. ... So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face. Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me. So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom. (2 Samuel 14:23-24, 28-33)

With forgiveness secured, Absalom stages another form of usurpation: he intercepts people on their way to see king David for judgment and manipulates them to come to him in the seat of judgment. After a number of years of this, he successfully usurps the authority of his father David the king and seeks to take over his throne.

And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. And it came to pass after forty years ... Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. (2 Samuel 15:1-7, 10)

This spirit is thriving in many churches today. Men called to be ministers are often held back by their senior pastors, or some, called or not, often judge they can do a better job than the senior pastor, or the catalyst may come from members of the congregation who encourage them to get their own church. These men often resort to using sedition to get what they claim is rightfully theirs; much like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him. This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? (Numbers 16:1-10)

These three men deemed that they were as qualified as Moses and Aaron to lead the congregation and therefore, should lead. God, however, chose otherwise and opened the earth to swallow them and their families. A word of caution is necessary at this juncture. We are in no way condoning the tradition of a hierarchal structure among the pastors. Some of the issues that are presented can be alleviated if pastors adhered to a simple truth, "all ye are brethren" (Matthew 23:8) and adopt a flat structure among pastors like we propose (see "As In All Churches (Transformation)").

THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL

The spirit of jezebel inhabits women and his assignment is to cause women to usurp the authority of their head—men. "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (1 Timothy 2:12). Satan has misdirected many women into believing that God has unjustly given authority to men; as such, many women through sorcery (manipulation) and vengeance seek to right this perceived injustice. We see this principality operating in wives usurping the God-given authority of their husbands, and in women seeking to be apostles, prophets, and pastors; offices reserved by God for men only. God has given men the authority and power to formally lead their homes and church. "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only (1 Corinthians 14:34-36)? Notice the order, authority is given and then power. Women should not mistake their power (abilities) and/or gifts (talents) to be a stamp of approval to usurp men's authority. The audacity of this principality is such that it drives women to make decisions outside of the authority of the men over them yet expect those men to partake in their sins by helping them execute their plans. Let us see what happens when a woman chooses not to be help (Genesis 2:18) and chooses to lead over the man, as did Jezebel over Ahab.

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. (1 Kings 19:1-2)

And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth ... And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (1 Kings 21:1-8, 15-16)

Notice in the scriptures above who is really leading the kingdom of Israel. Jezebel, in contempt of her husband's authority, is the one who takes action against Elijah and Naboth; her husband, Ahab, the king, abdicates his authority to her. It should be noted that women with the spirit of Jezebel often associate with men with the spirit of Ahab: the spirit of Ahab causes men to abdicate their authority to women, as did Adam to Eve (Genesis 3:17). Jezebel stirred up her husband to commit much wickedness (1 Kings 21:25); she manipulated the king and the people: God calls this sorcery. "And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many" (2 Kings 9:22)? She was not the king, she was not God's representative to the people, and yet she manipulated the king and the people as she saw fit. When a wife rules over her husband, the consequences will be disastrous.

And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel: And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah: And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled. (2 Kings 9:7-10)

Conclusion

The principality of sedition entrenched as a strong hold works to cause the infected person to usurp authority. Sedition also begets strong holds for the spirits of premeditation, vengeance and sorcery. The person learns to scheme to fulfill their desires, to avenge themselves, and to practice manipulation to gain advantage. Whether in the case of Absalom or in the case Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, or in the case of Jezebel, usurping the authority given by God leads to destruction. It tears at the very fabric of righteous order and opens the person to further satanic infestation. Once man's authority is usurped, it is a small leap to usurp the authority of God; and now, full-scale rebellion sets in.

DRAFT V2010-06-28T4:47:26 PM