A few nights ago, I was in worship when the Lord said to me, “The enemy is trying to rob the delivery season!”
This spoke volumes to me because I have seen so many wrestling the dogs of doom right now just as they are beginning to embark in new directions. This warfare has come at a time when many are about to receive new blueprints and birth the things that they've waited years to be able to birth. The enemy has been raging against so many who are about to enter into a delivery season—which has come as a culmination of a season of pioneering, process, refining, and fresh vision that has led so many to a place where they're finally ready to birth the new things that God has given to them.
But as I sat there in worship I felt like God wasn’t wanting to reveal the obvious because we know that any great birthing season will draw in the enemy to the arena. We aren’t naive about his tactics but this has felt different and God wanted to show me why.
So I said, “Lord, what is this assignment?” And He led me to 2 Chronicles chapter 23 which speaks about the daughter of Jezebel, Athaliah.
Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of Jeham, king of Judah. After the death of Ahaziah, her son, Athaliah usurped the throne and reigned for seven years. She massacred all the members of the royal house, murdering Ahaziah’s sons—her own grandsons. Athaliah is not the Jezebel spirit but is far nastier because she has been around Jezebel and is hired to do her bidding. She acts on the behalf of Jezebel but has her own specific targets in mind when she afflicts.
UNDER THE RADAR
This spirit has been laying under the radar because we've expected Jezebel—we know what Jezebel is like, and we know the tactics, but this spirit is different. It comes from a different angle and seems to infiltrate your life mostly undetected.
This is why many people have been experiencing unusual and unexpected warfare that they have been unable to trace and track. The Athaliah spirit gains access to your life in a covert way that is unnoticed and then begins to attack the key areas of impending breakthrough. It sweet talks its way into your inner circle, and then it disassembles your life from the inside out.
If you have confronted and shut down a Jezebel assignment recently look out for the children of Jezebel that come at you in retaliation—which is what is happening right now.
When you come across a Jezebel, watch for and discern who are her "Athaliahs". These can include your close friends and even your family. Be prepared so attacks from an Athaliah don't take you unawares and cause you to falter or succumb. But regardless of how “under the radar” this assignment has been, God is exposing it right now so that we aren’t robbed of the season of delivery at our doorstep.
ATHALIAH SIGNS & SLY TACTICS
This assignment has come at this moment to cause there to be a spiritual stillbirth and to frustrate you into giving up. The spirit of Athaliah is so afraid of your seed that she seeks to usurp the true thing that God's given you, the true assignment, the true call, the true tribe that you're called to—and it wants to assassinate them.
The spirit of Athaliah wants to come and rob you of the authentic artifact that God is wanting to bring to you.
The spirit of Athaliah wants you to forfeit your dreams and your purpose to someone else.
Athaliah uses witchcraft and thrives on information and finding ways to break you down from many different angles. It sweet talks its way into your inner circle, and then it disassembles you from the inside out.
This spirit is so much more toxic in many different ways than Jezebel.
And lastly, she uses endless harassment, intimidation, false accusations, and character assassination, as her tools to get you to submit to her and give up.
ACCESS POINTS
If you have been experiencing any of these tactics then these are some of her access points;
Today ask the Lord, "Where are the pressure points? Where are the places that this spirit has gained access to my life?"
Ask the Lord to show you where the enemy has sent her and has been trying to come at your inner circle, your relationships, trying to come into your marriage. Then shut those doors!
WARFARE STRATEGIES
As I read 2 Chronicles 23 I realized that the warfare strategies for defeating this assignment were right there in front of me.
Take back the promises of God that were stolen:
“the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David” (2 Chronicles 23:3)
This is where you need to boldly take back the ground that has been stolen. What do you need restoration and recompense in? What had been robbed? Take it back by faith! Remind yourself of what God said He would do.
Watch the doors to the delivery room:
“Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 23:4-5)
They knew that for Athaliah to be cast out and for Joash to be installed as king they needed to guard and watch the doors so that there was no way for her to access him. This means watching what we watch, what we are listening to, what advice we take on, whose calls we are answering, and what we are entertaining and letting influence us.
Protect your delivery at all costs:
"The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.” (2 Chronicles 23:7)
Protect what you are birthing, for some this may mean a season of closing your gates and focusing on the one task at hand. What does this speak of to you?
Prophesy!
“Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!” (2 Chronicles 23:11)
Partner with what God is doing and prophesy it in celebration!
Worship in the midst of noise and opposition:
"When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, 'Treason! Treason!'” (2 Chronicles 23:12-13)
Right now, the Lord wants us to fill our homes with His presence. The strategy is simple and that is to simply worship and praise.
Kick her out of your house:
"So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death." (2 Chronicles 23:15)
Cancel her access. Rebuke her and command her to leave!
Burn down the idols:
"All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars." (2 Chronicles 23:17)
Give no place to the enemy in your life. What has become an idol or entry point to this assignment when God is wanting to bring you onto this delivery season?