In Jesus we have overcome, an interview with Michael Brown

Dr. Michael Brown speaks with Pneuma Review about his new book, Jezebel’s War With America. He urges believers to remember who we are in Jesus and take a stand against the spirit of the age.

 

PneumaReview.com: Please explain to our readers what you mean by Jezebel being at war with America when the historical figure, Jezebel, has been dead for thousands of years.

Michael Brown: We know that in the Bible there was a wicked Queen Jezebel, and she was incredibly powerful. She led the nation into idolatry. She emasculated her husband who was a strong King. She was associated with sexual immorality and with sorcery. She was a murderer, and she was obviously demonically empowered. Jesus called a woman “Jezebel” in the New Testament a thousand years later. This woman also was a false prophet; this false spirituality led people into idolatry and sexual immorality. The same demonic forces that worked through this queen 3,000 years ago and through this false prophet 2,000 years ago are working together in America today.

 

PneumaReview.com: What do you see as the primary signs that the spirit of Jezebel is at work in America?

Michael Brown: When we look at the state of the nation today, we see the rise of radical feminism and the emasculating of men. We see the rise of idolatry turning away from God, the rise of sexual immorality through porn and the Internet, the intense baby-killing fueling a militant abortion spirit. There are reports that we even have more witches today in America than Presbyterians. The same demonic power that works through Jezebel paralyzes people by fear. All these are clear signs that Jezebel is clearly at work in America.

 

PneumaReview.com: What are the main tactics that this spirit employs in order to accomplish its purposes?

Michael Brown: There’s something about the demonic power of Jezebel that paralyzes those who are supposed to be prophetic, including pastors and our nation’s leaders. I think of the mighty prophet Elijah—one of the greatest men of God of all time for a season in his life. He ran from Jezebel because of fear. The prophets who were supposed to be speaking to Israel were hiding in caves, fearing for their lives, because of this demonic queen.

PneumaReview.com: In the book you say that the spirit of Jezebel is active in the church.  Please give some examples of this.

Michael Brown: So few Christian leaders are willing to stand up and address controversial issues. They don’t want to be cast out. They don’t want to be mocked. They don’t want to lose their tithing members.

Some men in the church are slaves to porn, and because of that they don’t feel like men anymore and can’t pray in faith. Some women used to step out and believe in God, but they’ve had a deep spiritual disappointment. We end up cowering. Cowering is no position for the people of God. Do we believe Jesus is Lord or not? Do we believe that in Him we have eternal life?

 

PneumaReview.com: What can Christians personally and corporately do to combat the spirit of Jezebel?

Michael Brown: We must realize we aren’t fighting a person. We’re fighting demonic forces, and in Jesus, we have overcome. Therefore, we are not to be intimidated by Jezebel’s fear tactics. God says to us, “Fear not.” We are in him, He is in us, in Him we overcome, and we give no place to Jezebel. We realize that temptation and other persuasions that will come our way are not natural—they’re spiritual, and they’re out to destroy us. To counter them, we put on the armor of God, we get filled with the joy of the Lord, and we say no to Jezebel.

 

PneumaReview.com: What must the church do in order to be a more prophetic voice in America?

Michael Brown: We must stand up and take hard look at the world right now. Our brothers and sisters are literally being beheaded and burned alive for their faith—tortured to death for their faith. Yet they won’t deny Jesus. And here, because we’re afraid if we speak out we might lose some finances or we’re afraid if we speak out we might get unfriended by Facebook, we remain silent. We’re afraid, so we step back. Others are losing their heads for speaking out. We need that spirit of boldness and courage.

We need to look Jezebel in the face and say, “You’re coming down in Jesus’ name.” That means that churches, you need to be praying for your leaders to be bold and strong because there is a lot of intimidation coming against them. We need the spirit of boldness and courage. We need to recognize there are these intimidating demonic forces. No matter how wise and strong we are, we can’t defeat Satan. But in Jesus we have already overcome. Our only hope is the Lord.

 

PneumaReview.com: How important is the unity of the church as we engage in this spiritual conflict?

Michael Brown: Extremely important. First, if we see that our pastors and leaders are afraid to wake up, stand up and speak up to these cultural issues, we need to pray for them and encourage them—not gossip about them or plot their demise. They have a lot on their plate and face many unique challenges. Instead, consider sending a note to say, “Pastor, we love you and are praying for you and we want you to raise your voice. On behalf of our families—especially our children and our grandchildren—please speak up and speak out.” Secondly, a unified church is the only way to push back against Jezebel. When we are isolated, alone or divided, we have no chance. But if we are united in our commitment to God, nothing—not even Jezebel’s spirit—will defeat us. After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31, NIV).

 

PR