magic, spells, potions, dolls pierced with pins, graveyard dust, blood sacrifices, and other forms of spiritual darkness.
Scripture identifies many of these practices as sorcery, divination, enchantments, and consulting familiar spirits. God strictly forbids His people from participating in them.
Deuteronomy 18:10–12 says:
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.”
Galatians 5:19–21 also lists witchcraft among the works of the flesh.
This teaching addresses another expression of witchcraft found throughout society. It appears in families, marriages, friendships, workplaces, churches, and leadership structures. People rarely discuss this form because no potions, spells, or occult objects are involved. Its primary tools are manipulation, intimidation, and domination.
TWO EXPRESSIONS OF WITCHCRAFT
Witchcraft generally operates through spiritual practices or controlling behavior. The methods differ, but the objective stays the same. The person seeks control over another person, group, place, or environment.
Spiritual witchcraft involves forbidden spiritual practices used to contact or influence the spiritual world. Such practices include voodoo, Obeah, sorcery, black magic, roots, spells, charms, divination, and enchantments.
Acts 8:9–11 describes Simon using sorcery to influence the people of Samaria. Acts 16:16–18 records a young woman possessed by a spirit of divination. Acts 19:18–20 describes people renouncing magical practices after accepting the gospel.
Physical or relational witchcraft operates through controlling behavior. Instead of using potions or spells, the person applies emotional pressure, fear, threats, deception, guilt, seduction, anger, silence, or confusion. The goal is to control another person’s thoughts, choices, and actions.
First Samuel 15:23 connects rebellion with witchcraft and stubbornness with idolatry. Rebellion and control share a desire to reject proper authority and impose one person’s will upon another.
Second Timothy 3:2–5 warns about people who are self-centered, proud, abusive, ungrateful, without natural affection, false accusers, fierce, and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. These characteristics frequently appear in controlling relationships.
THE BIBLICAL PATTERN OF JEZEBEL
Scripture does not use the exact phrase “Jezebel spirit.” The expression describes a pattern of conduct displayed by the biblical Jezebel. Her behavior included manipulation, intimidation, deception, persecution, domination, and the misuse of authority.
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab of Israel. Ahab held the official position of king, yet Jezebel repeatedly influenced his decisions and used his authority to accomplish her wicked purposes.
First Kings 16:30–33 records how Ahab married Jezebel, served Baal, and promoted idolatry throughout Israel. First Kings 18:4 reveals how Jezebel killed the Lord’s prophets. First Kings 19:1–2 shows her threatening Elijah’s life after the confrontation on Mount Carmel.
Her controlling nature becomes clearer in First Kings 21. Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab. Jezebel responded by manipulating the legal system, arranging false accusations, and having Naboth killed. She then instructed Ahab to take possession of the vineyard.
Ahab had legitimate authority, but Jezebel exploited his weakness and passivity. He surrendered his responsibility and allowed her to misuse his position.
First Kings 21:25 says:
“But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.”
This relationship reveals an important principle. A controlling person often succeeds because someone with legitimate authority refuses to exercise their authority with wisdom, courage, and righteousness. The controlling person takes advantage of this weakness, whether the surrender is knowing or unwitting.
A controlling spirit is not limited to women. Men and women both use manipulation, intimidation, and domination. Gender is not the issue. The issue is the desire to control others through ungodly means.
CONTROL WITHIN FAMILIES
Relational witchcraft often appears within families. One family member begins ruling others through anger, threats, guilt, division, financial pressure, emotional punishment, or constant interference.
Other family members might dislike the behavior, yet no one confronts the person. They learn to remain silent because they fear the consequences of disagreement.
When you refuse to support a controlling person, they begin treating you as an enemy. They spread negative stories, misrepresent your words, and pressure other relatives to reject you. Their goal is to isolate and punish you for refusing to submit to their control.
Proverbs 6:16–19 identifies several things the Lord hates, including a lying tongue, a false witness, and a person who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 16:28 says:
“A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Romans 16:17 instructs believers to watch those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to sound doctrine.
A controlling person often insists on being right. When you reject their advice, they speak evil against your ideas, plans, relationships, or counsel. They present themselves as your protector while slowly poisoning your mind against other people.
Their objective is to make you dependent upon them. They want you to believe everyone else is against you and they are the only person worthy of your trust.
Proverbs 26:24–26 warns about hateful people who hide evil intentions behind flattering words.
Proverbs 29:5 says:
“A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.”
CONTROL WITHIN THE CHURCH
Sadly, some people who profess Christianity operate through manipulation, intimidation, and domination. A Christian title does not excuse controlling conduct.
This behavior might appear in a pastor, priest, ministry leader, parent, spouse, employer, supervisor, friend, or child. Anyone who repeatedly controls others through fear, deception, threats, guilt, or emotional pressure needs repentance, correction, and deliverance.
Jesus addressed ungodly domination among leaders in Matthew 20:25–28. He explained how worldly rulers exercise dominion over people. Leadership among His followers must reflect service, humility, truth, and responsibility.
First Peter 5:2–3 instructs spiritual leaders to care for God’s people without ruling over them as lords.
Second Corinthians 1:24 also shows how spiritual leaders must never seek dominion over another believer’s faith.
Third John 9–10 gives the example of Diotrephes, who loved having preeminence. He rejected apostolic authority, spoke malicious words, refused to receive the brethren, and removed people from the church. His conduct shows how pride and control operate within religious settings.
MANIPULATION THROUGH EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS
Controlling behavior sometimes begins during childhood. A child asks for something, hears no, and responds with a tantrum. The outburst places emotional pressure on the parent. The child hopes the parent will surrender.
Parents must recognize this behavior and respond with loving, consistent, biblical discipline.
Proverbs 22:15 says:
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
Biblical discipline must never come from rage, cruelty, or a desire to injure. Ephesians 6:4 instructs parents not to provoke their children to wrath. Parents must raise them in the Lord's nurture and admonition.
Correction should teach obedience, responsibility, wisdom, and self-control.
Proverbs 29:15 teaches how proper correction gives wisdom, while an undisciplined child brings shame.
SEX AS A TOOL OF CONTROL
Sex sometimes becomes a tool of persuasion, reward, punishment, or control. A controlling person might offer or withhold sexual intimacy to influence another person’s decisions.
Such behavior does not reflect genuine love. It treats intimacy as a weapon and the other person as someone to conquer.
First Corinthians 7:3–5 teaches husbands and wives to approach marital intimacy with mutual care and agreement. Neither spouse should use the marriage bed to manipulate, punish, or dominate the other.
First Corinthians 13:4–5 teaches how true love does not behave improperly, seek its own way, or become easily provoked.
RESISTANCE TO AUTHORITY
Controlling people often despise accountability. They want authority over others while refusing to submit to legitimate authority.
They sometimes befriend people who are dissatisfied with a leader. They listen to complaints, encourage suspicion, and form secret alliances. Their hidden objective is to weaken the leader and gain influence.
After accomplishing their goal, they often turn against the same people who helped them. Those former allies soon experience the manipulation and domination once directed toward someone else.
Absalom followed a similar pattern in Second Samuel 15:1–6. He positioned himself near the city gate, listened to people’s complaints, criticized the king’s administration, and presented himself as the answer to their problems.
Scripture says Absalom “stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”
Romans 13:1–2 teaches respect for legitimate authority. Hebrews 13:17 calls believers to respect faithful spiritual leadership. Acts 5:29 sets the boundary by teaching that obedience to God takes priority when human authority demands disobedience to Him.
FALSE COMPASSION AND EMOTIONAL PERFORMANCE
Controlling people often become skilled actors. They learn how to influence others through false tears, false compassion, exaggerated suffering, and insincere expressions of love.
Their emotional displays serve a purpose. They want sympathy, leverage, access, or control.
Second Samuel 14:1–20 records how Joab arranged for a woman to present a carefully planned story to King David. Her appearance and words were designed to influence the king’s emotions and decision.
Proverbs 12:20 says:
“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil.”
A controlling person often presents themselves as the victim, even after hurting someone else. When confronted, they turn the argument around. Instead of accepting responsibility, they accuse the injured person.
You might begin the conversation seeking an apology, yet end up defending your character and apologizing to the person who harmed you.
This conduct reflects blame shifting. Genesis 3:11–13 shows Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent. Neither immediately accepted personal responsibility.
Proverbs 28:13 teaches how a person who covers their sins will not prosper. The person who confesses and forsakes them will receive mercy.
Someone who consistently refuses to apologize, confess wrongdoing, or accept correction reveals pride and an unrepentant heart.
SELFISHNESS AND ISOLATION
One of the clearest signs of a controlling personality is selfishness. Such a person isolates their victim and communicates the following message:
“I am the only one who cares about you. I am the only person you should trust. Everyone else wants to harm you.”
Once the victim accepts this lie, they begin viewing parents, children, relatives, and close friends as enemies. The controller becomes their primary source of information, approval, and direction.
Proverbs 18:1 warns about the dangers of isolation. First Corinthians 12:14–21 teaches how God designed His people to live in healthy connection with one another, rather than under the control of one individual.
Healthy relationships respect your ability to think, pray, seek counsel, establish boundaries, and make responsible decisions. Controlling relationships punish independent thought.
Second Corinthians 3:17 says:
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
God’s Spirit leads people into truth and obedience. He does not produce bondage to another person’s selfish will.
VINDICTIVENESS AND REVENGE
Controlling people often become cruel, vindictive, spiteful, and revengeful when someone challenges their authority. They hate losing control.
They might use slander, threats, public embarrassment, financial pressure, sexual pressure, spiritual accusations, or occult practices to regain control.
Jezebel’s response to Elijah illustrates this behavior. After Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, Jezebel refused to repent. She threatened to kill him.
Romans 12:19 forbids personal vengeance and instructs believers to leave judgment to God.
Proverbs 24:29 says:
“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me.”
Galatians 5:22–23 teaches how the fruit of the Spirit includes love, gentleness, and self-control. Persistent manipulation, intimidation, and domination oppose the character the Holy Spirit produces.
BREAKING FREE FROM CONTROL
Separating from a controlling person often brings resistance. The person might increase the pressure after realizing they are losing influence.
They might threaten you, accuse you, spread lies, pretend to be helpless, or promise sudden change.
Freedom requires prayer, fasting, biblical wisdom, firm boundaries, truthful counsel, and support from trustworthy believers.
Isaiah 58:6 describes a fast connected with loosing the bands of wickedness, undoing heavy burdens, freeing the oppressed, and breaking every yoke.
James 4:7 instructs believers to submit to God and resist the devil.
Proverbs 11:14 teaches how safety exists through wise counsel.
Ephesians 5:11 says:
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
If you recognize these patterns in your own conduct, humble yourself before God. Repent of every attempt to manipulate, intimidate, or dominate others. Ask God to expose the fear, pride, selfishness, insecurity, or desire for power feeding your behavior.
If you recognize these patterns in someone close to you, stop excusing the behavior. Seek God’s wisdom. Establish proper boundaries. Refuse to participate in lies, division, intimidation, or emotional manipulation.
Galatians 5:1 says:
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
Control is not love. Manipulation is not protection. Intimidation is not leadership. Domination is not spiritual authority.
Godly relationships are built upon truth, love, humility, accountability, respect, and freedom. Whenever someone repeatedly uses fear, guilt, deception, threats, or emotional pressure to control you, you must recognize the pattern and respond with biblical wisdom.
Many readers will recognize people, relationships, and personal experiences described in this teaching. In Part Two, we will examine the biblical steps for confronting spiritual control, establishing healthy boundaries, and walking in freedom.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
Deuteronomy 18:10–12
First Samuel 15:23
First Kings 16:30–33
First Kings 18:4
First Kings 19:1–2
First Kings 21:1–25
Second Samuel 15:1–6
Proverbs 6:16–19
Proverbs 11:14
Proverbs 16:28
Proverbs 18:1
Proverbs 22:15
Proverbs 26:24–26
Proverbs 28:13
Proverbs 29:5
Matthew 20:25–28
Acts 5:29
Acts 8:9–11
Acts 16:16–18
Acts 19:18–20
Romans 12:19
Romans 13:1–2
First Corinthians 7:3–5
First Corinthians 13:4–5
Second Corinthians 1:24
Second Corinthians 3:17
Galatians 5:1
Galatians 5:19–23
Ephesians 5:11
Ephesians 6:4
First Peter 5:2–3
Third John 9–10
Written by Pastor Kevin L. A. Ewing
Email: ewinglakevin@icloud.com
Blog: Kevinlaewing.blogspot.com
Website: www.kevinlaewing.com
