Volume 4 Issue 45

For more than two years it lasted, just minutes away from Islamic State-held territory. The Iraqi town of Alqosh (50km north of Mosul) is the only Christian stronghold in the country that survived IS. Looking for signs of hope for the future of Christianity in Iraq? This town, with its four churches, two monasteries and 500 Christian families, is where it can be found.

For those who grew up reading the Bible, Alqosh might ring a distant bell. It was the town where Old Testament prophet Nahum, "the Elkoshite", lived. His grave, which also houses ancient Hebrew texts, can be visited in the old centre of Alqosh. The message of the New Testament also found its way to this community long ago; since the early Middle Ages this town has been Christian. And it’s determined to stay that way.

"All over Iraq, Alqoshians are known to be strong, tough," Father Araam, one of the town’s Chaldean-Catholic priests, says. Like many Christians here, he is determined to stay, whatever happens. "I am one of God’s witnesses here. God is still here, why should I leave? As long as I am able to give a glass of water to someone who is thirsty, I am able to serve Jesus in Alqosh."

Visiting Alqosh is not easy. Before entering the town, all visitors are stopped at a heavily guarded checkpoint. Only if one of the community leaders will vouch for them are they allowed in.

The safety measures are not an unnecessary exercise; for a long time IS was just a 10-minute drive away. In 2014, IS tried to conquer Alqosh. The women and children all left the town, but most of the men stayed to defend their community, backed by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters. They succeeded; the Christians and Kurds fought off IS, and most families returned.

But there is another reason the close-knit Christian community of Alqosh is wary of outside visitors, Father Araam says. "Our country is almost 90 years old now [Iraq became independent in 1932]. Christians have really never been respected. There has been nothing but war, persecution and pressure." ‘When needed, I will protect myself’

However, the Alqoshian Christian community chose not to be pushed aside by the successive powers oppressing them. The self-implemented rule – that only Christian Alqoshians are allowed to own land or houses in the town – has kept the community safe from other religions and tribes. Over-cautious? Father Araam doesn’t think so.

"I’m sorry we have to work this way, but we have had some really bad experiences very close by," he says. "There used to be more Christian villages here on the Nineveh plain; we lost them all." But until today, the informal tribal law system has granted the Alqoshians the opportunity to keep out strangers, ensuring it remains a 100 per cent Christian-owned community. This freedom comes with a price. The men in the town are expected to play their role in protecting it. Father Araam visits the frontline often in his role as priest, recognisable by his white collar. He opens his phone and shows pictures of himself with Peshmerga fighters.

Often soldiers ask me: ‘Priest, why are you here?’ My answer is: ‘As Christians we pray for you, we pray you will stay safe, that you will be able to return to your home,’" he says. "IS is a killing machine – they don’t see soldiers as people.

"As a church we have a different story, a story of love. I’ll gladly share that everywhere, even on the battle line. I am here to help as a Christian, but, when needed, I will protect myself and my town." In Alqosh the churches and the monastery play their own role. On a hill overlooking the town, the compound of Our Lady Monastery is a popular place for Alqoshians to spend the evening.

The prior, Father Gabriel, sees an important role for the town’s clergy. "For me as a priest, I see it gives people hope as long as I am here with them," he says. "Even when IS came in 2014, we didn’t perform miracles. Just the fact that we stayed here as long as we could was a testimony, a living hope for the believers."

‘Their community is vanishing’ The prior says he feels called to do everything he can to keep the Christians from leaving the country.

"Christianity in Iraq is like a big tree," says Father Gabriel. "It has been here for 2,000 years, but today our enemies are many and they want to cut down the tree. They want to get rid of us." When Iraqi Christians move to Europe or North America, trying to "re-plant" themselves there, their faith is in danger, he says.

"There already are a lot of Iraqi Christian communities in America and Europe, but they are all melting, becoming part of those cultures," he says. "The next generation will not be recognisable. Their faith will disappear because the community they belong to is vanishing."

Fr. Gabriel is doing his best to make the place feel safe and hospitable. A small shop sells refreshments for visitors. A young couple just got married and are celebrating outside the monastery gates. A children’s birthday party is celebrated near a farm maintained by the monastery. Here it’s possible to forget about IS, the threats and the problems for a while.

"My whole family, except one sister, all of them left the country," Father Gabriel says. "These people are my family now, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have committed my life to this church, to these people. Once you give a gift like that, you don’t take it back. "When Jesus went to Jerusalem, the people were planning to kill and crucify him. Peter tried to stop them, using violence. But Jesus said to Peter: ‘Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword!’"

"Christianity in Alqosh is like gold," says Fr. Araam. "It is tested in the fire. It hurts, but the result is that the gold will be purer. I see people changing, not just in faith but also in their behaviour. They have felt for themselves that, when everything could be taken from them, God is all that remains. When the government soldiers leave you, when IS comes, when you run out of bullets, who do you cry out to?"

‘We need international support’

Both Fr. Araam and Fr. Gabriel call upon the international community to support the Christians in Iraq. They say that without political and even military protection of the Christian minority, life will be very difficult for Christians, even if IS is defeated completely. Fr. Gabriel compares the position of Christians to the state of Israel. "All the Arab countries are Islamic countries; they are all against Israel," he says. "And yet, Israel is strong, stronger than the Arab world. Why? If the international community can guarantee safety for Israel, why not do the same for the Christians in Iraq?" He calls for a UN-protected safe zone for Christians. "We need international support. Our enemies are many, we are just a small group," he says. Father Araam agrees with him and says he is grateful for the many humanitarian organisations already supporting Christians in Alqosh. "Many groups support our work here. There is still love left in the world. That helps us in keeping the hope that we will have a life and a future," he says.

 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, EXPOSE them” Ephesians 5:11

 Section 1 - The Old Testament -  The Jezebel Spirit

The Characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit

You will often find the Jezebel spirit trying to get close to those who already have control. Proverbs says:

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.

Scripture emphasises that the intended target of this spirit is ‘strong men’. It primarily targets men with leadership skills or powerful positions such as Nimrod and Ahab. But in reality she has a deep hatred of true spiritual authority and will always seek to replace it with illegitimate authority. She will do this through emotional pressure, witchcraft and obsessive sensuality. But make no mistake; lust and sex are merely tools to weaken others in order for her to accomplish her goal. The subtle persuasions of femininity are used only to gain influence and get close to those in control. She then uses this position to gradually dominate.   In the Hebrew, the name Jezebel means literally "without cohabitation". She will not live with those she cannot dominate and control. She will have no equals. We saw evidence of this when Semiramis ordered the death of Nimrod and plotted to do the same to Tammuz. There are no ends she will not go to in order to gain and keep control. It is what Jezebel wants more than anything.

Domination is always satanic and stands in contrast to the example given by Jesus, the servant king, “who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:6) Even when Jezebel appears to be submissive, it is usually out of a carefully wrought plan to gain influence. In 1 Kings 21:8 we read "Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of the city." This tells us that she prefers to remain concealed in the background, while she manipulates situations and leaders. A hidden hand behind the public figure. Just like Satan is the King of Tyre pulling the strings behind the Prince of Tyre.

Demonic Depression and Loss of Vision

The power of the spirit of Jezebel should not be underestimated. For seven years God had carefully and miraculously protected Elijah from Ahab’s armies. God had even commanded ravens to feed him in the wilderness. He had super naturally met all his needs.

In the Mount Carmel showdown, Elijah called down fire from heaven and resoundingly defeated and killed the priests of Baal. All Israel fell at his feet in repentance worshipping the true God. Elijah was one of the mightiest prophets of God that the world had ever seen. He was vindicated and victorious. And yet it took a single threat from Jezebel to send Elijah spinning into anxiety and even depression. He fled to the desert and begged God to kill him. Think about this because naturally speaking it makes no sense. Elijah enjoyed supernatural protection for seven years, watched fire fall from heaven, saw his enemies defeated and still Jezebel could bring him to this condition with a single threat.

This is an example of Jezebel’s power to intimidate and strike fear into the hearts of men, causing them to withdraw. Jezebel will try to steal your vision. Jezebel will even make you depressed and anxious when there is nothing significantly different in your circumstances. If there are difficult circumstances, this spirit will tell you they are insurmountable, impossible, and overwhelming. Jezebel will make you feel like dying when in reality, you are God’s man of the hour.

Spiritual life may seem irrelevant and pointless. You may lose the desire to pray and the faith to try. Demonic voices will tell you it’s all hopeless. You may suddenly find yourself in unreasonable anxiety, fearing tragedy or death. Pessimistic and cynical. Much of what is called "depression" is Jezebel. Jezebel wants to paralyse with fear, condemnation, depression, apathy or whatever it takes until we withdraw. The only answer for those under Jezebel’s attack is perseverance in battle and remember, the God who resoundingly defeated Baal on Carmel can do the same today.

Mark Fairley