The Spirit of Sheba in the Local Church - Part I
by Dr. John Tetsola

Corporate destiny is “a group of individuals acting as a whole.” It is a company of believers under spiritual authority flowing and working together to achieve a common purpose which is corporate vision in the kingdom of God. But there is a spirit called the “Spirit of Sheba” that opposes the fulfillment of corporate destiny. In the O.T. Sheba is a person, but in the N.T. context it is a spirit whose purpose is to derail the vision of God.

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

2 Samuel 20:1

In biblical times names were not just given by chance. Names were given with significant reference to one’s past, present, and ultimate destiny. For instance, God changed “Abram’s” name to “Abraham” to be reflective of his destiny to be a “father of many nations.” Jacob’s name was changed. “Jacob” spoke of his present position—“supplanter,” but “Israel” pointed to his ultimate destiny and princely status: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men.” A New Testament example of this principle is found in (Matt. 1:21), “And thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” According to Hebrew custom it was believed that names had the power to produce manifestations, and studying Scripture from a Hebrew point of view it was disgraceful not to live up to one’s name. Sheba failed to live up to his.

Who was Sheba? Sheba was the grandson of Abraham through Keturah (Gen. 25:1-3). In the O.T. Sheba was a person, but in the N.T. context Sheba is a spirit with the potential to destabilize and create confusion in the local church. Because it views problems in a church as evidence that leadership is out of God’s will, it blows a trumpet and makes covenant-breaking statements: “We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse.” The name Sheba means “seven” or “oath.” It signifies a person of covenant called alongside to complement, strengthen, and to bring completion to a person or place. Based upon his name, Sheba should have been an oath-bearing, covenant-keeping individual brought alongside King David to complete that which was lacking in David’s life. But instead, Sheba’s true colors were revealed in an atmosphere of strife. “…all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel” (2 Sam. 19a). The one called to bring completion into David’s life became the ring-leader of a revolt in Israel.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Sheba

So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba…

2 Samuel 20:2a

The spirit of Sheba on a believer causes one to break covenant and then seize the opportunity to divide the very place and people they were called alongside by God to cover, protect, complete, and strengthen. This spirit on a believer attacks from a trusted and unsuspecting place as it seeks to destroy corporate destiny and derail the vision of God. It operates from within because the person was originally called alongside to complement and complete that which was lacking in the ministry or business. Sheba undermines the weakness of a church. It looks for cracks in vision in hopes of gaining position without process. The spirit of Sheba on a believer is an opportunist that switches loyalties and instead of remaining a trusted asset, this spirit makes the individual a liability. It takes advantage of leadership’s vulnerability in an attempt to weaken an existing unity and loyalty. Silence the voice of Sheba by speaking well of your leader when others complain. Recognize that God has Aaron and Hurs who will never get distracted by Sheba’s voice. They will lift up their pastor’s hands until the battle subsides, they won’t break covenant, and they will promise to love, cover, and protect their leader.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola