2 Sam. 15-16; Ps. 32; Mt. 25

2 Samuel 15 1 After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” 3 Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” 4 Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” 5 And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. 6 In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
It is often referred to as the Absolom spirit. Absolom wanted what his father David had, the thrown of Israel. He coveted and when someone covets something long enough they will lose there integrity to get it. That is why covetousness is spoken against it in the scriptures. Absolom’s covetousness was coupled with unforgiveness, toward his father for not dealing with His brothers perversion toward his sister. Absolom’s false humility, acting as if he really cared for the people while slandering his father caused the people to turn toward and look to him as the caring king they always wanted. All of this would eventually be the cause for Absolom to lose his life. I have come to know quite a few over the years with the Absolom spirit. Their goal is to draw disciples to themselves instead of toward God. They elevate their ministry at the expense of the church. The moment someone looks to someone else for ministry they will demonize them or the ministry they are looking to. I have known of several church that demonize the any individual who leaves their church to go somewhere else. The members are told to stop contact with them. That is an Absolom Spirit. Sometimes it’s been a church member with the Absolom spirit. I have a Pastor friend who left the country on a missions trip and left the church to what he thought was a trusted leader. This trusted leader took advantage of the time to draw people unto himself so he could leave with members and start his own thing. This person will end up as Absolom did with no life, I don’t mean God will kill him I mean their will not be God’s blessing on what he birth out of the flesh. Keep your heart pure and reject the spirit of Absolom.

Pastor Rick