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the Conspiracy grew strong 2 sam 15:1-12
- We live in the age of the conspiracy theory- Conspiracy theories have been around for a long time- JFK Assassination, 9/11, Viet Nam, Global War on Terror, Presidential race, and now Covid
- 5g, Bill Gates, Came from Chinese Lab, created as Bio weapon, US Military imported it into China, GMOs, Covid-19 doesn’t exist, Deep State is manipulating it, Big plot by big pharma, death rates
- Where do conspiracy theories come from? Feeling powerless, need to explain unlikely events, dispute mainstream politics, Coping mechanism
- Lots of this going on- Here’s the reality- Covid is real. May not being managed well, and we’re all suffering the effects of it with little to no large control over it. We’ll get through it- Hold on to God
- Its not a conspiracy. Its real. Today we read a story that is real as well.- Its not a conspiracy
- Absalom want to take down his father David as King- He wants the power and wants every to love and serve him. He wants to be in control, subvert David’s leadership, be the King
- Its not a theory. It’s a fact. “and the conspiracy grew strong” The difference between a theory and an actual conspiracy is that its clear from the evidence that there are conspirators causing harm and its clear on this one!
- Absalom wants to steal the hearts of the men of Israel- He set out to do it and accomplished it
- Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel: Absalom’s cunning campaign worked. He became more popular and more trusted than David.
- Let me say this first– We’re to lift up Jesus- not ourselves- John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”
- We’re to protect ourselves from deception: Romans 16:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
- Take Heed Mt24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
- Beware Mt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- What we’re talking about today is the spirit of Absalom- You may have not heard this before, but people will say things like “He’s got an Absalom spirit” and use this as an example of what it is
- You want to NOT be an Absalom, but you ALSO don’t want to fall prey to the spirit of Absalom– so there’s things I want you to think about today-
- 1- Where is the spirit of Absalom in my heart and 2. how can I protect myself from not being sucked into the depravity of an Absalom spirit
- You will find the Absalom spirit in family relationships- kids turning on kids, parents working against each other subverting each other
- At work with the boss or leadership. At CHURCH with the pastor or other leaders
- When I say “the spirit of Absalom” its not some demonic force sense- its just giving this mindset a name- Don’t get all weird about it- You know it when you see it- This just puts a name to it
- The spirit is a divisive, controlling, self worshipping spirit that desires satisfaction of the flesh, destruction of God’s holy order, self rule and self promotion.
- It is very selfish spirit and mindset because it focuses on the self more than God and others
- They seek their own– 1 Cor 10:24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
- They don’t seek after Jesus Ph 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
- 1 cor 13:5 says love does not self-seeking- and that’s what this spirit is- self- seeking
- Here’s what you have to understand- The Absalom Spirit Is attractive- It looks good
- The idea that the Absalom spirit is attractive isn’t to say that everyone who has this spirit is attractive, but you’re attracted to it- It makes you feel desired, and you are drawn to the person who has it- they make it look good and offer the lusts of the flesh- power, influence, etc.
- Remember- Absalom was good looking 2 sam 14: Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks.
- Absaloms good looks were evident and he used them and whatever he could to look good.
- (chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him)v1 SHOW OF FORCE
- Its not to say all good looking people are evil- but it was to his advantage and it was attractive
- This is what a manipulative spirit does- its why in the teen angst movies the evil kid is always the good looking one- give them allegiance, and they’ll give you a seat at the lunch table.
- But looks can be deceiving- they aren’t the be all end all of the person- the heart matters
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- Outward appearances do not equal inner holiness. Look for fruit.
- Just because outwardly people have a certain disposition- it may not equal fruit look for it
- 2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
- You shouldn’t trust a pastor who doesn’t have a good marriage or have children who don’t serve the Lord and respect him. Looks don’t pay the Bills whats the fruit!
- 1 tim 3:4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)
- The bible equates fruit with influence- bad or absent fruit- shouldn’t have influence.
- Absalom didn’t have good fruit- he just was attractive enough to entice others to follow him
- And he worked hard at it! He wasn’t lazy about what he did- Absalom would rise early v2
- An Absalom isn’t usually lazy- its hard work to be a manipulator- you can’t take a day off from it- you got to work at it.
- because he wanted to be in the best position possible to have influence- (beside the way to the gate) v2 Absalom spirit will relentlessly position itself- work for positions of influence
- So Good looking, early rising Absalom would stand by the gate to try and influence people
2. The Absalom Spirit Maneuvers
- The Absalom spirit will try and look good, position itself and influence, but it works even harder to orchestrate the situation to get to their desired end-
- Absaloms desired end would be that he would be king- that he would make the decisions for the Nation of Israel- Again- you find this spirit in many organizations, teams, businesses, families etc. A controlling manipulative spirit that desires control of the rightful leader
- Absalom was not king- David was- He could have waited and eventually got it- but he couldn’t
- So what was his ploy?
- Pay attention to the disgruntled (anyone who had a lawsuit)v2 Seek out the troubled (Absalom would call to him) v2 Redirect people’s issues (came to the king for a decision) v2
- The disgruntled want to be heard- they want to have someone listen- They are trying to get to the king- doing the right thing- but Absalom grabs them BEFORE so he can redirect-
- Fake personal interest in the troubled (What city are you from?)v2 Feign sympathy (your case is good and right)v3 and they Go after the leader
- Don’t attack the leader, introduce lies and no releif (no deputy of the king to hear you)v3
- Don’t attack the leader- promise you could do better (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)v4
- I’m not the boss- but if WERE the boss- this is what I would do-
- There’s weak bosses out there- I’ve had them- but they are still the boss- if you want to be the boss do what it takes to be promoted- don’t go the Absalom route and try to undercut the boss
- Cause here’s what Absalom did- Flattered the people (put out his hand and them and kiss him)
- Never let up. (acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment)
So here’s the end of it
- How to keep from being an absalom
- You keep yourself from becoming an Absalom by being honest with yourself and your desires
- The greatest sins of our lives are the sins of the heart- Jealousy, enny, selfish ambition
- Watch for selfish ambition- Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
- Watch for demonic influence- James 3:14-16
- You need to be asking yourself- what am I doing, and why am I doing it?
- Its an exercise to keep your heart pure, but its possible with prayer and honesty
- God will show you your heart through his word or another person if need be
- Accept correction- Pr 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.
- Stay submitted- Ephesians 5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of [a]God.
- Lots of scriptures about submission to God, authorities, leaders, each other
- It’s the hardest thing for people to do- everyone wants to be their own leader
- Submit to God’s will – Matthew 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
- Now some of you would say- I would never a be an Absalom- I would never do that to someone
- But we do it to the King of Kings- The ultimate ruler- the ultimate King- We take control
- We want to rule our own lives- we don’t want to submit to the rightful king
- We don’t want to let him work with others the way he wants to
- We draw people to ourselves instead of leading them to the king
- We want to get the attention- we want to get the praise-
- We think we others and our own lives better than God can- so we work towards that end
- Submit to GOD- Submit to HIS kingship- HIS power. HIS plan
- Don’t be an Absalom- Don’t try and take the throne.
- HE IS THE KING- NOT US- WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL. HE IS
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