The Conspiracy Grew

 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 firstWe’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

  1. How to keep from being an absalom
  2. You keep yourself from becoming an Absalom by being honest with yourself and your desires
  3. The greatest sins of our lives are the sins of the heart- Jealousy, enny, selfish ambition
  4. 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.
  5. Watch for demonic influence-  James 3:14-16
  6. You need to be asking yourself- what am I doing, and why am I doing it?
  7. Its an exercise to keep your heart pure, but its possible with prayer and honesty
  8. God will show you your heart through his word or another person if need be
  9. Accept correction- Pr 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.
  10. Stay submitted- Ephesians 5:21  submitting to one another in the fear of [a]God.
  11. Lots of scriptures about submission to God, authorities, leaders, each other
  12. It’s the hardest thing for people to do- everyone wants to be their own leader
  13. 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.”
  14. Now some of you would say- I would never a be an Absalom- I would never do that to someone
  15. But we do it to the King of Kings- The ultimate ruler- the ultimate King- We take control
  16. We want to rule our own lives- we don’t want to submit to the rightful king
  17. We don’t want to let him work with others the way he wants to
  18. We draw people to ourselves instead of leading them to the king
  19. We want to get the attention- we want to get the praise-
  20. We think we others and our own lives better than God can- so we work towards that end
  21. Submit to GOD- Submit to HIS kingship- HIS power. HIS plan
  22. Don’t be an Absalom- Don’t try and take the throne.
  23. HE IS THE KING- NOT US- WE ARE NOT IN CONTROL. HE IS

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