OVERCOMING THE ABSALOM SPIRIT
2 Sam3:3 – 2 Sam19:15
Based on sermons by Apostle Andre Pelser with additional notes by Apostle Aje Pelser, Directors of Harvester international Ministries

Summary of the Absalom Spirit in key words:
Handsome – flees – returns through intrigue- reconciled- alienates people- conspires against- takes control- receives false counsel- wars against- caught and slain – death brings sorrow but restores order and unity.

11 Stages in the Development of the Absalom Spirit
Eleven stages in the development of the Absalom Spirit that can bring division in a church. If the development can be stopped before it reaches the seventh stage, the conspiracy can be stopped, and a church split can be avoided. If it has gone beyond that point, there is very little that one can do to prevent it. It will have to run its full course to come to a final conclusion. Much sorrow and heartache results, because of an Absalom spirit that is tolerated for too long.

1. The Absalom spirit exposes itself initially by taking action outside of the law and ignoring basic protocol. Even though he was well meaning and sought to avenge Tamar, Absalom in the Bible placed king David in a predicament through his behaviour and vigilantism.
2. The Absalom spirit is violent and meets with a violent end. Although Absalom, whose name means: ‘the father of peace,’ was a son in the house, he had a violent streak which was revealed when he slain Amnon for raping Tamar who became Absalom’s wife. Watch this spirit manifest when you corner it and confront specific issues that expose the core value of narcissistic pride that seeks to elevate self and draw followers around itself versus the king, or leaders taking responsibility for the group. Dealing with an Absalom spirit earlier, will preserve the flock and prevent a lot of hurt.
3. The Absalom spirit fears proper judgment of the righteous authority avoiding leadership but confides in and counsels the people without permission or delegated authority. His violent act made him fear the judgement of the King. Exclusivity and glorification of knowledge versus adhering to kingdom principles and proper Biblical submission leads to error and conspiracy. Christ is not the centre of the conversation, the person operating in this spirit will make people dependent on themselves versus the corporate process of church that Jesus uses to shape lives.
4. Leadership often tolerates this spirit in the name of mercy or compassion, but mistakenly so, because it is a spirit that seeks to divide and conquer. David never punished nor reprimanded him for his murderous deed. It became too late for David to deal with the fruit of Absalom’s deeds.
5. Conspiracy. Through Joab’s intrigue he returns to the palace and fathers his own children. At this stage he is reconciled to David, the king, but shortly afterwards conspires against him and gains support for himself against David.
6. The Absalom spirit disrespects boundaries and the blood covenant of Christ with His Church. When the time was ripe, Absalom took control of David’s kingdom and slept with David’s concubines in the sight of all the people to shame David.
7. Alienating the people more and more from David. David still did not do anything against him, as the moment was lost in stages 1-3, if the error is not exposed in those early stages, people will be swept into the conspiracy with the Absalom spirit and it has to work itself out to the last stage.

8. The Absalom spirit usurps authority of a region or stronghold. Absalom took charge of Jerusalem.

9. The Absalom spirit deceives the prophets to align against leadership. Even the prophets now conspire against David and go over to Absalom.

10. The Absalom spirit plots and conspires to make to war against God’s appointed leadership, who have laid down their lives for the sheep, the true shepherds. People that operate in this spirit, are not willing to lay down their lives or sacrifice for the sake for the people, they run away when it looks like they are defeated too. It is a cowardly spirit that exposes itself over and over again. Fortunately, David gets to hear of his strategies and finds out about the war Absalom is planning against him.

11. Eventually Absalom is caught and slain by Joab and his death brings great sorrow to Israel, but his death was the only means to reunite Israel under David again.

Absalom, probably had everything going for him, but his character did not match his abilities and as a result, failed miserably. It is necessary to develop quality of character before developing the ability to perform. If someone is doing something to be recognized, it can be seen when recognition ceases the ability to perform stops. Character is what we are, ability is what we do. Pressure exposes flaws in our character.
Tests, trial & tribulation shapes our characters until the divine qualities of Christ can be seen under all circumstances in our lives. Character is revealed when superiors are not present. The true character of a church is revealed when the pastor is away. The true character of children, when the parents are out.

In a church, members should be warned by the true shepherds and divisive persons should be identified quickly and clearly.

Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
Rom 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.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore, I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

As shepherds of the flock of God we are called to deal with the Absalom spirit as one would deal with wolves who threaten the sheep:
Jesus shows us how to discern false prophets:
Mat 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Apostle Paul dealt with the same Absalom spirit and warned his disciples:
Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Act 20:30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.
Act 20:31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Act 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Further notes:
Suggested actions are included in every stage, but a church should fast and pray through these notes and repent of allowing the Absalom to operate. Persons exhibiting the fruits of an Absalom spirit of stubbornness, rebellion, conspiracy against leadership and lack of protocol in counselling people aside from proper channels without notifying leadership of their procedures and content of their prophetic advice, should be confronted in the spirit of gentleness to show them their error. If they fail to comply with Biblical standards of having prophetic words judged by other prophets and leaders, they will be marked as a divisive person and the church will be warned.
Leadership should seek God’s wisdom in the matter and in extreme cases of lack of submission, such divisive persons will be removed from office and told to leave the church. They will in most cases contact people individually to draw them after themselves, and such members should be warned not to share in their sin and the judgment which comes along with it.
The end of the matter is that Jesus is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. We have seen how God removes the rebels from the church and indeed a move of God. Sometimes the Holy Spirit works even before we pick it up and saves us a lot of trouble. But as shepherds in His field, we have a responsibility to lay down our lives and status for the sheep and deal with the wolves, even at the expense of what people think or say about us.

Grace and peace

Apostle Aje Pelser