Dealing With The Spirit of Absalom (again)

For the last four years, God has been speaking to me about dealing with the spirit of Absalom in our lives. Psalms 3- 7 are believed to have been written during the period of time in which David was on the run from Absalom.

Some scholars believe we can look into the Psalms that correlate with the year in which we live and find a strategic word in which God is speaking to His people.

I was reading this morning in 1 Kings 22. Jehoshaphat and Ahab were about to go to war; Ahab's prophets were saying, "go, go, go and prosper…" Evidently, something didn't set right in Jehoshaphat's spirit and he said, "…is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we may inquire of Him?" (22:7)

God wants to send HIS prophetic Word to His people! I believe in prophecy that brings edification, exhortation and comfort! (1 Cor. 14) But God is also calling His church to wake up and deal with the issues that have broken our intimacy with Him!

I know I have written about it in previous posts, but on my way to church Wednesday night, three things came into my heart I already knew about the spirit of Absalom, but I want to post them again:

1.Your Absalom can be any project, ministry, business program or relationship you have given birth to out of frustration, hurt, burnout, fear or the offended spirit. Absalom was a product of a relationship David formed when he was on the run from Saul. Absalom's mother's name literally means oppression. When oppression marries oppression, you are going to produce more oppression!

2.Absalom rises up against you and chases you away from your place of authority and dominion! I realize to many, the teaching on dominion and apostles and prophets is nothing more than the old "latter rain" theology making a comeback! But my Baptist heritage teaches me to take the entirety of Scripture and that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! I wonder out loud today when did God die and leave these people in charge who for years have been given the "authority" to decide what scripture is for today, and what scripture is not for today! Someone needs to help me understand Luke 9:1, 2!

Our problem is we look at scripture through an American mindset and think God is not going to move on the earth unless He first checks in with the denominational offices in Nashville, Springfield, Cleveland or Washington, DC!

3.Absalom says all the right things for all the wrong reasons. While David was chasing the heart of God, Absalom was "stealing the hearts of the men of Israel…" 2 Sam 15:6, 13)

God help us to let go of everything! Quit grabbing for position, people and power, and go after God! He's been waiting on us all the time!