Danger in the Local Church
Part 3
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we mentioned the first characteristic and quality of a betrayal and disloyal spirit, and that being "Unresolved Offenses," the spirit which was in operation in Absalom, the son of king David. Absalom allowed an unresolved offense to fester and eventually move him to murder his brother Amnon for the rape of his sister Tamar. Let's look at a portion of the scripture from last months' teaching. For greater clarity, please read 2 Samuel chapter 13 in its entirety.

And Amnon said unto Tamar, bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, come lie with me, my sister. Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.
2 Samuel 13:10-11, 14

And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying. And Absalom her brother said unto her, hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? But hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house. But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth. And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.
2 Samuel 13:19-22

We mentioned that unresolved offenses and hatred are the first foundations of a betrayal and disloyal spirit, which is why the Bible admonishes us to guard against offenses, for hatred always begins with an offense, and an offense, when not properly dealt with, festers into a root of bitterness. Anyone that is a victim of a betrayal spirit always begins with an unresolved offense. Now let's look at another characteristic of this betrayal spirit that was on Absalom.

The Despising of Authority

So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.
2Samuel 13:38

The second characteristic or quality of one with a betrayal spirit, like the person Absalom, is that they detest authority and run from it. They often do anything and everything possible to avoid some form of authority over their lives. They tend to possess the "lone ranger" mentality. In verse 38, after Absalom killed his brother Amnon, he fled and went to Geshur and stayed there for three years. He was running from authority. Where there is authority, there will be responsibility and accountability. Absalom was running from the responsibility of what he had done.

The Absalom spirit in a church is always on the run from spiritual authority. This spirit detests spiritual authority and bucks against it. Never welcome or embrace someone into a team, a business, or a church if they are fleeing from some form of responsibility in which they have acted irresponsibly and are under discipline. God is more interested in our character than in our charisma, for it takes character and integrity not to be disloyal and betray a church, a team or a business. God wants us to be people of integrity, ethics and accountability, and not just gifting. We have so many people falling today and making a stink in the body of Christ because they have gifting and yet no character.

Next month we'll continue our review of the characteristics of a betrayal and a disloyal spirit.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola