Danger in the Local Church
Part 1 
by Dr. John Tetsola

The spirit of betrayal is the number one cause of division and splits in the local church. This spirit destroys the very core of that which annexes, which is covenant. The enemy goes to work in a church through undermining loyalty. Betrayal doesn't begin overnight. It is a process. It is an ongoing leaking in a defective heart toward leadership that eventually manifests itself. This spirit follows identifiable patterns. Once we can recognize these patterns in our lives, in the church, in our relationships with one another, we can prepare ourselves so that we don't become victims or be used by this spirit.

What is Betrayal?

In order to better understand this spirit of betrayal, let's define the word betrayal. The word betrayal simply means the act of being delivered into the hands of an enemy by treachery in violation of trust. It also means to violate by being unfaithful. It is synonymous to disloyalty because disloyalty is the act of not being true to allegiance or obligation. It also means faithlessness. People with the spirit of betrayal are disloyal people. They destroy homes, marriages, relationships, teams, businesses and churches. This spirit is the number one cause of division and splits in the body of Christ. This spirit destroys the very core of that which annexes which is covenant. This spirit is sometimes called an Absalom spirit in reference to Scripture because it manifested itself in the Old Testament through one of King David's sons by the name of Absalom. 

The enemy goes to work in a church or in a business through undermining loyalty. The Jezebel spirit rejects authority openly, but the Absalom spirit undermines it from within. Sedition is mentioned in Galatians chapter five as a work of the flesh. By definition, sedition means the undermining of constituted authority with the intent to overthrow it. That is illegal. If it is a legitimately placed authority and you set out to undermine it with the intent to overthrow it, God calls it treason or sedition. In a nation, it is punishable by death or life imprisonment. The spirit of betrayal primarily undermines authority. This proves to us that although God is King and His authority may be instituted in the church, there can be attacks against it. We must then be on guard and refuse to allow this spirit to come into our homes, businesses, churches or our relationships.

The interesting thing about this spirit is that it follows identifiable patterns. Once we can recognize these patterns in our lives, in the church, in our relationships with one another or in our businesses, we can prepare ourselves, so that we don't become victims nor be used by this spirit. Nobody suddenly wakes up one morning and discovers that they are disloyal. It is a process. The good news is that if you sense yourself being attacked by this spirit, there is forgiveness and there is deliverance.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 
Matthew 12:25

Jesus gave a principle in Matthew 12:25. He said a house that is divided against itself cannot stand. That means a team divided against itself by jealousy, envy and competition cannot stand. A business or a church divided against itself will not stand. Absalom was the son of King David. He lived in the king's house as a son, but his heart was not after his father. His heart had its own agenda, wanted its own way, and the king's house was divided. In America today and in the church, there is a great need for a restoration of trust. It is just as ungodly to be disloyal as the act of adultery. Disloyalty and betrayal is ungodly and it is not the nature of Christ. God builds on trust in a covenant family community. If you cannot trust those around you, you will not be able to build anything that lasts.

Remember we said this spirit of betrayal and disloyalty follows identifiable patterns. Next month, we'll begin to discuss some of the characteristics of this betrayal spirit.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola