Danger in the Local Church
Part 2 
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we began dealing with the spirit of betrayal, stating that this spirit is the number one cause of division and splits in the local church. To briefly reiterate, 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 and is synonymous to disloyalty, because disloyalty is the act of not being true to allegiance or obligation. We said the Jezebel spirit rejects authority openly, but the Absalom spirit undermines authority from within. Let's begin to review some of the characteristics of this betrayal and disloyal spirit by reviewing the spirit that operated in the life of Absalom.

In the Old Testament, Absalom is a person. He is one of the sons of King David, the king of Israel. But in the New Testament, Absalom is a spirit that oppresses both men and women. When this spirit is not dealt with, it has the potential and strength to create havoc, pain, splits and eventually destruction to teams, businesses and churches. It is very imperative that the characteristics and qualities of this spirit are recognized by leadership, team members or fellow members in order to destroy its roots in a church and to avoid its catastrophic results. This Absalom spirit, this spirit of disloyalty and betrayal, follows an identifiable pattern that makes it easy for it to be detected and recognized in a church.

Unresolved Offense

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

The first characteristic and quality of a betrayal spirit is that it begins with unresolved offenses and hatred. Absalom was angry with and offended by his father because his father, David, never dealt with Amnon, his brother, for the rape of his sister, Tamar. The Absalom spirit hates both leadership and his brother at heart. Hatred and unresolved offenses are the first foundations of a betrayal and disloyal spirit. Hatred always begins with an offense. An offense, when not properly dealt with, develops into a root of bitterness that ultimately is manifested in hatred. Anyone that is a victim of a betrayal spirit always begins with an unresolved offense which, when not dealt with, festers into a root of bitterness and develops into hatred for a person, a leader, a thing or a place. The seed of offense and hatred in Absalom, toward his father, David, and his brother, Amnon, was there a long time before he actually lifted up his head to spearhead a revolt and split his father's kingdom.

Next month, we'll discuss another quality and characteristic of a betrayal and disloyal spirit.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola