He had been quiet for a while. People only noticed that he was not flowing well with the leadership. As he opened his mouth to speak, it was obvious what was in his heart. He demanded to have the same privilege that the senior leader had. He has been a victim of the spirit of Absalom.

Friend, there is the reality of spirit operations in our world today. Apart from the Holy Spirit and demon spirits, there are other spirits in operation that we would need to be aware of. God knows that we would need to discern spirits and their operations that He gave us the Gift of Discerning of Spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10).

Your ability to discern spirits would be a critical factor for your success and safety in life. Most of the human personalities in the Old Testament are still in operation in our world today. They now operate as spirits; positive and negative. The spirit of Elijah is still here as well as the spirits of other just men (Hebrews 12:23). The spirit of Absalom is still here today.

In the Old Testament, they deal with human personalities but in the New Testament dispensation, we deal with the spirit behind them (Acts 16:16-18, 2 Corinthians 5:16, 10:3-4). Spirits need to be cast out or denied access around our sphere. As a child of God, you are responsible for the kind of spirits you allow in your sphere; family, Church, business, work place, city etc (Revelation 2:20).

Beware of those who are unusually quiet around you (2 Samuel 13:22). Sometimes, the person who speaks his mind at all times, even if he speaks trash or folly, is safer around you than the one who keeps mute. You should create an atmosphere around your home, work, Church etc., where people are free to talk, else, you might be breeding an Absalom without knowing.

“Absalom said to him, “Behold, your matters are good and right; but there is no man deputized by the king to hear you”” (2 Samuel 15:3). The Absalomic spirit seeks to take authority without process. He works with the assumption that he can do as much as the leader can do or even better (2 Samuel 15:4-6). Authority is given based on trust not by force. It is by delegation not manipulation (2 Samuel 15:12-14, Philippians 2:5-11). Beware of the Absalomic spirit!

© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria