The Holy Spirit is illuminating the political platform vividly to the American Church if it will have eyes to see and ears to hear. In my lifetime I do not remember such politicking and the nasty semantics of politics as I see right now. It is in our face and determined to be seen. And yet we may see our mirrored reflection of what we may have become in its light. Let us examine briefly the life of Absalom. There is quite a story and many chapters devoted to his story, I believe it is significant and timely in its telling.
25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him. 2 Samuel 14:25
Our introduction to this man, who was the third in line of King David’s sons, begins with his physical stature and countenance. No doubt he was a very charismatic and appealing man and as royalty had quite a presence about him. Let us see what is at the heart of his actions.
Absalom's Conspiracy
1 In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him. 2 He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, "What town are you from?" He would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel." 3 Then Absalom would say to him, "Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you." 4 And Absalom would add, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice." 5 Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 2 Samuel 15:1-6
Absalom had quite an entourage of men who were in his employment. We see Absalom taking his stance at the city gate waiting to intercept the Israelite men on their way to see the King in order to seek justice. Notice what Absalom says to the men in verse 4, "If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that he gets justice." He is seeking an office among the people and is lobbying for their vote. In verse 5, when the men would begin to show him the honor due royalty, which was to bow before him, Absalom would not have it. He took hold of them and kissed them, or in our modern context, he was shaking hands and kissing babies. He was giving them a false sense of equality to him as a Prince, thereby gaining their political favor. In verse 6 we see the true reason behind this political lobbying, “Absalom behaved in this way toward all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” There is a trump card that is about to be pulled in verses 10-12. Let us see the true office Absalom is vying for.
10 Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, "As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.' " 11 Two hundred men from Jerusalem had accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and went quite innocently, knowing nothing about the matter. 12 While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he also sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, to come from Giloh, his hometown. And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing. 2 Samuel 15:10-12
These men were invited to a banquet, similar to our $1000 fundraising dinners, in which the alliance of these men came with the high price tag. Absalom was seeking the very throne of his own father, the Beloved King David, his kingdom, and eventually the very life of his father. I don’t believe these men had any idea who they had aligned themselves with or how far this newly fledged alliance would take them. According to verse 12, “And so the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom's following kept on increasing.”
These kinds of political positioning games are prevalent in the American Church today in all types of ministry. Instead of the anointed and appointed leaders set in by God himself, we have opted for charismatic and entertaining performers who are talented and seemingly “heads above” the rest. Instead of allowing God to properly call and appoint his people to their place in the Kingdom, we have taken it upon ourselves to appoint those who promote themselves and scoff at the divine order of God. Some have even resorted to “overthrowing” the anointed of God in favor of illegitimate sons who are promising but lack the character of God. We have settled for many Ishmaels and not waited for God’s timing to see the Isaacs of Promise come forth.
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
We have readily accepted the pattern of this world invading our churches and subverting our standards of righteousness, and then we are shocked to see the manifestation of its fruit broadcasted to the world and thus defaming the Lord Jesus and his church. We have allowed our leaders to be put up on high and lofty pedestals or monuments where they are highly visible to the enemy and to the world that is watching us. We are merely reflecting the image we have been looking at and becoming more like.
5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:5
We are looking for the Glory of God in our American churches abroad. We must intently identify the mirror we have been accustomed to looking at. The mirror in 2 Corinthians 3:18 comes with Glory and has its effect on the beholder of transformation into more of the same glory of the image being looked upon.
18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV
18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
The Lord Jesus is not interested in seeing his church defamed, but in seeing his Church reflect His Glory to the World. He longs for His Bride to come into the Glory that He died and left to her to walk in. He desires us to look like Him, walk like Him, talk like Him, and to manifest His Glory like Him. All of creation is longing to see the full manifestation of the Sons and Daughters come into their Fullness, that His Glory may fill the earth through them. His Glory is meant to fill and overflow out of every church and ministry, across the platforms of America which is a lighthouse to the world, and to the world. And yet we see more Glory in third world countries then our own soil? The world is waiting to see the American Church rise up from her slumber and broadcast and publish the gospel to the ends of the earth in an unprecedented fulfillment of the Great Commission Jesus commanded us to do. What must come forth in this American Church is the honest and repentant Josiahs who hear the Word of the Lord and dare to tear down the high places formerly erected in the guise of ministry and the church.
Josiah Renews the Covenant
1 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the LORD with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the LORD. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD -to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
8 Josiah brought all the priests from the towns of Judah and desecrated the high places, from Geba to Beersheba, where the priests had burned incense. He broke down the shrines at the gates—at the entrance to the Gate of Joshua, the city governor, which is on the left of the city gate.
9 Although the priests of the high places did not serve at the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread with their fellow priests. 2 Kings 23:1-3, 8-9
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
God is wanting to build a house that is full of Glory, the Glory of the Latter House. God Himself declares that there is Glory in the latter house which shall surpass that of the Glory of the former house in Haggai 2:9.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:9
The Lord will build this house of Glory that can sustain and support the weight of his Glory as in Solomon’s Temple.
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127:1
The Lord asks us to tear down the high places formerly erected, to repent and to turn and to properly prepare for the building of this latter House full of Glory. His promise to us is that He will hear us, He will forgive our sin, and He will heal our land. Our land, our churches, our families, our nation and cities are desperately crying out for healing in this land like never before. And Jesus wants to bring forth His Glory and His answer to humanity’s greatest questions through His Glorious Bride, His Church. This is a year of new beginnings. Will we begin to see His Glory overtake this nation like never before and to see the overflow of His Glory emanating from a Powerful Church that refuses to be silent anymore? We have been called for such a time as this.
In Christ’ Service,
Raelynn Parkin
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