God’s Deliverance

For example, when the terrorists struck the Trade Towers in New York City, and the Pentagon, on Sept. 11, 2001, the pundits put their heads together and tried to make sense of why anyone would want to kill thousands of innocent people.

They could only reach the conclusion that Osama Bin Laden and his gang were so evil, that only he would do something like that.

We who know the Lord understand about evil. We know that the Devil is active in this world, and uses people who will submit to him to fulfill his evil deeds.

This is the same thing that happens in the church. Sometimes people will viciously attack God’s man, God’s ministry, or Christian church members.

• THEY MAY DO IT IN AN EFFORT TO TRY TO DESTROY THE WORK OF GOD

• THEY MAY DO IT FOR REVENGE, OR BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY

They may not even realize that they are doing what the Devil wants them to do, but nevertheless they do it!

As we see these things take place, they MAKE NO SENSE! The only explanation that makes sense, is that the Devil, who is evil to the core, has influenced some people, and he uses them to try and destroy the work of God and hurt the people of God.

Jesus said, in John 10:10, “The thief(Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus has come to bless our lives, but make no mistake about it, Satan wants to hurt us every way he can.

I am sure that David sat down and tried to make sense of the situation he faced, BUT IT MADE NO SENSE. His own son, Absalom, went behind his father’s back, and made an all out effort to overthrow him.

Look how Absalom carried out this evil act.

A. HE WAS AN ATTRACTIVE PERSON

In 2 Sam. 14:25, we read, “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for HIS BEAUTY: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.”

The scriptures indicate that when it comes to looks, he was the perfect man.

Illus: Have you noticed that some folks are a perfect ten, but once you get to know them and look beyond their outward beauty, you see they are ugly from within?

One of the mistakes that many make in selecting a mate, is that they look at outward appearances alone. Sometimes after they marry someone who looks like the perfect HUNK, they soon decide that they are the perfect JERK!

Anytime we judge people on outward appearance alone, we generally are later surprised. Absalom was a handsome fellow on the outside, but he was rotten to the core on the inside.

B. HE WAS A CONVINCING PERSON

Look at 2 Samuel 15:1-6, “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”

This man knew how to PROMOTE HIMSELF.

Look at some of the things he did:

• When he arrived in town in his chariot, he had fifty men run before him so that people would think someone important was coming to town.

• He would get out of his chariot, and talk to those who were going to court for justice, and ask them where they were from, and why they were here. They would tell him where they were from, and about some injustice that had been done to them, and say that they were taking this person to court for justice. He then would say, “Too bad this has happened to you, and too bad my dad (King David) will not help you, but if I was king I would help you get justice.”