STAGES OF DISLOYALTY

Disloyalty doesn’t just happen overnight. Becoming disloyal is a process! Most people are unaware of the fact that they are becoming disloyal. Many leaders do not even notice disloyalty in their associates. In this chapter, I am going to outline the stages a person goes through when he is gradually changing into a rebel. Learn to Detect Disloyalty There are two reasons why you must know these stages of disloyalty. First of all, it will help you to identify and kill any such tendency within you. Secondly, it will help you to detect disloyalty in any person you work with. This applies to the ministry and even to businesses, especially smaller companies. The Lord has shown me eight important stages that a person goes through when he is becoming disloyal. The first stage is when he develops what I call an independent spirit.


FIRST STAGE

THE INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
The independent stage is so subtle that most people do not recognize it for what it actually is disloyalty. When a person belonging to a group, ministry or company develops an independent attitude, he sort of becomes autonomous within the set-up. The rules of the organization no longer control him. Such a person is still a part of the church but does what he wants to do, in spite of contrary instructions.
For instance, the pastor may say, “We are all fasting on Friday.” But the person with an independent spirit would think, “I’ve already decided to fast on Wednesday. So that’s what I’ll do.”

SECOND STAGE


OFFENCE
The second stage of disloyalty is offence. Jesus said,
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Matthew 24:10
From this Scripture you can see that people begin to betray and hate one another when they are offended. The Bible says folks will betray you when they are offended. I have always been wary of wounded people because I know that they can turn against me. The spirit of offence opens the door to the spirit of treachery.
Is Anyone Hurt?
Dear leader, look around you and observe those who have been wounded by one event or another. If these people have not genuinely overcome their hurts, hear the voice of the Spirit today. They are potential separatists, and they can easily become your enemies.
I believe that Absalom was grievously hurt by two important events. First of all, his half-brother’s rape of his sister. He probably decided to kill his brother from the very day it happened.
Secondly, his father King David did not take the appropriate action against Amnon for raping Tamar. The Bible says King David was very angry with Amnon.