Most of us have several key influential people in our lives as we are growing up. The impact of their opinion and ideas cannot be minimized as they shape us as we mature.

David was no exception. Several key players in David's ministry years, or the years that David served as King affected and influenced David both on and off the battlefield but none were as influential as Joab, David's General and Absalom, David's son.

Because of David's character - or lack of it - these individuals and the spirits that they allowed to control and manipulate them destroyed David's most effective ministry years as a leader and as a father.

Both Joab and Absalom held positions of great influence with David. He gave them an audience and listened to their thoughts and opinions. Their opinions mattered to David and their close relationships cloaked a devastating spirit of hidden agendas, malicious intentions, hatreds, jealousies and murderous sentiments.

In what should have been trusting relationships that would strengthen and encourage David, we find destruction disguised behind the loving, caring and good. This is David's Ministry years (Part 1) ChurchBuster episode.