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Whoa, Mule, Whoa!  Breaking Absalom's Spell Before Offence Carries You Too Far!

In this Wednesday evening sermon, “Whoa, Mule, Whoa! - Breaking Absalom's Spell Before Offence Carries You Too Far!”, Pastor Gary Caudill preaches from Matthew 18:7 and 2 Samuel 18:9, warning how untreated wounds can become bitterness, offense, pride, and spiritual danger. The message follows Absalom’s path from real pain to destructive rebellion, showing how Satan seeks to weaponize wounded hearts while Christ offers healing, truth, and restoration.

The sermon explains that Absalom did not heal wounded hearts, he harvested them. Through the story of Absalom and the mule that kept moving, Pastor Caudill calls believers to say “whoa” to bitterness, pride, outrage, manipulated loyalty, and offense before those things carry the heart too far. For listeners in Crawfordville, the county seat of Taliaferro County, this message offers a timely reminder that people everywhere need more than emotional certainty. They need spiritual discernment, repentance, and the healing grace of Jesus Christ.

If you are in Crawfordville, then you are within driving distance of Thomson, and we invite you to join us at Washington Heights Baptist Church. Our regular service times are Sunday School at 9:30 AM, Sunday Worship at 10:30 AM and 6:00 PM, and Wednesday at 6:00 PM. Whether you are carrying betrayal, church hurt, disappointment, rejection, anger, or confusion, this sermon points you to the Savior who does not exploit wounds, but heals hearts through redemption.

CLICK PLAY BELOW TO LISTEN AND SCROLL THROUGH THE OUTLINE TO FOLLOW ALONG.

Video begins at the sermon start point: 4:26.

Washington Heights Baptist Church

Whoa, Mule, Whoa!

Breaking Absalom’s Spell Before Offense Carries You Too Far

A simple follow-along outline on offense, bitterness, deception, spiritual momentum, and healing through Jesus Christ.

Opening Texts and Burden
Matthew 18:7
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
2 Samuel 18:9
And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak...
Offenses are inevitable, but offense must not be allowed to take the reins of the heart.
Big Thought: Say “whoa” before bitterness, pride, and offense carry you farther than you meant to go.

1. Absalom Was Wounded Before He Became Dangerous

2 Samuel 13:28-29
Absalom commanded his servants to smite Amnon, and they slew him.
Hebrews 12:15
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Absalom’s pain was real, but real pain becomes dangerous when it is surrendered to bitterness instead of God.
  • Bitterness can grow quietly.
  • Untreated wounds can shape perception.
  • Pain must be brought to Christ for healing.

2. Absalom’s Spell Reframed Reality Through Offense

2 Samuel 15:3
And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Matthew 24:10
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Romans 16:18
...by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Offense can cloud discernment until everything is interpreted emotionally.
Remember: A deceived heart can feel certain while remaining spiritually unstable.

3. Many Following Absalom Did Not Know They Were Being Used

2 Samuel 15:11
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
2 Timothy 2:26
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Some people are not following rebellion consciously. They are following emotionally.
Key Line: Absalom did not heal wounded hearts. He harvested them.

4. The Mule Kept Moving While Absalom Was Left Hanging

2 Samuel 18:9
...and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Absalom never stopped the momentum. He never said “whoa” to bitterness, pride, offense, or self-exaltation.
  • Whoa to bitterness.
  • Whoa to pride.
  • Whoa to manipulated loyalty.
  • Whoa to offense before it carries you too far.

Closing: David Wept on Olivet, But Jesus Bore Our Wounds There

2 Samuel 15:30
And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up...
Luke 22:39
And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
Isaiah 53:4
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...
Absalom weaponized wounds to divide people. Jesus bore wounds to redeem people.
Absalom says, “Stay wounded and follow me.” Jesus says, “Bring Me your wounds and follow Me.”
  • Bring the wound to Christ.
  • Refuse bitterness a home in your heart.
  • Say “whoa” before offense carries you too far.
  • Find forgiveness, cleansing, peace, healing, truth, restoration, and redemption in Jesus.
Final Charge: Whoa, mule, whoa.
Read Opening Verses in Full Context
Visit (or re-visit) Corner Stone Keynotes' Website to Read from These Passages If you so Desire
<< 2 Sam. 18 << Matt. 18

Questions and Answers

Quick sermon takeaways from Whoa, Mule, Whoa!, focused on Absalom, offense, bitterness, spiritual manipulation, and healing through Jesus Christ.

What is the main message of Whoa, Mule, Whoa! by Pastor Gary Caudill?

The main message is that offense, bitterness, pride, and unresolved wounds can carry a person farther than they ever intended to go. Pastor Gary Caudill uses Absalom’s story to warn that wounded hearts must be brought to Christ for healing rather than surrendered to resentment, manipulation, or rebellion.

How does Absalom’s story show the danger of bitterness and offense?

Absalom’s pain was real, but his wound became spiritually dangerous when bitterness took root. The sermon points to Hebrews 12:15: “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Pastor Caudill teaches that bitterness does not stay private. It spreads, troubles, and defiles others.

Why does the sermon emphasize the mule in 2 Samuel 18:9?

The mule illustrates the momentum of unchecked offense. 2 Samuel 18:9 says, “And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.” The sermon applies this by warning that bitterness, pride, and outrage may seem to carry a person forward, but they eventually leave the soul trapped and helpless.

How can Christians respond to church hurt, betrayal, or disappointment?

Christians should bring their wounds honestly to Jesus Christ instead of building an identity around what hurt them. The sermon does not deny the reality of pain, betrayal, rejection, or disappointment. It calls the listener to stop before offense gains control and to seek forgiveness, cleansing, peace, healing, truth, restoration, and redemption in Christ.

How does this sermon point from Absalom to Jesus Christ?

The sermon contrasts Absalom and Jesus. Absalom weaponized wounds to divide people, but Jesus bore wounds to redeem sinners. Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows...” Pastor Caudill shows that while Absalom hung from a tree because of pride and rebellion, Jesus willingly hung upon a tree because of love and redemption.

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