If I begin to speak to you about the KING OF KINGS, you would immediately know that I am referring to the Head of our Body; HE whom we reverently call LORD; HE who is known as Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God. And of course, you would be completely correct. And if that was the only revelation that you ever gleaned while in this created existence, that alone would be enough to establish you as the tabernacle of the Living God. However, there is so, so much more available to you in HIS Spirit. And that is what this story is about.

It has been recorded for us, in 1 Samuel 8 thru 12, where Israel as a people asked for and received their first official king. These four chapters should be read by you several times so that you can feel the experience of what has happened, and what is about to progress from this point on. But this is only the culmination of a condition that had been in place for many generations. Take the time to read Ex. 16:1-9. The Israelites had only been out of Egypt for a few weeks, and they were already on the verge of revolution against Moses. But we see in the record in Exodus 16 that GOD is not fooled by their grumblings against Moses and Aaron. In fact, YHWH tells Moses that the people are not rebelling against the leadership of Moses, but against the leadership of YHWH Himself. When we grumble and complain about One whom GOD has chosen, then we grumble and complain about YHWH. So much for that.

In Deuteronomy 17:14-20, there is recorded an extremely important warning to us from our FATHER. This warning is concerning our understanding and conduct when we have appropriated the Promised Land that is being given to us as believers. It is very important to reconsider and remember that the Land of Promise is a gift to us from YHWH. There is nothing you can do to attract the Promise. There is nothing you can do to win the Promise. Indeed, there is nothing you can do to acquire the Promise save receive it as a personal present for you; accept the personal present; and say thank you, FATHER, for giving me the Kingdom.[Luke 12:32] Now, if your earthly father gives you an important gift, who upon this earth are you going to allow to take credit for the gift, or tell you what to do with the gift?! In Deut. 17:14-20, GOD tells the Israelites when they have taken possession of the land that YHWH is giving, they will reject HIM, and desire a king, just like all their neighbors. But GOD, in infinite wisdom and love, is caring enough to tell them that when you reject ME as KING, and want a king of your own kind to reign over you, here is a litmus test for the king you choose. GOD tells them that the king must be one of them. He must be a king that does not trust in horses and chariots as they do in Egypt. He must be a king that is faithful and committed to one wife. He must be a king that does not want to horde up for himself silver and gold, because he will be a king who trusts in GOD for all his sustenance. And most important of all, I believe, is that when he is sitting on his throne to reign over the people, he must be very diligent to "...write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear YHWH his GOD, and to be careful to observe all the words of this Torah (law) and of these statutes, that his heart may not become proud and lifted up above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment, the right hand or the left, and that he may prolong days in his kingdom, he and his sons in the midst (heart) of Israel."[Deut. 17:18-20] Wow!

Now, if I understand what we just read from Deuteronomy, when we come to possess the kingdom prepared for us by our FATHER, then we should not desire any to reign over us except for YHWH alone. But when we do desire that one reign over us, he should be able to pass the test provided in Deuteronomy 17:14-20. Or in the words of our own SAVIOUR, "...the kings of the gentiles exercise lordship over the gentiles, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant." [Mark 10:42-43] Or in my own words, he who would desire any authority or influence over you should desire to do so by being your servant! Could it be that what Paul was telling Timothy about deacons and bishops and pastors was taken from this passage in Deuteronomy? Could it be that what GOD wanted you to realize is that in HIS KINGDOM, which HE freely gives, the only ruler over you is the one who is willing to die for you; the one who is willing to give up HIS LIFE so that you may have HIS LIFE; the ONE who deemed it more important that you and I have HIS LIFE than that HE keep HIS own?

Selah!

There is more. In Judges, chapters 6-8, we have the record of YHWH using Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the bondage they had put themselves into with the Midianites. The story is worth digesting, and there are more truths taught in this passage than we can plumb in this writing. But in Judges 8:22 we read; Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, both you and your son,and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian'. But Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; YHWH shall rule over you.' But in verse 24 we see where Gideon failed the 'king' test. "Then Gideon said to them, 'I would like to request a request of you, however, that you would give to me the gold earrings from the plunder of Midian.' And to show them that he didn't really want the plunder for himself, he fashioned the gold into an image, an ephod so that all Israel could "enjoy" it. And verse 27 says "And all Israel played the harlot with it there."

This brief recollection gives a background for what I wish to illustrate next. The balance of this teaching will require eyes and ears of Spirit, and I pray now to our FATHER that HE, by HIS Spirit in you, will quicken your Spirit eyes and ears to understand our role in Spirit Living. I also ask FATHER to have me say only what HE wants said, only what HE wants communicated. I trust that you will say the "Amen" to those requests.

In 1 Samuel chapter 8, the Israelites began to demand that Samuel "...make a king over us to judge us like all the nations (gentiles)." This request displeased Samuel greatly, but GOD assured him that the people were not rejecting Samuel, but they were rejecting GOD. In the next few chapters of the record, we learn how the process of choosing Saul to be the first king over Israel was accomplished. Israel's first king was not a random choosing, but was perfectly appointed by GOD to teach and to demonstrate to the people their spiritual (or lack there-of) condition. But the Israelites chose not to hear the voice of YHWH in Samuel's words. In I Sam. 8:10 we read "So Samuel told all the words of YHWH to the people who 'asked' him for a king." The word 'asked' in the verse was put into bold type by me for the purpose of attracting your attention. The Hebrew word translated 'asked' is 'shah-al', and in the Strong's Concordance is #7592. The word is translated many times as simply 'to ask; to make a request; to inquire.' However, in many other cases it actually means to 'demand; to require of; to request of you something that you cannot say 'no' to.' In verses 11-18, Samuel describes to the people what they have really asked for. He explains to them, in vivid detail, that what they have 'shah-al', or asked for, is going to be more than they bargained for. What they had initially wanted was a king to go out and fight the enemies of Israel for them. They didn't want to have to possess the land by being "...a people who kept the commandments of YHWH." The people demand of Samuel in 1 Sam. 8:6 "...give us a king to judge us." To judge, or to be judged, ultimately is for the purpose of ending in your deliverance. To be judged is to be delivered from the thing that is holding you in captivity. To be judged is to be freed from the bondage (Egypt) or limitation that prevents you from manifesting the pure and Holy LIFE of GOD that we were created to manifest and image. Judgement can only be exercised by HIM alone WHO knows what your true condition really is. Only your FATHER knows your heart and your condition, and HE alone can provide the perfect remedy (judgement) for the trap you have put yourself in by not knowing and keeping HIS Word. It is true, "...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." [Hosea 4:6]

Beginning with 1 Sam. 8, Samuel paints a word picture for the people of what they have asked for in their sin and rebellion to the reign of YHWH. He tells them that the king that they have asked(shah-al) for will also "ask"(shah-al) of them. And he will not allow them to deny his "asking". "...He will take your sons and appoint them for his horsemen, and to run before his chariots. He will appoint your sons to plow his ground, to reap his harvest and to make for him implements of war. He will take your daughters to be his cooks, and bakers and perfumers; and, ultimately to be in his stable of concubines. He will take the best of your wheat fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and he will give them to his servants. He will take a tenth (tithe) of your grain and your vintage and give to his officers and servants. He will take your servants and your animals and will put them to work doing service for him. He will take of your sheep and livestock. "And you will be his servant!" Samuel said, "This is what you ask for(shah-al); this is what you are demanding." But the people said, "Oh, Samuel, surely you jest." Verse 19; "...No, but we will have a king over us."

In the rebellion of Israel, the people asked (shah-al) for a king. And Samuel appointed them their king. And the name of the king that they asked for was Saul; or in Hebrew, Shah-ul. Saul, or Shah-ul, is his name, and Shah-ul is his nature. Shah-ul means "to ask; to demand". The people asked for, or demanded, a king. GOD said that which you ask for will come upon you. The king that they asked for was named (natured) 'asked.' The name 'Shah-ul' comes from the verb #7592, 'shah-al'. We have already looked at what 'shah-al' implies. It requests, or requires, of you that which you cannot deny. It demands of you because you gave it authority to demand of you. Remember, Gideon would not accept the opportunity to be king, but he would take a little gold, if you please. Whatever and whomever you submit your own authority to has the right to, and most assuredly will, exercise authority over you. GOD gave you the kingdom, and now you submit to another to tell you what you will and will not do in the kingdom that was given to you by GOD.

And now for the most demanding part of this mystery. The word that the name 'Shah-ul' comes from is the verb, 'shah-al'. But the verb, 'shah-al' is also the root word that we get 'Sheh-ole' from. 'Sheh-ole'? 'Sheh-ole' is translated Hell. It is also translated Grave. But it does not lose the power of the verb that it is derived from. 'Sheh-ole' asks for you. 'Sheh-ole' demands of you. 'Sheh-ole' has the right to ask of, and demand, those who have entered into covenant with death.

In the curse that is ascribed to the "Fall", we hear GOD tell the serpent in Gen. 3:14; "...on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat the dust of the earth." The serpent is relegated to the realm of dust, and there he shall find that which he is allowed to partake of. In Gen. 2:7, we read that GOD formed adam 'dust' of the ground. And the Spirit of GOD talked with Adam, and fellowshipped with Adam, and gave commandment that Adam would not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and know to eat of the "Tree of Life", which is the Life of FATHER HIMSELF. However, if adam decided to wallow in the dust realms, rather than walk in the Garden of the Life of GOD, then adam must become subject to the authority that GOD has given to the serpent in that dust realm. Those who choose to dwell in dust become the lawful prey of the serpent that is to find his meat in the dust. Are you hearing any of this? I know you are, and this is changing you even as you read. Those who traffic in dust become serpent food. The same is true with the authority of 'Sheh-ole'. 'Sheh-ole' has the right to ask of, and receive, that which belongs to the realm of death. Death is the absence of the Life of GOD. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil is a tree of death. The Tree of Life is of the Life of FATHER. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil ends in death. Gen. 2:17; "...but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you enter into a death process that ultimately ends in death." That is my paraphrase, and I hope it causes you no uneasiness. Death is a dying process. Life is a living process. To partake of the things of death, which scripture tells us are the carnal desires and cravings of men of flesh, is to make yourself subject to "Sheh-ole'. If you and I traffic in carnal desires and ordinances, then 'Sheh-ole' has the right to 'ask' of us. It has the right to draw us down. It has the right to pull us to itself because we are eating of the tree that leads to death. 'Sheh-ole' asks of those things which belong to the grave. 'Sheh-ole' asks of those things that belong to death. When you and I, who have been Christed with HIS Spirit, partake of those things which belong to death and the grave, then 'Sheh-ole' will ask of us and we cannot tell 'Sheh-ole' "no".

But ah, beloved, this is not the end of GOD'S story. HE reminds us in Hosea 13:14 that HE will redeem HIS Son from death. The scripture says, "I will ransom (sever) them (HIS Sons) from the hand of sheh-ole." Wow!! GOD says that HE will cut you loose from the hand of sheh-ole and will redeem you from death. Death will no longer be able to hold on when you have seen that GOD HIMSELF has loosed you from death's right to you. Death has no right to you anyway unless GOD allows death to do what it was designed to do. And that is to turn your face back to HIM. Sheh-ole asks of you because you have been going in the direction that leads to death. And as you begin to see where you are heading, and you cannot see your FATHER'S FACE in the direction you are going, you will hear HIM whisper in your ear to turn around. And when you hear HIS voice, and you turn to see HIS FACE, then Sheh-ole has done its job, and HE severs the hand of Sheh-ole in your existence. And now, as HIS Son, if you taste of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and you find yourself being asked for, and drawn to the things pertaining to death, the Spirit that has CHRISTED you will bring to your remembrance all things pertaining to life and Godliness, and you will remember that the blood of CHRIST has once and for all eternity redeemed you from the power and authority of Sheol to ask of you, and you will repent (turn around) and go back to the LIGHT. You, as the CHRISTED SON OF GOD, will recognize those things that are carnal and soulish weights that so easily attach themselves to you, and you will drop them off like sandbags from a hot air balloon; and as those weights, that are really sins, are eliminated from your experience and expression, then you will soar to the Spiritual heights that you are destined for. "Come up higher!" we hear in Rev. 4:1.

I know that as you begin to recognize and loose those sandbags (carnal trappings) that Sheh-ole has a right to, your balloon will become loosed from the gravity (grave) of Sheh-ole, and you will go to Spiritual heights that allows you to see from the perspective of FATHER. And things look much better from the height of the Throne. I will remind you that you are even now "..raised up together and made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus." [Ephes.2:6]

Who is it that sits in the Throne except for HIM WHO is the KING, and for those to whom HE has invited to sit together with HIM in HIS Throne? You are the body of the resurrected CHRIST. And as it is written, "...Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which GOD has prepared for those who love HIM. But, GOD has revealed to us through HIS SPIRIT." Man, adam, cannot know the things which belong to GOD. GOD has, however, revealed those things in HIS SPIRIT, and HE has put HIS SPIRIT into man, and into subjection to man. The things which you and I are hearing FATHER speak are things that HE is revealing to us through HIS SPIRIT with which HE has CHRISTED us. You have been CHRISTED, if the SPIRIT which raised CHRIST JESUS from the dead dwells in you. And if you have been CHRISTED, then you are that king that HE said would reign as HIM. You are the priest that HE said would know how to handle the LIFE of FATHER. You are, now and forever, the chosen Generation, that has been born (gened) from above. Allow yourself to "see" yourself as the "raised from the dead" Son that scripture declares you to be in Romans chapter 8. And when you see that GOD has placed you in the position of Son, then you will be able to hear "Come out from among them and be separate"[2 Cor. 6:17], and you will know that FATHER is declaring that you are no longer to be counted among those who are drawn to death. Then you will be able to see yourself as the 42nd Generation in Matthew 1:17.

And so I say to you again, in your understanding and knowledge of Who you are now in CHRIST, "Come out from among them and be separate," for HE Who has called you has called you out from death. Sheh-ole no longer has a right to you, for you have been ransomed from the authority that death has. Sheh-ole (grave) has no right to call you, because you allow no thing or no one who is not YHWH to be king over you. You know that you are, now, the King our FATHER has called you to be. And I ask ('Shah-al') you to pray that same rest for me.

Shalom and Shalom!      Alan

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