A Tale of Two Kings part three

In chapter twelve (of 1 Samuel), Samuel testifies to the fact that he hasn’t taken advantage of the people – “whom have I defrauded or oppressed” (sounds like Paul in 2 Cor:7:2). God’s true prophetic and apostolic leadership will never take advantage of the people and fleece them of their money. The people can give to them, but they don’t initiate it. Any offerings we are to receive today are to be “freewill” offerings prompted by and led by the Holy Spirit, not us. Here, Samuel is pointedly comparing himself to their coming king. What a difference between true prophetic leadership anointed by God and the king demanded by men!
Please understand how wicked the current system most churches follow is before God, where the pastor rules over the people. Most churches have become almost cult-like in their slavish devotion to one man who makes all the important decisions, teaches all doctrine and usually cannot be disputed or confronted in any meaningful way, without the one questioning his leadership being labeled as rebellious or out of order. The pastor’s a king, in other words. Please know I’m not advocating a spirit of rebellion against authority, just ungodly authority. Even then, the spirit in which you approach your leadership must be one of meekness and humility. Usually even then, if you question your leaderships teachings or decisions, even with a loving, humble approach, you will be rebuked or told politely to mind your own business.
God reiterates for the third or fourth time in chapter twelve how wicked all this is, this desire for a man to rule over them (see 12:12). In His great mercy, God still reaches out to them (12:20-22) and He is still doing so “today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke…with whom was He grieved? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief” (Heb:3:15-19). Don’t harden your heart as you read this word, rather repent and be fully baptized in His Spirit, who is the only one who can keep you and preserve you blameless in this wicked generation. Jesus alone should be our king, the one to whom we make obeisance and bow our hearts to. For of a truth, all of us in His kingdom are kings! But in most churches, the people sure aren’t treated as such but are made to serve and obey their pastor and leaders when indeed, leadership that is of God should be serving them, not lording it over them. Take heart, for all those caught up in denominational Christianity, following the religious spirit, can still be saved and delivered if they repent. Verse 23 shows the correct heart all true apostolic and prophetic people should have – “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and right way”.
We, all of us free from religious bondage, should continue in love and prayer for all who call on the name of Christ. We too, should want to “preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”. This all perfectly describes the effects of the religion called “Christianity” on a human heart and soul. They end up poor, lacking the true spiritual riches Jesus has provided to all of us, the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit, the knowledge that surpasses all understanding. They end up broken hearted, captive to false doctrines of men and devils, they end up blind and bruised, but in these last hours, before the end shall come, many, many will be set free by our glorious God.