https://youtu.be/m7oPtC-rDGw

Conversion of Paul

“It is hard for you to kick against the pricks” was a Greek proverb, but it was also familiar to the Jews and anyone who made a living in agriculture. An ox goad was a stick with a pointed piece of iron on its tip used to prod the oxen when plowing. The farmer would prick the animal to steer it in the right direction. Sometimes the animal would rebel by kicking out at the prick, and this would result in the prick being driven even further into its flesh. In essence, the more an ox rebelled, the more it suffered.

Thus, Jesus’ words to Saul on the road to Damascus: “It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.”

Jesus took control of Paul and let him know his rebellion against God was a losing battle. Paul’s actions were as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.” Paul had passion and sincerity in his fight against Christianity, but he was not heading in the direction God wanted him to go. Jesus was going to goad (“direct” or “steer”) Paul in the right direction.

This is approximately 5 years after the cross-

First things first-

Jesus says, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

Who was Saul persecuting? The church- whom did Jesus say he was persecuting? Jesus

This is what Jesus said in Matthew 25:31-46

Every worthy commentary says the same thing, “as much as you have done it, or not done it to the brethren in Christ; you have done it to Me”

Who are His brethren?  Matthew 12:46-50

EX: Matt served in the military and was one 2 separate deployments. I sent care boxes to him and to other guys who were deployed, even after he came back. We spent holidays with a bunch of soldiers. We had community with them, but they were not our family. This church is my family. We have had the last I cannot count how many  Thanksgivings and Christmas’ with the Webster family + others

Who are the sheep of His pasture?

John 10:27 New King James Version (NKJV)

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

1 John 3:13-24

This is not a feeling love- but agape love, a purposeful love of the mind and the will, this love has to be developed

So Jesus says, when I persecute my brothers and sisters in Christ, I am persecuting Him

When talk bad about them, I am talking about bad about Him

When I forsake the gathering of the brethren, I am forsaking Him

When I reject and despise the church, her pastors and leadership; when I rebel against the pastor’s authority, I am rejecting, despising and rebelling against Him

When I refuse to tithe to the church, God says I am robbing HIM. Tithing is not a suggestion- it’s a command of God and the way He takes care of His church

Ananias and Sapphira weren’t lying to Peter, they were lying to the HS

EX: 2003 was the year my daughter was born and the same year we started the church- the Lord has always spoke to me about the church in terms of my child. The way I feel about Faith and Gabe is the way I feel about this church. Talk about my kids, you’re talking about me. Reject my children, you are rejecting me.

When I love the brethren, I love Him

Francis Chan said this:

“lukewarm people love God,