Pastor's Pulpit

Hello Neighbor, This has been a greeting in south many times to someone you haven't seen in a while. I have been away from the computer for some time, busy with some things at church, and then taking a week of vacation with my family. It is always good to take time for the really important things or ones in life. I have a guest message for the Pastor's pulpit for this week, my good friend Evangelist Gary Barnes from Georgia. Bro. Barnes and his family has always been a real blessing to our church. We've had the privilege to have them several times and it is always a joy to fellowship with them. Here is a message from one of Bro. Barnes newsletters. You can check out his website ( http://www.barnesministries.com/ ) for more information or to schedule him for a meeting.



“KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS”
“And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:5.
This verse is found in the record of the wonderful conversion of the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Of course, his name at this time was Saul and he was from a city in Cilicia (Asia Minor) called Tarsus.
Saul was a Pharisee who studied Jewish law under Gamaliel, the celebrated rabbi (Acts 21:39). Like all Jews, he was brought up to a trade, which, in his case, was that of tent maker (18:3). We read of him first in Acts 7:58 where he is found consenting to the stoning death of godly Stephen. He even held the coats of those that murdered this faithful Christian man.
Saul was deputized by the Jewish leaders to arrest Christians and put them in prison. He made havoc of the church and went into every house to arrest and persecute believers in Christ Jesus. Because of this treatment and cruelty many Christians scattered from Jerusalem to other regions such as Damascus. Saul asked for letters from the religious leaders so that he could go to Damascus and arrest the Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem to be punished.
While in route to Damascus he encountered a “bright light from heaven.” It was so powerful it knocked him off his horse and down on the ground. Then a voice from heaven spoke to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
The word “pricks” here was used in a symbolic way to relate to a “goad” which was an instrument to control and guide oxen. The idea of “the prick” was that of a sharp point on the goad that would “stick” the ox and make him obey. This is somewhat like a “spur” that would be used to prompt a horse to move. Jesus was saying to Saul (and all of us), “it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Don’t you know that you will get “pricked” or “stuck.” Consider these observations:
1. KICKING IS A DANGEROUS ACTIVITY ….. Saul was out to persecute the work of God, but he was persecuting only himself. God’s way is always best and when we don’t yield to his way we bring suffering on ourselves (Proverbs 14:12; James 5:20; John 14:6).
2. KICKING IS A DEMENTED ATTITUDE ….. Saul was not going to change God or His plan for the church. God has a plan for His work and His church and many today are trying to change things. It’s as foolish as “kicking against the pricks.” (Psalm 119:89; Malachi 3:6; Romans 11:29; James 1:17).
3. KICKING IS A DOUBTFUL ADVERTISEMENT ….. Saul was influencing other Jews in his stand against Christianity. When the world sees our disobedience they will not believe our message.
(I Corinthians 8:9; Romans 12:13, 21).