Creekside Church, Sunday, August 8, 2021
Kicking at the Goads
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Paul has the tall assignment to give his testimony to before King Agrippa in an attempt not only to explain himself, but hopefully to help King Agrippa see what he has come to see. That Jesus is the true King.
What do you say to a king to convince him to give up his throne?
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Acts 26:1-15
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
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Kicking Against the Goads
The image here is of a farmer using a long stick with something sharp on the end to steer his cattle or ox. This act is called "goading". Often, the animal would kick back when being hit with this stick.
Jesus is saying to Paul, why are you resisting my leading? Why won't you let me lead you into life/freedom/peace?
Jesus implies that even before he showed up to Paul on the Damascus road that he had been speaking to him.
Jesus is concerned about Paul. He says he sees how it is hard for Paul, or hurting Paul, or creating unnecessary pain, for Paul to resist.
---
Ponder today - Are you kicking against Jesus' goads?
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Look at how Felix kicks against the goads in Acts 24:24-26
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
---
Do you want to stop kicking at his goads?
---
Why do you kick against his goads/leading?
1. Pride?
2. Don't know how to change/stop/start/follow?
3. Don't trust that his way is better?
---
What do you say to a king to convince him to leave his throne?
We all have a kingdom and Jesus invites us to surrender it and join his.
The same Jesus who knocked Paul off his horse in order to lead him into a new life wants to knock you off your course for the same reason.
---
It's never too late to follow his goads no matter how many times you've resisted.
Paul had become a terrorist to the Christians and someone who Jesus says was persecuting Him. And yet he comes and invites him to surrender.
What do you say to a king to convince him to give up his throne?
---
Acts 26:1-15
1Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.
---
Kicking Against the Goads
The image here is of a farmer using a long stick with something sharp on the end to steer his cattle or ox. This act is called "goading". Often, the animal would kick back when being hit with this stick.
Jesus is saying to Paul, why are you resisting my leading? Why won't you let me lead you into life/freedom/peace?
Jesus implies that even before he showed up to Paul on the Damascus road that he had been speaking to him.
Jesus is concerned about Paul. He says he sees how it is hard for Paul, or hurting Paul, or creating unnecessary pain, for Paul to resist.
---
Ponder today - Are you kicking against Jesus' goads?
---
Look at how Felix kicks against the goads in Acts 24:24-26
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
---
Do you want to stop kicking at his goads?
---
Why do you kick against his goads/leading?
1. Pride?
2. Don't know how to change/stop/start/follow?
3. Don't trust that his way is better?
---
What do you say to a king to convince him to leave his throne?
We all have a kingdom and Jesus invites us to surrender it and join his.
The same Jesus who knocked Paul off his horse in order to lead him into a new life wants to knock you off your course for the same reason.
---
It's never too late to follow his goads no matter how many times you've resisted.
Paul had become a terrorist to the Christians and someone who Jesus says was persecuting Him. And yet he comes and invites him to surrender.