Don’t Kick Against the Goads w/ Pastor Chuck Ramsey

Don't kick against the Goads w/ Pastor Chuck

 

Genesis 12:2b-3

...and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you i will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Exodus 19:3-6

As Moses went up to meet God, God called down to him from the mountain: Speak to the House of Jacob, tell the People of Isreal: You have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carriedyou on eagles' wings and brought you to Me.  If you will listen obediently to what I say and keep my covenant, out of all peoples you'll be my special treasure.

Deuteronomy 28:1-13

"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2*And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3*Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4*Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5*Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6*Blessed shal you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 7*The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8*The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And hHe will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 9*The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10*And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11*And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12*The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13*And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them.

Jeremiah 29:11

11*"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

From Saul to Tarsus to Paul the Apostle

Acts 7 - Stephen is being stoned for his faith in Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:1 - Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.

Acts 9 - Saul goes to the high priest asking for documents that give him permission to persecute Christians in Damascus. Then, on his way to Damascus, Jesus "meets him" and he is converted.

 

Acts 26

12*"In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commisson of the chief priests. 13*At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. 14*And whenwe had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." 

Why do you insist on going against the grain?

Oxgoads God uses in the lives of His people include sermons, suffering, difficulty, adversity, affliction, godly counsel, holy confrontation, conviction of the Holy Spirit, financial reversal and business failure.

 

Jack Taylor

God is fixin' to fix ya but if ya try to fix the fix He's fixin to fix you with, He'll find another fix to fix ya until you let the fix He's fixed for you fix you.

How do you know the difference between going against the grain or spiritual warfare?

1. First, stop, slow down, take your time and ask God through the power of Holy Spirit to speak to you about your situation.

2. Second, ask yourself, "Do I have peace about the direction I'm headed? Do I remember being called by God to go in this direction?

3. Thirdly, ask yourself, "Am I feeling deep down on the inside a tinge of guilt about the direction I'm headed? Is Holy Spirit trying to convict me?

4. Fourthly, ask the Father to show you His plan, ask Him to weight in on what's happening in your life. Trust me, He will.

5. Lastly, ask at least two (the more, the better) trusted people who are more spiritually mature than you what thier thoughts are baout your situation. Seek godly counsel.