Dont Kick Against The Pricks by PM June 1993 (PM)"I am Jesus who thou persecutest: it is hard for thee

to kick against the pricks." That is what God said to Paul in Acts 9:5. I want you to learn the Greek word "kentron" in this lecture. "Kentron" translates into the English word "prick". A prick in early times was a stick with a sharp point used to goad or encourage cattle and other animals to move. When the cattle kicked at the prick striking it with their leg, it made the sharp point of the stick even that much more convincing. (PM) Christ often used simple phrases in His teaching. You should always be alert for a much deeper meaning than that which first meets the eye. In a mathematical sense, a prick is the sharp end of a compass which holds a pencil at the perfect distance from the center allowing the user to draw an accurate circle. The prick, or "kentron" is therefore the center. Astronomically speaking, the "kentron" is the center of the universe. Of course, Jesus is the center of our universe. What happens when you kick against the pricks? In the mathematical sense you will not have a very good circle. In the astronomical sense, you may throw the universe out of balance. This is what Christ was telling Paul not to do in Acts 9:5. (PM) Now Paul was on the road to Damascus. As many of you know, there probably wasn't a more biblically educated, more zealous servant of God, or a better writer than Paul at that time. After all, that is why God chose Paul to write most of the New Testament. Paul thought he was pleasing God. But, Paul was kicking the pricks or 'kentron'. Everywhere Paul went he was causing Christians to be killed. He was causing God's Plan to be thrown off kilter. He couldn't have gotten much further away from pleasing God than by destroying the very means God had set forth to bring about the salvation of mankind. (PM) Think about yourself. Are you pleasing God? Do you ever copy someone else's gifts rather than actively practicing the gift God gave to you? Do you study God's Word sufficiently to know God's Plan? WE at Shepherd's Chapel often hear, "It seems like every time I try to serve God my whole world falls apart". It might be because you are kicking the "kentron". If you aren't actively practicing the gift God gave you and studying His Word, you are throwing things out of balance. Let's see what God's Word has to say on this subject. Acts 9:1-2 And Saul, yet breathing out threatening and slaughter against the desciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (PM) Saul was also called Paul as is documented in acts 13:9. With every breath Paul took there was a threat of Christians being murdered. He went to the high priest appointed by the Romans and asked for the authority to bring any he found in a Christian way bound in chains to Jerusalem. Paul thought he was doing what God wanted him to do. The word was written, the Torah was set and at the time Paul thought Christians were against the teachings of God.

Acts 9:3-5 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" 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. (PM) The Lord identified Himself to Paul and told Paul he was persecuting Him by causing Christians to be killed. Jesus told Paul he was kicking against the "kentron" and causing God's plan to become out of kilter. We are not perfect. God's Plan is. when you start messing around with the "kentron" of God's Plan, you are asking for trouble. Not only will it throw your life out of shape, the lives of others as well. Practice the gift God has given you, or make good on your piece of the circle, if you will. am I saying you shouldn't know the whole circle in which your gifts rotates? No. You show me a person that looks at only their piece of the pie and I'll show you a failure. You must know the whole circle of God's Plan for your gift to grow and expand, but stay away from the 'kentron'. That is the way we obtain a perfect circle in God's Plan and please Him, bringing blessings on ourselves. Let's turn to Proverb's Ch. 8. As you may know, Wisdom is teaching in this chapter. Where does Wisdom emanate? From God. Proverbs 8:20-21 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment. that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And I will fill their treasures. (PM) Do you realize this is a promise from God? If you love Wisdom and seek it, your treasures will be full. You might not necessarily be rich, but you will have the things you need to accomplish His Will. That is God's desire. Proverbs 8:22-23 the Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Or ever the earth was. (PM) Wisdom was with God even before the first earth age, even before the earth was. Proverbs 8:24-27 When there were no depths, I was brought forth: when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I I brought forth: While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a COMPASS upon the face of the depth. (PM) Wisdom was utilized to accomplish the fill circle of God's Plan in the creation of this earth. Wisdom was there when God set His Plan, or the prick of his compass, into motion to map out the face of the earth. Proverbs 8:28-29 When He established the clouds above. When He strengthened the foundations of the deep. When He gave to the sea His decree, that the water's should not pass His commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth.

God had that compass, that circle, that measure, that point of which was perfect. It is important to God for the perfection of His Plan and His Word not to change. This earth age will pass, but God's Word will remain unchanged. His plan is perfect in it's design as a circle is perfect when drawn with a compass. Don't kick the "kentron". Learn God's Word and practice the gift He has given you, allowing the gift to grow and expand. Proverbs 8:30-31 Then I was by Him as one brought up with Him. And I was daily His delight. Rejoicing always before Him. Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth. And my delights were with the sons of men. (PM) The phrase "sons of men" may be translated into English the "sons of Adam". What delights wisdom? You do. Wisdom is one of the most important assets you may possess. You must have it to be wiser than the serpent. Wisdom delights in being with you. It is yours for the taking. Some might say, "well, where do I get it?" In the Bible, friends. Studying God's Word will give you wisdom of the past present and future. Wisdom allows you to get along with your brethren, and if you possess Wisdom, God will use you. In closing let's turn to the book of Isaiah. Isaiah 40:8 the grass withereth. the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever. (PM) It will NOT change! If you don't know the basics of God's Plan, you had better get cracking. God promised His word would be with you for an eternity. You will never have piece of mind until you understand at least the basics of His Plan. Do I mean you should memorize the Bible? No, but it is important that you know the story of one man's destiny, Adam, and the history of his people, and how God will lead them into eternity. If you do not know "The Key of David", you are in trouble. You are biblically illiterate. Let's pick it up in verse 13. Isaiah 40:13-14 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being His counselor hath taught Him? With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgement, and taught Him knowledge, and shewed to Him the way of understanding? (PM) God has no need of a counselor. Who of you have instructed God? I think not one. Isaiah 40:15-16 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold He taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beast thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. (PM) The cedars of Lebanon are symbolic of The elect. You could offer all of this as an offering, and it would not please God. Do you know what He wants? He wants your love. Isaiah 40:17 All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.

(PM) Some of the things we do in this world today must appear empty and foolish to God. Satan caused this emptiness and foolishness by kicking against the "kentron". God allowed this to happen whereby we might obtain salvation. Let's go to verse 21. Isaiah 40:21-22 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told to you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? Is it He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; That stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (PM) Underline the word "circle" in verse 22. This is the only place in the Bible this word appears. In Hebrew it means compass. It is He that is the "kentron". Isaiah 40:23 That bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. (PM) God is the Power that is in control. He is the perfect center, or "kentron", of the universe. Don't kick the pricks. Don't prosecute the Lord by trying to throw His Plan out of balance. First of all, you will not be successful. Secondly, you will never be completely happy, until you learn God's Plan and your part in it. In His Service, Arnold Murray