why are you persecuting me

​“As he (Saul) journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:3-4)
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​This is the same lucrative question Jesus Christ is asking many today, who call themselves Christians but they are persecuting their brother and sister in the faith by their words and deeds. It is important today, because of the time and season we are in. That we examine this text closely in Acts to get a clear understanding of what is occurring here. For GOD never acts one way or another without providing a fair warning to HIS people first. (Compare to Amos 3:7). 
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“Strange fire”
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​Through such words as ‘strange fire’, and through their interpretation of dreams and visions. There are some Christians in the Body of Christ that are persecuting their brothers and sisters simply because
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​1. They don’t agree with the way a brother or sister believes.
2. They take issue with the level of faith a brother or sister has concerning a matter.
3. They simply do not believe a certain brother or sister has truly converted from the lifestyle they once lived due to the ​type of sin they once were engaging in and were resurrected from. 

There are many, far too many Sauls in the Body of Christ today that will have to answer for their ignorance, arrogance, and insensitivity to the strong faith of others. But before getting in too deep with this talking point today, let’s go back to Acts chapter 9, and start reading at verse 3.
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We see as Saul traveled to Damascus with his caravan on his quest to catch Christians. When he was almost there, his journey was interpreted in the most unusual way. First, an extremely bright light stood in front of him, blocking his path to Damascus. Verse 3 says,
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​As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
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There are two things we can pick up from this verse. When we are about to do something stupid that will, in the long run, mess our lives up. GOD will always suddenly come down and stand between us and the bad decision we are about to make. Now, today, that can be our parents, who suddenly get a whim that we are about to do something stupid. Or a loving friend and even a complete stranger. (Keep in the mind, I’m primarily talking about Christians here). Through these instruments of GOD, HE will stand between you and whatever evil you are about to commit. The second thing we want to notice here is GOD will ALWAYS come to the rescue of HIS people. Now, listen to me when I say this. Because many Christians are not going to like and even take offense to what I’m about to say. 
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​GOD DOES NOT COME TO THE AID OF ALL​ CHRISTIANS. But when HE does, it is for HIS remanent. 
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​GOD will not stand by and watch HIS true servants be snuffed out. And this is exactly what Saul was attempting to do. He wanted to take out every Christian he encounter.

This is no different from today. There are Christians, who want to snuff out other Christians utilizing their social media platforms for the sake of gaining more fans, likes, subscribers, and followers. Like Cain, they want to murder their brothers and sisters in the faith by means of their words, deeds, and an insulting statement like ‘strange fire.’
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But Christians who really belong to the LORD do not have to fret about any kind of persecution that comes at the hands of these Sauls in the Body of Christ. Because, like the situation at Acts 9:3-4, Christ will suddenly show up like a bright light to impede the path of these self-righteous Christians who think they have all the answers, intelligent, and Christ-like wisdom but they are really persecuting GOD’s righteous remanent. 

​why are you persecuting me

This is such a timely question Jesus asked Saul. ‘Why are you persecuting me?’ Jesus is basically asking Saul. What gives you the right to do such a thing? Under what authority do you have to do such a thing? The Lord is asking many in the Body of Christ this same question. Under whose authority have you been given authority to witness under my name to declare such vicious dreams, and visions, and make such public declaration as ‘strange fire’ about others that are in the faith?  Who authorized you? Who sent you under my name?

Confused by Jesus’ presence and inquiry, Saul responds, ‘who are you, LORD?’ Even though Saul did not know who Christ was at this point and time in his life. He still was able to sense and acknowledge the authority Jesus carried. Hence, why he greeted Jesus with the salutation – Lord.
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In response to Saul’s question. Jesus says to him. “I am Kyrios” (or Lord), the one who has the power and authority to decide your fate if you continue this path. For He is the sovereign Lord, the Alpha, and Omega, the Prince above all princes, the chief over all mankind. Our Messiah. Then Jesus makes this interesting statement to Saul. 
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It is hard for you to kick against the goads (NKJV). 

What in the world is Jesus saying here to Saul? ‘Goads’ here is the same thing as pricks. In Greek, the word kentron (G2758), refers to a string, like that of bees, scorpions, or locusts. These animals’ strings are so potent that they can even cause death. Therefore, their string is similar to a deadly weapon. The action Saul was about to take was on this same level. He was about to bring a death string or sentence to GOD’s people. So, are the lips of many Christians today. (See Proverbs 18). Their words or actions against other Christians are so potent that with their mouth alone, they are about to bring a death sentence to the Body of Christ. (Compare to Proverbs 18:21). Like Saul, many today do not even acknowledge their own fault and sin. They are so blinded by their own self-righteous way of thinking. And yet they all are about to be blinded at once by a sudden bright light that will get in their path – their way to destruction.


In the case of Saul, his life was spared. But for the remainder of his days, he had to live with the consequences of his bad decisions – actions and words he personally spoke against his brothers and sisters in the faith. I can only assume the nightmares that kept Paul up late at night. Knowing the blood he had on his hands despite he was forgiven by Christ.
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What about us today? On the day that Christ comes to interrupt our ongoing insult of righteous men and women of GOD, will we be like Paul and relent, repent, and make our wrongs right? Or will we be so caught up in our own pride and self-righteous belief system, and continue our unrighteous path against our brothers and sisters in the faith? Causing us to inherit a death sentence for our penalty by Christ’s righteous sword. For GOD’s remnants are precious in His eyes (Zechariah 2:8). Therefore, He will not ever allow you to take them out by your words or deeds.