Study

Five Stones For One Task

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

1 Samuel 17:38-40:

38: And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39: And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it.  And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them.  And David put them off him.

40: And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

 

Theme:

Five Stones for One Task

 

Introduction:

  • Familiar story of David and Goliath (v.38-v.50)
    • This story is summarized into four critical parts:
      • David’s Authority (v.38)
        • David was given the authority to face Goliath
        • Spiritually by God
        • Legally by King Saul, himself
      • David’s Preparation (v.39-v.40)
        • David carefully prepared himself to face Goliath
      • David’s Confrontation (v.45)
        • David confronted the giant Goliath, face to face. without fear or hesitation.
      • David’s Victory (v.49-v.50)
        • With one stone hurled from his sling, David defeated the giant, Goliath.

Five Stones for One Task

  • We will focus on David’s preparation.
    • David was given King Saul’s armor; however, because it had not been “proved”, David had to give King Saul’s armor back.
    • “Proved”
      • “Prove” means to determine the authenticity, quality or validity of something.
      • David would not use King Saul’s armor and weapons because David did not KNOW if Saul’s armor and weapons would protect him and bring him through victorious.
        • Don’t we often go into battle in our lives with armor and weapons that have not been “proved”.
        • What works for someone else does not necessarily work for YOU!
    • David armed himself with his “proved” armor and weapons:
      • Staff in his hand
      • Sling in his hand
      • Shepherd’s Bag which he had
      • Five Smooth Stones out of the brook
    • All of the King Saul’s Armor could not replace the confidence that David had with his Five Stones!
      • David’s “armor and weapons” were objects that were with this shepherd boy EVERY DAY!

Five Stones for One Task

 

Body:

  • How can we gird ourselves to be as formidable as David in our battles?
  • The scripture of David and Goliath focuses on an essential approach to spiritual safety and protection…

…having an ARSENAL OF WEAPONS for spiritual warfare

  • Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – We need an arsenal!
  • Different situations call for different weapons – The Full Armor of God of Ephesians 6
    • loins girt about with truth
    • the breastplate of righteousness;
    • feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
    • the shield of faith
    • the helmet of salvation
    • the sword of the Spirit
  • David used the same approach in his facing Goliath.
  • David needed one stone to kill Goliath but he took with him 5 stones.

Five Stones for One Task

  • 3 criteria for selecting the stones.
    • Smooth
      • The stones were “proved”. They had been tried by the elements and yet remained strong.
    • Out of the brook
      • Not available for common use…preserved and reserved.
    • Placed them in his shepherd’s bag
      • Chosen…taken…accepted – the stones were now David’s
  • Let’s look at the stones that David chose:

  1. Love

1Corinthians 13:13, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

  • Love is the greatest of the attributes of the changed Christian life.

1John 4:16, “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

  • Love is an indication of God’s Presence.

Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

  • With God on our side, His Love is a powerful weapon.

  1. Prayer

Luke 18:1, “men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

  • As the old Gospel song says, “Prayer is the Key, faith unlocks the door”
  • Prayer makes the power, provisioning, protection, and promises of God available.
  • Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire for change…unspoken, unuttered.
  • Through prayer we access our true power…God, the Father…a powerful weapon!

  1. Works

James 2:26, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

  • Works…Action…Initiative…Drive…Zeal…to Try…to Give it a Shot
  • Activity in the work of Jesus Christ is our way of
  1. Exercising our Faith – Galatians 3:11, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
  2. Confirming our purpose — As Matthew documents from the words of Jesus, “A tree is known by the fruit that it bears.”
  3. Conforming our lives – Romans 5:3-5, “knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed;”
  • Works wield the resources that God, our Father, has given us making it a powerful weapon.

  1. Peace

Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

  • Peace keeps/maintains us in tough situations

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

  • Peace conditions us so that we have nothing to fear!
  • Peace, as the absence of fear, in adversity becomes a powerful weapon.

  1. Joy

Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

  • God exhibits joy Himself as it says in Jeremiah 32:41, “Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”
  • Joy in Jesus exhibits confidence in what God has done, is doing, and can do! – a powerful weapon.

 

Conclusion:

“and he drew near to the Philistine”

  • Once you have your arsenal…Once you have filled your bag…DRAW NEAR TO YOUR “Goliath”!
    • 1John 5:4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” – We are guaranteed the victory!
      • When LOVE doesn’t get it, PRAYER does.
      • When PRAYER doesn’t get it, your WORKS do.
      • When your WORKS don’t get it, His PEACE will.
      • When His PEACE doesn’t get it, JOY in Him does.

Five Stones for One Task

  • Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
    • Be bold
    • Be strong
    • Be assured
  • We have the VICTORY!!!!

 

#55

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