Focus: 5 Smooth Stones (Pt.5)

Text: 1Sam.17:40

We have come to the final smooth stone that brings our giant foe to his knees and takes life out of him. That smooth stone is the Deity or Lordship of Christ.

The Scripture tells us about the mad man who had a legion of demons living inside of him, that "when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not" (Mk.5:6-7). It is clear from this Scripture that it was not just the man who bowed in worship to the Lord Jesus Christ, but also the legion of demons in him. The demons in him were speaking through their leader, for Jesus said in verse 8-9, "Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many." This "many" demons were an army of demons. They were, more or less, six thousand foot soldiers living in one man. Satan is extremely wicked. But they all bowed and worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was more than a man; He was God in the flesh. His presence terrifies the demons and makes them uncomfortable. Isaiah declares, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isa.9:6). And according to Paul, Christ was "God manifest in the flesh."

The Deity or Lordship of Christ is one smooth stone that Satan cannot stand or withstand. Matthew reports, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick" (Mt.8:16). Just a word, and the demons were ousted.

In one of is His post resurrection appearances, after Thomas had verified that He was the same Jesus Christ who died, and now back to life, exclaimed with certainty, "My Lord and my God." Jesus Christ was (and is) both Lord and God. Even before He was born, we are told that His birth was going to be the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Mt.1:23). He was indeed God among men.

In His desert temptation, Satan said, "If thou be the Son of God…" The "if" is first class condition in the Greek, and it means 'since.' So we can correctly rephrase, "Since thou be the Son of God…" Satan was well aware of Christ's divine identity, and that knowing devastated him. So he tried to repeat what he did in the garden of Eden, but this time he failed woefully. The first Adam failed, but the last Adam triumphed.

Matthew tells us about the Lord Jesus telling a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven, and the scribes went crazy, wondering who gave such audacity to say a thing like that. In fact, they said within themselves, "This man blasphemeth." And then Jesus Christ said, "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath POWER on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house" (Mt.9:6-7). The physical healing of the man's paralysis was proof of His authority to forgive sins on earth.

As the God-man He forgave sins. As the God-man He cast out evil spirits and terrorized the kingdom of Satan, and as the God-man He received worship from men and demons. Hallelujah! He had power to save and set men free from Satanic shackles. In the worlds of men, of demons, of angels, knees bow at His name and tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. Luke says, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Lk.2:11). He was Lord yesterday. He is Lord today, and He will be Lord forever. Satan surrenders to His Lordship. He bows to Christ as the King of kings and Lord of lords, and as the mighty God.

With this smooth stone of the Deity and Lordship of Christ you can slay your own Goliath or giant. The earth is the Lord's. He reigns on planet earth. He governs over the affairs of men and He is the Lord of your life. His plans for your life can never be thwarted by Satan. Stand up and say, 'Satan, I come against you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.' You have the authority of Christ and the ability of the Holy Spirit to take charge of your world.

These five smooth stones work. Each of them gets the job done anytime, any day, and anywhere. Use them - the Name, the Word, the Spirit, the Blood, and the Deity of Christ. With them you are invincible. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter