Focus: 5 Smooth Stones (Pt.1)

Text: 1Sam.17:40

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him FIVE SMOOTH STONE 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"

I see David's smooth stones as having spiritual significance for us as believers. They signify:

*The NAME of the Lord

*The WORD of God

*The SPIRIT of God

*The BLOOD of Christ

*The DEITY of Christ

These are supernatural stones that believers can use to overthrow Satan and demolish the forces of hell. No Goliath or giant can stand the force of these stones.

David used one of the stones and he prevailed over the heavily armed champion of the Philistines.

Let me show you the stone he used. The Scripture says, "Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the NAME of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied" (1Sam.17:45).

David stood against Goliath in Yahweh's name. He stood for God and fought in His name. David was not seeing himself, but God. Solomon says, "The NAME of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Prov.18:10). The name of the Lord secures.

God said to Moses concerning the priests, "And they shall put MY NAME upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them" (Num.6:27). The priest is mandated by God to invoke the name of YHVH upon the children of Israel for His blessings to flow into their lives. Blessings flow from the name of the Lord.

Peter said, "But such as I have give I thee: In the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Act.3:6). The young man received his miracle in the name of Yeshua. Peter said to the people, "And his NAME through faith in his NAME hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know" (Act.3:16). The name of the Lord worked the miracle on the man. For the first time in forty years he walked on his two feet. The name of the Lord works miracles.

Paul declares, "That at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil.2:10). The name of the Lord calls for worship. Everywhere in the universe everyone and everything bows to the name of Jesus Christ.

The name of the Lord is a mighty stone in the believer's hand, and faith is the sling.

The name worked for David. Goliath fell upon his face to the ground. All of Goliath's boasts came to nothing. His heavy armor could not save him. His height, bodily stature and mighty military prowess could not deliver him. A pebble with God behind it sent Goliath to an early grave.

The name worked in the mouth of Peter and John. A cripple recovered the use of his two feet. The name worked on the lips of the priests. Israel was blessed in the name of the Lord.

God's name is a heavy ammunition, and it works. Each of the stones is powerful enough to bring any giant down. With one or all of them victory is assured. They are powerful pebbles that can put any foe out of business. Amen.

We'll look at the next stone in the next devotional.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter