Focus: Five Stones of Scripture (Pt.1)

Text: 1Sam.17:40

"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."

David picked fives smooth stones for his fight against Goliath, and he succeeded with the first stone he fired at Goliath. Just one of the stones brought the enemy down to his death, not two or three. It shows that each of the five stones could bring down the foe. God fights and wins with smooth stones. Rough-edged stones cannot cut it or hit the intended target. Whatever one smooth could do, another smooth stone can also do it. The same God who made one smooth stone to achieve victory is able to do the same with the other smooth stones.

Don't forget that Goliath had four other brothers. The Scripture says, "And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam." Verse 22 says, "These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants" (2Sam.21:19). Whether by David or by his servants, the giants could all be defeated and brought down to their deaths. The smooth stones work; they hit their required targets. 

The water of the word keeps wearing off the rough-edged stones until they become smooth and ready for use. The wind of the Spirit directs them to their intended targets without a miss.

I present to you five stones of Scripture that enable the believer to win battles against the enemy of his soul. They are spiritual stones, solid and success-oriented, and they are related to Christ and are totally Christ-centered.

The first stone we will discuss is the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord is a mighty stone. Jacob declared concerning Joseph, "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the STONE of Israel:)" (Gen.49:24). Our God is the Stone of Israel. He is our rock of salvation. He is stable in character, solid in behavior, and faithful in making promises. He is trustworthy. We can always lean on Him. We can run into His name and be secure. Solomon declares, "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 guarantees our security. Paul says, "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a NAME which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil.2:9-10). Knees would bow to the name of Jesus Christ everywhere in the universe. It's a glorious and prestigious name; a name that brings everything and everyone that has a name to their knees. The twenty-four elders cast their crowns before the Lord and bowed to Him.

The name of the Lord Jesus Christ works miracles. Yes, His name works wonders. Peter says, "And his NAME through faith in his NAME hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Again he says, "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." In verse 10, he says, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." In verse 30, the church prays, "By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the NAME of thy holy child Jesus" (Act.3:16; 4:10,12,30). What a mighty stone is the name of Jesus Christ! The psalmist tells us, "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the NAME of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions" (Ps.20:5). 

His name is our banner of victory. We go to battle in His name of Jesus Christ and be infinitely certain of victory. His name is our mighty weapon.

The smooth stone that David used in winning the battle against the giant is the Name of the Lord. He says to Goliath, "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). With the smooth stone of the Lord's name David conquered Goliath. His name neither misses nor fails. The Lord's name succeeds in the arena of battles and in all spheres of life.

Trust in that name! It works. It wins. It rules. It is the highest name in the universe. You can count on this smooth stone known as the name of the Lord. Amen!!!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter