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Five Smooth Stones - Pastor Craig Winnington
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Five Smooth Stones - Pastor Craig Winnington
When we look in 1 Samuel 17 at the life of David, it is interesting that
his approach to life as a young man anointed to be king, and his battle
against Goliath, had a parallel with our lives today.
After David was anointed – the challenge that came against him was from a
giant !
In 1 Samuel 17:16 – Goliath “drew near and presented himself forty days
morning and evening”. Forty in scripture is the number of testing.
Similarly when Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit he was “led by the
Spirit into the wilderness and tempted of the devil forty days” (Luke
4:1-2).
When we become born again and filled with the Spirit there often will come
a ‘giant’ to challenge the new life we have in Christ.
1 Samuel 17:3 “The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel
stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them”. Two
opposing forces - Flesh v Spirit.
The word Philistines means ‘a land of wanderers’, typical of the ‘fleshly’
life, while Israel means ‘God Prevails’, typical of the Spirit life.
Verse 4 - “Goliath was six cubits and a span”. Six = the number of man.
Verse 12 says that David was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem Judah - meaning,
Bethlehem - ‘House of Bread and Judah - ‘Praise’. David was also the eighth
son. Eight is the number of ‘resurrection.’
Of the 150 Psalms recorded in scripture, David wrote 76. A praising heart
was the key to David's success. He had a heart after God.
1 Samuel 16:7 says “for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart”.
A praising heart, the result of resurrection life in Christ abiding in the
‘House of Bread’ - The Word of God, anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost
– is a sure remedy to defeat any giant in our lives. In verses 13-15, the
Word states that “the three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow Saul to
the battle, but David went ‘back and forth (Amp)’ from Saul to Bethlehem”.
It is easy in life to ‘follow Saul’ and form habit patterns of defeat, but
if we make choices like David, he BELIEVED GOD in what HE could do, we will
have the same victories. David said to Goliath in verse 47 “The Lord does
not save with sword and spear (natural reasoning); for the battle is the
Lord’s ! and He will give you into our hands.” This should be the same
attitude and belief we need to possess in our Christian faith. - “Greater
is He that is in you than he that is in the world” - (1 John 4:4)
1 Samuel 17:48 “David ran toward Goliath”. He wasn’t intimidated. Fear
didn’t rule his life as it did with Saul’s army. Why? David controlled the
battle, the battle did NOT control him! Our battles are God’s victories.
David chose for himself ‘Five Smooth Stones’ - (v40)
1. David THOUGHT differently
2. David BELIEVED differently
3. David SPOKE differently
4. David SAW differently
5. David ACTED differently
David didn’t see a giant, - he saw an opportunity, - not as an obstacle too
big to hit, but as a target too big to miss!
These “Five Smooth Stones” are obviously symbolic and are a representation
of David’s perspective on life. However, we can also embrace these
principles and apply them to our lives.
Although David only used one stone against Goliath, he was also prepared
for the future, as Goliath had four brothers. It’s what we build in our
lives now that will prepare us for future victories.
We can take other ‘smooth stones’ from the Word of God, that is, His
Promises, and allow the ‘sling 'of the Holy Ghost to direct them, no
‘giant’ will ever be able to conquer us. David changed the ‘cycle of
defeat’ in Israel to a ‘celebration of victory’. One man changed the
destiny of a nation. We are called to do the same. The destiny of our
nation is in our hands – the church of the Living God !
“I will build My church and the gates of hell will NOT prevail against it”
Matthew 16:18.
Pastor Craig Winnington