| I sent this message out, back in January. I was reminded of it today and wanted to share it with you again.
"FIVE STONES OF GRACE"
1 Samuel 17:40: He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. NLT
This week I want to use the story of David and Goliath to show you the symbolism of Jesus and his defeating Grace.
So many times we (including myself) try to be like David and defeat the giant in our lives. I want you to look at this story with a little different twist this week, maybe different than you've ever looked at it.
The first thing I want to do is look at the symbolism of some of the numbers in this story. If you read verse 16: "For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army." The giant, Goliath, had intimated the Israelites with just his words and his appearance so greatly that they couldn't even fight him due to their fear of him. The number 40 means: a number of testing ending in victory or defeat. This was a test for the Israelites.
Now look at verse 40 again: "He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine." The number five means grace. So, where am I going with all of this? Rather than putting yourself in the shoes of David, put yourself in the shoes of the Israelites. Goliath is a picture of the enemy, David is a picture of Jesus, and the Israelites are a picture of us.
When we go through testing's that will either end in victory or defeat we sometimes find ourselves hiding in our tents because the enemy has intimated us so badly with his appearance and his words we feel like there is no way we can get out on our own. Why? Because we aren't supposed to defeat the enemy on our own. In this story, David, a picture of Jesus chose 5 stones. He chose Grace to defeat the enemy. It is because of Grace that the enemy is defeated in our lives. It's because of everything that was accomplished on the cross that we don't have to fight the enemy, it is by the Grace of God that the enemy is defeated.
So, after 40 days of testing, here comes the hero of the Israelites, David, one that everyone thought was a joke, one that was mocked by many including the enemy. He chose 5 stones and killed the enemy with just one of them. Maybe you've been through your 40 days, so to speak, and you feel defeated, you're frightened by the enemy. Let Grace take over. Let the One who, at one time, everyone thought was a joke, the one that was mocked but came and defeated all enemy powers on the cross. Let Him step in with His 5 stones of Grace and knock the enemy on the ground. You won't have to lift a finger! I encourage you, step out of your own efforts and let Jesus take over. It's by His Grace that you will see victory in your situation. Let Grace defeat your enemy.
Blessings ~ Steve
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ous life God has called them to. Stephen grew up in a Christian home and was raised in Church. As a young boy he was very shy and never wanted to be the center of attention, however, he always had the desire to preach and minister to others. God called him into ministry in his late twenties and he has enjoyed