Five Smooth Stones - Five the Number of Grace

This word came to me today and thought I would share it with those I love...
The Lord has a major plan for our lives in spite of the Goliaths and his brothers!


Primary Verse(1 Sam 17:40 KJV) 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. 

 “Five Smooth Stones”

Introduction:
What David did not choose?
David was to do battle with the giant. He was not a soldier, he was a shepherd boy. How was a “shepherd boy” going to be victorious over a Goliath?

Every day we face a new Goliath in our own lives. Fortunately, God has equipped his saints with the “whole armor of God!” (Read Ephesians 6) 

David did not have a fancy sword in this battle. He did not even have a shield to deflect a sword. He used what he had. He had his sling shot and he choose five smooth stones. And that is the outline for today’s message: “Five Smooth Stones!”

Why “Five?”

Here is our meditation and our speculation. 

First of all, we are to have “no confidence in the flesh." 

(Phil 3:3 KJV) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

What if he should miss? David must have thought, I had better have a back up plan. My flesh may fail me!

Secondly, David had no confidence in man. What if Goliath’s four brethren enter into the fray? The Devil never keeps his promise. He took an extra four stones to ensure the victory.

Thirdly, perhaps these five stones symbolized the first five books of the Bible, there were only five books of the Bible that the nation of Israel had available for them to read at this time! David certainly had placed his confidence in God! Stone one: Genesis, Stone Two: Exodus, Stone Three... etc.

2. Why “Smooth?”

David was careful in his selection of the stones. His life, and the life of the nation of Israel was on the line. He did not choose just any piece of rock from the river. They had to be smooth stones. Why smooth? Here is a powerful truth!

1.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t go in the right direction.
2.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t go the distance.
3.) A jagged crooked rock wouldn’t hit the mark.

As a Pastor, I have to dip into the brook. As a Church, how are we going to overcome the Goliath’s that face us? The answer: with SMOOTH stones. Not just any old stone in the river will do. Our Church life, and the eternal souls of men are on the line!

How does a jagged rock become a smooth stone? It has got to be hewn out of the greater rock and rolled down the river of life. The harsh elements of nature come against it. It becomes smooth as the water (Word) flows over it… over and over again!

Many times people will “volunteer” to do a work in the Church. They have not yet become “smooth” stones. Often they go in the wrong direction, they fall short, and they miss the mark. Why? THEY ARE NOT SMOOTH!

Here is a good verse for us to consider:

(2 Tim 2:21 KJV) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Are you “sanctified” yet? How “smooth” are you? Are you a yield ed vessel in the hands of the Potter?

3. Why “Stones?”

God does not want you to be a vacillating Christian. He wants you to be a stone! 

(1 Pet 2:5 KJV) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy

priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

It only took one stone to bring down Goliath. Christ is that chief corner stone. We are the lively stones. God can only use us if we are smooth.

Are you a smooth stone?

Jerry DePoy  169 Jerry DePoy Sermons

Topic: #233 of 953 for Sermons on Love of the Disciples

Soaring with the Eagle

Soaring Eagle
Messenger of good news, shout to Zion from the mountaintops! Shout louder to Jerusalem -- do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!" 10 Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in all his glorious power. He will rule with awesome strength. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. 12 Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed out the mountains and the hills? 13 Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor? 14 Has the LORD ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good or what is best? 15 No, for all the nations of the world are nothing in comparison with him. They are but a drop in the bucket, dust on the scales. He picks up the islands as though they had no weight at all.16 All Lebanon's forests do not contain sufficient fuel to consume a sacrifice large enough to honor him. All Lebanon's sacrificial animals would not make an offering worthy of our God. 17 The nations of the world are as nothing to him. In his eyes they are less than nothing -- mere emptiness and froth. 18 To whom, then, can we compare God? What image might we find to resemble him? 19 Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains? 20 Or is a poor person's wooden idol better? Can God be compared to an idol that must be placed on a stand so it won't fall down? 21 Have you never heard or understood? Are you deaf to the words of God -- the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? 22 It is God who sits above the circle of the earth. The people below must seem to him like grasshoppers! He is the one who spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. 23 He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. 24They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and their work withers. The wind carries them off like straw. 25 "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. 27 O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? 28 Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. 30 Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. 31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

<< Isaiah 40:8Isaiah 40:9-31Isaiah 41:1 >>

There is Joy in Forgiveness - Live Your Life in Forgiveness

"Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

"People are like rattlesnakes they strike out at the warmest and closest things to them." 

Doug Baggs

If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him.  And what I have forgiven if there was anything to forgive -- I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not out wit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

I love this verse, notice the part  "if there was anything to forgive."  Could this mean forgiveness should be an automatic response in us because Christ lives in us?  Most likely it means that perhaps the person who did something against us didn't really mean to hurt or offend us and we just allowed Satan to outwit us.  In the Journey of You it is important to remember that God loves  us and the person who has hurt us.  It is also important to remember when someone really does something to us we didn't deserve that if we don't forgive them, they are held in bondage as well as us.  Release them and yourselves through praying and asking God to forgive them.

Hebrews 12:15 says, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." 

 Bitter roots run deep and sometimes grow for years.  They crop up sometimes when we least expect them and we strike out because something stirs it up and it raises its' ugly head.  Ask God to deliver you from any bitter root that has taken hold from past hurts, sins and traumas.  Resentment and anger is a good sign that you have a bitter root.

One way for me to deal with my resentment is to acknowledge the suffering of the other person.  Whenever I am hurt, I perceive the other person as strong, and myself as weak.  But when I am willing to consider the other person's individual history with struggle and agony, I can prevent myself from judging too harshly or making a final angry statement about their behavior.  Henri Noumen

Significant acts of forgiveness entail letting go of a precious story we tell about ourselves, risking the awareness of a larger less-justifying truth...owning up means getting past one's defensiveness.  It means stepping out of the blaming system, in which one person has to be not only wrong but also the bad one. Robert Karen, O Magazine, February 2001

In closing, let us look today to the precious story about Jesus.  He is coming back soon for His bride.  Will you be ready and is He a top priority in the Journey of You?  I have to ask myself this question daily.  I am ashamed to say, that some days I do fail to be rightly adorned and ready for His coming.  The good news is Christ is ALWAYS ready for us to repent and come back to Him and wait eagerly for His return for us!

Please Join me and my family...

Please join me and my family  in a releasing of a Yellow Balloon on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 7 pm where ever you are in memory of our dear loved one's birthday -
Kara Sue Lury.  Her life with us was
short, but she will always be remembered with much love.

Follow Jesus Christ's Example to become Spiritually Mature

• Our standard of spiritual maturity is Jesus Christ, and our biblical reference for this standard is found in I John 2:6, “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (NASB).  Anyone who claims to be born again must emulate and imitate the character of Christ in lifestyle, thoughts, and attitude.  How did Christ walk?

1.      Prayer – Luke 5:15; 6:12; 11:1; 22:31-32; John 11:41; 17:9, 15-17, 20-22

2.      Compassion – Matthew 20:34; Mark 6:34; 8:2-3; Luke 19:41-42

3.      Purpose – Matthew 5:17; 15:24; 18:11; 20:28; Mark 1:38; 2:15-22; Luke 1:79; 2:49; 4:18-19, 43

4.      Servanthood – Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:43; John 13:3-10

5.      Understanding/knowing Scripture – Matthew 7:29; 22:16’

6.      Disciple making – Matthew 10:1

7.      Unconditional Love – Matthew 8:17; 18:11-13; John 10:3-4, 11, 14-16; 13:1

8.      Pure motives – John 5:30; 8:48-50

9.      Holiness – Luke 1:35; 23:47; John 7:18; 14:30

10.  An example for others to follow – Matthew 11:29; John 10:4; 13:5, 13-15

11.  Meekness – Matthew 11:29; 27:12-14; Luke 22:27

12.  Unity among the body – John 17:14-23

13.  Intercession – Matthew 6:9-13; Mark 4:35-41

14.  Wisdom – Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 6:20ff.

15.  Obedience – Matthew 26:39; John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29

16.  Proper Zeal – Luke 8:1; 12:50;John 2:17

Examine Yourself in the Lord - Recover Your Joy

Very important questions from Dr. Lois LeBar to evaluate maturity?

Outlook on Life

1.      Is all of life integrated around Christ, who is revealed through Scripture by the Spirit?

2.      Is concentration on Christ, rather than on work or people, so that we can live above circumstances?

3.      Are we able to see life as a whole and the relationship of parts to the whole?

4.      Is all of life sanctified, even to the smallest detail and most humdrum routine?

5.      Do we take every circumstance that the LORD sends as an opportunity for learning?

6.      Do we see problems as challenges because we have faith in what God can do in us and in others?

7.      Do we discern God’s part and ours – what can and should be changed, and what cannot be changed?

8.      Are we free to be natural and spontaneous, disliking masks and walls that separate and deceive?

9.      Are we free from attitudes that poison the spirit- doubt, guilt, self-pity, resentment?

10.  Can we face and accept reality as it is, openly, honestly, and heartily?

11.  Are we progressively developing depth of insight and experience?

Relation to Work

12.  Do we spend our limited time and energy on and get excited over the things that count most?

13.  Have we strong drives from pure motives, yet without being so serious that we can’t laugh at ourselves?

14.  Have we spiritual courage to work for convictions, though risks are involved?

15.  Do we suspend judgment until all the facts are in, then make wise decisions and abide by them?

16.  Have we an experimental, creative spirit that is open to new ideas in an exploratory, evaluative way?

17.  Do we consistently work for high standards, yet remain flexible in our thinking?

18.  Do we work consistently without yielding to moods or waiting for prods?

19.  Are we known as dependable people who can carry projects to completion?

20.  Have we sufficient discipline to control deep longings over a period of time and postpone present satisfactions for future good?

21.  Can we take disappointment in stride and keep from depressed moods?

22.  Do we derive intrinsic satisfaction from everyday work and simple pleasures, with a continually fresh appreciation for what life brings?

Relation to People

23.  Have we a healthy respect for the individual rights and contributions of other people?

24.  Can we identity with the needs of others, going out to them, forgetting self?

25.  Are we ready to take the role of humble follower or “up-front” leader, according to the need?

26.  Can we be comfortably related to people above and below us in authority?

27.  Do we enjoy being both conventional when conformity is important and unconventional in making a unique contribution?

28.  Are we ready to graciously admit our own failures as well as commend others?

Maturity is a measure of quality.  It is not how much one does that determines maturity; it is what one does with the opportunities at hand that determine maturity.  Maturity is not measured by observation of physical features; maturity is measured by our view on life and other people as seen through the lens of scripture. (Timeless Youth Ministry p. 252)

Buried Lies - Discover the Truth

WORD FROM THE LORD MAY 29, 2011

The Lord had me go down, swim down into a deep cave under water, and I began to dig out rocks – buried lies.  The first rock was unforgiveness, then fear, doubt, unbelief, abandonment, rejection, hopelessness and then anger.  As I dug them up it was too much for me to carry alone.  I looked up and saw a man, “Peter” who took off his towel wrapped around his waist, took it off and then brought me down nets for each one of the rocks.  He helped me bring them up to Jesus who was standing above by the pool of water.

He crushed the first stone of unforgiveness with one hand, the powder disintegrated into the clean pool, turning it into a milky white.  Jesus said, "It’s milk – you are bathing in it and the water immediately turned warm." 

Next he took a bat and began to hit each rock out into the depths of eternity never to return.  He hit every buried lie and then one last stone was given to Him which was Disappointment.

He said, “No more will you be disappointed because I cherish you, you are my pleasant one, my darling.  Others might misunderstand you, but I know you, I created you, to be strong, strong enough to wait faithfully.  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but you are not hopeless, for I have created you for such a special time, just wait.  I will to supply and finish every dream I “started” in you, and if the dream was not from ME, then discard it, don’t count on it for it is only meant to distract and disarm you from the tasks I have for you.  I will put “MY STRENGTH” in you and those lies, are finished, diminished and cast into outer darkness.

 No more shall oppression and grief have a hold on you.  I do not wish to destroy you, but only to build you up in MY most HOLY FAITH.  Receive my WORD, receive my WORDS.  Receive and let your faith flourish.  Look to me and none other.  Don’t let men deceive you for I have released you, MY CINDERELLA to go forth in the name of the LORD and preach MY WORD.  Be strong and of good courage!"

I Didn't Sign Up for This Life - ...But I'm Finding Hope and Healing - Chapter One

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.  Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 30: 19-20

I Didn't Sign Up for This Life ...But I'm Finding Hope and Healing  Donna's first chapter gives a list of verses to study concerning healing.  I have noted what I have discovered in italics after each scripture.  Discover how you can recover your joy from this great exercise!

Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.' The LORD desires to heal our wounds and restore our health!

Jeremiah 33:6 "'Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. God has promised to bring health and healing to EVERY situation in our lives.  He desires to give us abundant peace and security, no matter what has happened!

Luke 8:43-48 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, [fn] but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you." But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." The Lord desires for us to reach out in faith and touch Him...His virtue will heal our physical, mental and emotional wounds!

      

     Proverbs 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Remember life and death is in the power of the tongue.  Let's guard our lips and not let others abuse us with their words!

    Proverbs 13:17-18 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy brings healing. He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. God wants us to do the right things and make good choices.  We shouldn't listen to every messenger who comes our way, those who love the Lord will speak healing words.  Repent quickly of those sins the Lord reveals and God will bring prosperity and healing!

     Proverbs 15:4 A [fn]soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it [fn]crushes the spirit. Again, don't listen to the accuser of the brethren and don't accuse!

    Isaiah 58:6-11 "Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke? "Is it not to divide your bread [fn]with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh? "Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. "Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The [fn]pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, And if you [fn]give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the [fn]desire of the afflicted, Then your light will risein darkness And your gloom will become like midday. "And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your [fn]desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not[fn]fail.When we love others, especially those who have harmed us, God will restore what has been stolen, our hearts, our health and a  host of other blessings!

    Malachi 4:2 "But for you who [fn]fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. Do you ever feel like skipping?  This is what happens when health and wholeness comes to our bodies, through the power of Jesus!

    Psalm 25:3-7 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; [fn]Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your loving kindnesses, For they have been [fn]from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your loving kindness remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD. God does not remember our sins when we ask for forgiveness...don't let the devil or others remind us of our past, and don't continue to replay old tapes!

     Psalm 31:22-24 As for me, I said in my alarm, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried to You. O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful And fully recompenses the proud doer. Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who [fn]hope in the LORD. When we put our hope in the Lord, He will hear our cry and He will answer us!