Old Sword In New Hands

This is my favorite story in the Bible. Goliath was killed...

by who?....(David)

who was a... ? (young person)

with a... ? (sling... NO)

Actually - Goliath was killed with his own sword! what made this sword so lethal to its owner? Did it become sharper? longer? heavier? smarter? No! what made it so powerful was the change of hands!

I would like to tell you about... An old sword... In New Hands!

Let’s take a look at Goliath’s armor (1 Sam 17:4-7)

(v 4) first look at Goliath – 6 cubits and a span (between 9.5 and 11.5 feet tall)

(v 5) coat of mail – 5000 shekels of brass (180 lbs – 82 kg)

(v 7) spear – like a weaver’s beam, spearhead weighed 600 shekels of iron (21 lbs – 10 kg)

(v 7) shield – so big another guy had to carry it

You’ll notice that these few verses mention every part of his armor from head to foot. Helmet, greaves of brass upon his legs, etc... Except - one thing is conspicuously missing from this description. The sword was so normal, it went unnoticed! As a matter of fact, nobody pays any attention to the sword at all... until it falls into new hands!

But of all of that impressive armor, I’m sure the sword was what Goliath probably used the most. (Actually, most of his victories were from scaring people to death - but the rest were most likely accomplished with his sword)

Let me draw you attention to a parallel in the Spirit world, where another battle is taking place. In the valley stands the champion of the enemy, Satan himself. To look at him, one would be very impressed!

Of course, we know that his "bark" is worse than his "bite". One day he will be deflated (Isa 14:16) “...they shall look narrowly upon thee...”

Look at Satan’s weapons. They are quite impressive as well... There’s Osama Bin Ladin, Saddam Hussein, many more notorious and infamous people. But one name is conspicuously missing from that list. Mine! and Yours! Yet the most effective weapon he has is millions of “just people”, known only to a few.

Actually, most of His victories are from scaring people to death...

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV)

But most of the rest of his victories are accomplished with people like you and me! Think of the times you may have impacted others for his cause! Only a word of doubt may wreck some struggling soul’s faith. Peer pressure is the most powerful force in the world. Actually, when you think about it, the great evil people of the world function only because we have created a society where they are accepted, and even exalted!

And so it continued until the Rock came!

David picked up five stones... why? (Because he might miss, of course! Nothing wrong with being prepared!) But only One was necessary! it was annointed! it was divinely directed!

And so things continued for mankind... until the Rock came!

“This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders...” Acts 4:11a

The devil knew about the Rock. Scripture is full of prophecies concerning the Christ (and the devil reads his Bible). But what He didn’t know about was the Sword!

"...which is become the head of the corner.” Acts 4:11b

What he didn’t know that upon that rock would be built a church! (Mat 16:18)

He didn’t know that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs!

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Eph 3:3-6 (KJV)

The plan of God from the beginning... (Gen 3:15)

The seed of the woman – His heel would be bruised

The seed of the serpent – his head would be bruised

What many don’t know is that Christ did not destroy Satan at Calvary – he only inflicted a mortal wound. Notice that He has put all things are under our feet!

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph 1:21-23 (KJV)