Five

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. FIVE SUNDAYS AGO WE BEGAN A SERIES OF SERMONS ON NUMBERS.

    2. THUS FAR, WE HAVE STUDIED THE USE OF NUMBERS: ONE; TWO; THREE; AND FOUR.

    3. TODAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE USE OF THE NUMBER FIVE IN THE SCRIPTURES.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. ONE OF THE MOST TAUGHT BIBLICAL STORY USES THE NUMBER FIVE IN IT.
      1. The story is that of David and Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:58 ).
      2. David selected five smooth stones to use in his fight with Goliath. 1 Samuel 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."
      3. This shows preparation. Look at the adjective "smooth":

        1. David had chosen his weapon of warfare carefully and he knew exactly what was needed to make it effective.
        2. He carefully selected not just any stone, but smooth stones.

          1. A rough stone will receive too much resistance from the air it must travel through.
          2. A smooth stone will have less resistance and will be more accurate.
          3. A smooth stone will strike the intended object with more force (impact) than a rough stone.
          • Comment: If we want to reach the mark, Philippians 3:14 ". . . The prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We are going to have to make preparation careful preparation.
          • Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:10 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."

          1. Notice that David did not go into battle with just one stone but five.

    1. MOSES IN GIVING JEHOVAH'S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL SAID:
      Leviticus 26:8       "And five of you shall chase and hundred,. . . "

      1. This shows what a few can do with God on their side.

        1. 1 Peter 3:20 "Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water."


    Note:     God used these eight to replenish the earth after the flood.

        1. Jesus chose twelve men (John 6:70), to teach the world the message of salvation.

      1. Numbers are important, but:

        1. Numbers of people do not necessarily show power or strength.
        2. Neither does the number of swords or spears manifest power or strength.

    Comment: Give attention to what David said to Goliath: 1 Samuel 17:45-47 ". . . 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. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand: and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands."

    1. JESUS TOOK FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH AND FED A MULTITUDE:
      Matthew 14:17       "And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes."

      1. This was one of the Lord's miracles. ". . . the fragments that remained twelve baskets full" Matthew 14:20.
      2. Where was the faith? Who had the faith?

        1. Was it Jesus?
        2. Was it the five loaves and two fishes?
        3. The one who performed the miracle had to have the faith.

    2. IN THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS ONE WAS GIVEN FIVE TALENTS.
      Matthew 25:15-16 "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."

      1. The five talent man is an illustration from God to us to show that he was responsible for more than the one talent man.
      2. Responsibility therefore, is equal to a person's ability.
      3. God knows what that ability is and expects no less than it may be - nor while he require more.

      Scripture: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1Corinthians 10:13.

    3. REGARDING THE USE OF WORDS TO COMMUNICATE - PAUL STATED:
      1 Corinthians 14:19 "Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue."

      1. The speaking in an unknown tongue has ceased:
      • 1 Corinthians 13:8 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away."
      • James 1: 25-26 "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, be being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."

      1. All preachers and teachers should speak clearly in a language that is easily understandable.

    4. THERE WERE FIVE WISE AND FIVE FOOLISH VIRGINS. (Matthew 25:1-13).

      1. The five wise:

        1. They had their lamps. (Matthew 25:1)
        2. They had extra oil for their lamps (Matthew 25:4)
        3. They slept knowning they'd be ready when the bridegroom came. (Matthew 25:7)
        4. Their preparation was that they'd have enough for themselves not others.

      2. The five foolish:

        1. They had their lamps. (Matthew 25:3)
        2. They took no extra oil. (Matthew 25:3)
        3. They awoke from sleep crying for oil, they were not prepared. (Matthew 25:6)
        4. Last minute preparation will not suffice. (Matthew 25:10-12).

      3. The lesson to be learned: Matthew 25:13 "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. WE KNOW NOT WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH. (Matthew 25:13)

    2. GOD KNOWS WHAT OUR ABILITY IS AND WILL REQUIRE IT OF US. (Matthew 25:14-30)

    3. MAKE CAREFUL PREPARATION: REMEMBER:

      1. David prepared well in meeting Goliath. (1 Samuel 17).
      2. Five wise virgins prepared for a possible delay. (Matthew 25:13).

    4. HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

      1. Have you the faith?
      2. Have you repented?
      3. Have you confessed?
      4. Are you been cleaned in baptism?
      5. Are you prepared to enter the door when the bridegroom comes? Salvation is only through the door, that is Christ. John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

    5. IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO ENTER IN, DO SO NOW AS WE SING.

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