Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 90 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; Overcoming the power and influence of Satan; Eph 6:10-18.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 90 - Essential qualities of leadership: The filling of the Spirit; Overcoming the power and influence of Satan; EPH 6:10-18.

 

Announcements/opening prayer:  

 

 

/Principle:

Overcoming the power and influence of Satan demands the filling of the Spirit. Since he is a supernatural foe, human power cannot overcome him.\

 

EPH 6:10 Finally, be strong [keep being clothed with strength] in the Lord [not self effort], and in the strength of His might.

 

EPH 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

EPH 6:12 For our struggle [wrestle: close quarter contest] is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places [Satan's demon organization which has the sole purpose of opposing God].

 

EPH 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor [emphasis on the entire armor] of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day [pernicious attack], and having done everything, to stand firm [hold your ground - don't become spiritually lazy or apathetic, but be alert].

 

EPH 6:14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

 

EPH 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 

The believer will not stumble when the gospel is his mind's occupation, in that, he has peace with God eternally. He will not fall away or lose his grip on grace. He will sin, but he will not condone sin or self-justify it. The gospel is the foundation of his life.

 

EPH 6:16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.

 

This shield [Greek: thureos] is the shield of the heavy infantry, which was large and oblong so that it covered most of the body. It was four by two and a half feet.

 

/Our shield consists of faith. It is a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit to deliver us in victory over the sin nature, the world, and the devil.\

 

He is not here writing about salvation faith but living in faith or walking by means of faith.

 

The shield protected against enemy attack, both close hand to hand fighting and against airborne missiles. Other than protecting the individual, shields would be locked together to form a barrier that would hold ground as well as advance and take ground.

 

 

/The shield wall is analogous to the Christians supporting one another in encouragement, comfort, service, and prayer.\

 

ROM 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

 

ROM 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

 

ROM 12:11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

 

ROM 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

 

ROM 12:13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

 

ROM 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.

 

ROM 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 

ROM 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

 

ROM 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

 

ROM 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.

 

1CO 8:7 However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

 

1CO 8:8 But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.

 

1CO 8:9 But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

 

1CO 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

 

1CO 8:11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

 

1CO 8:12 And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

 

1CO 8:13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, that I might not cause my brother to stumble.

 

2CO 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;

 

2CO 1:4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

 

/GAL 6:2

Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.\

 

/1TH 5:11

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.\

 

/HEB 10:24

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds\

 

/HEB 13:3

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.\

 

EPH 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

 

/2TH 3:1

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified\