Spiritual Leadership #2: The Ways of God: Jehoshaphat

In this teaching, Stephen emphasizes the vital importance of spiritual leadership rooted in a pure heart and obedient ways, exemplified by King Jehoshaphat. He highlights how Judah prospered when leaders returned to God, walking in the early, sincere devotion of their ancestors like David, rather than following the flawed examples of others like Esau. Jehoshaphat’s early walk with God was marked by humility, obedience, and a heart perfect toward the Lord, which brought blessings, riches, and spiritual strength. However, Stephen warns that alliances with ungodly influences, such as Jehoshaphat’s marriage to Ahab’s daughter, led to spiritual compromise and peril, illustrating the danger of unholy unions and the importance of separation from darkness. The lesson underscores that true unity among God's people must be based on separation from worldly influences, not compromise, aligning with Christ’s prayer for believers to be one as He and the Father are one. Stephen stresses that faith is essential in leadership—believing God before seeing the victory—and praises should be offered in faith, trusting God's promises. He recounts Jehoshaphat’s prayer and fasting before facing enemies, demonstrating reliance on God's power and promises. Ultimately, he urges believers to walk carefully, maintaining a pure heart, obeying God's ways, and trusting in His faithfulness, warning against deviations that can lead to spiritual downfall.

Outline of Main Points

• Importance of spiritual leadership with a pure heart and obedient ways
• Jealousy for returning to the early, sincere devotion of David
• Lessons from King Esau’s decline and Jehoshaphat’s early walk with God
• Danger of unholy alliances, such as Jehoshaphat’s marriage to Ahab’s family
• Separation from worldly influences as essential for unity among believers
• Faith as a key element in leadership—believing before seeing victory
• Praising God in faith, trusting His promises and power
• Jehoshaphat’s prayer, fasting, and reliance on God's promises
• Necessity of walking carefully, maintaining humility, and avoiding compromise
• Warning against deviations that lead to spiritual downfall and ruin