Pray for Your Pastors: His Purity

When I was a kid, all a Sunday School teacher or pastor had to do when mentioning King David and two images would immediately come to mind:  killing Goliath and cheating with Bathsheba.  Giant killing is great.  Adultery, not so much.

Nothing can be more devastating to a local congregation than the moral failure of a pastor.  Hurt.  Disappointment.  Embarrassment.  All are part of the roller coaster of emotions that a church experiences when their pastor engages in sexual sin that becomes public.

What would it mean for your church to experience the moral failure of your pastor?

David's confession of sin in Psalm 51 give you important insights in how to intercede on behalf of your pastor's sexual purity.

Psalm 51:5  "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me."

Your pastor is a sinner.  It is not his performance or morality that make him right with God.  Like any other sinner, he needs salvation that comes by grace alone.  None of us should ever be tricked in believing that our pastor is "super" spiritual.  He must battle sin like any other believer.

Psalm 51:6  "Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart."

Because your pastor is a sinner, he can be tempted to rune from the truth that God desires.  In fact, just like any other believer, he needs the Holy Spirit to lead him in truth.  He needs the benefit of other godly men to help him walk in purity.

So how to pray for your pastor in this area?

Matthew 5:8  "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

*Pray for your pastor(s) to be honest about his sinful struggles.  Pray that he would be surrounded by other godly men where he can be honest in confession and receive encouragement in his battle for purity.

*Pray your pastor(s) would desire to live in truth and have teachable hearts.

*Pray for your pastor(s) to be pure in heart and for God to bless your pastor(s) with a keen awareness of His presence.

-Rodney Bradford