Steve Lyston | Pray for the sexual purity of your leaders

As we are all seeing these days, there are many sexual scandals taking place locally and globally, among leaders in general, and even churchmen.

However, this should be no surprise, because strong leaders come under great temptation on a daily basis.

Furthermore, people are generally attracted to power of any kind at any level. Strong leaders also struggle with sexual impurity. David in the Bible, for example, struggled with lust. We are in an era where there are no more 'ugly' people because you can buy anything to 'enhance' what you have or cover up what you don't. People can now purchase lashes, eye colour, breasts, bottoms, and you can even change your complexion if you wish.

There is a war going on to bring down strong leaders in the society across the board. It doesn't just include churchmen, but also doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians and businessmen. In fact, even a strong group leader in an unknown group is a target. Because what this will do is bring the family to the point of instability and brings more hate, more bitterness and a greater divide from the family level to the national level.

There should be no rejoicing when a church leader or any other leader, for that matter, falls. I Peter 4: 17 says - "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" So if the Lord allows this for those within the church, can you imagine that lies ahead for the rest of the world? Put on your seatbelts and get ready for this ride!

God is now ready to deal with sexual impurity which is now eating away at the moral fabric of society. Don't hide some and expose others with great outcry. That will not augur well for anyone.

Strong leaders need to have strong protocol to which they need to adhere strongly. They need to surround themselves with strong support. For example, leaders need to have their wives/husbands upfront with them at all times. Even within the Church, sometimes the wives are left out and given a seat at the back, and it is a common culture within the Church generally - the culture of 'women must keep silent'. They will shower the men with a lot of attention and things, but ignore the wives completely if it is the husband who is the leader. The opposite is also true. Recognise that it is both of them who are called, not just the husband OR wife. This happens among all facets - politics, business and the legal fraternity. You should not have a bodyguard, chauffeur, gardener or arms-bearer of the opposite gender moving around alone with your spouse. All of these can lead to sexual impurity and it is real! Bodyguards will take the 'body'; the chauffeur will give your spouse a ride; the gardener will till the soil; the helper will help herself to your lover; the arms-bearer will disarm you. Even companies and governments are sending away their employees with members of the opposite gender on business trips for extended periods to 5-star hotels. They will certainly see stars! Their families ought to be included.

OPPORTUNITY IN CRISES

Out of crises, there are always great opportunities. Church people must pray for the sexual purity and satisfaction of leaders across the board. Too much time is spent praying for money and other things and ignore the reality of the struggle they face. They must pray that the eyes of the leaders remain consecrated and will not focus on anybody else other than their own spouse. They must also pray that those leaders who are not married remain steady and focused until they are.

Why should someone need a personal trainer? Why should there be the need for lap dancing to be taught? Recognise that when the focus and attention is placed on the physical, that is exactly where the devil wants our focus, and that is where the door opens for sexual impurity to flood in. That aspect is the most private and personal area of our lives.

Leaders need to be careful when they are counselling persons of the opposite gender by themselves - especially church leaders!

Parents need to teach their children about sexual purity and how they ought to dress. It means parents will then need to lead by example.

If the media is going to be any kind of watchdog, then they are also going to need to cut down on the profanity, looseness and immorality to which they expose our children and youth.

The Church overall needs to embrace the Deliverance Ministry as in the Book of Acts.

- Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.