Pastoral Prayer

I am only aware of one recorded failure in the leadership of Joshua. This is found in Joshua 9. This is the record of the Gibeonite deception. Joshua failed to inquire of the Lord and had to live and lead with the consequences of that failure.

Joshua 9:14-15 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.  And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

Leadership in the church is difficult at best. To endeavor to lead God’s people without engaging in constant and fervent prayer always leads to disaster. Notice the consequences of Joshua’s failure to pray. His failure resulted in the Gibeonites living among the Israelites in spite of the fact that the LORD had commanded that they be annihilated. The presence of the Gibeonites served as a constant reminder of the consequences of leadership that fails to seek the mind of the LORD. It is impossible to do God’s work effectively apart from his constant guidance enabling grace. It is both crucial and available to those who seek it.

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

The power required for effective leadership and evangelism is found not in some program, not in some scripted or canned formulaic mantra, but in open-faced dependence on the LORD expressed in humble petition offered at the Throne of Grace.

Hebrews 4:14 - 16 since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses . . . Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

The decline of the church and the absence of true conversions is a direct result of the failure on the part of leaders and their people to ‘inquire of the LORD’ for the grace needed in this life transforming work.