Hi friends! This is the inaugural Kingdom War Room with my friends Dr. Michael Lake and Dr. LA Marzulli. In this program, we discuss the foundations of spiritual warfare including the wide-spread deception, the demonic bloodlust loosed upon America, and some of the things necessary for believers to do today.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Hi friends! I am moving into a new arena – live video broadcasts! DrMikeLive.com is launching September 10, 2018 at 6pm EST! This is something I’ve considered doing for the last year and have reached the conclusion that now is the time. Why now? After over three years of recording interviews with great guests on Soaring Eagle Radio, I believe the time is now to begin addressing issues we face as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in real-time utilizing video. It is a natural progression for this vision the Lord has given me. Soaring Eagle Radio will continue in its current format as well.
I see situations arising daily that need a strong biblical response. My plan is to make this a weekly one hour program – Monday’s from 6pm – 7pm EST. The format will be interactive, meaning you get to participate!
I am asking for your help with a few of things. One, please let your friends know about this new program. Let’s build a core group of people who desire to hear the information I will provide and who will share this information to equip and encourage others.
Lead like Jesus! Sounds super spiritual and to use today’s hipster pastor language, “way cool!” There are blog posts, multiple articles, even books all dedicated to assisting readers in leading like Jesus lead. The question is, what does that even mean?
In many instances today, authors, speakers, and writers paint a picture of the compassion, mercy, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, and unbounded grace of Jesus. While Jesus is all those things, it doesn’t follow that is His leadership style. The fact is, modern Western Christianity has created a sad caricature of the biblical Jesus.
In Mark 10:32 we read that Jesus and the disciples were on the road once again, this time to head to Jerusalem. This verse says “and Jesus was walking ahead of them, and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful.” The context of this passage and the place it sits within the overall narrative of Mark’s Gospel is important to understand.
Jesus was now within a few weeks, perhaps as few as 4 to 6, from His divine appointment at Golgotha. Chapter 11:1 tells us Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem. Their entry into Jerusalem in verse 11 is what we call Palm Sunday. So the events we are reading about in Mark 10 are relevant to their arrival in Jerusalem and the rapid escalation of hatred that culminated in Calvary.
So, Jesus was walking ahead of the twelve disciples and they were amazed. Do you know why they were amazed? The text doesn’t tell us specifically but I believe the twelve were amazed at the bold determination of Jesus to march right into the jaws of the beast that awaited Him in Jerusalem. The religious system of Judaism in that day was an apostate beast system of corruption, manipulation, and deceit. The Jews had been plotting to murder Jesus for at least the previous 18-24 months. They seethed with rage just thinking of His popularity among the people, and they had become convinced that unless Jesus was killed their entire religious business was going to collapse like an unstable house of cards.
In the events recorded in Mark 10, the Pharisees thought they had conceived of the perfect plan and that they had been patient enough to spring their trap when Jesus crossed over the Jordan into Perea (“beyond the Jordan” in 10:1). They deliberately brought up the issue of divorce thinking they could manipulate Jesus into getting Himself arrested based on His own words. The Pharisee’s plan was to engage Jesus in a debate about divorce while He was traveling through the territory ruled by Herod Antipas. It was Herod Antipas who had John the Baptists’ head removed. Do you recall why Herod took such action? John was jailed and executed because he spoke loud and often that Herod was an adulterer for stealing his brother’s wife. But Jesus once again took them to theological school by teaching them God’s thoughts on the subject.
Now, I’m stating all of this to show you the true nature of Jesus’ leadership style. Friends, Jesus is not the effeminate Fabio caricature much of the American church thinks He is. Do you want to lead like Jesus? Then here is what you are going to need to do.
(1) You are going to have to lead the way. You are going to have to take the point. I know it has become popular to say that pastoral leadership is all about teaching others to do the ministry. The reality is others will follow and learn as you lead and do. But you better be very careful about how and where you lead God’s people, especially if you are considered a shepherd. God will hold you personally responsible for the spiritual nourishment or lack thereof that His people receive.
(2) You are going to have to find some courage. Leading is not about having all the answers. Only Jesus had all the answers. Leading is about having a determination to meet evil head-on. This includes being courageous in the pulpit. Pastors and ministry leaders simply must stop all the cotton candy sermons about how much God loves people. The most glaring problem in the church today is not a lack of self-love. People already love themselves too much.
(3) You are going to have to stop listening to false teachers. Today we have well-known teachers, former and current pastors, and heads of denominational organizations who have succumbed to critical race theory propaganda, cultural Marxism, LGBT depravity, the demonic deception that Islam is compatible with American culture and values, and every other Luciferian agenda passed off as “compassionate Christianity.” Listen to me brethren: find some courage and denounce these people and their heresies because here is the truth of the matter:
There is a reason Jesus confronted the beast religious system of His day: He recognized that it was not of God, did not obey His commands, and was instead worshipping idols of their own creation. The LGBT flag-waving, affirming, proud professing Christians are going to wake up in eternity and experience sheer terror when they hear “depart from Me you workers of iniquity.” Listen to me Christian: there is nothing to be proud of when one man sticks his penis into another man’s rectum. Have you lost your mind? That is not love and love has not won anything. Wickedness won and if you can’t see that then you are the problem.
The Islamic interfaith dialogue crowd is a picture of what happens when you deny centuries of history, the plain teachings of the Koran, the current speeches of the God-haters scattered all around the world in mosques, and the barbaric atrocities committed daily for Allah’s honor. What is there to dialogue about with people who say Jesus Christ was not the Son of God, did not die on a cross, never rose from the dead, and certainly is not the Savior of the world? With the fields white to harvest why are impotent stooges being honored for giving Islamic jihadists cover with their blind ego-driven speeches and seminars?
(4) You will need to realize that not all will follow you. The twelve were amazed but the larger contingency of disciples that followed Jesus was fearful (10:32). As I mentioned above, the twelve were amazed at Jesus’ resolve to travel directly to Jerusalem. The twelve knew the heated debates and angry words the religious leaders hurled at Jesus. The twelve had been ridiculed themselves for following Jesus. Watching Jesus walk that road straight into Jerusalem was a lesson they would forget in Gethsemane and in the days following Jesus ascension but, it was also one they remembered and drew strength and courage from after the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Some will fall away because they fear the path you are walking. They fear what they perceive to be the negative consequences for them personally. They will count the cost and decide it is too high a price to pay.
(5) You are going to have to tell people to stop sinning. America is currently in a period of time in which we are witnessing a mass exodus from the church. Do you have any idea why? The reason is simply this: people see very little difference between the lives of professing Christians and the general population. The church does not need another sermon series on being the best parent or spouse you can be. Christians do not need to be told to have their best life now. Christians need to understand that there are answers to their heartbreak. Statistics tell us that pornography is at an all-time high and rising among both men and women who profess faith in Christ. The church doesn’t need another sermon series on good sex. It needs clear biblical teaching on the God-given gift of sex that honors each spouse and that brings to bear the spiritual significance of sexual intercourse within marriage. The church needs to recover its identity as the assembly of the saints but it will not until the saints start acting like the people of God once again. The church needs accountability.
Do you want to lead like Jesus? If so then I encourage you to read Mark 10:38. There you see the cost to yourself and all that you count dear in this life. So, ask yourself, are you able to drink the cup Jesus drank? If you want to lead like Jesus, friend, you better buckle up because the ride is going to get bumpy. You are going to be misunderstood and even hated. You will be seen as a threat to the apostates of the beast religious system which is much of American Christianity, and you will be completely out of step, out of tune, and out of sync with the world system.
Father, I pray that You would raise up men and women who understand the times in which we live and who will not be afraid to lead with fearless conviction and Holy Spirit power, straight into the bared teeth of the Luciferians who control America. Father, equip us with divine courage that we would not flinch at the sight of evil but would instead snarl right back with a ferociousness born of a blood-bought soul. I ask this covering to be upon all who read these words and volunteer to lead like Jesus. In the wonderful, mighty, powerful name of Jesus I ask this, amen!
https://www.facebook.com/david.heavenerofficial/videos/10157513842793332/
Hey friends! I am joining David Heavener on his ground-breaking media platform – DavidHeavener.TV
Here is a list of current channels:
Please go to https://davidheavener.tv/ and subscribe today.
A great country, a good culture is created first and foremost through good parenting.
To this point, Proverbs 28:4 states, Those who forsake the law praise the wicked… This passage relates to God’s moral law in the Torah, but the principle being expressed here by Solomon could be applied in a broader sense to one’s obedience to a nation’s laws (cf. Romans 1:32).
It follows that those in the institution of government should not only prioritize their own parenting responsibilities, but in a professional sense, seek to strengthen policies that help the nuclear family to train up a child. What follows is a study almost exclusively from the book of Proverbs related to helping you, as a Public Servant, become a better parent both personally and professionally; it is doubly powerful when the leaders of a society not only model great parenting, but write laws that help to facilitate this with others.
As a Public Servant you have to fight your scheduler in order to be a good parent because good parenting takes time; you are in a constant battle over your priorities. This means you must be especially knowledgeable and skilled at parenting, simply because you will most likely have less time to achieve this than will your next door neighbor. Accordingly, give special attention to this study and the principles expounded upon herein. The purposes of parenting are:
1:8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching;
6:20 My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
This first purpose is perhaps the most important. If you get this right and not so much the others to follow, you will probably still end up with good kids. Here’s the big principle that is so often forsaken in today’s American households: Your child needs to clearly observe the commandment(s) of his or her parents and not be allowed to forsake them.
OBEDIENCE TO ONE’S PARENTS IS NOT AN OPTION THAT THE PARENT AFFORDS THE CHILD
Rather, obedience is to be demanded — with immediacy — always. The above passages imply that the parent’s child or children must learn to revere his authority. To allow your children to show disrespect for your authority is akin to teaching them to eventually not fear God; and a healthy fear of God is the basis for your child to one day bow the knee to the Lordship of Christ (hopefully at a young age) which is the ultimate objective and purpose for parenting. There is no need to submit to God later if there is no need to submit to parents now. Such reverence for authority is created in a child at an early age through good parenting.
1:3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity;
With the parent’s authority established and not in question, this passage contains some of the lofty goals that good parenting can achieve in the child: To instruct a child in wise behavior means that the parents have as their objective to inculcate in the child the ability to eventually govern him or herself by choice. To train in righteousness means the child will eventually self-apply God’s standards when dealing with himself, others, and God. To train in justice connotes the child’s eventual ability to conform to the will and standard of God. And lastly, equity has the idea of living life in a fair and pleasing way. Such children, borne from excellent parenting, not only eventually end up loving the Lord, but make for wonderful citizens!
2:1 My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you,
Notice how this passage relates back to 1:8 and the primary point I first made in this study. If you read through chapter two of Proverbs, you will learn of all the things this if leads to. It culminates in verse 5, wherein is the then: Then you will discern the fear of the Lord. Fearing the Lord is wrought via demanding that the child receive my [your] words and treasure my [your] commandments.
3:26 For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
As a result of this proper fear of the Lord and the child treasuring His commandments (and yours) there results an ensuing confidence and peace of mind in the child. The child looks to his parents and eventually to God for guidance – and this Proverb indicates that God looks out for, and over him! What a tremendous principle and motivation this is to be a good, instructive parent! Think of the summation of these aforementioned passages in this way:
GOOD PARENTING RESULTS IN GOD HELPING YOUR CHILD!
God will keep your child’s foot from being caught if you teach your child to receive your instruction at a young age! Unfortunately for the parent, child and society, too many parents simply do not instruct their children. In essence they live with them under the same roof, with the child finding his or her own way. Leniency is vogue — as if it is a higher virtue than instruction. It is not! It is bad parenting. Generally, there is too little proactive instruction in today’s American families which result in so many wayward kids and social ills. The following Proverbs underscore this:
4:1-2 Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and give attention that you may gain understanding, for I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my instruction.
22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;
These passages serve to further illustrate the need of the parent to be proactive — requiring their children to apply [their] mind to the knowledge of the parent.
DON’T BE A WIMPY PARENT WHO ALLOWS HIS KIDS TO CALL THE SHOTS. WIMPY PARENTS ARE TERRIBLE PARENTS. CHILDREN EVENTUALLY DISRESPECT WIMPY PARENTS.
Exhorting is what the passages that I will list in this section all have in common. Some good synonyms for exhort are: “urge strongly, advise, and warn.” The parent’s responsibilities go beyond instruction (my first point in the purpose of parenting section of the outline): Beyond just instructing, the parent is to press God’s truths into not just the mind, but also the heart of the child by repetition, urgency and reason. One must shepherd the heart of his child. The following Proverbs bear witness to a parent’s urgency in this regard. Notice the demanding, exhortative nature of the passages:
3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
3:21 My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion,
8:32 “Now therefore O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways.”
7:1 My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
Not only does the biblically driven parent instruct and exhort, he also corrects.
3:12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects a son in whom he delights.
Hebrews 12:9-10 is the New Testament corollary passage to this Proverb:
Furthermore we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good so that we may share His holiness.
Notice the continuing association between the child’s obedience to an earthly father and his or her later submissive response to God. At the risk of “guilting you out” here:
MANY PEOPLE ARE REBELLIOUS TOWARD GOD TODAY BECAUSE OF BAD PARENTING EARLIER
The child never learned the value and fruit of correction at a young age. No one ever broke his self-will and as a result he carries around a rebellious spirit today. This idea is evidenced in the following Proverb:
9:6 “Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”
This is a passage that should be memorized and utilized by every parent when shepherding the heart of a child. Learn to say, “That’s wrong in accordance with God’s Word.” Such language best sets the stage for the child to have a sensitivity and desire to please God tomorrow.
Of course, if one is a humanist, believing that man is basically good, not fallen, then there is no reason for correction. Quite to the contrary, the Christian worldview holds that man is fallen, including one’s cute little boy or girl, and is therefore in dire need of parental instruction, exhortation, and correction. Lastly, your children are in need of direction in their path through life.
Notice the following set of Proverbs that speak to this purpose in parenting:
1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.
1:15 My son, do not walk in the way with them. Keep your feet from their path,
2:20 So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
4:21 Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart.
The picture of a path is a wonderful metaphor related to the direction one walks in life (i.e., the straight and narrow path). Parents should not be remiss in correcting the direction their child is going as he or she ages. These mid-course corrections are ultra-critical decisions wherein the parent must not prove passive. If one has taught a child submission to authority at a young age, it will not be as difficult for the child to obey at an older age (while still under one’s roof ). In Danielle’s and my parenting, we chose our children’s friends when necessary (if you get my drift).
A specific area of parenting spoken of repeatedly is that of keeping your child from sexual sin.
5:8 Keep your way far from her and do not go near the door of her house,
6:24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
7:5 That they may keep you from an adulteress, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
A responsible parent will always know who his child is with and where he is — especially at night. Be passionate about making your child accountable in these areas at all times. Teach your child to not pander to his fallen nature, but rather to mortify the flesh, to discipline [his] body and make it [his] slave (1 Corinthians 9:27a). Teach them that sexual desire is to be fulfilled in marriage only. Conversely, sexual involvement before marriage leads to absolutely nothing good for your child, his friends, your family, and our nation! As a governmental leader you know how much sexual sin ends up costing our nation in terms of the welfare roles, medical costs, law enforcement, etc. Such are reduced by good parenting in this one particular area.
Children are called to obey their parents in Ephesians 6:1. Proverbs echoes the same truth per the following. This is important to know when your child resists your authority:
4:4 Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live;”
24:32 When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.
A parent must establish authority early on, allowing the child to gain a sense of conditioning as to the normative nature of parental authority in his life. It sets the stage for the future in the home. It follows that at a young age, parents must curtail a child’s natural tendency to rebel; a parent must lovingly prove and enforce his authority at the earliest stages of a child’s life. This is done through spanking. Notice the following Proverb in this regard:
13:24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
Corporeal punishment for wrong doing is replete throughout Scripture; it is one of the realities and necessities of living in a fallen world. But keep in mind always that spanking must be done in love and not anger.
There are tremendous benefits from taking the time and possessing and practicing the biblical skills necessary to raising your children. The following benefits listed in Proverbs last for a lifetime! That’s to say that investing in your good parenting skills today will come back to you a hundred-fold tomorrow! It is akin to creating an investment portfolio with geometric returns!
4:10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.
Ephesians 6:3 quotes this promise also, as recorded first in Deuteronomy 5:16, …that your days may be prolonged on the earth. Wherein a child must first be obedient, to accept my sayings for this principle to take effect, it implies (as we have seen) the discipline and commitment of a parent to be instructive and exhortative. Think about this: your child’s length of life is related to your parenting skills.
How blessed it is to thoroughly look forward to each and every family gathering! There is little in this life to compare to the joys of family…but how many are those, who, for a lack of wisdom in parenting, miss out on these later blessings. Be passionate about your parenting now and it will accrue to a present and future lively and pleasant home for the rest of your life.
7:2 Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of your eye.
22:18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips.
CHILD CENTERED FAMILIES ARE ABUNDANT TODAY, BUT GOD’S WORD CALLS US TO PARENT CENTERED FAMILIES
If a child doesn’t learn obedience in the home, he will most likely be a cost to society, both literally and figuratively. Conversely, those who learn to respect authority in the home will be on the side of helping society by curtailing crime, as this Proverb bears out (and used in the prologue):
28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them.
Parenting today relates and is connected to a good society tomorrow; they are intrinsically intertwined in Scripture. It follows that Public Servants not only give attention to their own parenting skills but to lawmaking that helps parents achieve their God-given responsibility.
Proverbs lists the deleterious things that happen to a child when the parent allows rebellion — both passive and aggressive — in the home. What follows should serve as an additional motivation to prioritize your parenting while in office. It is by far more important to displease your scheduler and staff than it is to shirk from your God-given responsibilities at home. Be clear on this:
YOU MUST PRIORITIZE SERVING THE INSTITUTION OF THE FAMILY OVER AND ABOVE SERVING THE INSTITUTION OF THE STATE
Don’t confuse these primacies lest, long after serving in office, you have to live with the following the rest of your life. Herein is what Solomon states to his son in this regard, who, by the way, and in the context of the book of Proverbs, will someday be in charge of running the State:
10:8 The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined.
13:10 Through insolence comes nothing but strife, but wisdom is with those who receive counsel.
19:16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of conduct will die.
28:7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
28:9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.
Too many bad things can happen to a child whose parents are negligent, whose passion for the privilege of parenting is eclipsed by the limelight of public service. It is too high a price to pay — to neglect your child and abandon your higher calling.
As fallen human beings, we will all stumble at times in our parenting. That is to be expected, but thank God He gives us around 18 or so years to train up a child in the way he should go. Pray that God will help you in this area and read biblically based books on this subject with your spouse. Continue to hone your skills in this area.
This study would contain less than the whole counsel of God on this matter without including mention of 1Timothy 2:15. This passage speaks about the primary role the woman has in raising children. Hers is a high calling of influence, love, and discipline in raising the next generation. Equally standing before God in their worth, God has assigned the role of leading this generation primarily to the man, who is the breadwinner, whereas He has assigned the role of influencing the next generation to the woman. This is a much higher and much more difficult calling. May both husband and wife commit afresh and anew to this God-given responsibility that benefits not only the child, family, and society in the present and the future, but also the Kingdom of God. Parents are to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). This is not a suggestion; it is a God-ordained responsibility, a privilege to be extremely passionate about.
This article appeared here on June 11, 2018.