Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
The elephants are going wild! In his Kingdom Man Devotional, Dr. Tony Evans shared the following illustration: “Adolescent male elephants have been running wild, attacking one another, other animals, and humans. Elephant aggression has become a big problem in many parts of the world in recent decades. As scientists have tried to figure out why, they determined that elephant social has been destroyed, mostly due to poaching. Elder elephants are missing, especially adult male bulls, who are favorite targets of poachers. When South African park rangers flew in some adult male elephants, they flapped their ears, raised their trunks, and bellowed for days—and they restored order. The young males got in line and stopped their destruction.”
The youth are going wild! What was true in the previous generation, the same could be said of the youth culture today. Although there are many exceptions, a growing number in this younger generation are running wild, attacking one another, robbing, burning, and have become disrespectful, hateful, insubordinate, rebellious, lazy, and feel entitled. A high percentage of inmates in prison come from homes where the father was absent, disengaged, and who was physically and verbally abusive. A high percentage of high school dropouts came out of the same situation. Society’s problems are also the church’s problems. Society’s problems are our problems. It is time for the bull elephants to re-engage!
It is time for males to be males! It is time for males to acknowledge and embrace the Creator’s design! Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) declares, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” At conception, males have an X and Y chromosome combination. That X and Y chromosome combination define their gender as a male. On the other hand, a female has two X chromosomes. That is the science. Even Psychology Today states, “Each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes that carry DNA within their nucleus. The X and Y chromosomes, commonly referred to as the sex chromosomes, are one such pair. They determine the biological sex, reproductive organs, and sexual characteristics that develop in a person. Female (XX) mammals inherit one X chromosome from each parent, but males (XY) receive an X from their mother and a Y sex chromosome from their father … X and Y chromosomes determine not only the sex of an individual, but many broad characteristics as well. From grip-strength to aggression, there are myriad differences between men and women beyond simply their sexual organs. This is known as sexual dimorphism and is found in most species.”
How a person “feels” cannot change who they really are. Attempts to change the Creator’s design brings consequences. The answer for those who are confused about their gender is to return to their Creator and let Him affirm and define their purpose and reality.
It is time for males to embrace their Creator’s purpose for the male. God made males different than females to fulfill their role as a male in marriage, in relationships with other men and women, with their children, with their friends, in work, in the military, in the church, and in society. It is time for males to embrace their maleness and identify with other males.
It is time for men to be men! It is time for young men to grow up! No more extended adolescence. It is time for men to act like men—to be responsible, to be men of their word, to be faithful providers for their families, to remain free from the influence of drugs and alcohol, and to protect their families and stop terrorizing them. It is time for married men to be faithful and loving husbands—to keep their marriage vows, to be a one-woman man, to love and cherish, protect, and provide until death.
It is time for men to be good fathers to their children—to be present and engaged in their children’s lives, to give them a sense of identity and purpose. Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) says, “Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.” Fathers must teach their children respect for authority and for others: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” They must not be afraid to correct their children in love. Consider the following verses:
Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
Proverbs 29:15 (NKJV) “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
Hebrews 12:7 (NKJV) “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”
It is time for men to be men of God! They must be men who fear God: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” They must be men who love and follow Jesus: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” They must be godly examples: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” They must be the spiritual leaders of their homes: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Regarding husbands, the apostle Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”Regarding fathers, the apostle Paul says: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
It is time for men to be faithful members in the local church: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Men are responsible to lead their families to the church rather than followingthem to the church.
It is time for men to live in the light of eternity: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” This generation needs to know that there is something more to life than time, talent, and treasure.
It is time for men of God to be spiritual fathers. Many of our teens and young adults are spiritually and emotionally dysfunctional. They have been abandoned, neglected, abused, and brainwashed. They feel lost, alone, angry, and afraid. They need spiritual fathers to give them a sense of belonging, to give them a sense of value, to give them a sense of care, to give them a sense of encouragement, to give them a sense of security, to give them a sense of purpose, to give them a sense of vision, and to undergird them with a sense of support.
Wives, how can you support the man in your life? Resist the temptation to criticize and disrespect them. Men are drawn to honor, respect, and praise. Pray for, honor, and support your husband’s God-ordained role in your marriage and in your family. Children, obey God’s command to honor and obey your father. Husbands and fathers, accept your God-given role and lead your family humbly as a man of God. Repent of sin, apathy, neglect, impurity, pride, stubbornness, and selfishness. Apologize to your family for your past failures. Commit to be part of the answer for this generation. Step up and become men of God. Stand together with other brothers in Christ in a mutual quest to live as men of God.
It is time for the bull elephants to rise! It is time for males to be males, for males to become men, and for men to become men of God. When this happens, change is sure to come!
Tony Evans, Kingdom Man Devotional (Carol Stream IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013), pp. 14-15.
The VISION (August 2021)
By Pastor E. Keith Hassell
Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
The elephants are going wild! In his Kingdom Man Devotional, Dr. Tony Evans shared the following illustration: “Adolescent male elephants have been running wild, attacking one another, other animals, and humans. Elephant aggression has become a big problem in many parts of the world in recent decades. As scientists have tried to figure out why, they determined that elephant social has been destroyed, mostly due to poaching. Elder elephants are missing, especially adult male bulls, who are favorite targets of poachers. When South African park rangers flew in some adult male elephants, they flapped their ears, raised their trunks, and bellowed for days—and they restored order. The young males got in line and stopped their destruction.”
The youth are going wild! What was true in the previous generation, the same could be said of the youth culture today. Although there are many exceptions, a growing number in this younger generation are running wild, attacking one another, robbing, burning, and have become disrespectful, hateful, insubordinate, rebellious, lazy, and feel entitled. A high percentage of inmates in prison come from homes where the father was absent, disengaged, and who was physically and verbally abusive. A high percentage of high school dropouts came out of the same situation. Society’s problems are also the church’s problems. Society’s problems are our problems. It is time for the bull elephants to re-engage!
It is time for males to be males! It is time for males to acknowledge and embrace the Creator’s design! Genesis 1:27 (NKJV) declares, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” At conception, males have an X and Y chromosome combination. That X and Y chromosome combination define their gender as a male. On the other hand, a female has two X chromosomes. That is the science. Even Psychology Today states, “Each human cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes that carry DNA within their nucleus. The X and Y chromosomes, commonly referred to as the sex chromosomes, are one such pair. They determine the biological sex, reproductive organs, and sexual characteristics that develop in a person. Female (XX) mammals inherit one X chromosome from each parent, but males (XY) receive an X from their mother and a Y sex chromosome from their father … X and Y chromosomes determine not only the sex of an individual, but many broad characteristics as well. From grip-strength to aggression, there are myriad differences between men and women beyond simply their sexual organs. This is known as sexual dimorphism and is found in most species.”
How a person “feels” cannot change who they really are. Attempts to change the Creator’s design brings consequences. The answer for those who are confused about their gender is to return to their Creator and let Him affirm and define their purpose and reality.
It is time for males to embrace their Creator’s purpose for the male. God made males different than females to fulfill their role as a male in marriage, in relationships with other men and women, with their children, with their friends, in work, in the military, in the church, and in society. It is time for males to embrace their maleness and identify with other males.
It is time for men to be men! It is time for young men to grow up! No more extended adolescence. It is time for men to act like men—to be responsible, to be men of their word, to be faithful providers for their families, to remain free from the influence of drugs and alcohol, and to protect their families and stop terrorizing them. It is time for married men to be faithful and loving husbands—to keep their marriage vows, to be a one-woman man, to love and cherish, protect, and provide until death.
It is time for men to be good fathers to their children—to be present and engaged in their children’s lives, to give them a sense of identity and purpose. Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV) says, “Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.” Fathers must teach their children respect for authority and for others: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” They must not be afraid to correct their children in love. Consider the following verses:
Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV) “He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.”
Proverbs 29:15 (NKJV) “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.”
Hebrews 12:7 (NKJV) “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”
It is time for men to be men of God! They must be men who fear God: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.” They must be men who love and follow Jesus: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” They must be godly examples: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” They must be the spiritual leaders of their homes: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Regarding husbands, the apostle Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.” Regarding fathers, the apostle Paul says: “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
It is time for men to be faithful members in the local church: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Men are responsible to lead their families to the church rather than following them to the church.
It is time for men to live in the light of eternity: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” This generation needs to know that there is something more to life than time, talent, and treasure.
It is time for men of God to be spiritual fathers. Many of our teens and young adults are spiritually and emotionally dysfunctional. They have been abandoned, neglected, abused, and brainwashed. They feel lost, alone, angry, and afraid. They need spiritual fathers to give them a sense of belonging, to give them a sense of value, to give them a sense of care, to give them a sense of encouragement, to give them a sense of security, to give them a sense of purpose, to give them a sense of vision, and to undergird them with a sense of support.
Wives, how can you support the man in your life? Resist the temptation to criticize and disrespect them. Men are drawn to honor, respect, and praise. Pray for, honor, and support your husband’s God-ordained role in your marriage and in your family. Children, obey God’s command to honor and obey your father. Husbands and fathers, accept your God-given role and lead your family humbly as a man of God. Repent of sin, apathy, neglect, impurity, pride, stubbornness, and selfishness. Apologize to your family for your past failures. Commit to be part of the answer for this generation. Step up and become men of God. Stand together with other brothers in Christ in a mutual quest to live as men of God.
It is time for the bull elephants to rise! It is time for males to be males, for males to become men, and for men to become men of God. When this happens, change is sure to come!
Tony Evans, Kingdom Man Devotional (Carol Stream IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2013), pp. 14-15.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/x-y-chromosomes#sex-differences-and-fetal-development
Romans 13:1–2 (NKJV)
Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV)
Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV)
Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)
Ephesians 5:25–28 (NKJV)
Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)
Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV)
1 John 2:15–17 (NKJV)