June 26, 2011
Morning Service

So far in this chapter the Holy Spirit, thorough Paul’s writing, has encouraged us to be:

·         Followers (imitators) of God

·         Living lives of sacrifice that creates a “sweet smelling aroma” towards God.

·         Free from sexual immorality and very aware of every idle word we speak.

·         No longer children of darkness, but rather “walk as the children of light.”

·         Walking circumspectly, redeeming the time, and to seek and do God’s will.

·         Speaking and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs from our heart.

·         Giving thanks to our Father above for all He has done, is doing and will do for us.

·         In submission to each other living out our Christian virtues (humility, gentleness, patience, love and peace).

Today Paul focuses in on our marriages.

 

Eph 5:22-24 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  (23)  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.  (24)  Therefore as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

·         Genesis 2 documents the creation of man and woman.  Verse 7, 18, and 21-25.

·         Note it was God’s idea to create a “helper” for man, the two becoming “one flesh.”

·         Genesis 3 tells us about the fall of man, Verse 6-7, 8-9, and 16-19.

·         Life no longer would ever be easy again here on earth.

At the time of Paul’s writing marriage and divorce had become totally out of control.  Women had no rights and the man could divorce her easily and for any reason.

·         Again we see God’s way is a totally “new” way of looking at everything, including marriage. 

 

What does it mean for a wife to “submit” to her husband?

·         Tit 2:4-5  that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,  (5)  to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, subject to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be blasphemed.

·         In other words they should: love their husbands, do what is appropriate, be faithful to him, know her first priority is her home, be hospitable, generous, obedient and respectful to her husbands’ leading.

·         To submit does not mean to be inferior.  The wife may well be more intelligent or spiritual than her husband, BUT she must use these gifts to encourage him aid him to become more of what God intended him to be and do not ever treat him as an inferior.

·         Be respectful.  Respect to a man is like love to a woman. (verse 33).

 

·         Pro 19:13-14 A foolish son is ruin to his father, and the quarreling of a wife is a never-ending dripping.  (14)  Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

 

What if your husband is not a believer?

·         1Pe 3:1-2 Likewise, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that if any do not obey the Word, they may also be won without the Word by the conduct of the wives,  (2)  having witnessed your chaste behavior in the fear of God.

·         1Pe 3:3-4  Of whom let not be the adorning of garments, or outward braiding of hair and wearing of gold, or of putting on clothing,  (4)  but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, the meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.

o   Col 3:18 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

 

 

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,

·         Husband’s love is to be a sacrificial one.   Christ lived His life for the purpose of dying for His Bride (the church) so should we live our lives with purpose.  We should fulfill God’s will for our lives by leading our family on their journey to God with love.

·         We have to take this responsibility seriously.   The buck falls in our lap.  Our wives are created to follow and we are created to lead so don’t make her do your job. 

·         We have to make some tough and unpopular decisions sometimes but always remember:

·         Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Eph 5:26-27  that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,  (27)  that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.

·         Husband’s love is to be a purifying one.  Christ’s sacrifice of Himself was to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make us pure before God.  Our love to our wives should be one that purifies her. One that lifts her up to be everything God intended her to be.

 

Eph 5:28-29 So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  (29)  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord loves the church.

·         Husband’s love is to be a caring one.  We should seek to fulfill our wives needs as we do our own.  She is not a possession but actually a part of us. 

·         Pro 5:18-19 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.  (19)  Like the loving deer and pleasant doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and be enraptured always with her love.

·         Our love is not only an emotional love but an act of our will.  We have vowed to love and cherish her before God.

·         We should be the provider our wife needs, not only financial, but also providing for her emotional and spiritual needs.

·         Verse 31 quotes Genesis 2:24 notice the two bodies become one flesh.  God designed marriage is between one man and one woman until death do they part.

 

Eph 5:30-33 For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.  (31)  "For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh."  (32)  This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  (33)  But also let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife that she respects her husband.

·         Throughout this discourse Paul compares the marriage relationship to that of the Christ and the Church (His bride).  It certainly gives us a clear perspective of how we are to view Him as our perfect husband.

·         Everything we do as a Church we do with great care to be within His will and to fulfill His purpose. 

·         Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; yet no longer I, but Christ lives in me. And that life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf.

 

God wants us to yield our entire lives to Him.  That includes our marriage relationship.  I encourage you this morning to follow the plan He has set up for us, it works.  Christian marriage is designed to have three partners, and the third is Christ.