Marriage Is From Heaven
June 14, 2018 Save Article"
Ephesians 5:21-33
(RA-2077, Program: 2418, Air date: 06.17.18)
- INTRODUCTION
- The reason we have so many failed marriages today is because we have thrown away God’s original plan for marriage and the home.
- Pastor and author Stu Weber has said that the great problem in America is failure in the highest office of the land: the husband and father.
- Marriage is a covenant, not a contract.
- If you look at marriage as a contract, then you will be standing up for your rights
- If you look at marriage as a divine covenant, then you will accept your responsibilities.
- Marriage is from Heaven, and we need to understand what God says about marriage.
- Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
- Ephesians 5:25
- God gave the husband three major responsibilities, which we will look at today.
- THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Ephesians 5:21-23)
- The word head used in Ephesians 5 speaks of a leader.
- This does not mean a dictator, but responsible leadership.
- This also does not speak necessarily of a chain of command, but rather of a line of responsibility.
- To have headship is to have responsibility.
- A wife is to submit to her husband for loving leadership.
- God gives the model for servant leadership.
- Ephesians 5:23
- Jesus Christ is our model, our example.
- Jesus never forces us to do anything.
- 1 Corinthians 11:3
- This passage tells us that the Father is the head of the Son.
- This does not mean that the Son is inferior to the Father.
- John 14:9
- John 10:30
- Philippians 2:6
- The headship of one does not mean the inferiority of the other.
- The Son is in Heaven seated at the right hand of the Father as an equal; and the Father has eternal headship, not because the Son is inferior but because of everlasting love.
- Genesis 1:27
- Both men and women bear the image of God.
- 1 Peter 3:7
- Both men and women are heirs of the grace of life.
- We are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Both men and women are equal in their standing before God if they have been saved.
- Both men and women are equal before God.
- While men and women are equal, God has given them different roles.
- The devil wishes us to think men and women are alike under the guise of making them equal.
- The tendency today is to stress equality of men and women by minimizing the unique significance of maleness and femaleness.
- Oneness and equality are not sameness.
- God made us different that He might make us one.
- Galatians 3:28
- Genesis 3:17
- God held Adam responsible for Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden.
- God held Adam responsible for not leading and keeping his home as he should.
- What is servant leadership?
- A leader must serve.
- Luke 22:25-26
- The husband is to serve his wife.
- The wife is not there to serve the husband, but the husband is to serve his wife.
- John 13:13-14
- The husband should find ways to wash his wife’s feet, to serve her.
- A leader is gentle.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7
- The husband needs to be a true gentleman.
- A man of strength who shows great gentleness often has children who respect and love him.
- Psalm 18:35
- A leader guides by example.
- 1 Peter 5:1-3
- Servant leadership does not ask anyone to do anything he or she is not willing to do.
- A husband is to be an example to his wife.
- A husband will see that his wife has gifts that he does not have.
- Acts 2:17-18
- Responsible servant leadership elicits the help of those he leads, knowing those around him have strengths and talents that he may not have.
- A leader must serve.
- The word head used in Ephesians 5 speaks of a leader.
- THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW SACRIFICIAL LOVE (Ephesians 5:25)
- A husband should be willing to die for his wife.
- A husband should also die to ego, pride, ambition, etc., for his wife.
- How should a husband love his wife?
- With passionate love.
- This is a passion that says, “I am willing to die for you; I am willing to give myself up for you.”
- Most marriages need two funerals and one wedding: where both husband and wife die to themselves and come alive to Jesus Christ.
- When a man loves his wife this passionately, there is nothing too precious for him to give up for his wife except his relationship to Almighty God.
- Most women do not mind being in submission to a man who loves her enough to die for her and shows it by the way he lives for her.
- With purifying love.
- Ephesians 5:26-27
- A husband’s chief assignment from God is to make his wife a more radiantly beautiful Christian.
- He is to intercede for her, lead her, teach her, love her and protect her spiritually.
- He can never encourage her in any impurity whatsoever.
- With protecting love.
- Ephesians 5:28
- As a man would want to protect his own body when his body is in danger, a husband is to protect his wife.
- A man is sick who does not protect his own body, and a man is maritally sick who will not protect his wife.
- 1 Peter 3:7
- Weaker does not mean inferior.
- With providing love.
- Ephesians 5:29
- To cherish means to warm.
- To nurture means to feed and mature.
- Ephesians 5:29
- With passionate love.
- A husband should be willing to die for his wife.
- THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW STEADFAST LOYALTY (Ephesians 5:30-33)
- The priority of marriage is the relationship between a man and his wife.
- The permanence of marriage is that they are completely joined together.
- Ephesians 5:31
- “Shall be joined” has the idea of being welded.
- Mark 10:9
- Ephesians 5:31
- The purpose of marriage is that there is a blending until the two become one.
- The husband owes to his wife a steadfast loyalty.
- CONCLUSION
- Our homes ought to be a little bit of the Garden of Eden; the only part that we have left until Jesus Christ returns.
- It all starts with your relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
- Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.
- Romans 3:23
- Romans 10:9-10
- Romans 10:13
- Acts 16:31
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