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Marriage Is From Heaven

June 14, 2018 Save Article

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Ephesians 5:21-33
(RA-2077, Program: 2418, Air date: 06.17.18)

  1. INTRODUCTION
    1. The reason we have so many failed marriages today is because we have thrown away God’s original plan for marriage and the home.
    2. 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.
    3. Marriage is a covenant, not a contract.
      1. If you look at marriage as a contract, then you will be standing up for your rights
      2. If you look at marriage as a divine covenant, then you will accept your responsibilities.
    4. Marriage is from Heaven, and we need to understand what God says about marriage.
    5. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
      1. Ephesians 5:25
    6. God gave the husband three major responsibilities, which we will look at today.
  2. THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW SERVANT LEADERSHIP (Ephesians 5:21-23)
    1. The word head used in Ephesians 5 speaks of a leader.
      1. This does not mean a dictator, but responsible leadership.
      2. This also does not speak necessarily of a chain of command, but rather of a line of responsibility.
        1. To have headship is to have responsibility.
        2. A wife is to submit to her husband for loving leadership.
    2. God gives the model for servant leadership.
      1. Ephesians 5:23
      2. Jesus Christ is our model, our example.
        1. Jesus never forces us to do anything.
      3. 1 Corinthians 11:3
        1. This passage tells us that the Father is the head of the Son.
        2. This does not mean that the Son is inferior to the Father.
          1. John 14:9
          2. John 10:30
          3. Philippians 2:6
        3. The headship of one does not mean the inferiority of the other.
        4. 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.
      4. Genesis 1:27
        1. Both men and women bear the image of God.
      5. 1 Peter 3:7
        1. Both men and women are heirs of the grace of life.
        2. We are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ.
          1. Both men and women are equal in their standing before God if they have been saved.
      6. Both men and women are equal before God.
      7. While men and women are equal, God has given them different roles.
        1. The devil wishes us to think men and women are alike under the guise of making them equal.
        2. The tendency today is to stress equality of men and women by minimizing the unique significance of maleness and femaleness.
        3. Oneness and equality are not sameness.
          1. God made us different that He might make us one.
      8. Galatians 3:28
      9. Genesis 3:17
        1. God held Adam responsible for Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden.
        2. God held Adam responsible for not leading and keeping his home as he should.
    3. What is servant leadership?
      1. A leader must serve.
        1. Luke 22:25-26
        2. The husband is to serve his wife.
          1. The wife is not there to serve the husband, but the husband is to serve his wife.
        3. John 13:13-14
          1. The husband should find ways to wash his wife’s feet, to serve her.
      2. A leader is gentle.
        1. 1 Thessalonians 2:7
        2. The husband needs to be a true gentleman.
          1. A man of strength who shows great gentleness often has children who respect and love him.
        3. Psalm 18:35
      3. A leader guides by example.
        1. 1 Peter 5:1-3
        2. Servant leadership does not ask anyone to do anything he or she is not willing to do.
        3. A husband is to be an example to his wife.
        4. A husband will see that his wife has gifts that he does not have.
          1. Acts 2:17-18
        5. Responsible servant leadership elicits the help of those he leads, knowing those around him have strengths and talents that he may not have.
  3. THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW SACRIFICIAL LOVE (Ephesians 5:25)
    1. A husband should be willing to die for his wife.
      1. A husband should also die to ego, pride, ambition, etc., for his wife.
    2. How should a husband love his wife?
      1. With passionate love.
        1. This is a passion that says, “I am willing to die for you; I am willing to give myself up for you.”
        2. Most marriages need two funerals and one wedding: where both husband and wife die to themselves and come alive to Jesus Christ.
        3. 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.
        4. 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.
      2. With purifying love.
        1. Ephesians 5:26-27
        2. A husband’s chief assignment from God is to make his wife a more radiantly beautiful Christian.
          1. He is to intercede for her, lead her, teach her, love her and protect her spiritually.
          2. He can never encourage her in any impurity whatsoever.
      3. With protecting love.
        1. Ephesians 5:28
        2. As a man would want to protect his own body when his body is in danger, a husband is to protect his wife.
          1. A man is sick who does not protect his own body, and a man is maritally sick who will not protect his wife.
          2. 1 Peter 3:7
            1. Weaker does not mean inferior.
      4. With providing love.
        1. Ephesians 5:29
          1. To cherish means to warm.
          2. To nurture means to feed and mature.
  4. THE HUSBAND IS TO SHOW STEADFAST LOYALTY (Ephesians 5:30-33)
    1. The priority of marriage is the relationship between a man and his wife.
    2. The permanence of marriage is that they are completely joined together.
      1. Ephesians 5:31
        1. “Shall be joined” has the idea of being welded.
      2. Mark 10:9
    3. The purpose of marriage is that there is a blending until the two become one.
    4. The husband owes to his wife a steadfast loyalty.
  5. CONCLUSION
    1. Our homes ought to be a little bit of the Garden of Eden; the only part that we have left until Jesus Christ returns.
    2. It all starts with your relationship with Jesus Christ.
    3. Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.
    4. 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.
    5. Romans 3:23
    6. Romans 10:9-10
    7. Romans 10:13
    8. Acts 16:31

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