Introduction: 1. When I married John I thought it was ideal. It soon became an ordeal. Now I want a new deal. 2. Approximately 4,000 divorces are granted each day in the U. S. 3. Many couples do not face the life of happily ever after. 4. Eph. 5:22-33. I. Submissive (verses 22-4). A. The picture by the world. Poor leadership and bumbling fellow. The husband is the head and the wife is to submit to him. B. The world sees this as a woman being led around by a nose ring, etc. C. God’s plan of submission. The church submits to God’s government (Rom. 6:16, 17; Acts 5:29; 1 Jn. 2:5). It is on a voluntary basis in response to God’s love (1 Jn. 5:2). She has worth, value (Prov. 31:11f.) and responsibility (1 Sam. 1:21, 22). II. Sacrificial (verse 25). A. The Lord’s love for us is great (Jn. 3:16; Acts 20:28; Rom. 5:7-8; Phil. 2:6-8). B. The husband’s love for the wife is that he and his become second to hers (1 Cor. 13:4, 5). Remember (Rom. 15:3). III. Sanctifying (verses 26, 27). A. Sanctifying is to set apart or make clean. God does so by his forgiveness (Isa. 1:18; Jer. 31:34), thus, (Titus 3:5). B. Husbands want what is the very best for their wife. Build her up (1 Thes. 5:22; Col. 3:19). You are not critical of but rather encourage her. Cherishes her (1 Pet. 3:7). IV. Sensitive (verses 28, 29). A. Christ was/is concerned about the church needs. While on earth Jesus was in tune with the physical (Mk. 8:2), spiritual (Mt. 9:36), and emotional needs of people (Lk. 7:13). B. Husbands are to be in tune with the wife’s needs. We each have a hierarchy of needs. A man’s number one need is identity. A woman’s number one need is intimacy. V. Sustaining love (verse 31). A. Christ and the church are in union with one another (Eph. 2:5, 6; Rom. 6:3, 4). Christians are to maintain that unity (Jn. 15:4; 1 Jn. 2:28). B. The husband and wife (Gen. 2:28). Leave parents, hobbies, buddies. Cleave (Mt. 19:9; 5:31, 32; Rom. 7:2). C. The commitment is nurtured by: 1.Never allowing the courtship to die 2. Continuing to grow as a couple-communicate. 3. Creating transparency-disclosure of self.
Entered on 11/9/2008
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