Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | Ephesians 5:18–33 (2)

Introduction:

· Gender ideologies; new philosophies on marriage roles mean that many will see this passage as outdated.

THE COMMON THEME IS WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.

I) Practicing a Spirit-Filled Life in Community (vv. 18-21)

A. Wine or Spirit(s)? (vs 18)

i. A Caution: The danger of alcohol

1. God doesn’t condemn alcohol because he created it, but warns:

2. Some stats:

a. Alcohol-related deaths increased 30% in four years

b. “Mommy-wine” culture masks rising women abuse of alcohol

ii. But: “Do not use alcohol to do what only the Spirit can do.”

1. But why do people drink? Loneliness; Stress; Num pain; ACE’s

2. So: We use alcohol to counterfeit what only the HS is capable of doing

B. Being Spirit-Filled (vv. 18b-20)

i. The Grammar: “Be Spirit Filled”

1. Jesus Promises that we HAVE the Spirit – we may seek his working

2. The HS is not a puppet master who pulls our strings as we “flop”

ii. The Grammar: the “…ing’s” of a Spirit-filled life

1. The main command: “Be-spirit filled” that is modified by 5 participles

2. Vertical & horizontal worship: Singing ministers the gospel to each other

IT’S THAT CONTEXT THAT ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND SUBMISSION IN MARRIAGE.

II) Practicing a Spirit-Filled Life in Marriage

A. Husbands Loving Their Wives (vv. 25-30)

i. Husbands are called to be the head of the home

1. Submission is NOT…inferiority; value; (Jesus ALSO submits)

2. Submission says nothing about: Who pays bills? Works?

3. Being head of the wife means taking responsibility to lead the household

4. Being head of the household means being accountable to Christ

ii. Husbands are called to lead with loving service (vv. 25)

1. Christ loved the church by loving and laying down his life

2. ILLUSTRATION Chappel’s story about flipping a coin

3. APPLICATION: Are you leading with love? Service? Sacrificing?

iii. Husbands are called to lead with Purpose (vv. 26-29)

1. Christ intends his church to be sanctified (see vs. 26)

2. APPLICATION: Husbands lead such that God’s Word is prominent AND they seek the growth of their wives

B. Wives in Submission to Husbands (vs. 22-24)

i. Submission is NOT…

1. An outmoded cultural practice (Paul connects to a transcendent picture)

ii. Instead, submission IS:

1. Honoring the leadership of the husband

2. Respecting the husband (vs. 31)

3. APPLICATION: Does your husband know that you hold him in high regard? Do you treat him, publicly, privately, that shows you value him?

BUT HERE’S THE OTHER, MORE COMMON PROBLEM.

III) How Being Spirit-Filled Helps Us Hope for Something More

A. The Limits of Marriage

i. Your Spouse Cannot Love you the way that you long to be loved

1. “If I just fixed my spouse: if they were more emotionally available; if they were more willing to meet my sexual needs;

2. You’re hard to be married to as you’ve made your spouse into an idol

ii. Marriage Cannot Satisfy the Deepest Longings of Your Heart

1. Singleness is treated as a problem to be fixed

2. And/Or: If I just got married, my life would be complete, happy, fulfilled

B. Marriage Is Meant to Point to the TRUE Marriage

i. Earthly Marriages are Pictures of a Divine Marriage

1. Frequently Paul is talking about marriage –but just as much, the church

2. The mystery of marriage “refers to Christ & the church” (vs. 32)

ii. Jesus, our bridegroom is pledged to us, his bride

1. Jesus is the bridegroom who loves us the way that we long to be loved

2. Jesus is the bridegroom who lays down his life to death,

iii. Jesus, our bridegroom, will present us without fault/blemish (vs. 27)

1. Jesus is the bridegroom who intends to present us to himself, sanctified

Transition:

Conclusion

Marriage in this life is temporal – it will end…But the marriage that we long for will never end