Spiritual Relationships

Ephesians 5:21-33

“Good morning, beloved congregation, Today, we turn our attention to Ephesians 5:21-33, a passage that offers deep insights into Spirit-guided relationships. Relationships has been the back bone to God’s mission. It’s impact and development helps to transform our existence from the Natural man to a spiritual man. It helps us to encapsulate the true spirit of unity through the bond of Love. Spiritual relationships are very important in the Bible. They provide support, encouragement, and accountability, and help people grow closer to God. Relationships with others who share a commitment to God can strengthen personal faith and enable people to live out Christian principles in the community.

What constitute a spirit guided relationship. If we knew correctly what that meant there would be less hatred, division, malice, envy in our marriages, children, families and the church.

In Verse 21 the apostle Paul says, And further, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21). This foundational verse sets the tone for what follows: a call for mutual submission, a powerful countercultural idea. In an age that often glorifies self-interest and independence, the Spirit challenges us to seek unity through humility and service to one another. This isn’t a one-sided command but a shared call to honor and serve each other in humility. In every relationship—whether in marriage, family, friendship or within the church—mutual submission means setting aside personal pride and self-interest to prioritize others’ needs, just as Christ did for us. In order to have that mutual submission we must both be spiritual. It’s not about relationships its about how we should act, treat and feel about one another.

When we submit to one another, we create a space for unity and love to flourish, building a community that truly mirrors God’s heart. Rooted in respect and reverence for Jesus, mutual submission becomes a powerful act of worship, transforming our relationships and drawing us closer to Him. This verse applies to all of us, and it’s intended to shape our relationships. So that means we can’t expect the same cooperations with people in the world who don’t share the same belief. The child hood best friend, co-worker, neighbor, and family

2 Corinthians 6:14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

Ephesians 5:22-33 22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.[b] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.

Go back to Verse Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

Imitate God

Here he is saying in order to have a relationship there should be some evidence that the spirit of God does exist inside of us. What are some things that we need to imitate God?

1. Love: God’s love is unconditional and sacrificial. Jesus demonstrated this by laying down His life for us. We are called to love others in the same selfless way (John 15:12-13, 1 John 4:7-8).

2. Compassion and Mercy: God is compassionate and full of mercy, especially toward those who are hurting, lost, or in need. We are encouraged to show kindness, empathy, and forgiveness to others, just as God does for us (Luke 6:36, Psalm 103:8).

3. Forgiveness: God forgives our sins completely and offers us a fresh start. We are called to forgive others as God has forgiven us, which brings healing and peace to our relationships (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13).

4. Holiness and Righteousness: God is holy and righteous, setting a standard of purity and integrity. As His followers, we are called to pursue holiness, resisting sin and striving to live lives that honor Him (1 Peter 1:15-16, 1 John 3:7).

5. Patience: God is patient with us, even when we stumble and fall. We are called to show patience to others, understanding that everyone is on a journey of growth (2 Peter 3:9, Galatians 6:9).

6. Generosity: God’s giving nature is evident in creation, provision, and the gift of salvation. We are called to be generous with our time, resources, and love, sharing God’s blessings with those around us (2 Corinthians 9:6-8, James 1:17).

7. Humility and Servanthood: Jesus, though God, humbled Himself to serve others, even washing His disciples’ feet. We are called to embrace a spirit of humility, placing others’ needs before our own (Philippians 2:3-7, Matthew 20:26-28).

8. Faithfulness: God is faithful to His promises and never abandons us. We are called to be faithful to Him and to others, reflecting trustworthiness and commitment in our relationships (1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 John 1:9).

9. Peace-making: God is the source of peace and calls us to be peacemakers. We should seek harmony and reconciliation in our relationships, spreading peace wherever we go (Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18).

Imitating these qualities allows us to reflect God’s character, impacting those around us and helping us grow closer to Him. Through His Spirit, He empowers us to live in ways that align with His nature. Not ours,

Ephesians 5: 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Ephesians 5:5 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world

Matthew 19:6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together”

Ephesians 5:15-20 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us look closely at the roles Paul describes within the context of marriage. He writes, “Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). This verse has been misunderstood and misused throughout history, but when viewed through the lens of verse 21, we see that it is not a command for one-sided subservience but rather an invitation to a relationship marked by grace and cooperation. The submission Paul refers to is not coerced but willingly given, reflecting the church because of our loving devotion to Christ.

Paul then addresses husbands, urging them to love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (Eph. 5:25). Love that prioritizes the well-being of the others and mirrors Christ's selfless sacrifice.

The bar is set incredibly high: to love as Christ loved, with unwavering dedication and compassion. In spirit-guided relationships, love is not merely an emotion but a choice to act in the best interest of the others, even when it requires sacrifice. It is a commitment that transforms relationships into a reflection of God’s kingdom. Husbands and wives, when both submit to one another in love and respect, create a partnership that glorifies God and strengthens the bonds of marriage.

1. Encouragement and Support in Faith

Spiritual relationships offer encouragement and help believers remain faithful, even in difficult times.

• Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.”

• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 states, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

2. Accountability

Being in a spiritual relationship provides accountability to stay on track in one’s faith journey.

• Proverbs 27:17 teaches, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

• James 5:16 encourages, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

3. Growing in Understanding

Spiritual relationships allow believers to learn from one another and grow in understanding of God’s word.

• Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”

• Proverbs 13:20 says, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

4. Strengthening the Church Body

The Bible describes believers as parts of one body, needing each other to fulfill their roles effectively.

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 describes how each person in the church is part of one body, highlighting the interdependence of believers.

• Romans 12:4-5 says, “For just as each of us has one body with many members… so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Closing

31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”[c] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The bar is set high by God by using marriage to capture our attention of a true spiritual relationship. God has used this model of marriage throughout the entire bible. The Apostle Paul references the first example of marriage, and states that its a mystery. I believe its more than about marriage but about foreshadowing the greatest relationship to transpire.

“Typology” Old testament events viewed as intentional symbols or patterns set by god to help people recognize and understand deeper truths about Jesus that are revealed in the New Testament

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

The principles of mutual submission, sacrificial love, and respect form the bedrock of healthy, godly relationships. They challenge us to move beyond selfish desires and to live in a way that honors God and uplifts those around us.

Paul tells us that the home should be a place where love and mutual submission are exhibited. Home is where it starts. Home is where everything starts. In the beginning it started with Home and even today. A spiritless home, leads to spiritless, kids, that leads to spirit less folks in the church.