Abigail and Kyle's Wedding

24Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Culture misinterprets the wife’s role to submit.

The Greek word translated “submit” is derived from the same word meaning “to yield” in the sense of yielding to another’s authority.

Submission viewed as weakness ; and is desparetly fought and sought for within the covenant of marriage.

Godly submission does not reflect that the wife is :

1. Servant - Did not God provide Eve as a helper fit for Adam. Genesis 2:18

2. It doesn’t mean she is to be taken advantage of - But instead be shown honor as the weaker vessel, since she is an heir with her husband.” 1 Peter 3:7

3. Nor does is suggest that she is inferior to her husband - Are not man and woman created in the image of God. Genesis 1:27

In fact Biblical submission has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with obedience to God.

Submitting is difficult to do, but by the power of the Holy Spirit - obedience to God’s charge loving displays:

1. Respect. Because he is the husband not simply because he is a man

2. Trust.

3. Loyalty.

All of which illustrate patience and dedication on part of the wife

ILLUSTRATIONS:

Eve displayed willful submission and obedience when God provided her as a SUITABLE HELPER to Adam in Genesis 2:20-22

Note that it doesn’t say servant – but a true honorable helper

Christ demonstrated submission when He willing submitted to the Will of God the Father!

Christ was fully God as well as fully human and yet he humbled himself to the Will of God the Father

APPLICATION:

Wives lack of submission will result in destructive consequences to their marriage – it will cause unwanted tension and resentment and you will be in constant competition with each other.

One of the worse feelings a husband can experience is from lack of respect from his wife –

ILLUSTRATION:

Proverbs 21:19

19 It is better to live in a desert land

Than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

APPLICATION:

Wives when you lovingly submit to your husbands you are honoring God and acknowledging the different but equal roles that He ordained.

ILLUSTRATION:

God created Adam first establishing him as the head or head of household

The Holy Trinity: is a great reflection of role distinction - God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – distinct persons – but equal

APPLICATION:

These relational marital role distinctions are quite important – They are in place to protect.

God is protecting Wives!

Wives God is commanding submission to your own husband not all men!

Joke - One husband is enough to listen to – can imagine everyman!

Additionally God is placing all responsibility on the shoulders of the husband. So the wives don't have to be burdened. Wives let the him bear the weight!

Joke – You wouldn't have Rosa carry her life size replica of Elvis Priestley – You would bear the weight and carry that bad boy up for her!

Well that covers it! Now you all know what it takes to have a successful marriage!

Husbands you're not off the hook-

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22-24

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

The husband’s help in making a successful marriage:

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church AND gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.

Husbands your role as leader doesn't permit you to act:

Selfishly

Speak harshly

Or be domineering

Quite the opposite – Husbands are called to a sacrificial love for your wife – meaning you would actually die for her. This kind of love is the ultimate kind of love

ILLUSTRATION:

Christ loved the church (the group of believers) HE DIED FOR IT (Them)

John 15:13 - Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

APPLICATION:

Husbands, therefore, you are to:

Love Your Wife

Honor Your Wife

Be Considerate to your Wife

Listen to Your Wife

And be flexible by PUTTING THEM FIRST IN THEIR INTERESTS

and in doing to you are making HER PURE AND HOLY

ILLUSTRATION:

Christ sacrificed His life so that believing sinners would be spiritually cleansed – He bore the sin of the WORLD on our behalf – No Greater Love exists! So that we may be free from sin.

JOKE:

George – If Rosa wants to stay in and watch Elvis’ Blue Hawaii – Do it! Make the sacrifice! Bear the weight of watching Elvis fly his little plane and pick up girls with his cheesy one liners! Spend the quality time with her.

Also, Husbands are to love their wives as they love themselves.

Most guys may not like to admit it – But they like to look nice – I like to look nice too!

Guys – Go to the gym and work out – they want to stay in shape

Guys – Nourish themselves – they like to eat

Guys – take pride in how they look – Haircuts, iron clothes

The point is Husbands:

Love her – as you love yourself

Provide for her – as you provide for yourself

Cherish her – as you provide for yourself

Protect her – as you protect yourself

Be creative and invest in your wife – you will only reap the benefits!

As I mentioned earlier – You Both will need to Help each other

31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

ILLUSTRATION:

You are not in competition with each other – therefore, help one another

If the Wife respectfully submits

Easier for Husband to sacrificially love

If the husband sacrificially loves

Easier for the Wife to respectfully submit

And Lastly in Verse

33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Challenge for all married couples,

And may this be a reminder for all our marriages - how to help each other have successful marriage! Be patient, dedicated, flexibility, creative and good at listening

Lastly – The most important thing – the Love of Jesus Christ

Personally, knowing the Author of Marriage

This is part of the Gospel Message

Understand Salvation is a free gift -

Eph. 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Call on God to Save You

Romans 10:9 and 13

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”