Ephesians 5:22-24

A man. I will cherish The Old Rugged Cross.

Till my trophies At Last I lie down.

Do we have any trophies in our life? Do you have anything that we boast and brag about?

May we lamb? May we bring them to the Old Rugged Cross and glory in that? Incredible. Good stuff. All right. Hey, my name is Craig kulish. I'm the Elder here at the church. Many of you. Most of you know, me.

Thank God.

Yeah, have you ever been in the situation where you're speaking of family member or somebody and say, well, if they know them, they know them? Well, if you know me, you know, me. All right. Let's go to the Lord. If we could, I want to open in prayer. Father. I pray that this day as we open your scriptures as we read what you said to the church at Ephesus. And to the church today. Father God, you would speak to our hearts, that you would continually be conforming us more and more into your image that father in our relationships, within the church in the body, in our relationships, in the home, in our relationships, in the marriage, and Lord, in our relationships being viewed in this world. And we would glorify you. That your will would be done in our lives. That would be, we would be your people. So, father was it, we I asked you for Grace. I asked you for mercy in your hand. May you anoint your word? May you speak to the hearts of your people. In Jesus name, I ask. Amen. Okay, pastor Matt is gone. We prayed for him and others. We're still in a time where, you know. The covid virus is still affecting people and pastor Matt is home and he will be for another 7 to 10 days or so. I don't know how long and I pray that the Lord just gives us Grace and is Johnny parade? I think you for Johnny.

The Lord strengthens our, our physical system. That that he comes into our bodies and he performs glorious miraculous things and we live to share of his goodness. So, we are going to be continuing in Ephesians chapter 5. I was there 2 weeks ago, Brian, was there. Last week pastor? Matt has been speaking of this chapter of This Book for a number of weeks and we're going to continue right in Ephesians. We're going to begin. Similar to Brian. Last week. I was given verse 22 to start with, but I'm going to back up one person. We're going to start in 21. This is a book that is written to followers of Christ. And I was thinking, okay. Who who is this speaking to this passage? And this passage is speaking of husbands and wives but but much more than that. It's speaking to people who are not married. It is speaking to people who were previously married and it's speaking to the body of Christ because What he's teaching here, gets brought into every area of our daily life. He has to pass it to distinguishing sections. Were we speak to wives first and we speak to husbands, and I'm going to go to another passage as well. But young people who are not married. This is very good because I think the Culture that we live in in America. We are very independent people, land of the free and Home of the Brave and that we're sell starters and we can do it and, and

The Lord wants to challenge that in our lives.

If we look at verse 21, where Brian ended I believe. Submitting one another. Out of reverence for Christ. This is a call to all of those who say they follow Christ. There is a submission to one another that Paul specifies and spells out. It is a yielding. It is a differing of my own thought, my own opinion, my own desire to somebody else. And in the church, we can. apply that so many different times because

I have an opinion on about everything. And many times it's not just me, you do as well.

And many times, I think my own opinion is very important. What the Lord wants to do in our lives is bring a submission to one another into our lives. Where I don't think of my own self in my own business. My own goals, my own thoughts, high and lofty.

But he calls us to consider one another in a mutual submission to each other. In verse 22 is where we're going to bring that into a little more specific, specific area.

Inverse Maybe. Which read this entire passage, which isn't long? We're going to read 22 through 25 and then I'll continue wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. 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. Now, as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands. Love your wives. As Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

We see in there that there's one, two, three verses that are We may think our more directed toward the wives and one verse that is directed toward the husband. And it is, but that doesn't magnify that he speaking more. So, two wives, then he is two husbands. Matter-of-fact toward the end of this. I'm going to put forth that the husband your challenge is much greater.

Then what is given to the wife?

The thought they're about submission yielding to defer. and if we don't like this word, To obey.

Even in our daily life. And in our Christian walk, The word Adventure.

Many kind of rub funny with each of us.

But that is what is put forth in Scripture. If we are followers of Christ. We are to obey him.

men, women single those who were previously married and are not for one reason, or another death or divorce. We are called to obey God. I gave a pass sermon two weeks ago and it was about Sexual immorality, and being separate from the world and we are called to obey. And that is a challenge. But as we look here, he brings it into maybe a little bit more specific area saying women.

Submit to obey or defer to your husband's.

I want to bring a thought in here that I've had for a number of months. A Latin term sometimes spoke about biblical things Coram Deo. And it's Latin. I don't expect you to remember it, but it means in the presence of God or before the face of God. I asked, Paul says here woman's submit or obey. Your husband's.

Very similar to submit to one another before the face of God. Are we living Our Lives as if God is seeing us and watching us? I brought this to somebody and I said I'm going to think about adding this any and he's brought and he said, it's kind of like my son when I'm addressing him and he turns his head.

How many times in our lives?

Do we with obedience and submission? Turn away from God. Thinking that he no longer sees us and then somehow that makes it easier. Like a child, you ask. Hey, did you do this and they turn? Hey, I'm talking to you. Look at me. We do that with our children. There is a thought that we need to be living before the face of God not hidden.

We don't turn from him. We respond to what he's asking if for women. This is a recognition of an accountability structure that goes clear back to Genesis. It does not make women a secondary citizen in the Kingdom of Heaven. Any more than me submitting to anyone of you in the church. It is a decision. We take to defer to honor to respect the other's opinion, as greater than ourselves.

And that's a challenge all through life, because we want to defend ourselves and we want to go for. We want to present my opinion is, right and we need to do what I want, which is completely separate. From what God has called us to do.

We submit ourselves, one to another. Adam was made first and eat came out of him.

Adam. Your wife may have been beguiled but you disobeyed. She may have been tricked. There is a greater accountability. For the structure that the Lord has put in marriage. Men are held to the higher accountability and women. wives those who are thinking of one day being married, the Lord does call us to He's honoring, not us women. I'm sorry. I'm not at work. Wives are called. To honor and submit to their husbands. I want to look at this.

Passage.

No again.

Stay with your notes.

I want to look at verse, I'm going to have to find it.

Her husband is the head of the wife, first 23. Even as Christ is the head of the church.

Is.

Christ, the head of the church. Yes.

Is Christ, the head of the husband?

Yes, I help. I pray. Because if we have a husband that is not under Christ. It makes a real tough for the wife to be under the husband. Because the husband's going off and saying, I want to do this and I want to follow that. In my opinion is more important than yours. And so in verse 21, a wife submit.

But the husband needs to be submitted to Christ as the church is submitted to Christ. How you cannot force a submission? You can force obedience. But you can't force the mission. And God is calling women to submit.

To the husband who is under Christ.

If you're not under Christ. It is a distortion of the obedience.

Every one of us is accountable to someone. And we are accountable to the Lord.

This submission, as I said, was not something that can be forced. Women wives.

What is being presented? Here is a heart attitude? It's more than just doing something that your husband wishes or wants. It is a yielding. And there is a reason why we can get healed. Because he is yielded.

But it it's a a submission in a heart attitude. What's look at verse 23?

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church. Now, this is an analogy that is showing Christ in the church, in the husband, and the wife, the home, and and Christian life, but it's not a Perfect Analogy because Christ being the head of the church. Is perfect. His his sacrificial love and then, and his devotion. Is perfect. now, wives you might say, well, my husband's not like God Christ and so I'm resolved of Submitted or yielding or following?

Paul knew this, God knew that the husband wouldn't be perfect.

This is a manner in which wives, you can display your faith in God.

That he is bigger and he is greater.

By submitting to a man that's not perfect in all things. And a matter of fact there are times in scripture and we may go there we will. In 1st, Peter speaks of Abraham and Sarah.

Is the thought that that I can't submit to my husband because he is not completely like Christ a valid excuse. Anna and I would Challenge and say no. Because God knew that he was working with people that are fallible and people that are on a process. He's talking to Christians and we are in a growth process. I pray that we are in a growth process. If you're not, then we'll then we need to look at Am I Christian? Husbands, if you are not daily being conformed more and more into the image of Christ, then what are you? Are you following him? And that's not for me, that's for you and the Lord, but it is displayed in the way we interact with our wives. I can submit to an imperfect husband because God Is Bigger. This man who has

Great Falls, this man who is at times prideful and arrogant, this man who makes bad decisions. This man who wants to buy another boat?

Right. I can submit to him because God Is Bigger.

This man who put me in a bad situation.

I,

Men, don't put your wife's in a bad situation. You just don't expect your wife to submit to you when you are not looking out for her best interest, when you're looking to fill the emptiness, when you're looking to have that Pride, be one step higher in your position at work, or your position in the community and you're looked and you're looking to build of yourself, and then you're asking her to help you. The submission is to the man under Christ and the wife under her husband. I want to look at 1st Peter 3, very similar passage talking about husbands and wives and I want to look at verse 1. And in all the way through verse 7, this is longer than the passage were going to be in there that were in in Ephesians. 1st Peter. Chapter 3 verse 1. Likewise women be subject to your own husbands. So that even if some don't obey the word that they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.

Peter is calling women wives who even don't have a believing husband. Be subject to them, defer to them. Obey them.

So that even if some do not obey the word that they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see you're respectful and pure conduct.

I am a better man.

Because of my wife.

I wasn't that way necessary. I wasn't that way to begin with. Her support.

At times, we have a marriage in which my wife challenges, my thought.

That is a mutual submission that is called for the entire body of Christ.

I am a better husband. Because I have a wife that has heard the scriptures and tried to implement that in her life. Verse 3. The contrast here. You're respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external, the braiding of hair in the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear.

But let your adorning, be the hidden part of the heart, with the imperishable, beauty of a gentle and quiet Spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is the this is how Holy Women of old who hoped in God used to Adorn themselves by submitting to their own husbands. Now, let's look at a tough situation cuz you're saying again, he's not saved. He's got mistakes. He does foolish things and you're still asking me to support him. 46 as Sarah obeyed, Abraham calling him. Lord. I'm not asking you to call your husband Lord. It was a different day in a different meaning. Honor and respect your husband.

Calling him, Lord. And you are her children if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

Likewise live with your wives and likewise husbands live with your wives, in an understanding, why showing on or to the women as to the weaker vessel? Since their heirs with you of the grace of life. So that your prayers be not hindered. There is a partnership in Ephesians, a big theme is in Christ or being in the body of Christ. In the husband-and-wife relationship. There is a also a unity and a teamwork. Sing. Since they are heirs with you of the grace of life.

Husbands live with your wives in an understanding way. We look at the situation with Ava, with Sarah and Abraham. I'm not sure. Many of you are some of, you know, the situation that occurred here when Abraham was traveling. He was told by God to go. He was taking his wife, Sarah, and the Bible says that she was beautiful.

She was beautiful. And so Abraham was traveling and he would come to a land. And he said, when we get into this land, the king, or the ruler, or whoever maybe in charge, has this tendency to grab a hold of beautiful women and bring them into his hair out. So Sarah since were married, he would kill me and take you. Could you just say that you're my sister?

And Sarah did was this a bad decision? Did this put potentially Sarah and great? Harm's Way.

Wow, what a I mean the Lord did preserver. If we read that Passage. Trouble came upon the fair or the king and and and he asked why, and it's because this woman is already married and she is. In the end. The King Center back is bigger than your husband, who sometimes makes foolish decisions.

Away live show faith in God, Is by submitting to a husband. That's not perfect saying God, you are bigger than this man. And because you've called me to obey you, I will obey him. And God Is Bigger and he will protect and he will Preserve. I have to admit at times.

Daughters and wives.

Have been subject to this first phrase of verse 22, wives submit.

They've been subject to things that weren't. Put forward by a man, a husband. A father who is following after God.

But God is faithful. And there is trouble in this life.

And some have seen trouble. But know this the God is the perfect father. God is the perfect husband.

And I got is working. He is not done with your husband. She has not stopped with a man who has put you in Harm's Way.

Let's verse 7 of the same passage husbands.

Live with your wive's in an understanding way showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel since they are heirs with you in the grace of life. Husbands know who your wife is, know what her Tendencies might be know how she reacts when you to do something, when you request something. When you present, I need a bigger boat. What will that provoke in your wife? Husbands know your wives. Don't put them in bad spots. Don't tell them that they just have to deal with it because I'm the head. Husbands, she is your partner. You are a team. In the scripture as well. He mentions that she is the weaker vessel.

And, you know how I like to think of this I am. In our kitchen, our sink to the left is our cabinet of glasses on the lower shelf. We have many plastic tumblers. On the upper shelves, we have goblets and fine. China. I am the plastic tumbler and my wife is the fine. China. Now are there are things that you can do with a plastic tumbler, and it doesn't hurt things. There are things that you better not do with Fine China or a wine glass because it will cause irreparable harm.

Men, recognize that fact.

And sometimes we say yeah, but she said yeah, but you're the Tumblr you can take it. Don't treat her that way because she's the one glass.

Be gentle. As you are submitted to the Lord. Interact with your wife. You say, well, it doesn't bother me when we go through that. We have a dispute or argument or some kind of contention in the home and you think I can live like that, I can go to work and I didn't they we don't have to talk about it and we will get back to it one day. You the plastic tumbler? It affects the Fine. China different. Meant well with your wives and knowledge, know who this woman is, and the Lord has created her. Beautiful.

Fragile. And I don't mean that she's going to collapse when something happens. I mean. You are just thick. You are sometimes thick-headed. Men, recognize it deal in Iraq, with your wife in knowledge. Let's go back. If we met to. The Ephesians Passage.

On my notes. I'm back in verse 24, Christian submitting to Christ.

Parte. Now, as the church submits to Christ. This is, this is many times, the problem that we see in marriages in the church.

Deck. The husband is not submitted to Christ. And it causes all kinds of conflict in marriages.

The lordship issue in our Salvation, in some people's lives is it is A secondary thing that I'm going to become saved, and there will be benefit for me. I will go to heaven, one day, and all of my troubles will be solved. But the lordship issue, the submission to Christ issue is, when we are challenged because when he says do this, or don't do that. yeah, but I forgot I In my workplace, I deserve or I that credit should be given to me in many situations. We want to defend and stand up for our own rights.

My opinions and my person is very important to me. The Christ said, put that aside and submit to me, defer. This is the problem that we face in. Marriages. Is that we don't have a submission first Christ. And then how do we have a submission to a man who's in perfect?

I want to look at the next verse here and man. I you know, we've only been in like really the the women's scriptures, but I've heard you know, we talked about men a lot. We challenged men a lot. He gives one verse here to men. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Husbands love and give. Love and give love more and give more. Love more and forgive more. There's no qualifications. There is no conditions on this men. Love. And Men, excuse me. Husband's one day, man.

We have a number of young people in older people. In who knows with the Lord's going to bring him into as a husband your charge is to love and to give

Everything.

What's God do solution in the Old Testament? When he made a covenant with Israel and said I will be for you and you follow me. And they didn't. Was God. Somehow.

Not understanding what humans could do. No. New. Did the humans were going to fail in that relationship? But God the S Brian had spoke of probably a year ago. The Hesed love of God the steadfast unfailing love of God toward his people. This is the love. That men are called to. Win. Israel walked away and serve other gods God loved. God gave. Went with the New Testament. Christians.

We're beginning there, walk. To reflect Christ more and they failed.

God loved. And God gave I want to look.

Oh, that's coming. It's coming. Hold off.

The Hesed Love Of Christ. The faithful love of God, the Father.

And Christ display that in his service, to the church. You might say it in this relationship husband's. I would love her, but but I would love her but she is this, I would love her but

God said, love What did God put that condition on his relationship with us? I will love you only. And if you perform.

There would be no relationship between God and man. God committed himself to love in spite of whatever the object of his love. Did. I want to look? I want to bring your attention. There's a prophet in the Bible Hosea. I don't read Jose a lot. I'm not an expert on Hosea. But I do know this God called him to go out and marry. A harlot. Any good? Submission and obedience. Sometimes we don't understand. He did. I am only figuring that that marriage will had a lot of trouble and at some point.

Can I see a young man Gomer anyway, think about it?

So I won't point or just decided, forget this marriage. I'm going back to my old way of life and she did. And God said to Hosea Hosea. Love and give because there's a picture of me and the church Hosea go to that City. Find her, drag her out of that house and bring her back. Show your love for her. Yeah, but she doesn't. She doesn't listen to me. She doesn't love me.

Husbands, this is the kind of love that were called to.

To serve your wife and a lover and all things are. You don't know. My wife, if you knew my wife, you wouldn't be saying this to me.

Wife to the church Gomer. How do we obey? Do we lay down our desire men, husbands our rights, our wishes?

And love.

I'm coming close to the end. So I need to go.

Was Jesus not aware or selfishness? Was he not aware of her Disobedience? Was he not aware of our pride? Was Jesus not aware of our covetousness? When he went to the cross for us.

Key watch. But he said, I will. Love.

Christ. Love for us. Matthew 2028 says that Christ came not to be served but to serve.

This is not a a love, husband's your love for your wife is not a love of attraction. It's not a love of enjoyment. It's not a love of common interest. It is a decisional love. It is a sacrificing self-giving love.

I didn't put this on the or ask them to put this on the screen. I want to go to Philippians 2. We're speaking of how 25 husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesian, excuse me, flipping stew. If you have your Bible. And I want to look at verse. 7.

First five, we may start there. having this mind among yourselves, which is have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus. Who though? He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God. To be a thing that was grass for held on too tightly.

Men, the head. Do you do grasp that very tightly? But this is the way it is.

God put men over or the head of the household. How tightly do you grasp that? Do you use that as a weapon or a tool?

Christ, did not grasp or hold on to that that I am God. But her seven, he emptied himself and he took on the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself. By becoming obedient to the point of death. Even death on the cross emptied himself. Of his position and everything he could have held on to.

I asked he was on the cross one of the Criminals alongside and said, if you're the Son of God, get yourself down from here and take us with you. And he said, I could call right now, Legions of angels.

He had the right. He had the position. But he said, I'm going to heal. To the will of my father. Husbands. Do we love like this?

I'm going to yield. To the position, the wish of my wife. Or do you hold your position? He emptied himself in position and rights. We see the Christ came to be servant and this is his leadership servant leadership. He humbled himself. And he sacrificed. Unto death. Even the death of the cross.

Husbands love.

Your wives as Christ loved the church. And give. Your life for her. You know, what? I began this with women, submitting to the husband because this is the way the Lord is to establish the chain of command and not command accountability. But man.

Give up everything for your wife. That's the call.

Your career. And and don't don't take this wrong. Don't quit your job.

Is your career? Interfering with your role in loving your wife. It is your activities, interfering with your role of serving your wife. or your your time for rest and enjoyment and unwinding Interfering with you loving and serving your wife because he only gave me into things to do. Love and give like Christ it.

I mean, all Christ did was put the will of the father above his own in all things. And all he did was gave up every right and position and

Roll and pleasure. That he had.

Husbands.

What a huge task we have. But this is what the Paul has put forward. The word of God for us. Love does not love going to this extreme protects the dignity and the welfare of the wife. Sometimes, his wife would say. He's not perfect and I don't trust what situation. I might be in if I healed.

Husband if you put your wife above any desire and a wish, any goal that you have she all the sudden is protected. There are safeguards. Her dignity is elevated. She becomes that wine glass of Great Value on the top shelf.

Women. Wives. Husbands aren't perfect.

If they're not walking with the Lord. Like we read in 1st Peter, through your holy conduct through your behavior, through your submission, and prayers.

Will that man be conformed more and more to the image of Christ? I believe so. If he's not saved at all, you can win him by showing him. I have faith in God and I can submit to you.

I have to go back to Ephesians.

5 vs 24.

In in how Paul is spelled out. The relationship between the husband and the wife, the challenge we find is that we don't see it one being for Christians everywhere to one another. A mutual submission. And we don't see in verse 24. That there is submission to Christ as the head. The only way a marriage. Glorifies God is, we have two people that are in submission to him.

Is submission. And servanthood.

The things that we choose to ignore.

when our Salvation is,

Ignoring the lordship of Christ.

When we say I'm going to, I'm going to, I'm going to become a Christian because that'll get me to heaven and life will be good. And when Trouble Comes, God will Rescue Me.

but when God puts a request or demand,

Do we leave that to the side? And say no, no, no, no. The lordship of Christ. I'm not quite there yet. One day I'll grow into that. But right now, I'm in the salvation of Christ age.

As a church. We are, we are challenged with, if if God. If Jesus is the one we are following. Do we heal to him? Are we followers of Christ? This is a good passage husbands and wives people that aren't married. People have been married, people who are called to being single.

Submission. Is what the Christian is called to? And servanthood is what the Christian is called to. Women, we're going to look at the submission part. That doesn't take servanthood out of your life. Men. We're going to look at servanthood. That doesn't take the submission part out of your life. Christians followers of Christ. Let us submit to him and Obey him in All Things.

Hey, man, we're going to try. Lord, we thank you for the day. Thanks for your scriptures. We thank you for the challenge that you present.

Father, I thank you for the holy spirit that you placed within each one of us. I think you Lord God, that we are.