Instructions to Husbands

Review

What it means for wives to submit to their husbands:

Submission is the defined calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership, and so help to carry it through according to her gifts. - John Piper

Preliminary Remarks

Calling comes with unique gifting.

Calling comes with accountability.

Implicit Command

Husbands are to lead their families.

Foundations for Leading

One must lead self well in order to lead others well.

Understanding Biblical priorities in life is important.

1. Relationship with God

2. Relationship with spouse

3. Relationship with children

4. Job

5. Friends

6. Fun

Stated Command

Love

· While the position of the father is to lead, the command is to love. If your leading does not flow from your love, then you are leading in a way that does not honor the Lord, minister to your family, or accomplish what God has called you to do.

Understanding Love

A love rooted in the will, not in emotion.

A sacrificial love.

A sanctifying love.

A surprising love.

He who loves his wife loves himself.

A continuous love.

Two Examples

Christ and the church

Does the way you love your wife help her grow in her relationship with God and in being like Jesus Christ?

How are you sacrificing for your wife?

How you love yourself

Nourish

Cherish

A Reminder of Priority

The man leaves his father and mother and holds fast to his wife.

Practical Application

What does your wife need to feel loved?

Five Love Languages - Gary Chapman

What do you do that makes your wife not feel loved?

How do you demonstrate you cherish your wife?

Publicly and privately praise her?

Give her quality time?

Thank God for her?