SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 44

TITLE: THE ROLE OF THE WIFE

TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:22-24

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN OUR STUDY TODAY, WE COME TO A TEXT THAT IS HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL FOR SOME, FOR THE TRUTHS COMMUNICATED GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OF OUR CULTURE.

* THE TRUTHS SOUND TO SOME ANTIQUATED, BARBARIC, UNFAIR, CONDESCENDING AND CHAUVINISTIC.

** YET THE TRUTHS OF OUR TEXT TODAY, IF HUMBLY AND PROPERLY APPLIED, WILL TRANSFORM MARRIAGE AND MAKE IT WORK IN A SOCIETY IN WHICH A LARGE NUMBER OF MARRIAGES ARE NOT WORKING AND END IN DIVORCE OR MISERY.

*** AND I’M NOT A PRAGMATIST SAYING THE ONLY REASON WE SUBMIT TO THESE TRUTHS IS TO MAKE OUR MARRIAGES WORK.

**** MAKING MARRIAGE WORK IS IMPORTANT, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT IS GLORIFYING OUR GOD IN AN INSTITUTION HE HAS ORDAINED.

(2) FOR SOCIETY IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF MARRIAGE, GOD IS!

* GOD ORDAINED IT IN GENESIS 2:22-25, IN PROVERBS 18:22 THE WORD OF GOD SAYS: (QUOTE IT). ALSO QUOTE HEBREWS 13:4 AND MARK 10:6-9.

** AND CONTRARY TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE COMMUNICATE ABOUT MARRIAGE, IT IS GOOD, ORDAINED BY GOD AND HONORABLE.

*** AND MARRIAGE IS LIKE A SOLVENT, A FREEING UP OF THE MAN AND WOMAN TO BE THEMSELVES AND BECOME ALL THAT OUR GREAT GOD INTENDS FOR THEM TO BECOME.

**** MARRIAGE IS A REFINING PROCESS THAT GOD WILL USE IN MANY OF OUR LIVES, TO HAVE US DEVELOP INTO THE MAN OR WOMAN HE WANTS US TO BE.

(3) IT HELPS US DEAL WITH INHERENT SELFISHNESS AND ME-ISM THAT COMES NATURALLY FOR MOST PEOPLE.

* FOR WHEN YOU ENTER INTO THE COVENANT AND COMMITMENT OF MARRIAGE (AND I’M TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE IN THE WORD OF GOD BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN), WHEN THIS LIFELONG COMMITMENT IS MADE, SELFISHNESS HAS TO DIE.

** FOR NOW IT’S NOT DOING EVERYTHING WHEN YOU WANT TO DO IT, HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT AND WHY YOU WANT TO DO IT. (PEOPLE THAT ARE SINGLE CAN GET PRETTY SET IN THEIR WAYS.)

*** AN EGO CENTERED ROLE OF SELF-FULFILLMENT WILL NOT WORK IN MARRIAGE.

**** BUT IN MARRIAGE, IT’S NOT JUST YOU ANYMORE. AND IF GOD GIVES CHILDREN LATER ON YOU SACRIFICE EVEN MORE, I MEAN THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU DON’T DO AND BUY IN RAISING YOUR CHILDREN IN THE TEACHINGS AND DISCIPLINES OF CHRIST.

***** YOU COME LAST MANY TIMES, AND THAT IS GOOD. WE HOPEFULLY PUT CHRIST FIRST, YOUR FAMILY NEXT AND YOURSELF LAST.

(4) AND MARRIAGE WITH CHRIST AS THE HEAD OF YOUR HOME AND THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR HOME IS A BLESSING.

* AND THE WAY THAT IT BECOMES A BLESSING IS BY OUR OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST AND HIS WORD AND PART OF DOING THAT IS TO FULFILL THE GOD-GIVEN ROLES THAT GOD HAS ESTABLISHED IN HIS WORD.

** AND THESE GOD GIVEN ROLES ARE NOT ANTIQUATED, OUTDATED AND IRRELEVANT, BUT ARE ROLES ESTABLISHED BY THE INFINITE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE CREATOR OF MARRIAGE, AND WILL NEVER BE OUTDATED IN THE AGE WE ARE NOW LIVING IN.

*** AND TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE ROLE OF THE WIFE WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY.

**** AND LORD WILLING NEXT SUNDAY WE WILL START ON THE ROLE OF THE HUSBAND.

(5) AND THE GUIDELINE FOR TODAY IS NO ELBOWING BY HUSBANDS, NO AMENS, NO HALLELUJAHS, NO SMIRKS, NO HIGH FIVES, NO SHAKING YOUR HEAD LIKE IT’S GOING TO FALL OFF, FOR YOUR TIME IS COMING LORD WILLING NEXT SUNDAY.

* AND BELIEVE ME, YOUR WIVES COULD BE SCREAMING AMEN NEXT WEEK IF YOU DO IT THIS WEEK. SO GUYS DON’T BE TEMPTED AND GIVE IN TO IT TODAY, FOR YOUR TIME IS COMING NEXT WEEK AND IT WON’T BE PRETTY.

** NOW WITH THOSE GUIDELINES IN MIND, WE’LL LOOK AT TWO POINTS TODAY UNDER THE THEME OF THE ROLE OF THE WIFE. NO. 1 THE REQUIREMENT, V. 22; AND NO. 2 THE REASON FOR THE REQUIREMENT, VV. 23&24.

*** AND WITH THAT SIMPLE OUTLINE IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TODAY BY LOOKING AT THE REQUIREMENT.

I. THE REQUIREMENT, (READ V. 22)

A. NOW IT’S INTERESTING TO ME THAT WIVES ARE ADDRESSED FIRST HERE IN THIS INSTRUCTION ON OUR DIFFERENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN MARRIAGE.

* AND WIVES ARE ALSO ADDRESSED FIRST IN THE COMPANION PARALLEL PASSAGE IN COLOSSIANS 3 AND WIVES ARE ADDRESSED FIRST IN THE INSTRUCTION TO WIVES AND HUSBANDS IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN I PETER 3.

** NOW WHY? WELL, WE KNOW THAT GOD’S WORD IS INSPIRED AND EVERY WORD IS GOD BREATHED AND THE ORDER THAT TRUTH IS GIVEN IS FOR A DIVINE PURPOSE.

*** AND WE DON’T ALWAYS KNOW THE REASON FOR THE ORDER BUT WE ALWAYS KNOW IT IS FOR A GOOD REASON IN THE WISDOM OF GOD.

**** AND WE DON’T KNOW FOR SURE, WHY HERE, BUT LET ME SPECULATE THAT THE REASON GIVEN HERE IS BECAUSE WIVES ARE IN SUCH A KEY POSITION OF INFLUENCE IN THE HOME AND THE WORLD.

1. WIVES HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THEIR HUSBAND, AND IN FORMING THEIR CHILDREN, SO IN TURN HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE ON CULTURE.

* AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS WIVES GO, SO GOES THE CULTURE TO SOME DEGREE BECAUSE OF THE KEY IMPORTANT ROLES THEY HAVE IN THE HOME.

** AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, GOD SPEAKS TO THEM FIRST.

*** NOW THE REQUIREMENT FOR WIVES IS SUBMISSION. AND AS INDICATED BY ITALICS IN SOME TRANSLATIONS, SUBJECT OR SUBMIT IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT, BUT THE MEANING IS CARRIED OVER FROM V. 21.

**** LET ME EXPLAIN, THE IDEA IS FROM V. 21, “BE SUBJECT TO ONE ANOTHER IN THE FEAR OF CHRIST,” AND A FIRST EXAMPLE, A FIRST ILLUSTRATION OF THIS TRUTH IN A NEW PARAGRAPH IS, “WIVES TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS.”

2. THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBMISSION IN V. 21 IS UNPACKED IN V. 22 WITHOUT REPEATING THE VERB.

* AND THIS VERB HUPATASSO WILL BE REPEATED IN V. 24 AND IS USED IN THE COMPANION PARALLEL TEXT IN COLOSSIANS 3:18 WHERE IT SAYS: (QUOTE IT).

** NOW GOING BACK TO V. 22 OF EPHESIANS 5, THE CONTEXT IS COMMUNICATING THIS TRUTH WITH HEADSHIP AND SUBMISSION IN VV. 23&24 AND THAT’S WHY ALL THE MAJOR TRANSLATIONS INSERT THIS WORD HERE FOR IT TO MAKE SENSE IN THE FLOW OF THE SENTENCE.

*** SO WIVES ARE TO SUBJECT OR TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS. AND THIS GREEK WORD HUPATASSO WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK BASICALLY MEANS TO LINE UP UNDERNEATH, TO VOLUNTARILY RANK UNDER ANOTHER, TO ARRANGE UNDER.

**** AND AT THE HEART OF THIS IS THE IDEA OF ORDER.

3. GOD HAS ESTABLISHED CERTAIN LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY ROLES WITHIN THE FAMILY AND SUBMISSION IS A HUMBLE RECOGNITION OF THAT DIVINE ORDERING IN THE FAMILY.

* AND NOTICE THAT PAUL IS NOT CALLING EVERY WOMAN TO SUBMIT TO EVERY MAN, BUT WIVES “TO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS”.

** THIS SUBMISSION IS A VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION ON THE PART OF A WIFE TO HER OWN HUSBAND AND NOT TO EVERY MAN.

*** SHE AS AN EQUAL COMES INTO THE MARRIAGE COVENANT AND BY BEING MARRIED VOLUNTARILY RANKS UNDER HER HUSBAND’S GOD GIVEN AUTHORITY IN THE HOME FOR ORDER, NOT TO SOME OTHER MAN.

**** AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE WIFE IS NOT COMMANDED TO OBEY HER HUSBAND AS CHILDREN ARE TO PARENTS AND SLAVES TO THEIR MASTERS IN EPHESIANS 6:1&5.

4. A HUSBAND IS NOT TO TREAT HIS WIFE LIKE A CHILD OR A SLAVE, BUT AS AN EQUAL FOR WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN HIM CARE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVISION AND PROTECTION, TO BE EXERCISED IN LOVE AS WE’LL SEE IN V. 25 NEXT WEEK.

* A WIFE IS NOT HER HUSBANDS TO ORDER ABOUT, RESPONDING TO HIS EVERY WISH AND COMMAND, SHE IS TO WILLINGLY SUBMIT AS AN EQUAL IN HER ROLE AS A WIFE FOR ORDER AND BLESSING IN THE HOME.

** FOR YOU SEE, MARRIAGE IS NOT A 50-50 PROPOSITION. I CAN’T THINK OF A WORSE SCENARIO FOR A MARRIAGE THAN TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY IN THAT RELATIONSHIP DIVIDED EQUALLY.

*** FOR WHEN TWO PEOPLE ARE TOGETHER LIKE THAT, THEN NOBODY HAS ANY AUTHORITY.

**** YOU ARE IN A PERPETUAL POWER STRUGGLE WHEN ONE IS TRYING TO GET CONTROL OF 51% OF THE STOCK AND THAT CAN BE EXCEEDINGLY DESTRUCTIVE TO A FAMILY.

5. BELOVED, AUTHORITY IN THE HOME IS NOT DICTATORSHIP BUT LOVING LEADERSHIP BY THE HUSBAND, NOT LORDING OVER HIS WIFE, BUT LOVINGLY LEADING HER AND MUTUALLY LISTENING TO EACH OTHER AND CORRECTING EACH OTHER.

* AND A MAN WHO DOESN’T LISTEN TO HIS WIFE IS A FOOL, BUT AFTER LISTENING, PRAYING AND CONSIDERING AN ISSUE, IF YOU’VE COME TO AN IMPASSE, THE HUSBAND IS THE ONE IN AUTHORITY AND WILL HAVE TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION.

** AUTHORITY STRUCTURE IS SOMETHING THAT GOD USES IN ALL OF OUR LIVES TO TRAIN US AND GROW US AND PROTECT US.

*** AND THIS NATURALLY HAPPENED BEFORE THE FALL IN THE HUSBAND AND WIFE RELATIONSHIP, BUT AFTER THE FALL AND IT’S CURSE CAME, THE DISTORTION OF THE WIFE’S PROPER SUBMISSIVENESS AND OF THE HUSBAND’S PROPER AUTHORITY, QUOTE GENESIS 3:16 AND EXPLAIN.

**** BELOVED AS A RESULT OF THE FALL, THE WIFE’S DESIRE IS TO SEEK CONTROL OVER HER HUSBAND AND THE HUSBAND’S DESIRE IS TO RULE AS A DICTATOR IN AUTHORITARIANISM OVER HIS WIFE.

6. AND THIS IS WHERE THE BATTLES OF THE SEXES BEGAN, WHERE WOMEN’S LIBERATION AND MALE CHAUVINISM CAME INTO EXISTENCE.

* WIVES HAVE A SINFUL INCLINATION TO USURP THEIR HUSBAND’S AUTHORITY AND HUSBAND’S HAVE A SINFUL INCLINATION TO PUT WOMEN UNDER THEIR FEET.

** AND THE ONLY WAY THESE TWO EXTREMES CAN BE TAKEN CARE OF IS TO BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT IN THE CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 5.

*** NATURALLY IT DOESN’T WORK WELL. BUT SUPERNATURALLY THROUGH THE FILLING OF THE SPIRIT PARADISE IS RESTORED, THERE IS A RESTORATION TO THE CREATED ORDER AND HARMONY OF PROPER SUBMISSION IN A GOD-ORDAINED RELATIONSHIP.

**** THEN THERE CAN BE HARMONY IN THIS UNION AND HEAVEN ON EARTH RATHER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

7. BELOVED, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. AND WE HAVE JOY AND HARMONY AS WE FULFILL OUR GOD-GIVEN ROLES.

* NOW TWO QUICK THINGS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO MY 2’D POINT.

** NO. 1 THE WIFE IS NOT INFERIOR AND THE HUSBAND SUPERIOR NO MORE THAN THE GIFT OF TEACHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GIFT OF SERVING. THEY ARE BOTH NEEDED, AND YOU ARE NOT INFERIOR IF YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF SERVING.

*** IT’S JUST A MATTER OF THE ROLE YOU HAVE IN THE BODY.

**** AND CERTAINLY CHRIST IS NOT INFERIOR TO THE FATHER WHO WILLINGLY IN HIS INCARNATION AND ADVENT SUBMITTED TO HIS FATHER. CHRIST IS GOD AS THE FATHER IS GOD BUT IN THE GODHEAD, HE TOOK ON A DIFFERENT ROLE.

8. ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION IS IN THE TRINITY. IN THE ECONOMY OF REDEMPTION, THE SON IS SUBMISSIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SUBMISSIVE TO BOTH THE FATHER AND SON.

* YET AT THE SAME TIME WE INSIST THAT THE SON AND THE SPIRIT ARE CO-ETERNAL, CO-ESSENTIAL AND EQUALLY GOD.

** THE SON IS NOT INFERIOR TO THE FATHER AND THE SPIRIT IS NOT INFERIOR TO THE SON AND THE FATHER, THEY ARE ALL GOD. THE GREAT 3 IN ONE, BUT HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES IN THEIR PLAN.

*** BEYOND THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS NECESSARILY INFERIOR AS A HUMAN BEING TO THE PRESIDENT. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES.

**** AND WE HAVE TWO EQUALS IN MARRIAGE, AND THE WIFE AS A KIND OF CHRIST WILLINGLY SUBMITS HERSELF TO HER HUSBAND FOR ORDER IN THE FAMILY.

9. NO. 2 THE MOTIVATION FOR THE WIFE TO BE SUBJECT TO HER HUSBAND IS SPELLED OUT IN THE LAST PART OF V. 22, “AS TO THE LORD”.

* AS SHE SUBMITS TO HER HUSBAND, IN REALITY SHE IS SUBMITTING TO THE LORD WHO HAS ORDAINED THIS ORDER AND THE ROLES WE HAVE.

** IN OTHER WORDS, HER SUBMISSION TO HER HUSBAND IS PART AND PARCEL OF THE WAY SHE SERVES THE LORD JESUS AS COLOSSIANS 3:23 SAYS TO SERVANTS (QUOTE IT).

*** SO THE ATTITUDE OF SUBMISSION IS TO BE AS TO THE LORD AND A WIFE WHO PROPERLY SUBMITS ALSO SUBMITS TO THE LORD.

**** AND CONVERSELY A WIFE WHO DOES NOT SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND ALSO DOES NOT SUBMIT TO THE LORD.

10. SO WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR WIVES? VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION TO HER OWN HUSBAND IN THE GOD-GIVEN ORDER OF THE FAMILY.

* WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE REASON FOR THIS REQUIREMENT. LOOK AT V. 23 PLEASE.

II. THE REASON, (READ V. 23)

A. NOW THE REASON FOR THE WIFE’S SUBMISSION TO HER HUSBAND IS NOW EXPRESSED THROUGH THE CLAUSE “FOR THE HUSBAND IS HEAD OF THE WIFE AS CHRIST ALSO IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH”.

* AND ALL KINDS OF EXEGETICAL GYMNASTICS HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED IN ORDER TO TRY TO WEAKEN AND IMPAIR THE MEANING OF HEADSHIP, BUT HERE IT IS, HEADSHIP INVOLVES AUTHORITY.

** CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, HE IS OVER THE CHURCH, HE IS THE FINAL AUTHORITY OVER THE CHURCH.

*** AND TWO OTHER TIMES IN EPHESIANS PAUL ESTABLISHES THIS HEADSHIP OF CHRIST OVER THE CHURCH.

**** AND THE FIRST ONE IS IN EPHESIANS 1:22 WHERE IT SAYS SPEAKING OF CHRIST IN THIS CONTEXT: “AND HE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET, AND GAVE HIM AS HEAD OVER ALL THINGS TO THE CHURCH.”

1. AND THEN IN EPHESIANS 4:15 USING THE BODY ANALOGY SPEAKING OF THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST PAUL SAYS: (QUOTE IT).

* NOW EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE HEAD GIVES DIRECTION AND THE BODY RESPONDS. I MEAN A PHYSICAL BODY THAT DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE DIRECTION OF THE HEAD IS CRIPPLED, PARALYZED OR SPASTIC.

** AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT A DEPARTMENT HEAD IS THE PERSON IN CHARGE. AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THIS GREEK WORD TRANSLATED HEAD MEANS IN SCRIPTURE, BESIDES A LITERAL PHYSICAL HEAD IT MEANS SUPREME, CHIEF, PROMINENT.

*** QUOTE I CORINTHIANS 11:3&8, ALSO QUOTE COLOSSIANS 1:18 AND COLOSSIANS 2:10.

**** AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO COME UP WITH ANY OTHER MEANING OF HEADSHIP IS TO IMPORT IN UNNATURALLY IN SCRIPTURE AND IN THE CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 5.

2. THEIR GRID IS A CULTURAL HERMENEUTIC RATHER THAN LITERAL, HISTORICAL AND GRAMMATICAL AND USING THE AUTHOR’S INTENT.

* AND HUSBANDS ARE THE HEAD OF THEIR WIVES AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

** AND THEN NOTICE AT THE END OF V. 23, “HE HIMSELF BEING THE SAVIOR OF THE BODY”.

*** AND AS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR OF HIS CHURCH, HIS BODY, THE HUSBAND IS NOT HIS WIFE’S SAVIOR.

**** BUT CHRIST AS SAVIOR IS THE PERFECT PROVIDER AND PROTECTOR OF HIS CHURCH AND AS SAVIOR GAVE HIS LIFE IN LOVE FOR HIS CHURCH.

3. AND AS CHRIST IS THE DIVINE ROLE MODEL FOR HUSBANDS, WHO SHOULD PROVIDE FOR, PROTECT AND LOVE THEIR WIVES WITH A SACRIFICIAL SELFLESS LOVE AS WE’LL SEE IN V. 25 AS HUSBANDS ARE TOLD TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH.

* AND WHAT AN EXAMPLE CHRIST IS BEING THE SAVIOR OF THE CHURCH AND DYING FOR THE CHURCH. AND HUSBANDS NEED TO FOLLOW CHRIST’S EXAMPLE IN V. 23.

** AND IN V. 24 ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS GIVEN, THAT OF THE CHURCH, WHICH WIVES ARE TO FOLLOW THAT EXAMPLE. LOOK AT V. 24 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 24. NOW THE CHURCH’S SUBMISSION TO CHRIST IS PRESENTED AS THE MODEL, THE EXAMPLE OF THE WIFE’S SUBMISSION TO HER HUSBAND.

* AND AS THE CHURCH IS BLESSED IN SUBMISSION TO ITS HEAD, SO A WIFE IS BLESSED AS SHE SUBMITS TO HER HEAD.

** AND TO THE SAME DEGREE, TO THE SAME EXTENT THAT THE CHURCH SUBMITS TO CHRIST, WIVES IN TURN SHOULD SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS.

*** AND TWO QUALIFIERS HERE. NO. 1, THIS SUBMISSION IS NOT CONDITIONAL, IT SHOULD BE LIKE THE CHURCH’S.

**** AND LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, A WIFE NEEDS TO SUBMIT TO HER HUSBAND’S AUTHORITY EVEN IF HIS LEADERSHIP IS NOT ALL IT SHOULD BE.

1. BUT ALSO WE’LL SEE NEXT WEEK THAT HUSBANDS NEED TO LOVE THEIR WIVES LIKE CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH EVEN IF THEIR WIVES DON’T SUBMIT TO THEIR LEADERSHIP.

* THERE IS PERFECTION IN CHRIST’S HEADSHIP AND IMPERFECTION IN THE CHURCH’S SUBMISSION. BUT LACK OF OBEDIENCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE TO NOT FULFILL OUR GOD-GIVEN ROLE.

** NO. 2, THE LAST TWO WORDS IN V. 24 “IN EVERYTHING” MEANS EVERYTHING IN EVERY AREA OF LIFE. IT IS ALL ENCOMPASSING, NOT PART OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND.

*** HER SUBMISSION SHOULD BE COMPLETE WITH ONLY ONE EXCEPTION. WHEN SHE IS ASKED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE HER DISOBEY THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

**** FOR YOU SEE THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH WOULD NEVER ASK HIS BRIDE TO SIN. WIVES ARE NOT TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO THEIR HUSBANDS AND SIN BY DOING THAT.

2. I’M TALKING ABOUT DISOBEYING A CLEAR COMMAND OF SCRIPTURE, LIKE BEING IMMORAL, NOT PRAYING, NOT READING THE WORD, ETC.

* AND WIVES, IF THE HUSBAND SHOULD DEMAND HIS WIFE TO DO THINGS CONTRARY TO THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED BY THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, SUBMISSION WOULD BE WRONG. (ILLUST. ACTS 5:29).

* BUT LET ME ADD, ATTITUDE IS KEY, NOT MILITANCY BUT A MEEK AND A QUIET SPIRIT THAT OBEYS GOD’S LAW WHICH IS SUPREME.

** AND WITH THIS EXCEPTION, HER SUBMISSION IS IN EVERYTHING.

AS I WRAP UP THINGS TODAY: (1) THE ONLY THING THAT WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE MARRIAGES BETWEEN TWO SINFUL PERSONS (WHICH WE ALL ARE) WORK IS UNCONDITIONAL COMMITMENT IN OBEDIENCE FULFILLING OUR GOD-GIVEN ROLES.

* IT IS NOT GIVING COUNSEL THAT RUNS COUNTER TO THE WORD OF GOD TO TELL SINFUL PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR.

** AND WHAT WE NEED IN BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCHES TODAY ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO WILL BEND THE BIBLE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO OFFEND THE HURTING PERSON AND THERE ARE MANY.

*** BUT PEOPLE WHO WILL HOLD THEIR HURTING BROTHERS AND SISTERS UP TO DO THE RIGHT THING, KNOWING THAT GOD HONORS OBEDIENCE ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS AND THAT HE IS ABLE, EVEN IN THE MOST DESPAIRING CIRCUMSTANCES, TO BRING LOVE OUT OF HATE AND LIFE OUT OF DEATH AND GIVE VICTORY.

**** BELOVED, WE CANNOT IMPROVE ON GOD’S PLAN FOR MY FAMILY.

(2) AND TO FOLLOW GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FAMILY NOT ONLY IS PLEASING TO HIM BUT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GODLIER, HAPPIER AND BLESSED HOMES.

* FOLKS, GOD’S PLAN IS NEITHER FOR THE EXALTATION OF MEN AND THE SUPPRESSION OF WOMEN, NOR THE EXALTATION OF WOMAN AND SUPPRESSION OF MEN, BUT FOR THE DIRECTION AND FULFILLMENT OF BOTH MEN AND WOMEN AS HE HAS ORDAINED THEM TO BE.

** AND SUCH DIRECTION AND FULFILLMENT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

*** SO THE ULTIMATE IMPERATIVE AGAIN IS BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. AND BY CONFESSING SIN, YIELDING TO THE SPIRIT AND FILLING OUR LIVES WITH THE WORD, WE THEN CAN WALK IN THE SPIRIT, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.

**** AND THEN WE CAN SUPERNATURALLY FULFILL OUR ROLES IN THE FAMILY. MAY WE DO THAT.