SERIES: EPHESIANS: THE CALL AND CONDUCT OF THE CHURCH, WEEK 46

TITLE: THE ROLE OF THE HUSBAND, PART II

TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:26-30

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN JOHN 17:17, CHRIST IN HIS HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER TO HIS FATHER SAID: “SANCTIFY THEM IN THE TRUTH; YOUR WORD IS TRUTH.”

* NOW IN JOHN 17 ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT JESUS PRAYED FOR WAS HOLINESS FOR HIS FOLLOWERS, TO BE SANCTIFIED, TO BE SET APART, TO BE PURE.

** AND THE MEANS, THE WAY TO HOLINESS COMES THROUGH THE BIBLE.

***IN OTHER WORDS, A FOLLOWER OF JESUS BECOMES HOLY THROUGH THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD.

****THE WORD OF GOD IS THE TOOL GOD USES TO MAKE US PURE, SANCTIFIED, SET APART, SEPARATED FROM SIN.

(2) AND THAT IS WHY AS A CHRISTIAN YOU NEED TO BE IN THE STUDY OF THE WORD OF GOD ON A DAILY BASIS SO YOU MIGHT BE CONSTANTLY PURIFIED.

* IT IS A DISASTER SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING WHEN YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE WORD OF GOD.

** FOR NO CHRISTIAN IS HOLY IN HIS OR HER DAILY LIFE UNLESS THEY ARE IN THE WORD AND THE WORD IS IN THEM.

*** SO THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW HOLINESS IN YOUR OWN LIFE IS TO FIRST REPENT AND RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, THEN CHRIST CLEANSES YOU AND FORGIVES YOU OF ALL OF YOUR SINS.

**** AND THEN TO GROW IN SANCTIFICATION, WE MUST BE IN THE WORD OF GOD SO IT CONSTANTLY AND DAILY PURIFIES US.

(3) AND THAT’S WHY KING DAVID SAID IN PSALM 119:9&11. (READ THEM)

* SO THE WORD OF GOD IS A SANCTIFYING AGENT IN THE SANCTIFICATION PROCESS OF OUR LIVES.

**SOME OF YOU HAVE HEARD THAT STATEMENT OR MAYBE HAVE IT WRITTEN IN YOUR BIBLES, “SIN WILL KEEP ME FROM THE BOOK OR THIS BOOK WILL KEEP ME FROM SIN.”

***AND HOW TRUE THAT STATEMENT IS. PRACTICAL PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION TAKES PLACE AS WE ENGRAFT THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.

****BUT GET THIS, POSITIONALLY, WE WERE SANCTIFIED, SET APART BY THE LORD WHEN WE HEARD THE WORD OF GOD – THE GOSPEL MESSAGE AND TURNED FROM OUR SIN TO CHRIST TO TRUST HIM AND HIM ALONE FOR OUR SALVATION.

(4) AND THAT’S WHY CHRISTIANS ARE DESCRIBED AS THOSE WHO ARE “SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST JESUS” IN

I CORINTHIANS 1:2.

* AND THAT WE ARE SANCTIFIED IN I CORINTHIANS 6:11. (READ IT).

**SO WE HAVE BEEN SANCTIFIED IN SALVATION THROUGH THE WORK OF THE WORD OF GOD, AND ULTIMATELY WE WILL BE SANCTIFIED AND POSITIONALLY HOLY WHEN WE ARE WITH CHRIST BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD SAYS SO.

***NOW YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, RAY, THIS IS ALL WELL AND GOOD AND I BELIEVE WHAT YOU’VE JUST SAID, BUT WHAT DOES SANCTIFICATION HAVE TO DO WITH OUR TEXT AND THE ROLE OF A HUSBAND?

****WELL, A LOT. FOR CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR HER, HIS BRIDE TO SANCTIFY HER. READ EPHESIANS 5:26.

(5) NOW IF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH IS TO BE THE MODEL FOR HUSBANDS IN IT’S SELF-SACRIFICE, THEN IT IS ALSO TO BE THEIR PATTERN FOR IT’S GOAL.

* AND PAUL IN OUR TEXT TODAY WILL SPELL OUT THE GOAL OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR THE CHURCH BY MEANS OF 3 PURPOSE CLAUSES:

** NO. 1 THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY HER. NO. 2 PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF IN SPLENDOR AND NO. 3 ENABLE HER TO BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS.

*** SO THE MODEL OF A HUSBAND’S LOVE FOR HIS WIFE IS CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, HIS BRIDE WHICH HAD THE IMMEDIATE PURPOSE OF HER SANCTIFICATION WHICH, IN TURN, SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF CHRIST TO PRESENT THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF GLORIOUS, WITH FULL MORAL PERFECTION.

**** AND THEN FROM THIS ILLUSTRATION OF CHRIST’S ALL ENCOMPASSING LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, PAUL APPLIES THESE TRUTHS TO CHRISTIAN HUSBANDS.

(6) HUSBANDS NEED TO BE SPIRITUAL LEADERS AND BE INVOLVED IN THE SANCTIFICATION PROCESS OF THEIR WIVES.

* BECAUSE OF CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE, WE NEED TO LOVE OUR WIVES WITH A SANCTIFYING LOVE.

** HUSBANDS, WE HAVE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY. SO WE ASK, ARE WE LOVING OUR WIVES WITH A SANCTIFYING LOVE?

***IS OUR WIFE MORE LIKE CHRIST BECAUSE SHE IS MARRIED TO US?

****OR IS SHE MORE LIKE CHRIST IN SPITE OF US?

(7) WHATEVER OUR EFFECT, OUR CALL IS CLEAR: SANCTIFYING LOVE.

* AND LAST WEEK IN OUR ROLE AS HUSBANDS PART I WE LOOKED AT V. 25 WHERE WE SAW A SACRIFICIAL LOVE, (READ V. 25)

**AND NOW TODAY IN THE ROLE OF A HUSBAND PART II, WE’LL LOOK AT NO. 1 A SANCTIFYING LOVE, VV. 26 & 27, AND NO.2 A SATISFYING LOVE, VV. 28-30.

*** AND WITH THAT SHORT OUTLINE IN MIND, LET’S DIVE INTO OUR TEXT TODAY BY LOOKING AT V. 26 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT, A SANCTIFYING LOVE.

I. A SANCTIFYING LOVE, (READ V. 26)

A. NOW BEGINNING IN V. 26, AND CONTINUING IN V. 27, PAUL PRESENTS THE PURPOSE OR GOAL OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH BY USING 3 PURPOSE CLAUSES IN THE GREEK.

* AND THE FIRST PURPOSE IS FOUND HERE IN V. 26, “THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY HER.”

** MEANING THAT CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR THE CHURCH ON THE CROSS TO SET HER APART TO HIMSELF, TO MAKE HER HOLY, TO SET HER APART FOR SACRED USE.

*** THE VERB SANCTIFY REFERS TO THE CHURCH BEING BROUGHT INTO AN EXCLUSIVE AND DEDICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS HIS HOLY PEOPLE.

**** CHRIST DIED FOR THE CHURCH TO MAKE HER HOLY, WHICH LEADS TO THE NEXT PHRASE IN V. 26, “HAVING CLEANSED HER.”

1. AND CLEANSING HERE POINTS TO THE REMOVAL OF SINS, THE MANNER, THE MEANS, OR THE CAUSE OF SANCTIFICATION.

* CLEANSING DEALS WITH THE NEGATIVE ASPECT, THAT OF BEING CLEANSED FROM DEFILEMENT OF SIN.

** WHEREAS SANCTIFICATION IS THE POSITIVE ASPECT, THAT OF BEING SET APART TO GOD.

***SO CLEANSING POINTS TO THE REMOVAL OF SIN, WHILE SANCTIFICATION FOCUSES ON BEING SET APART TO GOD. AND THEY ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN.

**** NOW NOTE THAT THE CLEANSING WAS EFFECTED “BY THE WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD.”

2. IN OTHER WORDS, HOW DID THIS CLEANSING TAKE PLACE? BY OR THROUGH THE WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD.

*AND THE WORD WASHING IS THE GREEK WORD LOUTRON WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN.

loutro,n loutron {loo-tron'}

Meaning: 1) bathing, bath, the act of bathing

Usage: AV - washing 2; 2

** WHICH LITERALLY MEANS BATHING, BATH OR THE ACT OF BATHING.

***AND IT MAY HAVE REFERENCE IN JEWISH CUSTOMS AND IN ANCIENT GREECE IN THAT DAY TO THE BRIDAL BATH, A PRENUPTIAL BATH.

****AND WITH THIS BATH THE BRIDE-TO-BE WOULD BE TAKEN DOWN TO A RIVER TO BE BATHED AND CEREMONIALLY CLEANSED FROM EVERY DEFILEMENT OF HER PAST LIFE.

3. WHATEVER HER LIFE HAD BEEN BEFORE, IT WAS NOW SYMBOLICALLY PURIFIED AND SHE WOULD ENTER THE MARRIAGE WITHOUT ANY MORAL OR SOCIAL BLEMISH – THE PAST WAS WASHED AWAY.

* WELL, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER PAUL HAS THIS IMAGERY ON HIS MIND OR NOT, A SPIRITUAL BATH, A SPIRITUAL CLEANSING IS ON HIS MIND FOR SURE AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BAPTISM.

** BUT CLEANSING ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST THROUGH THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL, THE WASHING OF REGENERATION THAT TAKES PLACE, (READ TITUS 3:5 )

***SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CLEANSING THAT TAKES PLACE AT SALVATION, AT CONVERSION, WHEN ALL OF OUR SINS ARE WASHED AWAY.

**** AND THE WORD WATER IS USED MOST LIKELY BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST COMMON ELEMENT USED FOR WASHING, BATHING, CLEANSING.

4. I MEAN JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY WE WASH, WE WASH WITH WATER, OUR CARS, OUR BODIES, OUR CLOTHES, OUR FLOORS, ETC.

* AND THEN THE WORD “WORD” HERE IS THE GREEK WORD RHENA.

** AND THIS GREEK WORD IS USED IN MATTHEW 4:4 WHEN IT SAYS: (READ IT), ALSO READ ROMANS 10:17, I PETER 1:25, AND EPHESIANS 6:17.

***NOW IN THE CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS 5, THE WORD “WORD” IS TALKING ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD, THE PREACHED WORD OR GOSPEL MESSAGE, THE WORD THAT BRING FAITH, THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL, THAT BRINGS REDEMPTION.

5. THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF CHRIST IS THE MEANS BY WHICH CLEANSING OR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS TAKES PLACE.

* SO IN SUMMARY CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF FOR HIS CHURCH IN DYING FOR HER ON THE CROSS FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING HER CLEAN, MAKING HER HOLY, CLEANSING HER THROUGH THE WORD.

** THE CHURCH IS MADE PURE BY A SPIRITUAL CLEANSING, AND THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE PURIFYING WORD OF THE GOSPEL.

***WHICH REMINDS US IN APPLICATION THAT THE CLEAR BIBLICAL GOSPEL MESSAGE MUST BE PROCLAIMED AND COMMUNICATED FOR A PERSON TO BE SAVED.

****ULTIMATELY THE GOOD NEWS OF THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST, THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE CLEARLY COMMUNICATED FOR PEOPLE TO BE FORGIVEN OF THEIR SINS.

6. AND THAT IS ONE PURPOSE IN CHRIST LOVING HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH AND GIVING HIMSELF UP FOR HER.

*NOW TWO MORE PURPOSES ARE GIVEN IN V. 27, SO LOOK AT V. 27 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 27

*NOW HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER PURPOSE FOR CHRIST DYING FOR THE CHURCH, “THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT TO HIMSELF THE CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY.”

** IN OTHER WORDS, THE IMMEDIATE PURPOSE FOR CHRIST GIVING HIMSELF FOR THE CHURCH WAS TO SET HER APART BECAUSE HE CLEANSED HER, V.26, WITH THE FURTHER PURPOSE OF BEING ABLE TO PRESENT HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH.

***AND WE’RE TALKING ABOUT A FUTURE TIME, AT CHRIST’S SECOND COMING WHEN HE COMES TO TAKE THE CHURCH OUT OF THE WORLD AND PRESENTS THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF.

****HERE THE BRIDEGROOM CHRIST PREPARES THE BRIDE BY SANCTIFICATION AND ALSO PRESENTS HER TO HIMSELF.

1. AND WHAT IS MEANT BY GLORY OR GLORIOUS IS RADIANCE, A SHINING FORTH OF A PURE BRIDE. SHE IS CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL, PURE, HAVING NO SPOT OR WRINKLES.

* SHE WILL NOT BE TAINTED IN ANY WAY; THERE IS NO MORE BLEMISHES, NO IMPERFECTIONS AS SHE COMES TO THE ALTAR, HEAVEN, TO BE WITH THE BRIDEGROOM.

** THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM COME TOGETHER, AND THE BRIDE, THE CHURCH IS PRESENTED TO THE BRIDEGROOM – CHRIST, AND THE BRIDE HAS BEEN MADE CLEAN, PURE, WITH NO BLEMISHES, NOR ANY WRINKLES, NOR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD SUGGEST IMPERFECTION IN ITS GLORIOUSNESS.

***AND CERTAINLY THIS IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUTURE DAY AT THE COMING FO CHRIST IN THE AIR, FOR THE BRIDE – THE CHURCH IS NONE OF THOSE THINGS IN PRACTICE NOW.

****THERE ARE BLEMISHES NOW. BUT THEN AT THAT DAY, AS SHE IS PRESENTED TO CHRIST, THE THIRD GOAL OR PURPOSE IS ACCOMPLISHED AT THE END OF V. 27, “BUT THAT SHE SHOULD BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS.”

2. NOT ONLY GLORIOUS, BUT HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME. PAUL STATES THAT THE CHURCH IN HER GLORIOUSNESS DOES NOT HAVE ANY IMPERFECTION WHATSOEVER IN ORDER THAT SHE MIGHT BE MORALLY HOLY AND BLAMELESS.

*AND THIS TRUTH TAKES US BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS WHERE PAUL STATES THAT GOD CHOSE US IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD THAT WE MIGHT BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE GOD.

**EPHESIANS 1:4-6 SAYS, “JUST AS HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE WOULD BE HOLY AND BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM. IN LOVE HE PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL, TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE, WHICH HE FREELY BESTOWED ON US IN THE BELOVED.”

***NOW THIS PURPOSE TALKED ABOUT HERE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED AS FAR AS BEING TOTALLY HOLY AND BLAMELESS AS THE BRIDE IS TAKEN OUT OF THIS WORLD, AS THE ACTUAL MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE.

**** WE’VE BEEN BETROTHED, WE ARE MARRIED AND COMMITTED TO CHRIST BY HIS GRACE BUT WE HAVEN’T COME TOGETHER YET, BUT WE WILL, AND WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE.

3. AND WITH THAT IN MIND LET ME PAINT A PICTURE OF VV. 25-27 FOR CLARIFICATION.

*V. 25 SHOWS US THE PROVISION OF SANCTIFICATION IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST, V. 26 GIVES US THE PREREQUISITE FOR SANCTIFICATION IN THE WASHING OF OUR SINS AWAY, AND V. 27 SHOWS US THE PURPOSE OF SANCTIFICATION IN OUR PRESENTATION TO CHRIST AS HIS BRIDE.

** SO IN SUMMARY, PAUL EXHORTED HUSBANDS TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AND THE MODEL OF THEIR LOVE IS CHRIST’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, WHICH HAD THE IMMEDIATE PURPOSE OF HER SANCTIFICATION, WHICH IN TURN, SERVED AS THE BASIS FOR THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF CHRIST TO PRESENT THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF GLORIOUS, WITH FULL MORAL PERFECTION.

***NOW FROM THIS ILLUSTRATION OF CHRIST’S ALL ENCOMPASSING LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, PAUL APPLIES THESE TRUTHS BACK TO HUSBANDS AGAIN STATING IN V. 28, WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 2ND POINT TODAY, A SATISFYING LOVE, LOOK AT V. 28 PLEASE.

II. A SATISFYING LOVE, (READ V. 28)

A. NOW A HUSBANDS’ LOVE FOR HIS WIFE SHOULD BE SACRIFICIAL, V. 25, SANCTIFYING, VV. 26&27, AND SATISFYING, VV. 28-30.

* FOR IN THE MARRIAGE RELATIONSHIP THE HUSBAND AND WIFE BECOME ONE FLESH, AS WE’LL SEE NEXT WEEK IN V. 31.

**THEREFORE, WHATEVER EACH DOES TO THE OTHER, HE DOES TO HIMSELF OR HERSELF. IT IS A MUTUALLY SATISFYING EXPERIENCE.

***AND THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS WIFE IS ACTUALLY LOVING HIS OWN BODY, SINCE HE AND HIS WIFE ARE ONE FLESH.

****HUSBANDS AND WIVES THEN ARE REGARDED AS ONE PERSON, A SINGLE ENTITY.

1. THEREFORE, THE HUSBAND IS TO LOVE HIS WIFE AS HIS OWN BODY, FOR IT IS IN ESSENCE.

* I MEAN AS THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, THEY ARE ONE, SO THE WIFE IS ONE WITH HER HUSBAND.

** AND FOR A HUSBAND’S LOVE TO BE LIKE CHRIST’S LOVE FOR HIS BODY THE CHURCH IT MUST ALSO BE AFFECTIONATELY CARING, TO THE EXTENT THAT HE CARES AS MUCH FOR HER WELFARE AS HE NATURALLY DOES FOR THE WELFARE OF HIS OWN BODY.

***WE HAVE A NATURAL CONCERN FOR OUR BODIES SO WE FEED THEM EVERYDAY, WE GET SLEEP, WE BATH THE BODY, WE SOMETIMES EXERCISE THE BODY, WE DEODORIZE THE BODY, OR AT LEAST WE SHOULD.

****WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY IN OUR BODY EVERYDAY.

2. SO IN THAT SENSE WE LOVE OURSELVES, WE LOVE OUR BODIES NATURALLY.

* AND SOMETIMES THIS PHRASE IS MISUNDERSTOOD, THERE IS NO COMMAND TO LOVE OUR SELF OR THE ASSERTION THAT SELF LOVE IS NECESSARY BEFORE ONE CAN LOVE ANOTHER.

**FOR IT IS A NATURAL ASPECT OF THE HUMAN CONDITION TO LOVE, NURTURE, AND PROTECT ONESELF. IT’S THE NORM.

***SO THE FOCUS IS DIRECTED ON THE EXTENT OF LOVE A HUSBAND SHOULD HAVE FOR HIS WIFE, THAT IS, THE SAME WAY THAT CHRIST LOVES HIS BODY – THE CHURCH.

****AND THIS LOVE, IS NOT TO BE SEEN AS A DUTY BUT AS SOMETHING THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH HIS NATURE.

3. FOR AS A HUSBAND DOES NOT THINK ABOUT LOVING HIS BODY BECAUSE IT’S NATURAL, SO ALSO THE HUSBAND’S LOVE OF HIS WIFE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS AS NATURAL AS LOVING HIMSELF.

* AND THE ILLUSTRATION OF THIS EXPANDS IN V. 29. LOOK AT V. 29 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 29, NOW WE DON’T NATURALLY HATE OUR FLESH, OUR OWN BODIES, BUT WE FEED AND CARE FOR IT. PEOPLE DO NOT NATURALLY MUTILATE THEIR BODIES OR DENY IT FOOD, ALTHOUGH IN PERVERSION THERE ARE SOME THAT DO, BUT IT’S NOT NATURAL.

*WE NATURALLY DON’T HATE OUR BODIES AND NEGLECT THEM FOR NATURALLY WE NOURISH IT – WE FEED IT AND WE CHERISH IT – WE TAKE CARE OF IT – WE EVEN PUT COATS ON THE BODY TO KEEP IT WARM. WE BATH IT, WE COMB OUR HAIR IF WE HAVE ANY, WE GROOM OUR NAILS, WE GET SLEEP, ETC.

** AND AT THE END OF V. 29 IT SAYS, “JUST AS CHRIST ALSO DOES THE CHURCH”

***THE TRUTH BEING, AS IT IS NATURAL FOR A MAN NOT TO HATE HIS OWN BODY BUT TO NURTURE AND TAKE CARE OF IT, SO IT IS ALSO THE NATURAL THING FOR CHRIST TO NURTURE AND TAKE CARE OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH.

****AND THINK OF CHRIST’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCH, HIS BODY, IN WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR HER IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS ALONE.

1. IN THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHRIST REDEEMED IT, SAVED IT, EMPOWERED IT, FILLED IT WITH GOD’S FULLNESS, GIFTED IT AND LOVED AND SANCTIFIED IT.

* AND EVEN WITH ALL ITS IMPERFECTIONS CHRIST NURTURES AND TAKES TENDER CARE OF HIS BODY – THE CHURCH.

** CHRIST DID NOT GIVE BIRTH TO THE CHURCH AND LEAVE IT STRANDED. HE NURSES HER WITH THE WARMTH OF HIS LOVE AND POWER SO THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO COPE IN THE WORLD.

*** AND CHRIST IS HEAD OF THE CHURCH IS NOT ONLY A RULING OR AUTHORITY OVER THE CHURCH BUT ALSO THE SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE BY WHICH IT IS NURTURED.

**** NOW WHY? WELL, LOOK AT V. 30 PLEASE.

READ V. 30 NOW CHRIST PROVIDES FOR US AS THE CHURCH BECAUSE WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY.

* AND NOT TO PROVIDE FOR HIS CHURCH WOULD BE NOT TO PROVIDE FOR HIMSELF. HE SHARES COMMON LIFE WITH HIS CHURCH AND WE ARE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, HIS FLESH, HIS BONES, WE ARE A PART OF HIM, THIS IS A REALITY.

** WE DO NOT OCCUPY AN INCIDENTAL RELATION TO HIM, WE ARE VERITABLE PARTS OF THAT BODY OF WHICH HE IS HEAD, AND THIS IS WHY HE NOURISHES AND CHERISHES THE CHURCH.

***SO THE LORD PROVIDES FOR HIS CHURCH BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TO HIM, IT IS A PART OF HIM.

****AND IF HE DID NOT CARE FOR HIS CHURCH, HIS BODY, HE WOULD BE DIMINISHING HIS OWEN GLORY WHICH THE CHURCH ASCRIBES TO HIM BY HER OBEDIENCE.

1. THEREFORE, IN MARRIAGE, THE HUSBAND’S LIFE IS SO INTIMATELY JOINED TO THE WIVES AS ONE FLESH THAT THEY TRULY ARE ONE. SO WHEN HE CARES FOR HER, HE CARES FOR HIMSELF.

WITH THAT IN MIND, AS I WRAP UP OUR TEXT TODAY, I WANT TO MAKE 3 APPLICATIONS. (1) HUSBANDS, HOW ARE WE TO CARE FOR OUR WIVES IN OUR LEADERSHIP OF LOVE?

* WELL FOR NURTURING AND CHERISHING OUR WIVES, WE NEED TO BE 3 THINGS: THE PROVIDERS, THE PROTECTORS, AND PRIESTS OF OUR HOMES.

** WE NEED TO NURTURE OUR WIVES BY PROVIDING FOR THEM PHYSICALLY. AND THIS SOUNDS CHAUVINISTIC IN OUR WORLD TODAY, BUT WE ARE TO BE THE BREAD WINNERS.

*** AFTER THE FALL, GOD STATED TO ADAM IN GENESIS 3:19 (READ IT).

****AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS, IF THE LORD GIVES CHILDREN, YOUR WIVES NEED TO BE AT HOME WITH THEM.

2. AND THAT IS AN ELEVATED ROLL IN SOCIETY, NOT A DIMINISHED ROLE, FOR THE ONE WHO ROCKS THE CRADLE INFLUENCES THE NEXT GENERATION THE MOST.

* AND IT SAYS IN TITUS 2:4-5 THAT OLDER WOMEN ARE TO “ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG WOMEN TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS, TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN, TO BE SENSIBLE, PURE, WORKERS AT HOME, KIND, BEING SUBJECT TO THEIR OWN HUSBAND, THAT THE WORD OF GOD MAY NOT BE DISHONORED.”

** IN I TIMOTHY 5:14 IN THE NIV IT SAYS, “SO I COUNSEL YOUNGER WIDOWS TO MARRY, TO HAVE CHILDREN, TO MANAGE THEIR HOMES AND TO GIVE THE ENEMY NO OPPORTUNITY FOR SLANDER.”

*** AND THE PRINCIPLE HERE IS YOUNGER WIDOWS HERE WHO HAVE REMARRIED AS WIDOWS ARE TO BE HOME MANAGERS. WHICH IS NOT A LOWLY ROLE BUT AN ELEVATED EXALTED ONE IN THE PLACE OF GOD.

****AND THIS IS THE GOAL, THE IDEAL, CAN IT ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED IN ALL SITUATIONS, BUT IT SHOULD BE THE GOAL AND PRIORITY EVEN THOUGH YOU LIVE WITH LESS.

3. NO. 2, HUSBANDS NEED TO BE PROTECTORS OF THEIR WIVES PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. PHYSICALLY FROM HARM’S WAY FOR THE WIFE IS THE WEAKER VESSEL, PHYSICALLY. THE LORD IN CREATION HAS MADE MEN MORE PHYSICALLY STRONG. (READ I PETER 3:7)

* BUT ALSO WE PROTECT OUR WIVES SPIRITUALLY FROM SPIRITUAL DANGER, FROM FALSE DOCTRINE, FROM WRONG INFLUENCES, ETC.

** WHICH LEADS TO NO. 3, W ARE TO BE THE PRIESTS OF OUR HOMES, TO LEAD SPIRITUALLY, TO SEE TO IT THAT OUR WIVES ARE SANCTIFIED SPIRITUALLY.

***THAT THEY ARE GROWING SPIRITUALLY, LEADING THEM TO CHURCH, IN THE WORD, AND IN PRAYER.

****HUSBANDS WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE EXAMPLES AND PROVIDE A LEADERSHIP OF LOVE IN BEING EXAMPLES IN OUR HOMES.

4. HUSBANDS MAY WE TRULY LOVE OUR WIVES AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND BE A HUMAN SANCTIFIER IN THEIR LIVES.