The Great Mystery of Marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)



The Great Mystery of Marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)

1. Submission and Headship (Ephesians 5:22-24)

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

Submission

a. To submit is not a dirty word. It is a commandment from God. My husband likes to watch extreme fighting and when someone wins by submission that means they gave up. But when God commanded wives to submit you are not giving up you are giving in to your husband’s leadership and you trust that he has your best interest in mind.

b. Submission is translated into respect. All God wants is for you to respect your husband as you respect the Lord. Wives you can’t submit yourself to the pastor and not submit to your own husband.

c. But what if your husband isn’t saved? How can you submit to an ungodly spouse?

d. (1Peter 3:1-2) says…... likewise you wives, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

e. You can win your spouse over by not saying a word, but living a godly life. Your lifestyle can win a spouse over.

f. Husbands are the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church. A wife can’t take on the role of Christ you can walk in His image but it is the husband’s job. We need to realize and recognize our place and our position.

Headship

g. Verse 23 says…… Each man is the pastor of his own home. He is the head of the wife, but with that comes awesome responsibilities. He is to be the savior of the body (Adam/Eve). The judgments and blessings fall on the head of the house. If he is bound the house is bound. We sometimes struggle with how to be a godly man, father, and husband when we haven’t seen an example. Old men are spiritual compasses but they are missing. Lean on the Word of God.

2. True Love; Christ’s Love (Ephesians 5:25-27)

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Christ’s Sacrifice

a. Christ’s love is exemplified by His sacrifice. He gave Himself in every way possible.

b. His sacrifice is the example of how men should love their wives and give themselves for her.

c. Ask yourself and him, what is he willing to give?

d. We sanctify and cleanse her by showering her with words of validation and verification. Your words speak to the deep place in your wife, causing her to be constantly washed in the Word of God.

e. She becomes what you make her because she is the recipient of the grace you giver her.

3. Nourishing and Cherishing (Ephesians 5:28-29)

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their won bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

Abuse

a. Verse 28 says that we as the husbands should love our wives as we love ourselves. We nourish and cherish our body. So should we nourish and cherish our wives.

b. No man hates his own flesh but he nourishes and cherishes it.

c. When a man is abusive to his wife in any way he is saying something about himself.

Nourish and Cherish

d. The husband is to love his wife with an Agape love that is unconditional. His love should be in spite of imperfections and faults of his wife.

e. Even if the wife is having a bad day you must love her like Christ loved the church and be willing to die for her.

f. A man can be a nourisher (to bring to maturity). He does so by his actions and words. This is Eros love. This is when the intimacy takes effect. You know Eros love when your husband starts talking that sweet nothing, baby I love you, you’re the best thing that has happened to me. Also, he starts to touch and feel on you.

g. A man should Cherish the gift that God gave him. According to Proverbs 31:10-12 it reads……

Prov. 31:10-12 Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

h. A virtuous woman is very rare and when you have one you should protect her and cherish her. And keep her safe from any hurt, harm, or danger. He that finds a wife finds a good thing. He ensures that she is not abused or taken.

4. Explanation of the Mystery (Ephesians 5:30-33)

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

In Him

We are members of His body now just as our wives are members of our body.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife: she was in him and God pulled her out of him. When God presented Eve to Adam he recognized her and said she is a part of me, so he named her.

When they pierced Christ in His side blood and water flowed (signifying His water breaking). We were born in Him. In Him we live, move, and have our being.

The mystery makes sense now: I’m in the body of Christ and I’m His bride. I was pulled out of Him. Just like Eve was pulled out of Adam. Now He knows me and He has renamed me.

Bone (Structure) and Flesh (Covering)

We as wives need to be the help, not the hindrances.

We are bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.

The bones are the structure, framework, and foundation of the house (physical and spiritual).

The flesh is the covering of the bones. We as wives should cover our husbands in prayer. (Armorbearers)

Our Role

We have been type cast to play a role here on earth; husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church because we are to be to our wives what Christ is to the church.

We are to love, nourish, and cherish our wives.

Wives are to submit, structure, and cover their husbands.

This is a Great Mystery, and the only way the world can see it is through Godly marriages.

That’s why woman if you want your husband to exemplify Christ like qualities praise him. He in return will praise God and He will come in the midst of your marriage.

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