Being happily married is not about finding the right person but about being the right person.
Sermon Title: BECOMING THE WIFE THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE
Sermon Text: EPHESIANS 5:23-31
Sermon Series: FAMILY PORTRAIT: GOD’S DESIGN FOR A HEALTHY HOME
Sermon Notes:
EPHESIANS 5:22-24, 33 ESV
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b]
Being happily married is not about finding the right person but about being the right person.
GOD’S BLUEPRINT FOR THE WIFE: Submit to the authority of Christ.
GOD’S BLUEPRINT FOR THE WIFE: Submit to the authority of Christ. Support your husband’s leadership by respecting him.
LEAD LIKE JESUS
EPHESIANS 5:23 ESV
23 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.
ROMANS 5:6-8 ESV
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Headship simply means taking responsibility.
A husband’s leadership (in the home) involves a recognition that God has placed you in a position of responsibility.
GENESIS 3:9 ESV
9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
LOVE LIKE JESUS
EPHESIANS 5:25 ESV
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Love is unconditional.
Husbands are not asked to love, you are commanded to love.
LUKE 6:32-36 ESV
32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Love is unselfish.
EPHESIANS 5:25 ESV
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
EPHESIANS 5:26 ESV
26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Love upholds.
EPHESIANS 5:28 ESV
28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
EPHESIANS 5:29-30 ESV
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body.
LIVE IT
EPHESIANS 5:31 ESV
31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Your marriage is ultimately about God.
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
Edgar Guest (Sermons We See)
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear; …
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
HUSBANDS…
Lead (Unhesitating.)
Love (Unconditionally. Unselfishly. Upholding your wives.)
Live (Unfailingly) the Biblical pattern that God has given.
Do you take responsibility for leading your spouse and your children?
Does your wife know that you love her unconditionally, unselfishly in ways that upholds her?
Do people see a marriage that reflects the reality of the God that you profess?
Being happily married is not about finding the right person but about being the right person.