In this episode Brother Jonathan goes over some scriptures on marriage. What is the husband commanded? What is the wife commanded? For Christians, scripture should be the standard and not the exception.
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Some Biblical
Principles of Marriage
Episode 08
Remnant Bible
Fellowship
I.
Intro
a. I’m not the ultimate authority on
marriage. God’s Word is always the absolute standard for life and practice.
However, the scriptures also tell us that in the multitude of counselors there
is safety (Pro. 11:14).
II.
Recap
a. This is our third episode related to
marriage.
i.
First
was my wife and I’s testimony of how we met and came together.
ii.
Second,
we took time to look at what the scriptures had to say about divorce.
III.
Encouragement
a. This is a sensitive subject. You need to
settle it in your heart with the Lord about whether or not you want God’s
perfect will. Even if you’re already married you have the opportunity to serve
God perfectly in your marriage from this day forward.
b. Not every marriage situation can just be
dealt with in a broad-sweeping-generalization sometimes with man’s wisdom. The
state of the world is such that there is any number of horrible possibilities
of where someone is right now. Adultery, molestation, bitterness, physical and
emotional abuse, and in general: misery. These are all common today when you
bring up the subject of marriage. I must say though, as cold as it may sound,
that wherever you may find yourself, if you’re married, you need to understand
that God’s commands are universal. The Lord Himself is Love, and He knows far
better than any your situation. Yet He gives commandments because He CAN do
something about it.
c. Our part is to put Him first in our
lives. Commit your ways unto the Lord, and you can trust that He will lead you
and give you wisdom. The Lord is much more willing to help than you are willing
to be helped.
IV.
Marriage
roles are different in God’s sight.
a. The world’s understanding of marriage is
different than God’s. If you want an uncommon marriage, then it will take you
doing things in an uncommon manner.
b. In 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness?”
i.
If
you are a true Christian you won’t want to marry a lost person. It is
commanded, and it will only cause problems. The Lord is the entire purpose of
living for a true Christian. How then would they want to be married to someone
who doesn’t know Him?
c. If you are already married to an
unbeliever don’t despair. When we get to the role of the wife there is a
passage in 1 Peter that gives very clearly what you are to do. So, like I said,
don’t despair. If your spouse wants to be married to you, and you are a truly
devoted Christian, it says something about their heart. We’ll go over that when
we get to that verse.
d. Psalm 127:1 says, “Except the Lord build
the house, they labor in vain that build it.”
i.
The
Lord Jesus Christ must be the foundation of your life. A godly marriage is the
result of a godly lifestyle. Seek first the kingdom of God, and His
righteousness, and the Lord will take care of the rest.
e. You must submit yourself to the Lord in
this area of your life. Settle it in your heart that you will serve the Lord.
Regardless of what others do. You’ll find more than likely that others will try
to discourage you.
V.
The
Husband
a. Now let’s look at the role of the
husband. I would encourage you if you’re not married yet to examine these
things that God has said in His Word about the roles of husband and wife. If
you want to be married then you have to set these commandments as your
standard: they ought to be the rule, and not the exception. These are scripture
and not my opinion. I’ll try to be clear if I do say something that is just my
opinion.
b. Now I believe that the first verses we’re
going to look at are the quintessential verses for husbands. I believe they sum
up all the rest of scripture on the matter, as you’ll see.
i.
In
Ephesians 5:25-28 we read, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also
loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their
own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
c. Let’s take some time to consider what
this means for us as men.
i.
We
have a very clear commandment here to “love your wives.” Sadly, what I’ve found
is that most men at some time or another begin to see their wives as a burden.
That “ball and chain” that keeps them from doing the things that they really
want to do. It grieves me so much to hear a man talk about his wife in the way.
Here, we have an unconditional commandment. You are to love your wife. In
Colossians 3:19 we read, “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against
them.” Again, notice, there is no condition set forth. You are to love them.
ii.
“…even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…” Now, when the Lord
uses
d. “Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
(Gen. 2:24)
e. “But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel.” (1 Tim. 5:8)
f.
“Likewise,
ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the
wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (1 Pet. 3:7)
i.
This
is a wonderful exhortation from scripture to put things in perspective for the
man. We’re told, “dwell with them
g. “Let the husband render unto the wife due
benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not
power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not
power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be
with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and
come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1 Cor.
7:3-5)
h. “For the husband is the head of the wife,
even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Eph.
5:23)
VI.
Wives
a. “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord.” (Eph. 5:22)
b. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly
multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth
children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.”
(Gen. 3:16)
c. “Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.” (Eph. 5:33)
d. “I will therefore that the younger women
marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to
speak reproachfully.” (1 Tim. 5:14)
e. “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to
your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the
word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy
women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto
their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any
amazement.” (1 Pet. 3:1-6)
f.
“The
wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the
husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the
other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to
fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your
incontinency.” (1 Cor. 7:4-5)
g. “The aged women likewise, that they be in
behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to
love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at
home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not
blasphemed.” (Tit. 2:3-5)
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