Let's pray together. Father, we thank you for this morning. We thank you that we could sing, raise our voices in praise to you. And Father, what we realize is that all we have is you, which is more than enough. And Father, as we live each day and as we seek to honor you with our lives and as we seek your direction for our lives, Father, I pray that we might trust in you and you alone. Because by ourselves, we have absolutely nothing. And so this morning, as we come to your word, I just pray that you might speak to our hearts. Father, I pray that my voice might not be heard, but that your voice might be heard, that you might be seen, that you might be magnified, and that you might be glorified. Father, open our hearts to your word. Challenge us, mold us, shape us. Draw us into the image of your Son. We love you, Father. We thank you for the privilege of gathering together this morning. It's in Christ's name we pray. Amen. If you would turn in your Bibles this morning to Ephesians chapter five, we'll continue on in our study. I know that we've been here a while in Ephesians, but within this book, there is so much truth and so much that we need to learn and so much that we need to grow in that I didn't wanna rush us through, and we are gonna take our time through these next couple weeks also. As we remember, and we need to understand this as we look at this passage of Scripture today in particular, is how we got to this point. Because sometimes, this is a familiar passage of Scripture, I use it all the time in marriage counseling, pre-marital counseling, and it's very easy just to take this as a separate section of scripture and use it in those opportunities and in those places. And there's nothing wrong with that because it speaks directly to husbands and wives and marriage and how they are to respond to one another. But if we take it in the context of the whole book of Ephesians, we know that Paul has been leading us to this point. He has been walking us step by step to bring us to this point so that we understand completely what he's talking about when it says, wives, you need to submit to your husbands. So as we think back over the book, Paul starts off in about the first three chapters, and really if we want to sum up those three chapters, he says we are in Christ. And because we are in Christ, because we are believers in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ because we have put our faith and trust in that shed blood. We are now believers in him. We are followers of Christ. We are children of the King. We are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. You are different because of that relationship that you have because you are in Christ. We are heirs to the inheritance of heaven. We are partakers. in all that Christ has because we are in him. And that is an amazing truth as we think about that. And then as we got to chapter four, Paul starts to talk to us about our walk in holiness. We are to be different than the world. There needs to be something going on in our lives because of what Christ is doing within us. So we are to walk in holiness. The next thing we looked at is we are to walk in love. We are to walk in love for one another. As Christ loved us, as God loved us, we are to love others. And that should be our walk and that should be our identifying mark. We are to walk in light as he is in the light. And we were commanded and we were told with a series of imperatives about that. Then we were told to walk in wisdom. Not like the world, not as fools, but walk as wise men. And then last week we spent a lot of time talking about walking in the Spirit and just what does that mean. We are to be filled with the Spirit. Don't be influenced by things from the outside. Paul uses the example specifically of don't be drunk with wine, don't be controlled by something external, but be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow the Spirit of God to do His work in you. And so as we understand those truths, that we are to walk in Christ because we are in Christ, we are to walk in holiness, we are to walk in light, we are to walk in love, we are to walk in wisdom, we are to walk in the Spirit, Paul ends those thoughts in verse 21 of chapter five, and he says, now you are to submit to one another. And that leads us into the passage of scripture that we're looking at today. It takes us from our submission to Jesus Christ and how we are to submit to one another. And Paul says, now here is the practical outworking of this. This is how this works out in your everyday relations. And we will look over the next couple weeks, we're gonna look at wives today, husbands next week, children the week after that, and then we're gonna look at the employer, employee relationship. Because what Paul is telling us here, and what Paul is directing us to, is the point that unless we have strong families, our churches are not gonna be strong. and our culture and our society is not gonna be strong. And right now what we see in the world around us and in our culture in particular is the diminishing and the devaluing of family, of marriage. We've redefined marriage in our culture. We have called it something different than what God had ordained. And we are suffering the consequences of that within our culture and within our society. And as a church, we need to be strong in these areas. And Paul understood that within the culture that he was writing, as far as Ephesus was concerned, a pagan culture, a pagan area of the world. And now these people were coming to know Christ. And they were carrying that baggage with them of their past. And Paul is saying now, here is how you replace what you knew with what is real and what is truth. Realizing who you are and then how you walk. And now this is how it plays out in your everyday life. So what I'd like us to do first is to get some background into Paul's thinking as we come to the verses that we're going to look at today. We're not going to look at that whole passage of Scripture, but we are going to look at verses 22 through 24. And we're going to focus specifically on the wives this morning. And guys, our turn is next week. But Paul is very direct, very pointed, and very passionate about what he is talking about here. But let's go back to 1 Corinthians 11, verse 3, because we need to understand that there is an order that has been established by God. This just isn't something that Paul is throwing out there because it sounds good, or it fits into his preaching style, or whatever the case might be. He is saying, I'm reiterating something that is here from the very beginning. And I want you to understand this because it affects how we live our lives and how we react in these interpersonal relationships within the family. God has a specific design for the family. And that's what we're gonna be talking about over these next couple weeks as we look at husbands and wives, or wives and husbands, husbands and wives, and then children to their parents. And so Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse three, he says, but I want you to understand, okay, there's some mix up here, but I want you to understand this, the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. There is a divine order that has been set out in scripture. It has been there from the very beginning. And Paul says, I want you to understand this order because it affects how we live within the family of God and within our families personally. Galatians chapter three verse 28 said that there's no special or moral distinction among Christians. We mentioned that last week. As we walk into this building, we are all the same, aren't we? We are all sinners that have been saved by grace. The need that each and every one of us has, it doesn't matter what kind of car we drive, it doesn't matter what house we live in, it doesn't matter anything, what position we have in the community, that means absolutely nothing when we walk into the church of Jesus Christ and into this family. We are all the same, sinners saved by grace. And so there's no special or moral distinction among Christians. There is no classification of Christians. Everyone has the same salvation, the same standing before God, the same divine nature and resources, the same divine promises and inheritance. That's what we're told in Galatians chapter 3 verse 28. There's no longer these distinctions. The world wants to put distinctions because that gives us the ability to rule and that gives us the ability to have authority over other people. And we classify people, and we put them in different strata, and depending on where we were, there are people underneath us. But what Paul is saying is the body of Christ, there is no distinction. We are all on the same plane. We are all functioning the same. But in the matter of role and function, God has made some distinctions. Because that's the way there is order within the church, and within the family, and within society. We need that order, don't we? We need it. And we need to live with it. As we look at this passage of scripture, We need to just look at what Paul's teaching tells us here. There's some important strands of biblical teaching that run through this passage that helps us to put everything into perspective as we start to talk about the specifics. It runs from creation to salvation. What we know is that number one in creation, man was created first, wasn't he? And he was created in the image and the glory of God. And then as we continue to read through that passage in Genesis, we realize that the wife, or the woman, was now created in the glory or for the glory of man. And so there is this creative order that we read within scripture. Woman was for the glory of man. We've already read that one verse in 1 Corinthians 11, verse three, but let's look at 1 Corinthians 11 again, verses seven through nine. It's starting with verse seven. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but the woman is the glory of man, for man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. And so Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 11 sets that stage and rehearses that for us and helps us to understand again this divine order. God has put a divine order into place. But then we also read in scripture that God has made us to be one flesh with him. Genesis chapter, or made her to be one flesh with him. In Genesis chapter two, verse 23. In Ephesians chapter five, verse 29. So there is equality of being, even a union between two people, but set within two different roles. There is the husband, there is the wife, the divine order. The second thing that we see here is first is creation, the second thing that messes this up and brings us to the point of where we are today is the fall. And that is the struggle that we have today is because what God had intended was destroyed and marred and distorted by the fall. And so what we understand that in creation, it would have been natural for Eve to fulfill her unique role as helper to Adam. That's what the role of Eve was, to be a helpmate for Adam. It was this that the serpent overturned. He tried to confuse her about what God had said in Genesis chapter 3. Did God really say this? Did God really mean those words that he spoke to your husband? And so Eve listened to the voice of the serpent rather than the voice of her husband, ultimately the voice of God. And then Adam was there and listened to the voice of his wife, not God, thus sinning also. The result is what we find in Genesis chapter three, verse 16b. If you'd like to turn there, we see the curse that is placed on mankind because of man's sinfulness and not following the word of God. Genesis chapter 3, verse 16. And to the woman, he said, I shall surely multiply your pain and childbearing. In pain, you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. Literally, what is being said there is your desire shall be for your husband, literally against your husband. and or but he shall rule over you. The form of this statement suggests that the desire in view is God's desire, or Eve's desire to master Adam. The curse included Eve seeking to usurp Adam's authority. And thus, the divine order now is taking a hit because of that. But number three, we have salvation. In Christ, the fall is reversed. He obeyed where Adam failed. He took the divine judgment Adam deserved. The result, that through the Spirit, he begins to restore and remake what was first given. and tainted by the fall. This is what is being worked out and established in the relationship of every husband and wife. And so that sets the stage for us as we come to this passage of scripture. This divine order that God had set in place from the very beginning was destroyed because of the fall and because of sin. And because of that, we now are faced with the situations and the difficulties of this life. Within the family, Satan continues to use that, that fall and that struggle between man and woman to destroy families and to destroy homes, and ultimately to weaken the church and to weaken our culture and our society. And we see it all around us, don't we? We see it all around us. So just what is Paul saying in these verses? I'd like us to look at verses 20 through 24, which we already read, but let me read them again for us. Wives, submit to your own husband as to the Lord. 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. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Now as we look at this passage of Scripture and as we look at the preceding passages of Scripture, What we see is that wives are to submit to their husbands, husbands are to love their wives, children are to obey their parents, and servants are to obey their masters. You see, Paul uses a different word here for wives than he does for children and slaves. The word that he uses here, uses here, is is this willingness to place yourself under the authority of someone else. The Greek word that he uses speaks specifically to that. Hypothesis. The wife is to willingly submit herself to her husband. Why? Because she understands the divine order. God, Christ, man, wife. And Paul begins to outline then the roles and priorities of the wife's relationships to her husband's authority. So we need to understand submission because this also takes us back to verse 21 of chapter 5. You see how Paul progressively brought us to this point? We are to submit to one another, as unto the Lord, as it says in verse, in reverence, or out of reverence for Christ, in verse 21. We are to willingly submit, place ourselves under the authority of others, because we reverence Christ. And Paul is saying, and in the original, the word submit isn't there, but it is assumed because of verse 21. And so it's inserted here into our texts, but really what Paul is saying, wives, basically in the same way, you should place yourself under the authority of your husband. And so that is so important for us to realize because it takes us from the very beginning of Ephesians to this point here. And Paul has been walking us through systematically to get us to this point that we understand, first of all, our relationship with Jesus Christ, because if that relationship isn't right, all of our other relationships are gonna be out of whack also. So what Paul is saying is get that relationship right. Understand this. I've used five and a half chapters, or four and a half chapters, to get you to that point that you understand who you are in Christ, how you are to walk, and now submit to one another in reverence of Christ, and now work this out in your family so that you might be an example to the world of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. What it means to be a God-honoring family. So Paul says, wives, willingly place yourself under the authority of your husband. Why? Because that's just part of the divine order. You are not a doormat. You are not subjecting yourself to abuse. You're not there to wait hand and foot on your husband. You are there as her helpmate. as his help me, as it was supposed to be in the Garden of Eden, so it should be in every Christian home. That the wife is placing herself under her husband's authority and allowing him to be the leader that God has called him to be within his home. Now again, there's some things that we read about the husband and where he should be and what he should be doing as we follow on here. You know, we could read stories time and time again of individuals who, in fact, I read of one account of a wife who went in to speak to a Christian counselor. She was being abused within her home, verbally and physically abused within her home, and the Christian counselor said, well, what you need to do is submit to your husband's authority, because that's what it says in Scripture. And that's not the kind of submission that we're talking about here. This is a godly home. This is a home that has understood what it means that I am in Christ and I am walking in the spirit and I am walking as God has appointed me to walk. so wives submit to your husbands in everything. Elizabeth Elliot wrote this. I just want to read it this morning. A honeymoon couple may be so dazzled with love that they fail to notice peculiarities which will soon surprise them. They return from the honeymoon The return from the honeymoon begins the naughty matters of the four B's. The bedroom, the bathroom, breakfast, and the budget. They may be in for a painful jolt. when they find that patience must do its perfect work. He wants the window open at night, she wants them closed. He fires his towel across the rack from the other side of the bathroom, she wants the towels neatly folded to show the monograms. He shoulders his way to the mirror to shave, can't fathom how she could take such ages with her hair. Alas, what revelations begin to surface. He's used to stretching out his frame diagonally across the bed, which consigns her to a triangle. But bless his heart, the next morning he helps her make the bed. His mother told him it's easy with two. Suppose he showers and she bathes. Will there be enough hot water for both? Somebody must make the coffee. Will he or she make it right? He expects country ham, two eggs, grits, and hot biscuits, while she somehow manages on a piece of dry toast. Then within a short time, one of them discovers that the other has no idea whatsoever about the use of money, a major setback. A bridegroom chooses to marry a woman because he loves her. Now he must choose to love her because he married her. He ought to cherish this responsibility and thank God daily for his gift. Anybody go through those situations? Marriage is about compromise, isn't it? Chris and I, when we first got married, she loved, if you've driven by our house, she loves window lights. And we had this discussion about how much electricity we're wasting if we leave those lights on all night. And so we compromised and we leave them on all night. And it didn't help any that one of our neighbors we had over our house during a snowstorm came by and she said, I knew where to turn because I saw the lights of your house and I knew where our house was. And I said, okay, well, they'll stay on. They'll stay on. But wives, we need to submit. You need to submit. Why? Because you're a follower of Jesus Christ. and you're seeking to honor God, there's three things here that starts with this idea of submission. First of all is the manner of submission. And in verse 22, Paul says, the manner of your submission is as to the Lord. Why are you submitting? Because you're a follower of Jesus Christ. Because you understand this idea of submission, how Christ submitted himself to the will of his father. How he came and he subjected himself to the limitations of this earthly body, and not only this earthly body, but death, and not only death, but the most cruel way to die, and that allowing himself to be crucified. So wives, as you submit, you are submitting as unto the Lord. So the manner of your submission reflects the image of Jesus Christ. What is the motive of your submission? Well, in verses 23, in verse 23, for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the body. of the church, his body, and is himself the Savior. Now as this church submits to Christ, this is the motive. Wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Now we probably should have started off with the men. so that, wives, you understand what the man's responsibility is in the home, so you need to come back next week so you get part two, and you hear what our responsibility is. But, wives, you are to submit as Christ, and you are to submit in everything, so your motivation is that of Christ again. As unto the Lord, as Christ submits, he has given the example of ultimate submission, ultimately placing himself under the authority of his Father. And what is the model of that submission? Well, obviously, as we read here, down into verse 24, now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands and everything. Our example, your example, is that of Jesus Christ. So we as husbands need to lead our wives as Christ leads the church. Again, we'll talk about that in a little bit. First Peter chapter three verses five and six speaks specifically to this again. Wives are to submit to their husband. The example that's given there by Peter is that of Sarah to Abraham. Why? Because Abraham walked with God. Abraham exemplified this picture of a man who was submitting himself to the authority of God. Also, the thought here, women, it says specifically, wives, it says specifically that you are to be in submission to your own husband. To your own husband. That's very specific, isn't it? He's writing to the church, and he says, every man doesn't have authority over every woman in the church. Wives, you are placing yourselves under the authority of your own husband. Again, it's that voluntary submission, but it also suggests intimacy and mutuality in that submission. Again, the distortion that came in Genesis leads us to the point of the struggles that we have within the home. That battle for authority, that battle for who's in charge, who's gonna call the shots. Those things come and if we're not where we are to be spiritually, if we're not submitting ourselves to Jesus Christ, if we're not willingly placing ourselves under his authority, the struggle is real. And the struggle will continue because we are all now battling for that authority. Men are battling Christ for the authority within his home. Now wives and husbands are battling because there isn't any example of what it means to be in submission to one another. Oh, that God would get a hold of our hearts. God does have a design and a plan for the family. No matter what the world tells us. Family is so important. Because as we continue to read, it is an example to the world of Christ's relationship to the church. And we want to be that example, don't we? We live in a world that's falling apart. We're living in a world that doesn't know what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Many within our culture now have never opened a Bible, have never heard what it means to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. We live in a different world. We live in a different culture. And my prayer is that we as a church would live out Christ in such a way within our daily lives as we are out there in the world, in our homes and in our families, that it is unmistakable that we are followers of Jesus Christ. And it starts with our understanding of who we are submitting to. That we are following this divine order that has been in place since the very beginning. Oh, that God might strengthen our homes. That as we talk next week to husbands specifically, but as we talk to women this morning, it doesn't start with you, it starts with the husbands, okay? But wives, submit to your husbands as Christ submitted himself to his Father's will. as He came and He died on the cross for our sins, so that we might have the hope of eternal life. And it is by faith and trust in the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we have this intimate personal relationship with the God of the universe. These things are hard to talk about. And I know when I talk to couples in premarital counseling, so often we get to this passage, we read these first few verses and the husbands or the husbands-to-be are nudging their wives and saying, are you listening to this? And then we get to the second part and the wives are nudging their soon-to-be husbands and saying, hey, are you listening to this? But the reality is Paul is telling us you need to listen to this. 9,500% of the struggles within homes have to do with this right here. From the beginning of chapter one to this point here, the struggles could be solved if we willingly place ourselves under the submission of Jesus Christ, as we submit ourselves to Jesus Christ and allow him to do his work in us and the rest of it falls into place. Father, I pray that you might guide our hearts, that you might speak to us this morning. And I know, Father, we spent time talking to wives this morning, but Father, next week as we talk to husbands, this all comes together as we talk to the children All of this comes together, Father, as we understand who we are in you because of the gift and the grace that you have shown us. Father, I pray that we might work hard that we might allow your spirit, as we talked about last week, that your spirit might fill us and continue to fill us day after day. And as your spirit fills us, we are transformed and we now live in the truth of your word. And we place ourselves under your authority. We submit ourselves to one another. And then the family relationships work out because wives are submitting to husbands. Husbands are submitting to Christ. Children are submitting to the authority of their parents. It changes churches, Father. It changes cultures. when families are living as you have ordained. Father, I pray that our church might be known for families that are living as you have prescribed. We love you, Father. We thank you for the word. We thank you for the challenge of your word in our hearts and lives. Father, just speak to us. These have been hard weeks as we've walked through these passages over these past four or five weeks. Father, I pray that you might continue to speak to us. That there might come this point that we confess what needs to be confessed, that we come and drop to our knees before you. surrendering our hearts and our lives and our minds and our being to you so that your spirit, the Holy Spirit, might do his work in us and then through your church for the advancement of your kingdom in a world that so desperately needs to hear. Father, thank you for this morning, the time to worship together. It's in your son's name we pray, amen.