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good good evening to everybody welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church it's a joy to be back in the house of the Lord uh on this second time on on his Lord's day it's wonderful to be with the people of Christ for uh for the worship of our Triune god um let's uh begin our worship then if you'll turn in your Bibles with me our call to worship is going to be uh a reading of and a finishing of Psalm 147 uh this time we'll pick up of course at verse 12 and we'll read to the end of the psalm Psalm 147 beginning at verse 12 this is the word of God praise the Lord oh Jerusalem praise your God o Zion for he has strengthened the bars of your Gates he has blessed your children within you he makes peace in your borders and fills you with the finest wheat he sends out his command to the Earth his word runs very swiftly he gives snow like wool he scatters the frost like a es he casts out his hail like morsels who can stand before his cold he sends out his word and melts them he causes his wind to blow and the waters flow he declares his word to Jacob his statutes and his judgments to Israel he has not dealt thus with any nation and as for his judgments they have not known them praise the Lord amen well let's stand and sing together our first hym is going to be 166 let's stand and sing 166 [Music] together PR you and Saints with joy deare your Mak and the children joy in their his and GL every of Joy his PR ISS with his and will with Grace ad you sa your joy glory in the name of God shall your eyes let praise to God for all his let's go to our God In Prayer let's pray Heavenly Father we rejoice in the fact that we can gather together on this second time in your house on this your Lord's day to Rejoice uh to rejoice and and praise in and to sing the Praises of Father Son and Holy Spirit we thank you so much that we can gather as the Saints of Christ in this place freely without the imposition of outside forces without hindrances we thank you that we have this opportunity to come into this place to sing praises to our blessed God and we do pray that you'd help us to count it a high honor to do so we pray that by your grace and by your spirit that you would cause us to worship you a right that we would be able to cast off uh intruding thoughts that we would be able to be solely focused upon the worship of our great God do help us in this we long for your name to be hallowed in this place and throughout the Earth and help us in that first case to in this Place hallow your most high name to worship you to sing your praises to to pray to you to read the scriptures to engage in that Central Act of uh of worship the preaching of your word do help us as we do so and might you be honored in this place we thank you for the Forgiveness of sins by Jesus Christ Our Lord we thank you for his perfect righteousness that avails with you imputed to those who believe in your name we rejoice in the Blessed Gospel of our blessed Christ we thank you for his life for his death for his resurrection we thank you for the Perfection of his work knowing that that is what Sinners need if they are able to stand before a righteous and a holy God we know that we are not saved by Deeds of righteousness which we have done but much rather according to your mercy you saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit and this by virtue of the Perfection of the saving work of Jesus Christ do help us to rejoice in our savior to sing his praises to reflect with great joy upon the doing and the dying and the rising again and the exaltation of the Son of God incarnate we do pray God that you would wash us aresh from all of our sins knowing that we do have that remaining corruption uh as Christians we do pray that you'd help us to fly quickly to that fountain that is open for sin and for un uncleanness we thank you for the shed blood of the Savior and that it is efficacious for the Forgiveness of sins we thank you Lord God for the fact that we can pray for one another as we have many items to to pray for throughout the week and throughout the month we think of all those who are struggling with illness with disease uh with injury those who are recovering we do pray Lord God that you bless each and every one of our precious Saints whether here with us or unable to join us that you would strengthen them in body we do pray uh Lord God for all those struggling spiritually that you would strengthen your people that that you would help them in the Inner Man to be returned unto the joy of their salvation uh that you might lift them up from out of those Low Places to uh to to cast good thoughts to cast heavy thoughts to cast precious thoughts upon their Triune God and upon their Christ and Lord God that you would lift them up again from those Low Places and we do pray Lord God specifically for uh this couple Steven Alberta that lost their home in a fire we do pray that you give them much strength as they uh as they deal with it it's quite a loss we do just pray that you'd strengthen them that you'd cause them in the midst of trial and loss to be looking to their savior to be looking to Christ and to be resting upon the the Triune God Of Heaven and Earth who does well for the good of his people we pray that you give them guidance as they move forward and uh Lord God that you would just strengthen them with the knowledge of our God we do pray that you'd be with those throughout the world that are persecuted for the cause of God and Truth uh we often Lord God God and perhaps more often ought to think about our brothers and sisters who are in Chains who are uh oppressed by the tyranny of governments oppressed by the tyranny of their own countrymen those who are opposed to Jesus Christ Our Savior and and Christianity we do pray that you'd be with our brothers and sisters strengthen them in the face of trial and affliction and we do pray God in the in the midst of The Madness of persecution that they would be able to with steadfast steadfastness look Upon Jesus Christ their exalted King and find comfort and courage uh in the king of kings and Lord of lords and we do pray that you would deal temporally with those who persecute your church we pray that In Due Time Lord God you would save those who are presently your enemies uh we have a a wonderful history of the enemies of God who are saved by amazing and Victorious Grace and and made to be strong voices even in the Church of Christ but in the very least to be made those who rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ and and are found to be the friends of the brothers and sisters of ours we do pray that you would do a mighty work of Salvation in these lands that those who are presently opposed to the King of Kings would be found by grace to bend a knee to him and we do pray that you would deal with those who oppose your people take them out of the way uh cause them to stumble like drunken men that they might not bring violence against your church we do pray Lord God that you would be with those who govern over us we pray that you would be with Kings with those in Authority uh that you would cause them or cause them to act such that we may live Peaceable lives and Proclaim freely the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world we pray that you would tear down those uh who rule casting Vice as virtue and virtue is vice we pray that you would tear down uh uh Wicked governments Lord God and even raise up such as would respect people would respect your law and respect things in a proper manner of equity righteousness and Justice we we do pray Lord God that you would now be with us in worship be with our pastor as he comes up here in a number of moments to preach your word we know that preachers rest not on their own strength on their own Laurels on their own wisdom but rather they rest upon a Triune God who can strengthen the men in the pulpits and cause them to preach with great courage and with great conviction the things of your Revelation to the sons of men and so do be with Pastor Butler strengthen him lift him up in this Pulpit that he might open his Bible and speak to us the words of truth be with us now help all that we do to be done unto the praise of Father Son and Holy Spirit and we pray in the name of Jesus Christ Our Savior amen let's stand and sing together another hymn before the reading of the scriptures this is 460 460 let's stand and sing [Music] together [Music] all is my to SA for shall chist and for to save me alone for shall [Music] crr in Earth to save for alone right [Music] to please turn in your Bibles with me to the Old Testament to the book of Deuteronomy as we read consecutively through the Old Testament in the evening Services we're now at Deuteronomy 12 so we'll read Deuteronomy 12 beginning in verse 1 to verse 32 which is the end of the chapter Deuteronomy 12 beginning at verse 1 once again the word of God these are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you to possess all the days that you live on the earth you shall utterly destroy all the places where the Nations which you shall dispossessed served their gods on the high mountains and on the hills and under every Green Tree and you shall destroy their altars break their sacred pillars and burn their wooden images with fire you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place you shall not uh you shall not Worship the Lord your God with such things but you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses out of all all your tribes to put his name for his dwelling place and there you shall go there you shall take your burnt offerings your sacrifices your tithes the heave offerings of your hand your vowed offerings your free will offerings and the firstborn of your herds and flocks and there you shall eat before the Lord your God and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand you and your households in which the Lord your God has blessed you you shall not at all all do as we are doing here today every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes for as you yet have not come to the rest and The Inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you but when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit and he gives you rest from all your enemies round about so that you will dwell in safety then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make his name abide there you shall bring all that I command you your burnt offerings your sacrifices your tithes the heave offerings of your hand and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God you and your sons and your daughters your male and female servants and the levite who is within your Gates since he has no portion nor inheritance with you take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see but in the place which the Lord chooses in one one of your tribes there you shall offer your burnt offerings and there you shall do all that I command you however you may Slaughter and eat meat within all your Gates whatever your heart desires according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you the unclean and the clean may eat of it of the gazelle and the deer alike Only You shall not eat the blood you shall pour it on the earth like water you may not eat within your Gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil of the firstborn of your herd or your flock of any of your offerings which you vow of your free will offerings or of the heave offering of your hand but you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses you and your son and your daughter your male servant and your female servant and the levite who is within your Gates and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands take heed to yourself that you you do not forsake the levite as long as you live in your land when the Lord your God enlarges your border as he has promised you and you say let me eat meat because you long to eat meat you may eat as much meat as your heart desires if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put his name is too far from you then you may Slaughter from your herd and from your flock which the Lord has given you just as I have commanded you and you may eat within your Gates as much as your heart desires just as the gazelle and the deer are eaten so you may eat them the unclean and the clean alike may eat them only be sure that you do not eat the blood for the blood is the life you may not eat the life with the meat you shall not eat it you shall pour it on the earth like water you shall not eat it that it may go well with you and your children after you when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord uh excuse me when you do what is right in the sight of the Lord only the holy things which you have and your vowed offerings you shall take and go to the place which the Lord chooses and you shall offer your burnt offerings the meat and the blood on the altar of the Lord your God and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of the Lord your God and you shall eat the meat observe and Obey all these words which I command you that it may go well with you and your children after you forever when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God when the Lord your God cuts off from before you the Nations which you go to dispossess and you displace them and dwell in their land take heed to yourself that you are not in snared to follow them after they are destroyed from before you and that you do not inquire after their God saying how did these nations serve their gods I also will do likewise you shall not Worship the Lord your God in that way for every Abomination to the Lord which he hates they have done to their gods for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods whatever I command you be careful to observe it you shall not add to it nor take away from it amen well let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for this the word of God we rejoice in its Revelation to us we thank you for the blessings that you pour out upon your people and we thank you ultimately Lord God that it wasn't by The Obedience of these that they gained the reward of everlasting ing life but it was by The Obedience of the true Israel even Jesus Christ the lord who came into this world Sinners to save we thank you for the Perfection of his obedience we thank you for the Perfection of his Covenant Fidelity we thank you for the Perfection of his redeeming work upon the cross of Calvary and we do just pray as prayed earlier that you would cause us to rejoice in our Christ to rejoice in our God to sing the Praises of Father Son and Holy Spirit we do pray that you'd be with the service in Armstrong next Lord's day uh we thank you for the blessings that you've poured out upon that church we pray that you'd be with uh Pastor Mal jars Pastor Butler and that you would be with Braum uh we do just pray that you would cause this to be a a blessed day for that church up there as they move forward in uh in doing the will of God in that place do continue to be with us now as we sing another hymn and as we engage in the preaching of the word help us to praise you help the Lord Jesus Christ to be exalted upon on the Praises of this gathered assembly of the Saints we pray in his name amen well let's stand and sing then our final hym before the preaching of the word will be 146 146 let's stand and sing together my praise him I will praise him all my days I will sing while I I will [Music] singes canot all their will to nothing when they perish in the bless man toless with all their he keeps his word for ever he is faithful ever he willice for S of to S their reles all the to the the Lord he Liv up all the right and the judg on the for the will forever forever hallelujah praise the Lord well you can turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians as we work our way through Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus we're in chapter 5 and our Focus tonight will be verses 22- 24 but I do want to read the the largest section beginning in verse 15 so the Apostle Paul tells us we're to walk as new men and women in Christ Jesus and then he gives concrete illustrations of that in chapter 5:1 we're to walk in love chapter 5:8 we to walk in light and then chap 5:1 15 we're to walk in wisdom and so that's our context so I'll pick up reading in chapter 5 at verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Redeeming the time because the days are evil therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not be drunk with wine and which is dissipation but be filled with the spirit speaking to one another in Psalms and H and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord giving thanks always for all things to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another in the fear of God wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church and he is the savior of the body therefore just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her that he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of Water by the word 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 so husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies he who loves his wife loves himself for no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it just as the Lord does the church for we are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh this is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church 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 amen well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for the Lord's day we thank you for the privilege to gather together in your house and to worship you in spirit and in truth we pray now that you would guide us by the Holy Spirit lead us into an understanding of your truth and help us by your grace to put it into practice and do forgive us for all sin all remaining corruption and God reach down in Mercy and Grace to any and all who are dead in their trespasses and sins and awaken them with that powerful voice of God most high that is able to crush The Cedars of Lebanon may you call Sinners out of Darkness into Marvelous Light confessing faith in our blessed savior and we pray in jesus' name amen well it is important for us to remember the structure in the book of Ephesians so the first two chapters are doctrinal and basically answer the question how is man saved well the answer is very clear it's by grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone and then chapter 3 is a bit of a transition chapter Paul indicates his role in terms of God's Redemptive plan he speaks concerning the mystery which is Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God and then chapters 4 to6 are practical in nature in other words you've been saved by God's grace through the blood of the Cross you've been given this alien righteousness received by faith alone so in chapters 4 to six he answers the question how then are you supposed to live how do you conduct yourself as saved Sinners and we mustn't forget that because I'm going to preach the law tonight we are not saved by the law we are saved by grace the law shows us our sin the law shows us our need for the Lord Jesus and as Blood Bought children who have the Holy Spirit the law provides that pattern for us on how we're to conduct ourselves but ladies you're not saved because you're an exemplary wife you are saved because Christ is an exemplary savior here it is because of him that we enter into heaven and so never forget that never get uh lose sight of the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ when we deal with law passages we need to remind ourselves of the Gospel of Jesus well in the particular section we find ourselves in as I said in chapter F uh chapter 5 specifically at verses 15 to 17 the Apostle gives a general exhortation to walk in wisdom he then gives a specific Prohibition in verse 18a do not be drunk with wine and which is dissipation and then he gives a positive exhortation in verse 18b but be filled with the spirit and those who are filled with the spirit will look like what he says in the remaining section they will speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs they will make melody in their hearts and praise the Lord Jesus Christ they will Express gratitude to God through Jes Jesus Christ in all things and then they will submit to one another in the fear of God so verse 21 is a general exhortation concerning submitting to one another in the fear of God and then from verse 22 all the way to chapter 6 verse 9 we see that uh fleshed out in concrete situations in relationships wives and husbands children and parents servants and Masters and so the Apostle gives concrete illustration to what it means or what it looks like in terms of submitting to one another in the fear of God often times these sections of scripture are referred to as a household code in other words the duties the responsibilities the things that are requisite for those who live together and relate to one another so when we look at our particular section in verses 22 to 20 uh 22 to 33 you've got first the exhortation to wives in verses 22 to 24 and then second the exhortation to husbands in verses 25-33 we'll just take up that first section tonight with reference to the wives there was a recent Babylon B article and it said according to experts reminding your wife what the Bible says she or reminding your B wife the Bible says she should submit leads to the happiest marriages now you need to know that the Babylon B is satire as a pastor I can confirm that Brothers reminding your wives of her responsibility is probably not the best way to pursue a happy marriage Now ladies this is probably going to be a bit difficult to hear but Paul the The Inspired Apostle of our blessed savior gives specific commands men are called upon women are called upon we're going to deal with women under three considerations first the duty of submission in verse 2 2 second the reason for submission in verse 23 and then finally the practice of submission in verse 24 but with reference to the duty I've got four things to consider first the meaning of the word second other spheres of submission third the limitation with reference to submission and then fourth the nature of submission but first of all we ask the question what does a word mean I mean it's a very simple word wives submit to your own husbands there's something that probably rubs us a little raw when we read that if we have been schooled in the modern era we are uh heavy doses of feminism heavy doses of attacks on the family heavy doses of you can be whatever it is you want and you don't need to be held down by anybody so we come to these words at times and we're already bristling a little bit well let's just Define the word according to a a Greek dictionary bday it means to subject oneself be subjected or subordinated obey of submission involving recognition of an ordered structure now the old uh Webster's Dictionary of 1828 defines it this way to yield resign or surrender to the power will or authority of another now when it comes to this particular verb that is utilized it's actually picked up from verse 21 it's in What's called the middle voice so that means that the subject of that verb willingly engages in this activity this is not a case of compulsion this is not a case of coercion she does not have a a gun to her head rather she willingly engages in this act of submission and remember that the woman agreed to marry her husband now we're not in sort of a situation at least here in North America where we have arranged marriages you picked your bride and you picked your bridegroom and you stood up before God and men and you covenanted ladies to honor and obey your husband so there is that willingness involved in the particular activity there is the willingness involved in this uh uh function uh uh in terms of submission now secondly other spheres of submission it's not just women or wives that are called upon to submit to their husbands we see submission all over the place verse 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God you've got the family Rel relationship wives submit to their husbands children obey their parents and honor their parents all of us have responsibility in the Civil sphere to submit to the governing authorities for there is no Authority except from God and those which exist are established by God as well in the church in ecclesiastical settings there is this mandate in Hebrews 13:7 and Hebrews 13:17 to submit to the ruler not the ruler in terms of the ecclesiastical realm but in terms of a leader with reference to that that church setting and there is an interesting and curious illustration that we should Reve uh look at in Luke's gospel in Luke Chapter 2 we need to understand that this submission is not predicated upon the Perfection of the entity being submitted unto other words we can't say well the government's terrible so therefore I'm not going to submit my husband's terrible so therefore I'm not going to submit my pastor is terrible so therefore I'm not going to submit now there might be reasons why you should find another Pastor another church there might be reasons why you should move to Costa Rica there might be reasons why there the that that you might take a different course but you can't you can't just say because this person is imperfect notice in Luke's gospel specifically at chapter 2 in verse 51 then he this is Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them but his mother kept all the these things in her heart and Jesus increased in wisdom in stature and in favor with God and Men remember the hypostatic union of Our Lord one person two Natures there is the Divinity and there is the humanity certainly as Divinity he doesn't submit to his Earthly parents but according to his Humanity he does and these were imperfect people Joseph and Mary were not wholly harmless and undefiled they were not without spot or blemish they were not without sin they were not in a position to never be wrong to never ever give a command or never ever given instruction that would be wrong and yet Jesus Christ according to his Humanity submits willingly to that so with reference to submission it's not simply confined to a wife to her husband we all have this responsibility to one degree or other now thirdly the limitation it's right there in the text verse 22 First Wives he's not speaking to women and men he's not saying all women must be submissive to all men that's not the point he is speaking to wives and he is telling them that their responsibility or their duty is to submit to their own husband not to every other husband out there not to every man out there again Paul's not a Muslim Paul is not embracing Islam he's not teaching this sort of subjection on the part of women to all men that are out there this is a limiting thing this is a blessed thing wives submit to your own husbands now with reference then finally under this head the duty of submission notice the nature of it it's that last bit in verse 22 that says as to the Lord and I think this describes the motive and the manner the motive and the manner with reference to submission in the home it is a religious Duty in fact Matthew P makes the observation as unto the Lord for the Lord's sake who hath commanded it so that you can cannot be subject to him without being subject to them in other words if you are not subject to your own husband and you profess faith in our Lord Jesus Christ you are not being subject to the Lord Jesus Christ it's a very simple and a very clear situation and so there is this religious obligation in terms of motivation turn over to the book of Titus as well to see the religious nature of submission on the part of a Christian woman to to her own hus been notice in Titus 2 specifically at verse 5 several and varied instructions given to various people groups in the church first older men verse two older women verse three and then the younger women in verses four and five so notice the older women are to instruct the younger women according to verse four that they admonish the young women to love their husbands to love their children to be discreet chaste Homemakers good obedient to their own husbands now notice the stakes that the word of God may not be blasphemed other words the religious nature of this is seen in the reality that if a woman does not Embrace her function if she does not Embrace her role if she does not Embrace this command to submit to her own husband as to the Lord she is in danger of promoting blasphemy against the very word of God most high so that's the motive but in terms of the manner when we go back to verse 2 two wives submit to your own husbands as to the Lord I've already mentioned this submission is willing this isn't coercion this isn't compulsion you have not been forced into this there was no shotgun behind your back or behind your man's back you went into this willingly now may I just say as a sideline note to our single people here that you really pay attention to this passage of scripture that you really Ponder the implications involved in marriage that you don't rush to the altar because you've got to get married no you've got to make sure that you honor God you've got to make sure that you're the kind of guy that Paul commands you to be and you're the kind of woman that Paul commands you to be so there is a gravity involved I think if there was more pondering more contemplation more examination on the front end I would bet there would be less divorce on the back end because if you don't consider the situation if you don't count the cost if you do not take this seriously you're going to have problems now again I'm not God I'm not infallible I am wrong a lot but this much I think I can speak to if you don't do the work on the front end you're going to have problems on the back end so the submission is willing but the submission is also joyful how are we supposed to submit to our blessed savior okay I'll do what you say but I really don't want to okay I'll do what you say but but you know in my heart I I'm just not happy about this if as parents when you give a an exhortation to your child to comply with a particular instruction what do you do if they have that kind of an attitude you check them on it don't you you call them out you say well it's not enough for you just to pick up your socks but you need to do it at least with a degree of joyfulness I mean it's not a happy task to be sure but you can't show your displeasure you cannot reveal that sort of thing if that is in your heart you need to subdue that so our service to the Lord or our submission to the lord it's not supposed to be grudging it's not supposed to be upsetted it's not supposed to be well you know I'm going to do do it but I just don't really want to do it no there's a willingness there's a joyfulness but then there's a comprehensiveness and we'll see that specifically at the end of verse 24 in everything according to verse 24 we offer a qualification there in everything that is lawful if your husband commands you to engage in sin you must obey God rather than men so all human observance to other human beings has a qualification it has a built-in limitation if somebody commands you to sin you are free to invoke the principle in Acts 529 we must obey God rather than men now in terms of a bit of a summary statement with reference to what's involved in submission listen to John Gil he says they should think well of their husbands just giving a bit of a dimension in terms of how this looks they should speak becomingly to them and respectfully of them the wife should take care of the family and family affairs according to the husband's will should imitate him in what is good and bear with that which is not so agreeable she should not curiously inquire into his business but leave the management of it to him it's a bit of an odd one but you know hey that's Gil in his time some of us like to talk to our wives about stuff and that's okay too he goes on to say she should help and assist in caring and providing for the family and should abide with him in prosperity and adversity and do nothing without his will and consent again if we are conditioned by feminism in our generation we're going to bck at this we're going to bristle at that you're not the boss of me you don't have that authority over me again Brethren the Apostle Paul says that a man does you you you can't evade that you may not like it at some level it might cause you to bristle at some level but again think about this before you say I do CU When you say I do and you enter into those vows and you Covenant and promise to be a an obedient and faithful and and honoring wife you're you're in it you have to do it as well Matthew Henry makes the observation whatever there is of un uneasiness in this it is an effect of sin coming into the world in that original condition of Innocence when God makes Adam plants him in the garden brings Eve to him she's the helper to Adam there would have been no bristling there there would have been no ah you're not the boss of me Adam there would have been none of that she would have Faithfully lovingly willingly and joyfully complied with his instructions because that's how God designed it again you can see why feminism you can see why transgenderism you can see why homosexuality you can see why all of these things that are perverse because they want to destroy the god-designed nature the good god-designed nature of creation they want to invert it they want to turn it on its head they want to obliterate it and abolish it they want to decimate it well The Church Must Stand Fast The Church Must Stand faithful The Church Must persevere with reference to those things that are commanded for both men and women for both husband and wife so that's the duty secondly notice the reason for submission in verse 23 and he gives two two reasons first the creation of man and then the comparison with Christ notice in verse 23 for the husband is head of the wife now in terms of the grammar in this text notice that this is what's called the indicative and the indic indicative is is the mood of reality there's another mood in Greek and and in English called the imperative an imperative is a command notice that Paul does not say to married couples in Ephesus okay on your wedding night sit down at your kitchen table and figure out who has the best ability to lead figure out who's better suited to be the head in this relationship and whichever one has the strengths has the abilities has the wherewithal then that one from then on will be the that's not what he says the husband is that's the indicative mood he doesn't say the husband is is is hopefully going to be husband's your head whether you're a good one or a bad one you're nevertheless the head in your family remember after that plunge into sin by Adam and Eve who does God address first he goes to Adam why because Adam is the head of the family Adam is the head of his bride and and it's Adam whose responsibility it was to protect her and to watch over her and to lead her and to care for her Adam doesn't do that of course because when he's called out on the carpet he first blames God the woman whom thou Hast given me other words God if you hadn't given her to me we wouldn't be in this mess and then he throws her under the bus in terms of her responsibility in this affair but nevertheless he is the head and that's the grammar of our text husbands or for the husband is head of the wife the verb is an indicative not an imperative the Apostle does not command Christian couples to find out who's the better suited and let that one function in that capacity and then notice the noun itself indicates a leadership role for the husband is head now head has been tried to some have tried to explain it people that would disagree with this sermon as being Source or origin she she comes from Adam but that's not how it's used here Brethren it's used in the way of leadership it's used of that uh uh Christ in in in Ephesians 1:22 he's he's the head over over all things for the church now he is source and origin to be sure but in that context it's talking about his exaltation it's talking about his his his role as our head as our leader as our governor as our Sovereign Lord so the particular text in view here indicates that the husband is and what is he he's the head of the wife listen to Charles Hodge's commentary he says the the headship of man cannot be denied or disregarded without destroying society and degrading both men and women making the one effeminate and the other masculine one wonders if hjj fell out of heaven in the 21st century North America what he might discover he might discover that he was speaking prophetically in terms of what does obtain when those distinctions are obliterated in and by a society let me just read it again the headship of man cannot be denied or disregarded without destroying society and degrading both men and women making the one AFF feminite and the other masculine of course some will say but what about a woman who's got great strengths and Gifts we're going to deal with that when we get to the men the Bible has a word for a man who doesn't utilize the strengths and the value of his wife the Bible calls him a fool the Bible calls him a naball the Bible says that he's a meat hat if he does not utilize the gifts and the strengths that his wife brings to the table we're dealing with the wise right now and the specific reason for this is the creation of man now notice several texts that confirm this turn to 1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 deals with life in the church you've got texts that speak to life in the home and you've got texts that speak to life in the church now when it comes to life in the church God insists on male leadership God insists on men pastoring God insists on men Deacon God insists on men leading in the context of the local church now 1 Corinthians 11 is one of those passages that deal with men head men's headship in the life of the church notice in verse three but I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ the head of woman is man and the head of Christ is God and then drop down to verses 7 and N seven and N for a man indeed ought not to cover his head since he is the image and glory of God but woman is the glory of man for man is not from woman but woman from man nor was Man created for the woman but woman for the man and then turn over to 1 Corinthians chap 14 again this is in the context of the church why don't you guys have women pastors because God says men are supposed to be pastors it's really that simple why do you say that women shouldn't be pastors because God says that women shouldn't be pastors notice in 1 Corinthians 14:34 let your women keep silent in the churches for they are not permitted to speak but they are to be submissive as the law also says I think law is more expansive there and probably includes Genesis chapters 1:3 God's design in the created order is that Adam is the head of the wife then wife Eve comes to Adam to function in that manner of a help me as one that assists him one that is comparable to him in the event or or or for the effect of doing what he has been called to do in terms of tending the garden so you've got the church and then you've got as well the home we see that here in Ephesians chapter 5 you see it in Colossians chapter 3 we saw it there in Titus Chapter 2 but turn to one more passage in First Peter 1 Peter chapter 3 1 Peter chapter 3 perhaps some of you have read the the story of of CH Spurgeon and his wife Susanna she referred to him as tatha tatha means governor oh that's pretty harsh that's PR pretty terrible I think it was affectionately I doubt she did it with a gun you call me tatha baby no that's not how it was she referred to him with that kind of respect that kind of love and that kind of Honor how did Sarah address Abraham look at First Peter 3: 6 wives likewise be submissive to your own husbands and notice ladies the command doesn't change based on the reality that your husband's unconverted this is what I call the tough pill any of you young people that have come into my office for premarital counseling I typically always give you the tough pill I'd like to ask any of the young people that are here do you remember what the tough pill is the tough pill is that you must obey Ephesians 5 whether or not your spouse does puzz husbands love your wives as long as they're submitting to you and honoring you and are altogether lovely wives be submissive to your own husbands in so far as he exemplifies the Perfection of Jesus and his careful compassionate and kind leadership no that's why I also say we should try to help each other if my task is to love my wife as Christ loved the church then I'd like to think she wants to try to be lovable if her task is to submit to me I don't want to be a constant irritant I don't want to be an ogre I don't want to be a tyrant I don't want to make her task more difficult I have this zany notion that husbands and wives are workers with one another for their joy to help them along to heaven to comply with the commands of God in a reciproc uh with reciprocity I love she submits she submits I love now notice that Paul does not address the wives in Ephesians 5 to love their husbands I think the reason why is that he assumes that it said stated specifically there in Titus 2 4 and 5 but I think that Paul is addressing us where we need addressing I think the tendency in a woman a tendency in a wife now I'm not trying to you know cast tigate anybody or say anything bad got biblical warrant for saying this is that mindset of you're not the boss over me you're you're not the governor over me you're not my tatha and what's a husband's proclivity to not show the love and the kindness and the care for his bride that he ought to so when Paul does this when he tells wives to submit I think he's doing it because that's a predilection toward them tonight do when he tells the husbands to love he wants them to really love and so when it comes to these particular things we need to understand that the tough pill is Even If my spouse isn't perfect I still need to do it just like that Luke 251 thing so back to First Peter 3 wives likewise 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 so there could be a situation where you're married to a man who's an unconverted man notice what Peter doesn't say Badger him each and every day with the gospel harp on him incessantly with the gospel no of course tell him the gospel of course encourage him to come to church to hear the gospel but what is Peter's demand Peter's demand is that you live with them in such a way that they without a word may be won by the conduct of their wives when they observe your Chase conduct accompanied by fear do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging the hair wearing gold or putting on fine apparel rather let it be the hidden person of the heart with The Incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet Spirit which is very precious in the sight of God for in this manner in former times the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves being submissive to their own husbands as Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him Lord whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any Terror Brothers I want to remind you the Babylon B don't go home tonight and say honey from here on out I'm tatha I'm Governor I'm Lord that that's the marching orders please don't do that you're going to probably all be in my office by the end of the week that's not going to go well but with reference to this whole idea we have the creation account as paradigmatic for both creation and Redemption remember we're renewed we're made a we've been renewed in knowledge and righteousness according to Ephesians chapter 4 We're new creatures in Christ Jesus notice that Paul doesn't obliterate what was done in the garden he takes what was done in the garden and and says that that is is a pattern for Life In Christ for Redemptive ethic and then notice this comparison with Christ verse 203b and he is the I'm sorry as also Christ is head of the church and he is the savior of the body there's that same indicative it's not like you know who's going to be the head the church or Christ Christ is the head of the church and this re reality that he is the savior of the body shows that he is caring shows that he is compassionate shows that he is kind shows that he is providing protection and stability and things that are good so this idea of a wife submitting to her own husband that's not a bad thing that's the orbit in which God blesses that's a good thing and if your husband is the kind of man that takes Ephesians 5 25-33 seriously then it's going to be a blessing for you to submit to him Christ lovingly leads his church it is her joy to submit Christ lovingly protects her church or his church it is therefore her joy to submit and the man who fulfills the obligation placed upon Him is a man that it is good to submit to and a woman who fulfills her obligation is the kind of the woman that you want to lovingly lead again the reciprocity love your wife and then she submits submit to your husband and he loves it's this great circle of blessing and joy and happiness do you know what always happens one or both don't do that one or both abandon the whole scheme one or both say well you know I'm I'm not going to do this or one or both say I mean it could be both right both of I'm not going to love that woman the way that I'm supposed to and I'm not going to submit to that man the way that I'm supposed to well that's a problem and again let's go back to to the front end think through this stuff before you go up before God and men and say I do take some personal responsibility and realize that when you say I do it comes with several obligations upon you I like the way Jay Adams describes marriage he calls it a a covenant of companionship and he says that one of the things that people do when they get married is they're looking for what they can get oh this one will satisfy all my needs this one can you know make good waffles this one is a hard worker and he's got a big bank account th this one is going to do we should be looking at marriage as how we can give how we can serve how we can Aid how we can assist how we can help get rid of The Selfish orientation that says I miss this for me when persons are in marriage for me it never goes well Brethren it just doesn't the way to oil the wheels of progress in terms of Christian marriage is to obey God as he speaks to us through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 that's the way it's tough It's hard we bristle we've got problems men often abdicate instead of being the head they're passive and they they don't engage as they ought but hopefully they hear the word of God they've blood bought by the the the Lord Jesus Christ their Spirit-filled and they say you know what I need to man up and I need to actually do what Paul commands me here if I'm a lady I need to woman up and do what Paul actually commands here and when we start looking out for the interests of others then that's when blessing typically flows it's generally the case now notice thirdly and finally the practice of submission looks like repetition in verse 24 but it's implication it's application it's parallel it's analogy therefore just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything she is subject to her head the Lord Jesus Christ now if you look at this particular section husbands love as Christ loved the church church that's a perfect standard wives submit the way the church does to Christ that's an imperfect standard right if you're in the church you have to confess it's imperfect because you and I are here we don't always submit the way we ought in terms of the church so ladies don't say well you know I'm like the church I've got some defects I've got some blemishes but but that's okay no don't argue that way just as the church is subject to our blessed savior so wives must be subject to their own husbands in everything notice in verse 33 this is where he sort of summarizes the entirety of the argument verse 32 is curious this is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church the book of Song of Solomon it's not about love love manual for newly married people it's God in Israel it's Christ and his church Psalm 45 you see that bridegroom Christ Mary to the church so what Paul is speaking of in terms of the husband and wife relationship is the point but it's not the point in fact what he is saying is that when you as Christians enter into marriage you are communicating something about Jesus and his church you're either doing a good job in communicating that or doing a bad job in communicating that but doing a job communicating that most certainly you are because a husband and a wife who confess saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ must function in an anous relationship to Jesus and his church so the church functions here as the standard for the wife so therefore just as the church is subject to Christ so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything now that's where this qualification is made by me and I think Paul would affirm this the church must not pick and choose first let's deal with that little phrase in everything well certainly that can't mean waffles yeah it does if he's not telling you to sin I don't know that I found where thou must not make waffles is in the Bible now if you're a husband again don't be a nayball you have to make waffles baby no no choose your Hills to die on wisely choose your Hills to to to to to battle on and I don't mean physically you you all understand you're all married or most of you are married so so understand there are you know marriage is a series of battles it's a series of moving the ball down the field trying to do it together to be sure but again one time other some of us mess up and fumble but with reference to this she must not pick and choose as Church to Christ well we like you know six out of the Ten Commandments or seven out of the Ten Commandments those other ones we don't like no it's in everything that the church renders subjection to our lord Jesus well the same thing in a marriage it's in everything everything that's what the text says Brethren I I mean my eyes work pretty well that it says that right there so let let the wives be to their own husbands in everything now now wives understand I'm going to try to hit the men in a couple of weeks and say again don't be nealls don't be fools don't press your love for waffles to the point where she is so upset with you she would rather move out you know that that's not wise there's wisdom and judiciousness that that need to go along with marriage if you're a blockhead you're going to have problems the way of the transgressor is hard according to Solomon in Proverbs 13:15 it it's just it is the way of the treacherous the way of the transgressor the way of the Unfaithful it's it's just hard you don't smooth out a marriage relationship by being a blocket it just doesn't work and ladies it doesn't work for you by being a shrew by being that sort of person that that you know you're not the boss of me again why did you say I do why did you Covenant to honor and obey are these just empty meaningless words do these just it's just what we do it's tradition we we have to stand before God we have to stand before man and we have to ring out these these these useless words oh yeah I'm going to honor and obey well you need to ponder the implications of honor and obey but again look at verse 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 she respects her husband dare I tell you what the Greek word is here it's fear now that's not he's going to whack me so I better do what I'm supposed to it's fear like the way Christians are to fear God there's a reverence there's a respect there's an esteem that's what Biblical fear is now there is a running from God because he's going to judge you sort of a fear but the fear of God that leads to life is that reverential awe before our blessed God so Paul as he encapsulates or as he summarizes he says to the wife that she respects her husband that means you're not rolling his eyes every or rolling your eyes every time he talks that means you're not saying n I'm not going to do that I'm just no you're not the boss of me these these sorts of things it's just not right and then the qualification and everything lawful the principle of Acts 5 verse 29 applies here in verses 27 to 29 we read and when they had brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name and look you have filled Jerusalem with your Doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us but Peter and the other Apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men if your husband commands you to engage in sexual immorality you obey God rather than men your husband tells you commands you to commit abortion or murder you obey God rather than men if your husband commands you to lie and deceive so that you can protect him and his sinfulness you need to obey God rather than men your husband says you can't do this and it's contrary to the word of God you must obey God rather than men so this isn't a blanket statement that your little automatons and whatever he says you know he says jump and you you just you know say how hi no that's not it Brethren that's not it at all it is in everything but it's in everything that is lawful now in conclusion just a couple of thoughts and then we'll go first encouragement to the wives you probably thinking I don't feel very encouraged right now hopefully you do you are blood bought and spirit F and therefore enabled by God in his grace to comply with this that's my encouragement whatever God calls us to do as Believers in Jesus Christ he gives us the grace requisite so that we can comply she go well I just can't do that well you're going to have to repent I just won't do that you're going to have to repent I just I don't have a heart for that you're going to have to repent sorry I'm I'm saying that as in encouragingly as I possibly can but you need to hear it now to the husbands you are called to lovingly lead your wife if we had to summarize the emphasis of the Apostle that's it love and Lead now when you do that do so in a Biblical way so that submission to you is Pleasant it's not a chore it's not a heartache it's not a heart a a a challenge oh oh this this guy is just such a wretch he's he's horrible he's a monster I I can't do it I won't do it I I'll never be able to do no Brethren be faithful love your wives so that she will happily comply with her particular responsibility now to married couples as I've already said I already gave you the tough bill just remember it your obedience is not predicated on hers or your obedience is not predicated on hers well when she she's really lovely then I'll love her as Christ loved the church when he's really Godly then I'll submit to him as to the Lord no what's Matthew 7:12 tell us in the the Golden Rule let me just rehearse it for you Matthew 7:12 therefore whatever these two words kind of change the orientation of the the command therefore whatever you want men to do to you do also to them for this is the law and the prophets do to them as you want them to do to you not as they actually are doing to you see the difference well I'm not going to treat that person with the respect and dignity they deserve because they don't treat me that way but you want them to don't you well yeah I want them well that's the gold and Rule same with this whole emphasis here on submission and on loving leadership you can't say well he's not worthy of it or she's not worthy of it Brethren you need to do what God calls you to do and then encouragement to the single people the people that want to get married if you're single and you don't want to get married you can tune out but to the single people that want to get married make yourself marriable make yourself marriable you know it's Times Like These we hear sermons and say Lord God give me a woman that'll submit to me you should first pray God make me the kind of man that can lovingly lead and then give me a woman that can submit to me or if you're a woman God give me a man that will lovingly lead me why don't you first pray God help me to be the kind of woman that will be able to submit you got to ask that question you you've got to ponder that you've got to be marable as well the necessity to find the spouse that God has for you just because a man is a Christian and a woman is a Christian doesn't necessarily mean those two should get married there's this interesting account you've heard me quote it it's in Ian Murray's uh biography on Jonathan Edwards talking about Edwards I think they had n9ine to 11 kids I I can't remember they had a few you know mortality but not all the children were as mild as jerusa or as obedient as Esther the quick temper of Sarah the eldest daughter so persisted that according to tradition when her hand was asked in marriage by eliu Parsons 10 years later Edwards quote plainly disclosed to him the unpleasant temper of his daughter but she has Grace I trust asked Parsons to which Edwards replied I hope she has but Grace can live where you cannot so just because one is a Christian and the other is a Christian there's still things like ability to communicate ability to stand one another you know physical attraction there's just a lot of chemistry involved in this so so make sure you're mindful of that and then something I typically try to encourage single persons that want to get married with is try to be content in your present State try to be content in your present State desperation is not not an attractive trait and trying to cultivate that Spirit of contentedness where God has you is crucial listen to Watson Watson says Satan loves to fish in the troubled waters of a discontented heart wow let me just repeat that Satan loves to fish in the troubled waters of a discontented heart that doesn't just apply to single persons wanting to get married but it certainly applies to single persons wanting to get married be content with the place that God has you in and if it is God's plan purpose and will to provide for you a Mis or a Mrs Right then praise him for that but don't get ahead of yourselves secondly by way of examination if the idea of submission to you is that it's Antiquated and therefore outdated you need to repent if the idea that submission is not fair you need to realize that it is and you need to repent and if the idea is is that submission is degrading you need to understand that it's not and you need to repent let me just rehearse Charles hodj again we're about to close the headship of man cannot be denied or disregarded without destroying society and degrading both men and women making the one feminine and the other masculine I can't help but think pregnant man emoji in your phone has come as a result of this swap of this inversion of the effeminate man and the masculine woman there is nothing wrong with femin uh feminine qualities and characteristics in a woman there's nothing wrong with masculine qualities and characteristics in a man God made it this way and it's good why do we recoil against it why do we resist it why do we say oh no we're much smarter now women can do everything that a man can do no they can't Brethren Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit calls them the weaker vessel I remember and I'm sure anybody who's gone to commercial gym men that do a little bit of bench pressing will warm up with what a woman does as a Max you're warming up with whatever that particular weight is and if a woman gets that it's her Max lift there's nothing wrong with that there's nothing bad about that the answer isn't throw testosterone in her so she can get more on the bench press no feminist uh feminine qualities are fantastic in feminine people in in women sorry I don't want to sound like a a woke one and masculine qualities are good in men this is the way God made it it's it's a blessing the cursing comes when we invert it the cursing comes when we obliterate it the cursing comes with the man who's going to be passive the man who's going to let his wife run the show we use is that common parament who wears the pants and the family Brethren it is not right the man is supposed to lead because he is the head the wife is supposed to submit why because that's how God designed it and happiness and joy and fulfillment are found in that and then as I started with ladies I will finish the Gospel of Jesus Christ is your hope my hope is built on nothing less than jesus' blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on jesus' name you're not saved by virtue of the fact that you're an exemplary wife you are saved hopefully to pursue and become an exemplary wife but on that day of judgment it's the doing and the dying and the rising of Jesus that is your warrant to enter into heaven never forget that when we talk law we need to remind ourselves of gospel we need to remember there is a fountain open for sin and uncleanness that we as married couples need to apply to very often in the E and flow of our marriages well let us pray Our God and our father we thank you for your word we thank you for the clearness the clarity the Simplicity of what you call us to in terms of family I pray that you would help us as men and as women to embrace these things and by the presence and the power of that Holy Spirit that we are to be filled with we would comply we would obey and we would do so with a joyfulness and a willingly a willingness and with a a desire to bring glory and honor to you in our homes we I pray that you would go with us now watch over us in this coming week and God please be glorified in the midst of this local church and we ask in jesus' name amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation