EPHESIANS 5:21-33 “WHAT’S A MAN TO DO?”
INTRO: IMAGINE PUTTING TOGETHER A JIGSAW PUZZLE.
NOW PUT TOGETHER A JIGSAW PUZZLE WITHOUT SEEING THE BOX TOP, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS WE KNOW WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS TO LOOK LIKE.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT MEN ARE DOING TODAY, WE ARE TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE WITHOUT EVER SEEING WHAT THE FINISHED PRODUCT IS TO LOOK LIKE.
WE HAVE GONE FROM - OZZIE & HARRIET (A HUSBAND AND WIFE LIVING TOGETHER, RAISING A FAMILY, NOT PERFECT, BUT AT LEAST INTACT) TO OZZIE OSBOURNE (LEAD SINGER FOR BLACK SABBATH) BANNED FROM CITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD – BITING HEADS OFF OF BATS – LYRICS OF SUICIDE – THE OSBOURNE’S IS CURRENTLY THE #1 MTV SHOW WHERE THERE ARE MORE BLEEPS THAN THERE ARE WORDS – DISRESPECTING HIS CHILDREN, HIS WIFE, LIFE IN GENERAL & ANYTHING THAT IS DECENT & MORAL.
FROM FATHER KNOWS BEST TO THE SIMPSONS (WHERE THE FATHER IS A DOOFUS, WHO GOES AROUND DISRESPECTING HIS FAMILY, LYING, CHEATING & TEACHING HIS CHILDREN TO DO THE SAME.)
???WHERE IS THE BOX TOP??
FORGET HOLLYWOOD, WE WILL NEVER FIND OUR MODEL OF WHAT A MAN SHOULD BE THERE.
LOOK AROUND YOU, IN YOUR LIFE, WHERE ARE THE MEN OF GOD, FOLLOWING BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES, THAT CAN MENTOR AND TEACH US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MAN.
1. A MAN DESIGNED BY GOD TO BE THE LEADER OF A HOME.
2. A NURTURING, UNDERSTANDING HUSBAND.
3. A LOVING, INSTRUCTIONAL FATHER.
4. A MAN OF HIS WORD AMONG HIS FRIENDS.HOW MANY CAN YOU NAME?
GO AHEAD MAKE A LIST. NAME ALL THE MEN YOU PERSONALLY KNOW THAT YOU CAN MODEL YOUR LIFE AFTER.
WE MUST RETURN TO THE BIBLE TO SEE THE BOX TOP. NOT WHAT WE THINK, SOCIETY THINKS, GQ, COSMOPOLITAN OR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINES THINK.WHAT IS GOD’S BOXTOP FOR A MAN.
WHAT DOES THE FINISHED PRODUCT LOOK LIKE?
???WHAT’S A MAN TO DO???
AT THIS POINT THERE WILL BE LADIES SAYING YEP, YOU SHOULD BE DOING THAT AND YOU ARE NOT – GOD’S GONNA GET YOU.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WILL BE MEN WHO ARE SAYING YEP, SEE THERE, I HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL ALONG, I AM IN CHARGE.
MEN, PRAY THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE WHAT GOD HAS FOR YOU THROUGH HIS WORD, WITHOUT GOING ON A POWER TRIP. LADIES, RIGHT NOW, PLEASE PRAY FOR YOUR HUSBANDS, KIDS PRAY FOR YOUR DADS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TOUGH, TOUGH JOB AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT MODELED, THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT THE BOX TOP LOOKS LIKE.
AND YET, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE PERFECT AT HOME, AT WORK, AT PLAY.
A GODLY MAN IN THE HOME WILL BE;
1. PRESIDENT
2. PRIEST
3. PROVIDERMAN WILL BE PRESIDENT IN HIS HOME
WHAT DO WE DO WITH VS 21 – SUBMIT TO ONE ANOTHER? I THOUGHT I WAS PRESIDENT. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, JESUS IS OUR MODEL, OUR BOXTOP. JESUS WAS IN CHARGE, BUT STILL SUBMITTED TO HIS FATHER. NEVER BECOME TOO IMPORTANT TO SUBMIT TO OTHERS. IF YOU ARE NOT IN A PLACE WHERE YOU MUST SUBMIT, THEN PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU MUST SUBMIT, IT IS THE PLACE CHRIST PUT HIMSELF.
A. (VS 22) STEP UP AS THE LEADER.
1. WELCOME THE FRONT. IMAGINE THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A. STAYING IN THE BACKGROUND WHEN PROBLEMS ARISE. HE MUST STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AS A LEADER.
(MEN WE OFTEN WISH OUR FAMILIES WOULD LINE UP BEHIND US AND FOLLOW. WOMEN/WIVES CANNOT FOLLOW SOMEONE THAT IS BEHIND THEM. THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE TO LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDERS FOR LEADERSHIPAND/OR INSTRUCTION.)
B. (VS 23) STEP UP AS THE HEAD.
1. THINK- BE THE BRAINS OF THE FAMILY, HAVE A PLAN FINANCIALLY, SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, ETC…
2. MAKE DECISIONS – WHAT IF YOUR HEAD ASKED THE TOES IF THEY WOULD MAKE A DECISION, OR HAND, OR FOOT. 9 OUT OF 10 WOMEN WOULD ABSOLUTELY LOVE FOR THEIR HUSBANDS TO STEP UP AND MAKE DECISIONS.
3. BE RESPONSIBLE – UNDERSTAND AND EMBRASS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR FAMILY. THE HEAD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THE REST OF THE BODY DOES. IF THE CHILDREN ARE OUT OF CONTROL, LOOK TO THE FATHER. IF THE FINANCES ARE A WRECK. LOOK TO THE FATHER, IF THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF THE FAMILY IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE, LOOK TO THE FATHER. GUYS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR FAMILY!
BE THE PRESIDENT IN YOUR HOME – MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS – ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS – BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIONS.
II. (VS 25-27) GOD’S MAN WILL BE
PRIEST IN HIS HOME.A PRIEST = THE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE GOD & GOD’S REPRESENTATIVE BEFORE THE PEOPLE. (PLEASE UNDERSTAND, WE ARE EACH RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR SELVES BEFORE GOD. I CANNOT CONFESS ANOTHER’S SINS AND EXPECT THEM TO BE FORGIVEN. BUT AS A HUSBAND AND A FATHER, I AM RESPONSIBLE TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN TO BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADER IN OUR HOME.)
IT IS MY JOB TO GO TO GOD FOR MY FAMILY & TO COME TO MY FAMILY FROM GOD.
I AM TO BE GOD’S MOUTHPIECE TO MY CHILDREN AND TO TELL THEM WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD. I.E. TV, MOVIES, CLOTHES, MUSIC, ATTITUDES.
A. (VS 26) SANCTIFY – TO SEPARATE FROM PROFANE THINGS AND DEDICATE TO GOD. MEN SET YOUR FAMILIES APART, DEDICATE THEM TO GOD AND KEEP THEM SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD.
B. (VS 26) CLEANSE – (KATHARIDZO) – TO PRONOUNCE CLEAN IN A LEVITICAL SENSE. – MEN DECLARE YOUR WIFE CLEAN RIGHT NOW! WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER DON’T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH HER – NOTHING WRONG!THAT IS WHAT JESUS DOES FOR US! HE CLEANSES US. BUT WE ARE STILL DIRTY, WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH SIN, TO DO WRONG – BUT NOT IN HIS EYES! HE DECLARES WE ARE CLEAN, THEREFORE WE ARE CLEAN.
C. (VS 27) PRESENT – THIS IS NOT PLACING HER IN FRONT OF YOU TO HIDE BEHIND – THIS IS PRESENTING HER BESIDE YOU – IT IS USED AS A LEGAL TERM AS TO PRESENT EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE THAT IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR CASE.
D. WITHOUT SPOT, WITHOUT WRINKLE, HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.
1. THE PERFECT WIFE.
(LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY WIFE – NOT MY KIDS OR GRANDKIDS – ABOUT MY WIFE! MOST GUYS ARE READY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR DOGS, THEIR SHOTGUNS, THEIR PICKUP TRUCKS, EVEN THEIR TALENTED KIDS, BUT IT IS RARE TO EVER HEAR A MAN BRAG ABOUT HIS WIFE.) YEAH BUT YOU DON’T KNOW MY WIFE. YOU ARE RIGHT I DON’T KNOW YOUR WIFE, BUT JESUS DOES AND HE SAYS FOR YOU TO PRESENT HER AS CRUCIAL EVIDENCE, SET ASIDE AND SANCTIFIED WITHOUT SPOT, WITHOUT WRINKLE, TOTALLY HOLY, WITHOUT A BLEMISH. NOT SOMEDAY WHEN SHE REACHES PERFECTION, BUT TODAY, RIGHT NOW! START SEEING HER AS JESUS SEES HER!MEN, YOU ARE TO BE THE;
1. PRESIDENT IN YOUR HOME.
2. PRIEST IN YOUR HOMEAND FINALLY YOU ARE TO BE THE PROVIDER.
III. (VS 28-30) GOD’S MAN WILL BE PROVIDER IN HIS HOME.
HOW MANY MEN, WHEN WE ARE HUNGRY, STARVE?
HOW MANY MEN BREAK A BONE AND JUST LIVE WITH IT?
HOW MANY MEN GET TIRED AND REFUSE TO SIT DOWN AND TAKE A BREAK.WE MEET OUR NEEDS! IT IS SELF PRESERVATION! IT IS SELF – LOVE. AND A LITTLE OF THAT IS GOOD.
NOW WE ARE TO LOVE & CARE FOR OUR WIVES THE WAY WE DO FOR OURSELVES.
???WHY DIDN’T GOD TELL WOMEN TO LOVE MEN THE WAY THEY LOVE THEMSELVES – BECAUSE, FOR THE MOST PART, THEY ALREADY LOVE MEN THAT WAY.
GOD SPECIFICALLY GIVES US 3 AREAS TO PROVIDE FOR OUR WIVES, AND I BELIEVE FOR OUR FAMILIES.
A. (VS 28) PROVIDE LOVE – AGAPE LOVE – GODLY LOVE, NOT BROTHERLY LOVE, OR FRIENDSHIP LOVE, BUT GODLY LOVE. OUR FAMILIES DESERVE TO BE LOVED BY US AND THEY ARE LOVED BY GOD. NOW GOD CHOOSES TO LOVE THEM THROUGH US, WE GET TO CHANNEL THE LOVE OF GOD TO OUR WIVES AND CHILDREN.
B. (VS 29) PROVIDE NOURISHMENT – NOT FOOD NOURISHMENT – BUT GROWTH TO MATURITY – THAT’S HARD BECAUSE MOST WOMEN ARE MORE MATURE THAN MEN. GUYS, IT IS TIME TO GROW UP. IT IS TIME TO STOP ALL THE PLAYING AND GROW UP.
C. (VS 29) PROVIDE CHERISHING – (THAL’-PO) TO WARM & KEEP WARM, TO LOVE TENDERLY, TO CARE DEEPLY. WHY DOES GOD IMPRESS PAUL TO WRITE TO US AND TELL US TO KEEP OUR WIVES WARM. BECAUSE WE TEND TO LEAVE THEM OUT AT ARMS REACH NOT DRAWING THEM CLOSE TO US. WE NEED TO LEARN TO CHERISH OUR WIVES.
*****THE SECRET TO BEING THE HUSBAND, THE MAN, THAT GOD IS COMMANDING YOU TO BE IS FOUND IN VERSE 26 –
ONE WORD – “WORD”
USUALLY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT WAS THE WORD FOR THE WRITTEN WORD, LOGOS. BUT THIS TIME IT IS DIFFERENT, RHAMA – THE SPOKEN WORD.
GUYS IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SPEAK UP AS WE STEP UP IN LOVE FOR OUR WIVES & OUR FAMILIES.
WE MUST STOP SAYING “HEY, SHE KNOWS I LOVE HER.” GOD THROUGH JESUS DID MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE FOR US – HE TELLS US – HE SHOWS US HIS LOVE EVERYDAY.
SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
WE NOW HAVE THE BOXTOP,
WE KNOW WHAT THE PUZZLE SHOULD LOOK LIKE WHEN WE ARE FINISHED.
IT IS TIME TO STEP UP IN LOVE AND TO BECOME IN OUR HOMES THE;
1. PRESIDENT
2. PRIEST
3. PROVIDERTHIS IS NOT MY BLUEPRINT, MY BOXTOP, MY IDEA
IT IS GOD’S
NOW WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH IT?
