God's Plan for Families Ephesians 5:21 Cooper Abrams |
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The structure of the family comes from God Himself and sets before men the example of a loving God to whom we are responsible.
This statement of God is verse 21 is a preface to God's instructions to husbands and wives. This is why this message is so important. If this principle is missed, the rest of the Chapter 5 will be meaningless. If a husband or wife has not learned and made a part of their lives, the principles of God in verse 21 the instructions of verses 22 to 31 cannot be applied. Let me stress that understanding and applying verse 21 is vital for having a godly family and having peace and joy in our relationship with God and one another.
I do not need to state the alarming statistics concerning divorce, spousal and child abuse, fornication, adultery and the rise of homosexuality. We see these things daily in our society.
We see that the moral fabric of our society is fast disappearing. We see those that would destroy our nation winning almost every battle.
They Devil knows that if you destroy the family, the nation will go also. Sadly, even Christians who are suppose to live by the Word of God have given way and accepted the world's godless abnormal way of life. We condone immorality and do not speak against it or refuse to be a party to it. Our government supports the Devil in making it illegal to preach God's truth about things that destroy the family such as homosexuality. This past week on the History channel was a programs supposedly investigating the Bible. The reason they said that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroy was not for homosexual perversion, but because the Sodomites were not hospitable.
Yet, God has given us the key to how to have a happy and rewarding relationship with each other and in our families. It starts with the individual man and woman understanding their God given roles in life and then applying them. Society is made up of individuals and individuals make up our homes and churches. You cannot can our homes, marriages or churches without changing the individual.
God's way works! If each individual in our churches would commit themselves to the Lord we would see revival. If a husband and wife would commit themselves to God's plan and live it, it would bring peace and stability to our homes, children, our churches and ultimately to our nation.
It begins by believing Almighty God and in faith accepting our different roles. A happy relationship begins with believing God and making a personal commitment to Him. If that is one's goal we can then make a lasting and effective commitment to our families.
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)
2. The principle is that Christians are to put aside their pride and see themselves as Christ is. . . the servant of others. Jesus explained this to His disciples.
"And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." (Mark 9:35)
James says, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6)
3. John 13 tells us that after Jesus had observed His last Passover, and instituted the Lord's Supper, He gathered pulled off His coat, took a towel and girled Himself, meaning He took his robe and pulled it up and tied it with His waist band. This allowed Him to kneal down unhindered.
Next He poured water into a basin and going from one to the other, the Master washed the feet of His disciples. Washing feet was the job of the lowest servant in the household and was a demeaning, but needed act. It was the only work for the lowest servant. I say that twice, because Jesus Christ, Almighty God, humbled Himself to His unworthy disciples. Peter objected because it was such a demeaning job, but Jesus replied saying,
"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:13-17)
C. Ephesians 5:21 says Christians are to submit themselves to one another in the fear of the Lord.
What is the fear of the Lord? The word means actually what it says. Fear means to be afraid or be in terror. Some try to water down the meaning saying it only means to respect God. Yes, we respect God because He is our Creator. But only a fool with ignore the unlimited power of God, and that He is a God of judgment.
Speaking to believing Jews who were turning from serving the Lord, God said through the writer to the Hebrews,
"For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:30-31)
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."(Proverbs 9:10) The wisdom and discernment to live our lives in peace and joy, to live our lives correctly avoiding the pitfalls of sin begins with a fear of the Lord.
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." (Proverbs 8:13)
God hates evil and defines it in this verse a pride and arrogancy. Pride was the fatal sin of the Devil that destroyed him and robbed him of the highest place of service to the Lord. His pride, took over and he lead a multitude of the angels to do evil and sin against God. Their pride is sending them to eternal Lake of Fire and everlasting damnation.
"The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." (Proverbs 10:27) The effect of fearing God will affect our lives in such a way as to length it. A fear of God is our source of faith and trust, because we know who has made us such wonderful promises. We know who God is and of His character of being a loving God. A godly fear of the Lord makes us see the consequences of our sins and to see how destructive sin is. We see how sin in our lives degrades our loving God and Savior.
"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14:27) Romans 6:23 says the "wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." A fear of the Lord shines the light of righeousness on sin so we will not stumble or be caught off guard. The devil seeks to tempt us by laying snares to trick us and catch us up into sin. The believer who fears God will know the truth and will not be tricked by a cunning devil or those who serve him.
"The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil." (Proverbs 19:23) This is close akin to the last verse. The only true live is one lived for the Lord Jesus Christ and one that honors Him. No other life will satisfy or bring peace. Not having a godly fear that directs our lives will rob us of the blessings of God. We will have a poor and pitiful existance. . .alive...but in truth dead inside. We would be like the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees that Jesus addressed in Matthew 23. Jesus said to them, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness." (Matthew 23:27)
2. When you and I become so calloused in our thinking that we degrade God and dismiss His commands and will not obey Him, we are in grave danger. God promises that he will chasten his children who will not live godly. There are situations where God will even take the life away from a disobedient child who refuses to repent and turn from his sin.
G. In reality Life is a partnership with every one around us. Marriage like life too is a partnership. . . it is a relationship of mutual submission. In a partnership neither partner tries to dominate the other. The marriage relationship is based on unconditional mutual love.
2. If you noted in Proverbs, God explains that a fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. When a man/woman comes to the realization of who God is, they also see themselves in relation to God. We see Him in all His power and might. We understand we are sinners and that God holds us responsible for our sins.
There is coming a judgment. We all will give an account of our lives. Every decision we make we are accountable for. If we accept this truth and live by it, the effect will be of helping us to face the reality of how finite, weak and little we really are. It will change our lives and give us a true motivation to accomplish God's will for our lives. Most people are not really too concerned with what is God's will for their lives.
If we see ourselves as sinners who need God and who by faith are dependent on Him, God can work in our lives. The knowledge of who God truly is and of His power as Almighty God will have a wonderful result in many lives.
God's message is not that He just wants us to have us fear Him, but in understanding His Greatest and power we will understand He is a God of love. He does not have to love us. Man has sinned against God, yet He loved us still. He could speak and we would be in the fires of hell, yet He instead offers love, forgiveness and eternal life.
The fear of God shows us our need for God's forgiveness and the Gospel explains that Jesus Christ came to earth, suffered, died was resurrected that we might be able to have a personal relationship with Almighty God!
We can have the love of our Great and Almighty God. We can have such a close relationship to Him we can call Him "papa" or "daddy." Paul explained this in Galatians 6:4 saying, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)
Through simple faith in Him a godly fear can bring secure for us a place in the family of God and we can become sons and daughters of our wonderful God and Creator.
3. However, if we have no fear of God, no respect for who His or His power we will miss it all. Hell, my dear friends will be full of people who lived their lives with no fear of God ... who sadly will spend eternity regreting that foolish mistake.
4. You who are here today....will you open your heart and mind and in a godly fear, flee to the only One who can save and forgive your sins. Would you let God, the aweful Judge, become your wonderful Savior.
Introduction: Today there is a great attack on the family. Its roots are in the world's attack upon God Himself and seeking to rid the world from God's absolutes and principles. The world hates God as they always have and seek erase His righteousness from having any influence on our society. The source of this attack is Satan himself as he seeks to destroy the Christian family and its testimony of our loving God and Creator.(Eph. 6)
I. Believers are first to submit themselves unto one another in the fear of God.
A. The word "submit" means that Christian are to be subdued and see themselves as subordinate others.
Conclusion:
1. This is the key to living a true Christian life. Paul addresses this vital principles in Romans 12:3,
B. A child of God cannot live a godly life and reap the blessings of God and being a Christian unless he/she lives by this principles. Certainly, a husband or wife cannot fulfill their God given roles until they first submit themselves to the Lord. We can easily trace the problems in our relationship one with another and in our marriages Christians not living by this wonderful truth.
D. Note what God says about the "fear of the Lord."
E. To fear God means we believe. We understand and realize who He is and we see ourselves in relation to Him. The believer then trusts Him having the full confidence in God's grace and mercy.
1. He is Almighty and omnipotent God. He spoke the universe into being. What are we compared to Him!?
F. To have a happy, life, rewarding marriage and family and church, we must each first be submissive to the Lord. If a couple is not committed to the Lord, they will not be committed one to the other. Yet, God is seeking us and reaching out to us because He wants the best for us. If we want God's blessing we must listen to Him and live as His has planned for us.
1. Do you honestly fear God. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
12-30-07
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