Fight: Week 4, June 4, 2017

Istrouma Baptist Church Podcast

A young man, newly married, went to see his pastor. He said, “I think I love my wife too much.” The pastor was surprised and a bit curious. “What makes you say that?” “Well,” replied the young man, “I can’t get my mind off her. I think of her first thing in the morning. I think of her throughout the day and can barely get my work done. I can’t wait to get home to see her in the evening. I even dream about her.”

The pastor thought for a moment and then asked, “Do you love her as much as Christ loved the Church?” “Well, I guess I don’t love her that much.” “Well, then,” said the pastor, “Get busy!”

Men, a lot of us need to get busy loving our wives! God is going to teach us this morning how to love her well. Please turn in your Bibles to Ephesians 5:25-33 . .

Fight

“Husbands, Get Busy!”

Ephesians 5:25-33

• Summary of his responsibility

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25).

• • Love is commanded
  • Love is compared
• Specifics of his responsibility
• • Sacrificial love

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25b).

• Sanctifying love

That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by . . . the word (v. 26)

• Sensitive love

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church (v. 28-29).

• Supreme love

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother . . .” (v. 31a).

• Steadfast love

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” (v. 31).

• Symbolism of his responsibility

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church (v. 32).