THE HUSBAND AS GOD WOULD HAVE HIM

Intro.

1. The best marriages are made between those who recognize and submit to God's will  2. The husband is to dwell with his wife according to knowledge (1 Pet. 3:7)                   a. This is knowledge of what is right; God's will                                                       b. Custom, tradition, and personal preference subordinated to this                               3. Every man needs to have knowledge of what God wants him to be in this relationship--then, he needs reminding of it. That he ...

I. IS ONE WHO LEAVES FATHER AND MOTHER (Matt. 19:5,6)                                      A. Leaves that relationship in favor of another (has many implications)                              B. Leaves their "headship" to become head of own family                                             C. Leaves their financial support to provide for his own household

II. IS ONE WHO CLEAVES TO HIS WIFE                                                                       A. Lit., cemented, glued, joined by God (sticks with his wife in all)

III. IS ONE WHO IS THE HEAD OF HIS WIFE (Eph. 5:23)

A. Headship is leadership and such is needed in every family

B. Headship exercised in love. humility, considerateness (not as dictator)

IV. IS ONE WHO GIVES HONOR TO HIS WIFE (1 Pet. 3:7)

A. Suggests respect, esteem & treatment expressive of such honor                                 1. Many wives are profaned; treated as common, taken for granted

B. Such honor to be expressed in word & deed (elaborate)

A. For her physical needs (1 Tim. 5:8)

B. For her sexual needs (1 Cor. 7:1-4)

C. For her spiritual needs (as joint-heir of grace of life, 1 Pet. 3:7)

1. Nothing better complements the efforts of a wife trying to serve the Lord than a faithful husband doing the same...

VI. IS ONE WHO TRULY LOVES HIS WIFE (Eph. 5:25-33)                                              A. Such love is the summation of all the husband should be and do

B. A sacrificial love: "as Christ loved the church"

C. A preeminent love: "as their own bodies"

D. A truly caring love: "even as himself"

CONCLUSION

1. This is the kind of husband God wants every man to be and the kind every God-fearing man should strive to be                                                                                 2. What wife would not be blessed with such a husband?

Dan S. Shipley