Bride

Sermon on 6/7/2009

Ephesians 5:25-27

Introduction:

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is the husband.

WBTU:

A. In Ephesians 5 in marriage it tells the woman to be submissive. It tells the man to love. Women say, “This should not be hard.” Well, for the man it is.

B. Not just any love but a Godly love. We are to love the way that Jesus loves.

C. Christ’s love is unconditional. You love me; I love you. No!

D. Christ’s love is sacrificial. He gave himself. Selfishness #1 cause of divorce.

E. Christ’s love is voluntary. What are we willing to give up for a good marriage?

Thesis: This morning we are going to use the acrostic “BRIDE” to talk about Christ and His Bride and husbands and their wives.

For instance:

B- Beside

A. Beside Jesus

B. (Heb 13:5 NIV) God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."(Heb 13:6 NIV) So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

C. As a member of Christ’s church, the Bride, we have these promises.

1. Never will I leave you- Until death do us part. Of course in the case of the Lord we are never parted even in death.

2. Never will I forsake you- Forsaking all others, be faithful to her- (Psa 37:28 NIV) For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever.

3. The Lord is my helper- (Prov 16:3 NIV) Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

a. Can she count on the fact that we will do without to put her first?

b. Does it make us happy when she fails or is embarrassed?

c. Do we make every effort for her to succeed in every area of life?

D. Our marriage is to be like the Lord’s relationship with church. We are not to follow example of our parents, but follow the example of Christ with his church.

E. Clean them off. Vs. 26- Obviously a husband cannot spiritually cleanse his wife the same way Jesus cleanses the church. But a husband can take an active, caring interest in his wife’s spiritual health.

F. Cannot run with gusto. (Heb 12:1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

G. (John 17:19) For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. To be sanctified is to be set apart for God’s use. Wasn’t Christ always sanctified for God’s work? Yes, and he does have in mind that he is setting himself apart for God’s use (the cross). But even more than this, he is saying that he is doing this for his followers. He is set apart for them, to serve them. (Heb 7:25 NIV) he (Christ) always lives to intercede for them.

H. Isn’t this what Christian husbands are to do? Live for God, yes, but also live (be set apart) for their wives. (1 Cor 7:32) I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs--how he can please the Lord. (1 Cor 7:33) But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can please his wife--(1 Cor 7:34) and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.

I. Washing with water- Definitely talking about baptism. But living under the ministry of the Word leads to baptism and then it leads to more living under the Word. (John 17:17 NIV) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Set apart for the Word. Teach, baptize, and teach.

J. Couples who read the Word together and then pray. Celebrate Recovery helps your marriage.

K. (John 7:37 NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. (John 7:38 NIV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

L. Ultimate in Spring Cleaning. We are not the ones doing the cleansing. Water flows from us to help in cleansing. (Luke 6:45) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.