Info: Moody was to have a campaign in England. An elderly pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody'? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" A younger, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody."
Source Unknown.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. It was the Holy Spirit that hovered over the waters of the deep at creation. It was the Holy Spirit that anointed the prophets and kings in the Old Testament. It was the Spirit that descended like a dove on Jesus at His baptism. It was the Holy Spirit that was given to the disciples and apostles on the day of Pentecost. It is the Spirit in Ephesians 1 that marks us as true believers and plants the life of Jesus in us. It is the One Spirit that can unite us together as the one body and temple for Jesus to live in. In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded by Paul to be filled and controlled by God’s Holy Spirit that lives in us.
If you want to know if you are saved or not then look for the evidence of Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:19-26 tells us that the works of the flesh and the works of the flesh are obvious. You don’t have to pray about or try to decipher whether or not the Holy Spirit is working in your life. It is obvious. Those things that lead to giving up your rights and pride are of the Spirt. Those attitudes, thought processes and actions that come from asserting self and your own rights are not of God’s Holy Spirit. You can google rights and find 3 billion 130 million hits on rights. Many of them having to do with each group trying to assert their rights despite how this assertion with impact other groups. The world says assert the Bible says submit. These are opposed to each other so we must choose which one we will give authority over our life.
In this very practical section by Paul he is teaching us that Holy Spirit filled living leads to submitting to each other in Jesus Christ. It leads to submission in marriage, the family and the workplace. We are not submitting to the Authority of Christ and the Bible because of the great benefits it gives us but instead because it is the command of Jesus!
Because we have trust and reverence for Jesus we choose to joyfully submit to each other. God has ordained authority and submission in various spheres to accomplish His purposes for His glory and our blessing and protection.
I. The Spirit filled marriage
Submission to the Lord
A) Wives controlled by God’s spirit submit to your husbands
This has nothing to do with inferiority but everything to do with Gods design for order in marriage. This is a voluntary submission that seeks to allow God’s order to be established in marriage. The Greek word used to describe this was a military term meaning to draw up in order of battle to from, array or marshal either troops or ships.
1) Spirit filled submission comes from obedience to Jesus
In creation woman was made from and for man. Even before the fall with both being equal there were different roles designed by God. In the fall woman rebelled against God and rejected her husband’s leadership. Part of the curse God placed on woman was the rule of her husband. The spiritual leadership and accountability before God of the husband is not removed in Jesus.
2) Spirit filled submission comes proper response to man’s headship
God’s design for the Church is for Jesus to be the head. The head is responsible what the body does. As Jesus is the head of the church the husband is the head of the wife.
The husband is responsible to lead the wife and family spiritually.
Adrian Rogers used to say anything with two heads is a monster and no heads is dead. There must be someone responsible to lead. If the husband is not responsible or Godly this does not erase God’s design. Some husbands are weak, lousy, ineffective and just plain lousy. In this passage it is stated as a fact, “the husband is the head of the wife.” Husband you may do everything you can to not fulfill your obligation as God designed it. However, you may lead poorly but you will still lead.
Submission does not mean being passive, being inferior or hiding strengths and spiritual gifting’s. Submission does mean following God’s design to respect your husband and voluntarily place yourself under his leadership to help and strengthen Him. (in everything)
B) Husbands led by God’s Spirit love your wife
1) Authority is not the main priority for the Spirit filled husband
Many Christian husbands would probably say their main responsibility as a husband is to be the head of their home. However, Paul makes it clear that authority is not the main responsibility. It is to set the atmosphere of love over our wives.
We know love is possible because it is commanded of us by God. God never commands us to do something that He doesn’t provide the power and resources to do.
2) Physical provision is not the priority for the Spirit filled husband
Many of us Christian men kill ourselves trying to “provide” for our wives or families. If we stop long enough to listen honestly to our spouses they will probably say, “I would rather you be with me than provide all the stuff for me.”
We must be careful we are not caught in the cultural trap of stuff.
1 Timothy 5:8 makes it clear that a man who doesn’t provide for His family is worse than an unbeliever. However, what our families need are far different from what we and they may want! Your main responsibility is to love your wife.
So what exactly does Paul mean when he says, “husbands, love your wives.”
Love is a self-sacrificing choice and caring commitment that seeks the highest good of the one loved.
a) Love your wife sacrificially -- not selfishly
Jesus is the highest and greatest standard we have. He did not stay on His throne in heaven and bark orders down to us on earth. He gave up His rights and embraced coming to our level and dying on the cross for us.
So are you seeking to have your wife meet your needs or are you crucifying your desires so you can meet hers? Are you willing to set aside your time, your pursuits, pleasure, comfort and plans for the benefit of your wife?
b) Love your wife purposefully
Many in the world see love as a powerful current that you allow to push you wherever it may. True love is totally spontaneous and unplanned. That is not biblical love. Before the foundation of the world Christ died for you. While we were yet sinners Jesus died for us. God is always purposeful in His love for us. Here in this passage Jesus pours his love on us to cleanse us for Himself.
c) Love your wife realistically
Someone once said “Love is blind but marriage is an eye opener.” You are not perfect so don’t expect your wife to be. Love her for who she is but love her to be all that God intended for her to be.
d) Love your wife unconditionally
Initiate love even when it isn’t deserved
The assignment from our Lord is clear. Make a commitment to sacrifice your desires etc for the sake of your wife.
II. The Spirit filled family
A) Children controlled by the Holy Spirit honor and obey their parents.
Obedience is a characteristic of those that are filled and controlled by the Spirit. If we love God we will obey His command to obey our parents.
1) Thank God if you have Godly parents who love you
2) Do what your parents say as long as it is biblical
3) Do what your parents say as long as it is legal
B) Parents controlled by the Holy Spirit
1) Do not anger their children
a) Have you anger controlled by the Spirit
b) Treat your child with the love empowered by the Spirit
2) Do instruct their children in a trust relationship with Jesus
a) Train your children in the discipline of the Lord
Remember Father’s day – tell them about the faithfulness of the Lord, tell them of the awesomeness of God, tell them of the holiness of God.
In response to this God teach them to control their emotions, how to relate and react lovingly to others, how to deal with conflict in a Godly way, how to be disciplined in the use of their time, how to work hard.
b) Train your children in the instruction of the Lord
This means to correct or warn strongly when someone is involved in sinful or destructive behavior. The passage instructs us to put in their mind through teaching the Lord’s ways through His word! God’s word continually calls us and commands us to correct behavior. What is it based on? It is based on us accepting our responsibility to respond to an awesome holy God!!
III. The Spirit filled work place
A) A worker controlled by the Spirit does
1) The work they are responsible for with excellence
2) The work they are responsible for as if it is for Jesus
3) The work they are responsible for with a good attitude
Spirit filled workers do their work without gripping, complaining or loafing.
Read Colossians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 10, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Ephesians 6:7s
B) A boss controlled by the Spirit
1) Treats his employees with love and respect
2) Recognizes and rewards his employees appropriately
Conclusion: What is the key to the marriage relationship, the family relationship, the workplace relationship? It is the love, reverence and respect we have for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The only way these relationships will be right and righteous is if we are following Jesus leadership through the Holy Spirit.
Why is this so important? Because Paul transitions from these relationships under the leadership and authority of Jesus to Spiritual warfare. If our day to day relationships with our spouse, children/parents, and co-workers are not in submission to the Lordship of Jesus there is no need for us to begin to think we will submit in the arena of Spiritual warfare.
