When A Man Loves A Woman Series

When a Man Loves a Woman

Ephesians 5:21-33

INTRODUCTION

Michael Bolton belts out romantic loves songs. One of his most inspiring is his cover of "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge. Released in 1966, the song originally made to number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. It was listed 54th in the List of Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time. Michael Bolton won an Grammy for his cover of the song.

Why is this song so popular. Is the powerful voice of Michael Bolton, Percy Sledge, that had something to do with it. Was it the incredible arrangement, well that had something to do with it also. But more than anything else I believe the songs popularity is tied to the description of what love looks like when a man truly loves a woman. It a definition written on our hearts by the creator that is so powerful that it resonates with us when we hear it.

Listen to just a little of the words.

When a man loves a woman

Can't keep his mind on nothing else

He'll trade the world

For the good thing he's found

If she's bad he can't see it

She can do no wrong

Turn his back on his best friend

If he put her down

When a man loves a woman

Spend his very last dime

Tryin' to hold on to what he needs

He'd give up all his comfort

Sleep out in the rain

If she said that's the way it ought to be

T.S. Those lyrics describe a love that goes way beyond the Eros, Sexual sensual love, it goes way beyond Phileos, (brotherly friendship kind of love), it exceeds the Sugase Love (family love of those biologically connected to you. Those lyrics hint at the Love that the apostle Paul challenged followers of Jesus to when it came husbands loving their wives.

An Agape Love: A love that looks beyond our faults and needs needs... A love that totally commends itself toward the one loved.

Today we begin a journey looking at Relationships

Relationships. Family. Friends. Co-workers. Some people juggle five, some juggle ten, some juggle twenty or more. No matter how many we relationships we have, each of us has a desire to get relationships right. So why is it so hard sometimes? Spouses struggle with each other. Parents struggle with their children. Children test their parents. Co-workers, subordinates and supervisors have to figure out not just how to get the job done, but how to get along to get it done. Relationships.

But we begin with the relationship that God intended for men and women to find with one another.

P.S. So what happens when a man loves a woman?

Instructions for Christian Households

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c] 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

A Sacrificing Love Should Emerge.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

It is exclusive

Not a call to sacrifice for every woman, every task, every duty, but it is a call to sacrifice for your wife but for one, YOUR wife.

Love YOUR wife.

The only other thing we're every called to love in such a way is the Jesus.

It is a self sacrificing love.

just as Christ loved the church and gave himself

Gave : Not enforced by law. Willing gift to bend your will for her good. Too make your relationship with her of great importance. Greater than biological family, greater than friendships, more important the sexual passion.