Getting Your Family life Into focus

SERIES: Getting Life Into Focus

MESSAGE #: 4

TITLE: “Getting Your Family Life Into Focus”

TEXT: Ephesians 5:22-6:4

ETS: Relationships in the family are to reflect the proper relationship between Christ and His church.

ESS: Believers must focus on Christ-centered relationships in the home.

OSS: Believers will commit to Christ-centered relationships in their homes.

UW:

PQ: How can I help our home demonstrate Christ-likeness to the world?

INTRODUCTION:

A- The text emphasizes a focus on the Lord in the home.

1. Seven times family members are pointed to the Lord.

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Eph 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

Eph 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Eph 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Eph 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

2. The home is to be a reflection of the relationship between Christ and His church.

a. Notice how our homes can do this…

I. THERE MUST BE A FOCUS ON THE REAL ISSUE OF SUBMISSION (Ephesians 5:22-24).

A. The real issue of submission is the person to whom the submission is being given (Ephesians 5:22).

Colossians 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (25) But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

1 Peter 3:1-4 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; (2) While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (3) Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; (4) But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

B. The real issue of submission is showing the world the proper relationship of the church to Christ (Ephesians 5:23).

Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

C. The real issue of submission is the degree of submission that should be given (Ephesians 5:24).

Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

II. THERE MUST BE A FOCUS ON THE REAL PRACTICE OF LOVE (Ephesians 5:25-33).

A. The real practice of love demonstrates the love of Christ for the church (Ephesians 5:25).

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

B. The real practice of love promotes the godliness and purity of the bride (Ephesians 5:26).

1- ἁγιάζω = to separate from profane things and dedicate to God

2- καθαρίζω = to free from defilement of sin and from faults

3- ῥῆμα = that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word

C. The real practice of love elevates the position of the bride (Ephesians 5:27).

Song of Solomon 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Song of Solomon 4:1 Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.

D. The real practice of love cherishes the person of the bride (Ephesians 5:28-33).

Genesis 2:21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; (22) And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (23) And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

III. THERE MUST BE A FOCUS ON THE REAL ATTITUDE OF OBEDIENCE (Ephesians 6:1-3)

A. The real attitude of obedience is focused on whom the obedience is aimed toward (Ephesians 6:1).

Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

B. The real attitude of obedience is found the deeper issue of honor (Ephesians 6:2).

C. The real attitude of obedience is fed by the reality of ultimate accountability (Ephesians 6:3).

IV. THERE MUST BE A FOCUS ON THE REAL TASK OF PARENTING (Ephesians 6:4).

A. The real task of parenting excludes inciting rebellion (Ephesians 6:4a).

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

B. The real task of parenting is discipleship of the next generation (Ephesians 6:4b).

(Deuteronomy 4:9) Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (7) And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 11:19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

CONCLUSION:

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