WEBVTT

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 First, let me thank again all of those who have over the months memorized different parts

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! of Ephesians and then have willingly come to the front here and with all humility recited

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! for us. We have been blessed by the wide diversity of individuals that have tackled that

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 challenge. Agreed? And probably more than once, as others have done it, you've thought to yourself,

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 oh, I respect that, and I'm glad somebody else is doing it. I bring this up because we are,

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 I am going to encourage one more pass at the book of Ephesians, and I want you to know already

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 that Ephesians chapter 1 has been taken, and I understand that there is a small group that is

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 working behind the scenes to pull this off. Remember, you don't have to do it solo. We've

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 had a number of different groups do it different ways, and I appreciate the diversity, but we have

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 Ephesians chapter 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 that still remain to be taken for one last pass. And I bring

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 this up to encourage you to prayerfully think of whether or not this is something that you

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 can talk someone else into doing.

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 Do you follow me? So husbands could say to their wives, honey, I've been praying about this, and I

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 think it's a great idea for you. Ah, I'll be in trouble. But I'm just encouraging you, just giving

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 you a heads up that we're going to be looking for people that are willing to take, willing to give

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 their best and work at Ephesians chapter 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 in the last pass. And I trust that I will be

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 just absolutely swamped with volunteers so I don't have to ever bring it up again in the next week or

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 two. Now, that being said, I want you to turn in your Bibles this morning, but before you do,

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 I want you to hold it up like this. I want you to hold it. Some of you are holding up phones.

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 I saw a most touching video, little clip, this week. Someone posted it on Facebook

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 of believers in China receiving their first copy of the Scriptures.

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 came in a suitcase. And these believers opened up. They were waiting in this room,

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 and they opened up the suitcase, and they took out their Bibles for the first time, their own copy.

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 And some of them kissed the Bible and opened their Bible and wept.

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 Oh, how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day.

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 Now, I don't know about you, but I can't help myself sometimes.

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 I kiss this book, not because I love this book, but because I love the Lord Jesus,

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 who this book is all about.

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 And this book has been one of the principal ways He has blessed me,

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 not only with salvation, but by progressive sanctification.

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 I want you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Ephesians chapter 5.

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 And we are going to be looking together at Ephesians chapter 5, verse 26 through 30.

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 Begin in 25, because that's actually where the thought picks up, but let me read it to you.

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 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

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 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,

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 so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,

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 that she might be holy and without blemish.

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 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies,

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 He who loves his wife loves himself.

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 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it,

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 just as Christ does the church.

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 Because we are members of His body.

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 Father God, this morning,

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 we are blessed by the undeserved privilege of prayer.

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 And as the author of Hebrews instructs us,

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 we are to come boldly before the throne of grace,

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 that we may find help in time of need.

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 And we come this morning with humility,

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 confessing the frailty of our flesh,

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 the fickleness of our hearts,

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 the effect that the culture we live in has upon our thinking.

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 And we ask that Your Word would be opened unto us,

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 and that we would see the glory of Your wisdom,

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 and that we would know the power of Your grace,

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 and that we would grow in our walk

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 for the testimony and the glory of Christ.

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 And I am mindful, Father, this morning,

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 that preaching is not merely the exercise of a human heart and will,

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 but it is also a dependent discipline

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 upon the enabling of the Spirit of God.

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 And this morning, I need Your help.

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 And Your people need Your help.

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 And we plead with You to answer our prayer.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Let me start out by kind of getting to the end

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 and helping you see what is really going to be the heart of our lesson this morning.

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 I want you to put your finger,

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 or even if you are so bold,

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 go ahead and underline two little words.

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 They are in verse 29.

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 And they are translated various ways in the English.

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 Tish, I think she used the word feed.

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 In verse 29, feed and cherish.

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 In the ESV, it is translated as nourish and cherish.

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 And it is actually, I think, probably a more accurate rendition of the text.

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 And I'm in no way belittling the translators,

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 but the more accurate way to handle that word

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 is over in Ephesians 6, verse 4,

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 where it says,

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 Fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath.

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 But then it says,

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 But bring them up.

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 That translation, that word, bring them up in the Greek,

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 is the same word that is used over in 29,

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 where it says,

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 Nourish.

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 We'll get to that later.

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 So I want you to circle those two words,

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 Nourish and cherish.

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 And what I want to announce this morning

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 on the authority of the Word of God

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 is that a Christian husband is responsible

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 for the spiritual development of his wife.

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 In fact, God's intent

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 is that he

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 is to be the most significant instrument

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 apart or second to the Spirit of God.

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 And so,

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 if you are at the point

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 where you can nudge your husband

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 and say,

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 You've got this.

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 Let's go home.

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 Go ahead.

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 Or you may think,

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 Well, maybe a little refresher course.

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 I mean, I've got this.

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 It's basic.

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 But it's all right.

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 We'll sit and listen.

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 I want you to know that Satan's a liar.

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 And really,

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 he doesn't care

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 which lie

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 you are affected by

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 so long as

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 he can lead you away

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 from the wisdom

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 and the grace of God.

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 God intended from creation

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 that many of his blessings

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 should flow through marriage.

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 And through the respective roles

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 that he has appointed

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 for a husband and a wife,

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 and Satan,

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 knowing God's plan

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 and God's purpose,

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 has done his very level best

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 to lead men and women

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 away from God's wisdom

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 into their own inclinations

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 and into his lies.

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 I mention that

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 because what we're going to learn

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 this morning

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 from God's Word

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 about a husband's role

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 is really at odds

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 in a very sharp way

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 with our contemporary culture

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 and its virulent feminism.

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 But unless we get carried away

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 with the idea,

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 Well, things are a whole lot

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 worse today

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 than they used to be.

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 I want you to understand

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 that what is written here,

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 written almost 2,000 years ago,

00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:05.080
 was as much at odds

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 with the culture of that day

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 as it is on this day.

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 Guess what?

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 When Jeremiah penned the words

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 in 17.9

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 that the heart is deceitful

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 above all things

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 and desperately wicked,

00:10:17.319 --> 00:10:18.500
 he wasn't just talking

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 about ancient Israel.

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 He was talking about,

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 guess what?

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 Me, you.

00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:22.939
 We all struggle

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 with the reality

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 of our own heart.

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 And so while we

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 would have to confess

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 that the pendulum

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 has swung

00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:33.979
 from one extreme

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 to the other,

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 nevertheless,

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 it is not where

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 God wants

00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:39.239
 our thinking to be.

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 And so this morning,

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 we with humility

00:10:41.819 --> 00:10:42.979
 must take up the text

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 and say,

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 what is God saying

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 to us

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 that reflects

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 His wisdom

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 and His will

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 and His goodness?

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 The ancient world

00:10:54.020 --> 00:10:57.000
 often viewed women

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 as primarily valuable

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 for producing

00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:02.220
 legitimate offspring,

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 caring for domestic order,

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 or for man's

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 personal entertainment.

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 I'll put it

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 in a little more

00:11:08.260 --> 00:11:09.720
 crass vocabulary.

00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.380
 The idea was

00:11:11.380 --> 00:11:11.920
 that she's good

00:11:11.920 --> 00:11:12.360
 in the kitchen,

00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:13.000
 she's good

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 in the laundry room,

00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:14.759
 and she's good

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 in the bedroom.

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 That was the attitude

00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.740
 of the ancient world.

00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:19.480
 Now,

00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.779
 we'd have to say

00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:21.919
 that the modern world

00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:22.759
 may have made

00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.580
 some minor

00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:24.919
 amendations to that,

00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:25.379
 but the truth

00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.019
 of the matter is

00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.419
 is that the modern world

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 really has

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.399
 not a radically

00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:30.340
 different view.

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.340
 And so I want you

00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:34.759
 to imagine

00:11:34.759 --> 00:11:35.320
 just for a moment,

00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.120
 just stop and think

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.500
 with me,

00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:39.300
 of how unbelievably

00:11:39.300 --> 00:11:41.200
 challenging it was

00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:43.580
 to become a Christian

00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.280
 as just a classic

00:11:45.280 --> 00:11:46.840
 pagan in the ancient world

00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.480
 and discover that God

00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.600
 had some pretty pointed

00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:50.440
 things to say

00:11:50.440 --> 00:11:52.000
 about your marriage.

00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:55.460
 I thought getting saved

00:11:55.460 --> 00:11:56.180
 was just about

00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:57.100
 going to heaven.

00:11:58.720 --> 00:11:59.379
 And here's God

00:11:59.379 --> 00:11:59.879
 telling me

00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.780
 as a Christian man

00:12:00.780 --> 00:12:01.520
 that I have some

00:12:01.520 --> 00:12:02.800
 profound responsibilities

00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:04.080
 in relationship

00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:05.000
 to the wife

00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:05.879
 that I have.

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:09.019
 And so I want you

00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:09.500
 to understand

00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.139
 as we take up

00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:10.700
 this passage

00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.700
 that here is the point

00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.740
 that the Scriptures make.

00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:13.620
 It is made

00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:14.279
 on the authority

00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:15.120
 of the Word of God.

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:16.639
 The Christian husband

00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.620
 is responsible

00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:19.779
 for his wife's

00:12:19.779 --> 00:12:21.340
 spiritual growth.

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.340
 If the idea

00:12:27.340 --> 00:12:28.059
 was unusual

00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:29.039
 in the ancient world,

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.740
 let me tell you,

00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:30.379
 it's unusual

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.320
 in the modern world

00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:31.720
 as well.

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:34.700
 I wouldn't deny

00:12:34.700 --> 00:12:36.220
 that there are men

00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:36.840
 who probably

00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.779
 have some idea

00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:38.300
 that they have

00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:39.100
 some responsibility,

00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:40.800
 but when it really

00:12:40.800 --> 00:12:41.480
 comes down

00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.600
 to the practice,

00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.700
 I don't see much

00:12:45.700 --> 00:12:46.120
 of it.

00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:50.320
 My experiences

00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.740
 in premarital counseling,

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:54.120
 in being involved

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.160
 in marital counseling

00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:56.800
 and just general ministry

00:12:56.800 --> 00:12:57.820
 for over 30 years

00:12:57.820 --> 00:12:58.279
 do not,

00:12:58.700 --> 00:12:59.360
 by any stretch

00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.040
 of the imagination,

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:01.839
 provide a final authority

00:13:01.839 --> 00:13:02.759
 on the subject.

00:13:03.459 --> 00:13:03.860
 One of the things

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:04.579
 I did this week

00:13:04.579 --> 00:13:05.120
 was I checked

00:13:05.120 --> 00:13:05.699
 with Amazon.

00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.240
 I mean,

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.199
 that's the final authority

00:13:08.199 --> 00:13:08.759
 after all.

00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:10.219
 And I went to Amazon

00:13:10.219 --> 00:13:11.179
 and I checked

00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:12.459
 on how many books

00:13:12.459 --> 00:13:13.299
 have been printed

00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.599
 or have been authored

00:13:14.599 --> 00:13:15.459
 by Christian authors

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.179
 about parenting.

00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:17.559
 And can I tell you

00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.620
 that, you know,

00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:20.360
 on the little scroll

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:20.980
 down at the bottom

00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:21.240
 it says,

00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:22.039
 one, two, three,

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:22.839
 dot, dot, dot,

00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.539
 and you know

00:13:23.539 --> 00:13:24.279
 how it goes on?

00:13:25.559 --> 00:13:26.699
 I got the read

00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.259
 from that

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.459
 and I just kind of

00:13:28.459 --> 00:13:29.399
 paged down,

00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:29.659
 and you know

00:13:29.659 --> 00:13:30.100
 how it is.

00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:30.519
 I had a couple

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.079
 extra minutes

00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:32.240
 and so I thought,

00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:33.600
 wow, there are people

00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:34.659
 that are cranking out books

00:13:34.659 --> 00:13:35.639
 on how to be a good mommy

00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.059
 and a daddy

00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:37.019
 by the bunches.

00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.419
 And a lot of women

00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:41.659
 have done a reasonably

00:13:41.659 --> 00:13:42.360
 decent job

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:42.939
 about writing

00:13:42.939 --> 00:13:43.699
 how to be a good

00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:44.519
 godly wife.

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:46.899
 Can I tell you

00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:47.600
 that the number

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:48.139
 of books

00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.659
 that are written

00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.220
 about being

00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:50.159
 a godly husband,

00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:52.319
 in particular,

00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.480
 in relationship,

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:54.659
 now track this,

00:13:55.579 --> 00:13:56.519
 to being the spiritual

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.500
 leader of the home,

00:13:57.500 --> 00:14:00.879
 are not very many.

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.659
 In my Sunday school class

00:14:06.659 --> 00:14:08.299
 several weeks ago,

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.240
 I asked the question,

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:12.200
 we have a well-informed

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.659
 body of believers

00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:14.519
 for the most part.

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.299
 I probably nag you

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.120
 incessantly about

00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.159
 what does the Bible teach,

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.399
 you know,

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.980
 but for the most part,

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:20.700
 pretty reasonably

00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:21.759
 informed scripturally.

00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:23.139
 And I remember asking

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.639
 the question

00:14:23.639 --> 00:14:24.919
 in my Sunday school class,

00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:26.500
 how many of you men

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.039
 in here

00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.819
 were trained explicitly,

00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:29.439
 you grew up

00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.039
 in a Christian home,

00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.259
 I said,

00:14:30.299 --> 00:14:30.879
 how many of you did?

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.419
 The majority of the guys

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:33.240
 in the class

00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.220
 grew up in a Christian home.

00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.139
 How many of you men

00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.600
 were trained explicitly

00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:39.740
 at the responsibilities

00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.720
 of being the spiritual head

00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:42.860
 and leader of your home,

00:14:42.919 --> 00:14:43.919
 not a one of the men

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:44.519
 raised their hand,

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.019
 oh yeah,

00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:45.960
 my dad worked at that.

00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:49.180
 So I want you

00:14:49.180 --> 00:14:50.000
 to understand that

00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:51.420
 while we've heard,

00:14:51.540 --> 00:14:52.320
 I'm not going to preach

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.320
 a passage that you guys

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:53.680
 have heard

00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:55.460
 for the first time

00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:55.920
 this morning.

00:14:56.060 --> 00:14:56.920
 You've heard it many times.

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.340
 But I want you

00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.360
 to understand that

00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:02.920
 it is not a passage

00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:03.780
 that is applied

00:15:03.780 --> 00:15:04.700
 or practiced.

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:07.800
 And God has a clear word

00:15:07.800 --> 00:15:08.540
 for us.

00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:10.660
 So let's take up

00:15:10.660 --> 00:15:11.180
 the text

00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:13.560
 and mark what it says

00:15:13.560 --> 00:15:14.639
 as I did in reading

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.639
 that in verse 25

00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:16.080
 it says,

00:15:16.319 --> 00:15:16.419
 husbands,

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.559
 love your wives.

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:18.799
 Oh yeah,

00:15:19.019 --> 00:15:19.299
 right,

00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:19.860
 I do.

00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:20.600
 So,

00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:21.960
 well,

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.179
 do it like Jesus.

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:24.439
 Oh.

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.100
 And Jesus in His love

00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:27.799
 for His wife,

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:28.659
 He was willing,

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.720
 as it says there,

00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:31.639
 to give Himself

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:33.100
 for her.

00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:35.819
 And so what I would like

00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:36.699
 us to do this morning

00:15:36.699 --> 00:15:38.120
 is understand

00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.679
 the broad flow

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:41.720
 of what Christ's model

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:44.360
 in love looks like.

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:45.539
 I mean,

00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:46.440
 when the Bible says,

00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:46.759
 husbands,

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.480
 love your wives

00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.600
 like Jesus did,

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:49.879
 if you're sitting there

00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:50.620
 and thinking that

00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.860
 Jesus is like the neighbor

00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:52.539
 next door,

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:53.320
 you're thinking,

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:53.620
 well,

00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:55.320
 I'm doing what He's doing.

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:55.639
 In fact,

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:56.720
 maybe I'm a little upstep

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.159
 on Him.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:57.940
 I'm better.

00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.000
 Love your wife like,

00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:00.700
 we better know

00:16:00.700 --> 00:16:01.779
 what Jesus' love

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.620
 is like.

00:16:02.620 --> 00:16:06.060
 So I want you to understand

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:06.779
 that Christ's love

00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:07.519
 for the church

00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.320
 meant,

00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.259
 as we see in verse 25,

00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:11.500
 that He was willing

00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.840
 to die in her place.

00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.240
 He was willing

00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:16.139
 to die in her place.

00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.700
 He was willing

00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:18.060
 to take the wrath of God

00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:19.200
 and suffer the punishment

00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:20.139
 that we deserve

00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:22.740
 so that our defiled

00:16:22.740 --> 00:16:23.799
 and filthy lives

00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.580
 can be covered

00:16:24.580 --> 00:16:25.779
 and made clean

00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:26.560
 with His blood.

00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.239
 Man,

00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:30.219
 we are blessed

00:16:30.219 --> 00:16:32.159
 beyond our imagination

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.479
 at the love of Christ

00:16:34.479 --> 00:16:35.339
 that was willing

00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:35.939
 to die

00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.539
 for our sins.

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.259
 His love also

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.119
 means,

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.579
 as we find in the text,

00:16:44.939 --> 00:16:46.699
 that He set her apart

00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:48.500
 for a special purpose.

00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:51.959
 I like the passage

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:53.779
 that John read earlier

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:55.019
 where Jesus,

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.279
 in His high priestly

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.779
 prayer,

00:16:58.720 --> 00:16:59.659
 He commented

00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.240
 on the fact

00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:02.000
 that I sanctify myself

00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.399
 so that she might

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.200
 be sanctified.

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.359
 He was willing

00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.779
 to take upon Himself

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:08.519
 a special purpose

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:09.200
 for the sake

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:10.079
 of the one

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:10.759
 that He loved

00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.339
 to make her special.

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.539
 I want you to understand

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.920
 that to sanctify something

00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.899
 is to take something

00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:20.119
 that in Scripture

00:17:20.119 --> 00:17:21.819
 is really pretty common

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.399
 and ordinary

00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:23.879
 and to set it apart,

00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:25.200
 particularly in the context

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.720
 of the Bible,

00:17:25.720 --> 00:17:27.420
 for God's glory

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:28.640
 and for His purposes.

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:30.680
 So,

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:32.259
 Christ's goal

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.680
 in dying for the church,

00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:37.299
 in addition to our salvation,

00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:39.600
 was to make us special

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.759
 for the sake of God,

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.079
 to make us valuable

00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:45.339
 to the one that He

00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:47.360
 so dearly loves.

00:17:48.620 --> 00:17:49.640
 And He did this

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.440
 with His own blood.

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.980
 Now,

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:53.340
 in verse 26,

00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:54.559
 it says that He,

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:55.940
 let me read the passage,

00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:56.940
 He might sanctify,

00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.779
 having cleansed her

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.920
 by the washing of water

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.680
 with the Word.

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.380
 And let me just kind of

00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:02.320
 give you the short story

00:18:02.320 --> 00:18:02.900
 on this one.

00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.740
 There are some

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.559
 who look at this

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.779
 and believe that it means

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.259
 baptism.

00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.759
 I don't buy that at all.

00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:09.420
 And for several

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.000
 different reasons.

00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:10.420
 For one,

00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:12.420
 I do not find in Scripture

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.059
 that baptism

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:13.620
 is something

00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:15.539
 that precedes conversion.

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:17.980
 I had an individual

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.740
 not long ago

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.139
 who said,

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.799
 would you baptize me?

00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.079
 I said,

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.680
 absolutely.

00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.579
 Once you know Christ.

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.579
 This morning,

00:18:26.659 --> 00:18:27.859
 after our sermon,

00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.639
 we are going to have

00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.099
 the privilege

00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:30.299
 of hearing one young lady

00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.200
 share her testimony

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:32.220
 of faith

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.379
 and then following that,

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:34.379
 I'm going to baptize her.

00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:35.359
 It would be my privilege.

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.359
 Her family is down here

00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.500
 somewhere near the front,

00:18:38.599 --> 00:18:39.019
 I think.

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.460
 But that baptism

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:42.039
 in the Scripture

00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.659
 follows.

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.759
 It's like putting on

00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.259
 a wedding ring.

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.200
 It's a declaration.

00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.460
 Hey,

00:18:46.579 --> 00:18:47.519
 I know Jesus!

00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:49.599
 It's what it is.

00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:53.000
 And I want you

00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.579
 to understand

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.119
 that when it says here

00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:56.039
 the washing of the water

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.559
 by the Word,

00:18:56.640 --> 00:18:57.720
 I believe what it's saying

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.319
 there is that

00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.440
 the way in which

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.480
 people come to Christ

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.799
 is through the ministry

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:02.660
 of the Word of God.

00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:04.519
 How shall they hear?

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.519
 Paul asks

00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.720
 in Romans chapter 8

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.339
 unless,

00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.379
 actually it's 10,

00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.799
 how shall they hear

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.960
 unless someone is sent?

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.400
 How beautiful

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:14.960
 are the feet?

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.720
 The fact of the matter

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.519
 is that our understanding

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.339
 of the depravity

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.920
 of our heart

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.339
 and the desperate condition

00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.000
 of our soul

00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.960
 takes place

00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:23.759
 through the preaching

00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.879
 of the Word of God,

00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.079
 through the announcing,

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.900
 here's what God says

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:30.200
 about your condition

00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.079
 and here is the solution

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.559
 in the blood of Christ

00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:34.859
 that's been shed for you.

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:37.879
 to summarize then

00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.439
 what we see

00:19:38.439 --> 00:19:38.959
 in the Scripture

00:19:38.959 --> 00:19:39.919
 here in this passage

00:19:39.919 --> 00:19:40.779
 that he died

00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.299
 for the church

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:42.079
 to save her

00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:44.000
 and to sanctify her.

00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:48.319
 Now woven into the text,

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:51.299
 I believe in verse 25

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.539
 and 26 in particular

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:53.319
 is the idea

00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:53.899
 that his work

00:19:53.899 --> 00:19:54.659
 of sanctification

00:19:54.659 --> 00:19:55.619
 in part

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:57.099
 is positional.

00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.659
 There is a sense

00:19:59.659 --> 00:20:00.399
 in which you and I

00:20:00.399 --> 00:20:01.000
 are never going to be

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:01.559
 any holier

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.259
 than we are

00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.059
 by virtue

00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:03.919
 of the blood of Christ.

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.740
 Do you understand that?

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.819
 We are declared,

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.279
 we have,

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:07.659
 get fancy here

00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.059
 with words,

00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.519
 but we are given

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.319
 the righteousness

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.960
 of Christ

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.379
 and it is attached

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.779
 to our account.

00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.539
 Do we earn it?

00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:15.940
 No,

00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.139
 we receive it

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:17.879
 by faith

00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:19.899
 and so there is

00:20:19.899 --> 00:20:20.779
 a sense in which

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:23.440
 his salvation

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:25.460
 sets us apart

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.579
 from the moment

00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.460
 of our salvation

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.680
 and puts us

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.980
 into this relationship

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.099
 and puts us

00:20:31.099 --> 00:20:32.359
 into this state.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.920
 I do want you

00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.440
 to understand,

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.379
 however,

00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:40.379
 that his salvation

00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:42.039
 also does a work

00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.920
 of sanctification

00:20:42.920 --> 00:20:43.879
 that is progressive.

00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:45.000
 In other words,

00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.819
 it continues

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:47.180
 to move us forward

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:48.819
 in spiritual development.

00:20:49.339 --> 00:20:50.119
 I love,

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.079
 I love,

00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:52.180
 I love

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.759
 being able

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.640
 to say to people

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.619
 when I'm sharing

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.160
 the gospel,

00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:56.380
 I've got incredibly

00:20:56.380 --> 00:20:57.480
 good news for you

00:20:57.480 --> 00:20:58.660
 after I've announced

00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.140
 the fact

00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:00.740
 that they are condemned

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:02.160
 in the eyes of God

00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.180
 for their own sin.

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:03.839
 I say,

00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.720
 good news,

00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:06.259
 Jesus died

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.019
 to pay the penalty

00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:07.720
 for your sins

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.700
 and he is ready

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.240
 to forgive you

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.039
 for all of it.

00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:11.440
 And then I like

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.980
 saying this,

00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:12.779
 and by the way,

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.700
 you don't have to

00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.839
 stay the way you are.

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:17.460
 I love that!

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:21.039
 And the scriptures

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:21.980
 make it clear

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:25.619
 that one of the marks

00:21:25.619 --> 00:21:27.180
 of genuine conversion

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:29.039
 is that we stop

00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:30.799
 the way we used to be

00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:32.259
 and we begin changing

00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:33.380
 to be more like Jesus.

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.019
 Isn't that right?

00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.720
 One of the things

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.640
 that I did this week

00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.940
 as I was studying

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.819
 and praying for you,

00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.519
 I was reviewing my heart,

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.880
 the lives of a number

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.039
 of you who I have known

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.700
 as a pastor

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.299
 and as a shepherd

00:21:44.299 --> 00:21:45.339
 and one of the things

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:46.200
 that I took comfort

00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.839
 and encouragement

00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:47.339
 was saying,

00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:47.819
 man,

00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:50.019
 I've seen that change.

00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.440
 I like that.

00:21:53.159 --> 00:21:53.960
 That makes sense,

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.359
 doesn't it?

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.759
 I think about the passage

00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:58.139
 over in Philippians 2,

00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.559
 verse 12 and 13

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:00.299
 where Paul says,

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.680
 work out your salvation

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.420
 with fear and trembling

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.180
 for it's God.

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.460
 What?

00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:04.019
 What?

00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:06.019
 It's God that works in you

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.680
 both to will.

00:22:08.980 --> 00:22:10.000
 Do you know what changed

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.880
 my want to?

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.680
 It was Jesus.

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.240
 Both to will

00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:17.800
 and do His good pleasure.

00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.800
 If you're sitting here

00:22:18.800 --> 00:22:20.000
 and there hasn't been

00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.580
 some touch to your will

00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:22.660
 and your doing,

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:23.700
 you probably ought to

00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:24.740
 roll out the birth certificate

00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.400
 and double check.

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:27.240
 Whoa, do I really know Jesus?

00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:29.120
 Because genuine conversion

00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:31.359
 brings a change.

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.380
 And it's important

00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.240
 that we understand

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.980
 here at the beginning

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:40.339
 that Christ's work,

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.839
 yes, it saves,

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.480
 but it also brings about

00:22:43.480 --> 00:22:44.660
 progressive sanctification.

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.400
 So, with that as background,

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.940
 and I'm kind of pressing together

00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:50.759
 verses 25, 26,

00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:53.700
 and a little bit 27, okay?

00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.839
 Make holy and without blemish.

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:57.639
 I want you to go now

00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:58.819
 to 28.

00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:01.179
 And in 28,

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.859
 the apostle is just kind of

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.419
 giving us some understanding,

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:05.279
 some application,

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.079
 moving it forward

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.720
 so we can make the connection

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.759
 for the real zinger.

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.179
 Do you know what

00:23:10.179 --> 00:23:11.019
 a real zinger is?

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:14.759
 It's a fast hardball

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:16.839
 driven by the batter

00:23:16.839 --> 00:23:18.819
 right at the pitcher.

00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.899
 So, they're starting to wear

00:23:20.899 --> 00:23:22.000
 these dorky helmets.

00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.720
 Do you follow that?

00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:24.059
 I mean, they're not going

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.720
 to wear them, trust me.

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.900
 But anyway, here we go.

00:23:26.860 --> 00:23:28.319
 Let's look at the verse.

00:23:30.180 --> 00:23:31.559
 In the same way,

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:32.500
 what's that saying?

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:32.940
 That's saying,

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:34.319
 hey, Bubba,

00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:37.279
 since you said I do,

00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:39.180
 you took on some responsibility

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.000
 here, guy.

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.299
 In the same way,

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:43.539
 like Jesus,

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:46.579
 husbands should love their wives

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.400
 as their own bodies.

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.600
 He who loves his wife

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:49.400
 loves himself.

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:51.640
 For no one ever hated

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.120
 his flesh,

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.580
 but nourishes and cherishes it

00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:54.860
 just as Christ

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.519
 does the church.

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.259
 Now,

00:23:58.460 --> 00:24:00.160
 woven into this whole thing

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.960
 is the idea

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.980
 that a Christian husband,

00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:04.280
 I'm not talking to people here

00:24:04.280 --> 00:24:05.120
 that don't know Christ.

00:24:05.180 --> 00:24:05.960
 I want you to know that.

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:08.019
 This sermon is not

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.880
 for any man

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.640
 who is here

00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:11.340
 who doesn't know Jesus.

00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.400
 It just doesn't work.

00:24:12.680 --> 00:24:13.380
 First thing is,

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.100
 come to Christ.

00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.879
 Not that I'm dismissing

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:17.879
 the evangelical call

00:24:17.879 --> 00:24:18.939
 to a person's salvation,

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.359
 but this is for Christians.

00:24:20.859 --> 00:24:21.480
 And by the way,

00:24:21.619 --> 00:24:22.439
 it's for Christians

00:24:22.439 --> 00:24:23.659
 who are filled with the Spirit.

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.459
 Do you get that?

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:27.480
 That's Ephesians 5.18.

00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.000
 Okay.

00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:29.319
 So let's understand

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.159
 Christ's model.

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.019
 Let's fit it in.

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.919
 Verse 28 announces,

00:24:34.219 --> 00:24:35.399
 love your wives like Jesus.

00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:36.059
 That's in essence

00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:36.980
 what it's being said.

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.839
 Follows along,

00:24:38.919 --> 00:24:39.899
 and we find in the passage,

00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.819
 care for your wife

00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.699
 like Jesus cares

00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.599
 for his own body.

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:47.679
 It's very interesting.

00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.319
 The Holy Spirit

00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.619
 puts a great deal of emphasis

00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:52.099
 on this in verse 28 and 29

00:24:52.099 --> 00:24:53.699
 so as to dispel

00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:55.480
 the husband's natural tendency

00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:56.779
 of being self-deceived.

00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.379
 What do we mean by that?

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.639
 You ask the average husband

00:25:01.639 --> 00:25:03.079
 in a Christian circle,

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.119
 do you love your wife?

00:25:04.219 --> 00:25:06.000
 What is the Bible answer

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:06.639
 supposed to be?

00:25:08.219 --> 00:25:08.659
 Yeah.

00:25:10.139 --> 00:25:10.579
 Duh.

00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:13.219
 I hired on for that job.

00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:13.919
 Yeah, I love her.

00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:15.599
 Do you really?

00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:17.559
 And what I want you to do

00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:19.000
 is ask yourself this question.

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.019
 I want you to be honest

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.619
 with the Lord.

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.619
 Do you love your wife

00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.079
 like Christ loved the church?

00:25:24.319 --> 00:25:24.699
 Question.

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.459
 The answer,

00:25:27.699 --> 00:25:28.819
 Christian man,

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:31.480
 is found in whether or not

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.599
 you fit this model

00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.719
 that we have in this passage.

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.319
 Does that make sense?

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:37.659
 That's what we're reading,

00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:38.959
 and that's what we're discovering.

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.959
 Do I love my wife

00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:41.659
 like Christ loved the church?

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:43.880
 And so we understand

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.480
 that caring for your wife

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.040
 is like Jesus cares

00:25:47.040 --> 00:25:47.840
 for his own body,

00:25:47.980 --> 00:25:49.480
 and he uses an analogy

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:51.040
 from human life

00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:52.120
 that we all understand.

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.660
 Look at that just for a little bit.

00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:54.980
 In the passage,

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.259
 it says that,

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.380
 sorry,

00:25:58.040 --> 00:25:59.580
 it says that a man

00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.740
 should love his wife

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:01.700
 as his own body,

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:02.640
 and by the way,

00:26:02.700 --> 00:26:03.259
 when you're cold,

00:26:03.320 --> 00:26:03.820
 what do you do,

00:26:04.380 --> 00:26:04.660
 man?

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:06.920
 We have two choices.

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:10.259
 We either turn the thermostat up,

00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:12.000
 and your wife says,

00:26:12.060 --> 00:26:12.900
 oh, it's awful hot in here,

00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.100
 you know,

00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:15.240
 but we either turn the thermostat up,

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.880
 or what do we do?

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.600
 We go get more clothes.

00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:19.140
 Am I right?

00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.460
 We're hard.

00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.220
 When you're hungry,

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.040
 what do you do, guys?

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.279
 I don't love my body.

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:28.860
 You know,

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:31.200
 just suffer.

00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:32.620
 I'm not eating.

00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:34.219
 I don't love my body.

00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.039
 No,

00:26:35.139 --> 00:26:36.279
 we take care of ourselves,

00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:36.579
 right?

00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:37.759
 Now,

00:26:38.199 --> 00:26:39.359
 kind of stretch this out a little bit.

00:26:39.419 --> 00:26:40.179
 I want you to understand

00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:41.539
 that loving your wife properly

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.839
 is reasonable and rewarding,

00:26:43.439 --> 00:26:45.819
 and when you take care of your wife,

00:26:46.719 --> 00:26:48.339
 like you take care of your own body,

00:26:48.739 --> 00:26:50.359
 you're paying attention

00:26:50.359 --> 00:26:51.219
 to the things that are,

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.199
 and follow this,

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.959
 because this is tricky,

00:26:53.239 --> 00:26:54.099
 the most important,

00:26:55.479 --> 00:26:55.839
 okay?

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.439
 It says here,

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.599
 he who loves his wife

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.379
 loves himself.

00:27:00.979 --> 00:27:01.179
 Now,

00:27:01.199 --> 00:27:01.879
 let me take a little bit

00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.259
 on this.

00:27:02.619 --> 00:27:03.219
 This passage,

00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:04.899
 because one of the things

00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.379
 I have,

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:06.119
 now,

00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.899
 do you know what it means

00:27:06.899 --> 00:27:07.959
 to go apoplectic?

00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:08.819
 No,

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.039
 you don't.

00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.199
 It means to get really

00:27:10.199 --> 00:27:10.879
 kind of irritated.

00:27:11.919 --> 00:27:12.079
 Now,

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:12.759
 pastors aren't supposed

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.219
 to do that.

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.739
 You follow that?

00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:13.939
 I mean,

00:27:13.959 --> 00:27:14.459
 pastors are supposed

00:27:14.459 --> 00:27:15.119
 to be very calm

00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.879
 and kind of,

00:27:15.919 --> 00:27:16.079
 you know,

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:17.259
 naturally sweet people.

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:17.839
 That's not me,

00:27:17.899 --> 00:27:18.459
 but I'm trying.

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.199
 I'm working at it.

00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:20.719
 So,

00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.279
 when I have people

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:21.859
 in my office

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:22.439
 and I say,

00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:24.019
 so what's your problem?

00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.519
 And they say to me,

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:24.639
 well,

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:25.439
 I don't love myself.

00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:25.679
 I say,

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.099
 what?

00:27:26.719 --> 00:27:27.879
 Where did that come from?

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.219
 I really don't get that animated,

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:30.459
 but,

00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:30.799
 you know,

00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:36.619
 and the truth of the matter is

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.479
 I've never had a person

00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:38.119
 in my office

00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:40.519
 that wasn't room temperature.

00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:41.279
 How many of you understand

00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.259
 what room temperature means?

00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:43.979
 Dead.

00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:46.159
 I have never had anybody

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.679
 in my office

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.779
 that wasn't room temperature

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:49.959
 that really didn't love themselves.

00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:55.079
 Paul is using a comparison.

00:27:55.979 --> 00:27:56.399
 He's saying,

00:27:56.459 --> 00:27:56.719
 guys,

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.439
 you're on it

00:27:58.439 --> 00:27:59.059
 when it comes to

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.000
 taking care of yourself,

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.319
 right?

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.239
 What's the difference

00:28:01.239 --> 00:28:02.059
 between a man and a boy?

00:28:03.479 --> 00:28:04.379
 You know that answer?

00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:05.639
 Price of his

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.899
 toys.

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.579
 You knew that?

00:28:10.139 --> 00:28:10.500
 Guys,

00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:12.379
 take care of your wives

00:28:12.379 --> 00:28:13.859
 the way you take care of yourself.

00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.039
 And he says,

00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:17.119
 in verse 29,

00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:17.619
 he says,

00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.239
 for no one ever

00:28:19.239 --> 00:28:20.579
 hated his own flesh.

00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.539
 I mean,

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:24.539
 you hit your thumb

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.239
 with a hammer,

00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.219
 what do you do?

00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:29.680
 I mean,

00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:30.819
 everything in life

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:31.600
 comes down to this

00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:33.220
 little index

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.160
 or digit right there

00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:34.660
 and there you are.

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.059
 Honey,

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.700
 I hurt myself.

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.100
 So,

00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.100
 I want you to understand

00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:41.339
 that

00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:43.339
 the practical part

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:44.220
 of what Jesus

00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.980
 is saying here

00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.559
 and the Spirit

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.100
 is saying is

00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:47.400
 when you give yourself

00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:48.400
 away for Christ,

00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:50.039
 you're blessed by Christ.

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:52.000
 That's what it means

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.559
 when it says,

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.460
 husbands,

00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:56.059
 if you love yourself,

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.039
 you're loving your wife.

00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.200
 It works out

00:28:58.200 --> 00:29:00.319
 that giving your love away

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:01.660
 brings back benefit.

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.440
 Now,

00:29:03.500 --> 00:29:04.539
 I want us to really focus

00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.819
 on how Christ loves

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:07.100
 and a husband should love.

00:29:08.100 --> 00:29:08.420
 And so,

00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:08.940
 we come down

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.759
 to verse 29

00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.559
 and this is

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.039
 very,

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.700
 very important.

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.940
 How Christ loves

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:15.000
 and a husband should love

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.920
 really is focused in

00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.700
 on these two words,

00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.380
 to nourish

00:29:17.380 --> 00:29:18.720
 and to cherish.

00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.799
 Actually,

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.759
 a more accurate

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.180
 translation of the text

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:23.720
 would be to say

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.299
 bring up.

00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.500
 The Greek word,

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.279
 I'll give the Greek

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.720
 here to you,

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.660
 but the Greek word

00:29:30.660 --> 00:29:32.079
 is only used twice

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.759
 in the New Testament.

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.600
 It's actually used

00:29:33.600 --> 00:29:35.240
 a number of different times

00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:38.519
 where the Greeks

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.140
 translated the Hebrew

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.900
 Old Testament

00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.700
 into Greek.

00:29:42.059 --> 00:29:43.059
 I'll get bored with that,

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.700
 but the word

00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:45.880
 appears often

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.680
 in the Old Testament

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:48.039
 in the Greek rendition.

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.819
 And it's a word

00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.180
 that speaks about

00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:53.359
 nurturing someone

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:55.220
 on an upward path.

00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:56.539
 Okay?

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.960
 That's the reason

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.379
 in Ephesians chapter 6,

00:29:59.460 --> 00:29:59.779
 4,

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:01.359
 it says that fathers

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:03.339
 are to bring up

00:30:03.339 --> 00:30:04.839
 their children.

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.539
 Now,

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.240
 husband,

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:09.859
 if you're hearing

00:30:09.859 --> 00:30:10.799
 from the Spirit of God

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.319
 this morning,

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.200
 what it's saying

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:13.460
 is that as you're

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.659
 driving home,

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:17.480
 don't say to your wife,

00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.160
 hey,

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:20.620
 I'm in this

00:30:20.620 --> 00:30:22.440
 to help you grow,

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.099
 but think it.

00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:28.259
 In fact,

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.039
 if you have the nerve,

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.880
 go ahead and say it.

00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.839
 Here's what the Bible

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.680
 is driving the point

00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.279
 towards.

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:38.620
 The Christian husband

00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.779
 nurtures

00:30:39.779 --> 00:30:40.559
 when he cares

00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:41.940
 for the spiritual development

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.779
 of his wife.

00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.660
 That's your job.

00:30:44.660 --> 00:30:48.620
 He has implemented

00:30:48.620 --> 00:30:49.880
 divine order

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:52.180
 and he has charged

00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.880
 the man

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:53.880
 with being

00:30:53.880 --> 00:30:55.300
 the spiritual head

00:30:55.300 --> 00:30:56.100
 of his home

00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:58.000
 and he is responsible

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.720
 for the spiritual leadership

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.980
 of the home

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:01.500
 and the wife

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.259
 that he gives,

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.040
 that man.

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:05.460
 The wife's principle

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.820
 spiritual encouragement

00:31:06.820 --> 00:31:07.620
 and enrichment

00:31:07.620 --> 00:31:08.460
 should come first

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.040
 and foremost

00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:10.259
 from her husband.

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.819
 A pastor

00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.640
 should be a helper.

00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.660
 A godly woman

00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:16.160
 should be a helper.

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.720
 And I've been here

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.259
 long enough

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.180
 that when women

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:19.839
 in our church

00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.559
 call me

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.900
 and ask me an opinion,

00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.799
 guess what I often do?

00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.180
 That first question is,

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:26.779
 so,

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.160
 have you talked

00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.660
 with your husband?

00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.039
 What are his thoughts?

00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.579
 I want to encourage

00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:33.500
 that mindset

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.339
 which is biblical.

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:34.459
 biblical.

00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.720
 I want you to understand

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.179
 as you look

00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:39.000
 at this passage

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:41.220
 that it is not

00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:42.019
 an exception

00:31:42.019 --> 00:31:43.599
 to a Bible rule.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.279
 There are two different

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.399
 things that I bring

00:31:45.399 --> 00:31:45.939
 to your attention

00:31:45.939 --> 00:31:46.879
 that make it clear

00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:48.539
 in God's economy

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.519
 and God's thinking

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.539
 that the husband

00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:51.859
 is to be the spiritual

00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.980
 developer

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:54.039
 of his wife.

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.919
 Two passages

00:31:55.919 --> 00:31:56.679
 come to mind.

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.839
 One is in Genesis

00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.579
 chapter 2

00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.519
 where God

00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.919
 gave to Adam

00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:02.720
 instruction

00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:04.180
 that was literally

00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:05.600
 spiritual death

00:32:05.600 --> 00:32:06.460
 or life.

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:06.960
 How many of you

00:32:06.960 --> 00:32:07.420
 are aware of that?

00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.220
 Eve was the one

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:10.980
 who sinned

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.660
 as it says

00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.920
 but Adam was the one

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.700
 who received

00:32:13.700 --> 00:32:14.380
 the instruction

00:32:14.380 --> 00:32:15.200
 when God said

00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.579
 to Adam,

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:15.920
 listen,

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.240
 y'all don't be

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:18.000
 eaten of that tree.

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.240
 I mean,

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:19.039
 he made the point,

00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:20.019
 don't do this.

00:32:20.200 --> 00:32:21.000
 Who did he tell?

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.920
 He told Adam.

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.120
 And when sin

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:25.059
 came into the garden,

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.559
 who did God address?

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:29.240
 He addressed Adam.

00:32:30.180 --> 00:32:31.200
 There's another passage

00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:31.819
 I want you to take

00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.200
 a look at

00:32:32.200 --> 00:32:32.799
 just for a moment.

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.640
 Turn over in your Bible

00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.279
 to 1 Corinthians

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.240
 chapter 14

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:36.819
 verse 35.

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.680
 Now,

00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:43.259
 by the way,

00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.480
 hey,

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.420
 everybody look up.

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.019
 I'm just the mailman.

00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:47.420
 How many of you

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.240
 understand what I just said?

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.100
 What's my job?

00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:54.140
 Deliver the mail.

00:32:55.360 --> 00:32:56.180
 If it gets put

00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:56.640
 in your box,

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.620
 somebody else sent it.

00:32:57.619 --> 00:33:01.939
 1 Corinthians 14

00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:02.459
 35,

00:33:02.719 --> 00:33:03.379
 look at the passage.

00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.759
 It says,

00:33:03.879 --> 00:33:04.459
 if there's anything

00:33:04.459 --> 00:33:05.519
 they desire to learn,

00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.559
 let them ask their husbands

00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:06.839
 where?

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:08.119
 At home.

00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.199
 For it's shameful

00:33:11.199 --> 00:33:11.699
 for a woman

00:33:11.699 --> 00:33:12.639
 to speak in the church.

00:33:12.719 --> 00:33:12.919
 Now,

00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:14.399
 I believe that has

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:15.500
 application in particular,

00:33:16.139 --> 00:33:17.639
 and we find other passages

00:33:17.639 --> 00:33:18.299
 in relationship

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:19.159
 that's over in

00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:20.359
 1 Timothy chapter 2,

00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.500
 but I believe

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.419
 that the particular

00:33:22.419 --> 00:33:23.399
 application is

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:24.199
 characteristic

00:33:24.199 --> 00:33:25.339
 of the learning

00:33:25.339 --> 00:33:26.459
 style and structure

00:33:26.459 --> 00:33:28.179
 that took place

00:33:28.179 --> 00:33:29.279
 in the church.

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:31.559
 And a lot

00:33:31.559 --> 00:33:33.139
 of the teaching

00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:33.839
 methodology

00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:35.180
 was more interaction,

00:33:35.399 --> 00:33:35.960
 Q&A,

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:37.079
 and challenging.

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:38.700
 Oh, yeah?

00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:40.259
 Where did you get

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.139
 that idea from?

00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:41.579
 You know,

00:33:41.639 --> 00:33:42.639
 there's a pastor

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:43.259
 up there teaching,

00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.359
 and, you know,

00:33:44.420 --> 00:33:45.420
 a woman raises her hand

00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:45.899
 in the church

00:33:45.899 --> 00:33:46.279
 and says,

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:46.899
 hey,

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.639
 where did you?

00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.460
 And Paul,

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.420
 and by the way,

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.420
 who told Paul

00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:52.980
 what to write?

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.519
 Does anybody know?

00:33:55.399 --> 00:33:56.339
 Was it his culture

00:33:56.339 --> 00:33:57.420
 or was it the Holy Spirit?

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.019
 What's the answer?

00:33:58.019 --> 00:33:59.500
 It was the Holy Spirit

00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.720
 that said,

00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:00.180
 hey,

00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:01.160
 you have a question,

00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.720
 ask your husband.

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.559
 And by the way,

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:05.740
 a lot of husbands,

00:34:06.240 --> 00:34:07.220
 including back then,

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.139
 they'd come from

00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:08.840
 pagan backgrounds,

00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.519
 so when the husband

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.519
 was asked the question

00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.300
 at home,

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.639
 guess what he had to say?

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.920
 Same thing that probably

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.960
 some of you should be saying,

00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:17.460
 well,

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.579
 let me do some research,

00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.460
 I'll get back to you.

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.340
 I can tell you,

00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.619
 a lot of times

00:34:22.619 --> 00:34:23.699
 I don't have answers,

00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.460
 but I do know

00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:26.039
 the resource

00:34:26.039 --> 00:34:26.860
 to try to lie on.

00:34:26.860 --> 00:34:27.539
 And so,

00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.480
 here we have

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.380
 the apostle saying,

00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:29.900
 hey, listen,

00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:32.860
 the husband is responsible

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:36.140
 for the spiritual development

00:34:36.140 --> 00:34:37.200
 of his wife.

00:34:40.980 --> 00:34:42.000
 The second word

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.740
 that is used there

00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.599
 says that he is

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.840
 to cherish.

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.620
 And that is

00:34:47.620 --> 00:34:48.920
 a very interesting word

00:34:48.920 --> 00:34:49.620
 that we probably

00:34:49.620 --> 00:34:50.940
 benefit from

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.660
 just understanding.

00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:52.700
 It means to really,

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:54.140
 to be affectionate

00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:54.579
 of her.

00:34:55.759 --> 00:34:56.579
 Can I say that again

00:34:56.579 --> 00:34:56.960
 slowly?

00:34:57.339 --> 00:34:58.379
 I just want the men

00:34:58.379 --> 00:34:58.879
 to look up.

00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.019
 Just the men.

00:35:01.519 --> 00:35:02.779
 To be affectionate

00:35:02.779 --> 00:35:03.119
 of her.

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.679
 Well, I'm not really

00:35:04.679 --> 00:35:05.299
 into affection.

00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:07.179
 I'm not into

00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:07.920
 the warm fuzzies.

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.460
 I want you to turn over.

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:09.900
 Remember,

00:35:10.299 --> 00:35:11.379
 I'm delivering the mail.

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.239
 That's what we're doing here.

00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:13.500
 1 Thessalonians 2,

00:35:13.579 --> 00:35:14.039
 verse 7.

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:14.759
 Actually,

00:35:19.880 --> 00:35:20.699
 this word cherish

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:21.400
 that we find

00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:22.639
 in Ephesians 5,

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:23.539
 29,

00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:25.099
 appears one other time

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.940
 in 1 Thessalonians 2,

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.519
 verse 7,

00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.400
 where it says this,

00:35:28.539 --> 00:35:28.820
 Paul,

00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:30.320
 we were gentle

00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:31.139
 among you

00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:32.860
 like a nursing mother

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:34.139
 taking care

00:35:34.139 --> 00:35:36.239
 of her own child.

00:35:37.719 --> 00:35:38.880
 Do you have any idea

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:39.619
 what a nursing mother

00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:40.119
 is like?

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:40.239
 Like,

00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:44.000
 they're all over it

00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.460
 when it comes

00:35:44.460 --> 00:35:45.179
 to that little child.

00:35:45.239 --> 00:35:45.639
 Am I right?

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.920
 And having watched

00:35:47.920 --> 00:35:49.460
 my wife care

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.559
 for four of our children

00:35:50.559 --> 00:35:52.159
 and nurse all four of them,

00:35:53.059 --> 00:35:54.699
 and I don't say that

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:55.359
 because I'm a member

00:35:55.359 --> 00:35:56.219
 of La Leche League.

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:57.259
 I just happened to say it.

00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.940
 But here's the deal.

00:35:59.339 --> 00:35:59.739
 I mean,

00:35:59.859 --> 00:36:00.880
 now I'll tell you,

00:36:01.159 --> 00:36:01.819
 cleaning bottoms,

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:02.460
 that's one thing,

00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:03.259
 but nursing,

00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:03.920
 I mean,

00:36:04.019 --> 00:36:07.719
 that was a moment.

00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:09.460
 She had to have

00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.139
 a special place.

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:10.940
 There's a lot

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.760
 that went into that.

00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.699
 And she just loved,

00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.460
 loved, loved, loved,

00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.300
 loved that child.

00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:18.000
 Paul says,

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:18.639
 hey, husbands,

00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:20.079
 you're responsible

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.720
 for the spiritual upgrade

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:23.139
 of your wife's life,

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:24.380
 and you're responsible

00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:26.059
 to be affectionate,

00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:26.260
 to be,

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:26.800
 man,

00:36:26.860 --> 00:36:27.860
 you're to wrap up in her.

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:31.440
 I know one young man said,

00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:31.659
 well,

00:36:31.780 --> 00:36:32.940
 I'm afraid I love my wife

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.559
 too much.

00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:35.360
 What?

00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:37.740
 How close are you

00:36:37.740 --> 00:36:38.139
 to doing it

00:36:38.139 --> 00:36:39.039
 like Jesus does?

00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:40.980
 Well,

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.340
 I'm not there.

00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:41.760
 It's all right.

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.480
 You've got room to go.

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:43.360
 Go for it.

00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:43.720
 Okay?

00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.260
 Paul says,

00:36:45.440 --> 00:36:46.240
 look at the passage,

00:36:47.820 --> 00:36:49.199
 a husband is to care

00:36:49.199 --> 00:36:51.139
 for his wife tenderly.

00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:52.400
 So,

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.559
 and I'll close with this,

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.820
 if you're a Christian

00:36:55.820 --> 00:36:56.699
 husband today,

00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:59.820
 and the Holy Spirit

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:03.900
 is speaking to your heart,

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:07.139
 you understand that

00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:09.000
 he is not asking you

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:11.579
 if you'd like to do this.

00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:15.440
 This is not a suggestion.

00:37:17.059 --> 00:37:18.139
 It's a command.

00:37:18.139 --> 00:37:23.359
 And it is one

00:37:23.359 --> 00:37:28.019
 that I find profoundly humbling

00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:30.900
 and drives me to prayer.

00:37:30.900 --> 00:37:35.700
 I,

00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:36.840
 Tim Kenoyer,

00:37:37.160 --> 00:37:39.200
 am responsible

00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:41.559
 for my bride's

00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.900
 ongoing

00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:44.519
 sanctification.

00:37:45.880 --> 00:37:46.680
 You,

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:48.260
 husband,

00:37:49.220 --> 00:37:50.240
 are responsible

00:37:50.240 --> 00:37:52.740
 for your wife's

00:37:52.740 --> 00:37:53.500
 ongoing

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:55.260
 sanctification.

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:55.340
 salvation.

00:37:56.540 --> 00:37:58.040
 And all God's people

00:37:58.040 --> 00:37:58.540
 said,

00:37:59.420 --> 00:37:59.700
 amen.

00:38:01.220 --> 00:38:02.180
 Let's enjoy

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:03.280
 our baptism.

00:38:04.140 --> 00:38:04.540
 And John,

00:38:04.640 --> 00:38:05.140
 come and lead.

00:38:05.260 --> 00:38:06.260
 Amen.