God of All Love

Ephesians 5:21-33

Weddings (yearly) 2.3 millionWeddings (cost) $72 billion (US)Wedding (costliest) $110 millionHoneymoons (cost) $8 billion (US)Divorces (yearly) 920,000Divorces (cost) $112 billion (US)Deaths from Divorces 14,850

Ephesians 5:1-20 Divisions

Our New Life in Christ

New WordsNew ThoughtsNew Actions

Marriage is more aboutSalvation and Sanctification

Than Sensation and Satisfaction

Principle

Ephesians 5:21-33 Divisions

21-24 Leading25-30 Loving31-33 Leaving

21-24 Leading

Divisions

Principle

For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest

Luke 9:48

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Ephesians 5

Our submission to others

Is a reflection and outworking

Of our submission to Christ

Principle

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

Ephesians 5

24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit

to their husbands in everything

Ephesians 5

Submission involves

putting oneself

completely and unconditionally

at the service of the other’s

well being and happiness

Principle

Application Questions

Do you have marriage troubles? Do you love Jesus First? Do you live for Jesus First? Is your life submitted to Jesus First?Is Jesus your life First?

Application Prayer

I Adore You as the Master Designer of my lifeI Confess I have rebelled and disobeyed You

Thank You for giving me new life by Your SpiritI Pray for Help to surrender, sacrifice & serve

25-30 Loving

Divisions

Love is a call to die to oneself, a lifelong practice of giving

not only all you have, but all you are.

Principle

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through

the word

Ephesians 5

27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or

wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5

28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own

bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself

Ephesians 5

29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for

it, just as Christ does the church

Ephesians 5

The measure of our love for GodIs to love Him without measure

Principle

Application Questions

Is your wife more like Christ because she is married to you? Do you sanctify her or hold her back? How will you nourish & cherish her?

Application Prayer

I Adore You God of Unending & Unfailing LoveI Confess my pride, my love of self & the world Thanks for giving all I need for life & holiness

I Pray for my life to inspire & purify others in love

31-33 Leaving

Divisions

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

Ephesians 5

32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5

Principle

A couple’s hearts must be so hidden in God that they have to seek Him

to find each other.

Application Questions

Does your marriage reflect the oneness & love Christ has for His church?What are you willing to change to deepen your oneness with Jesus?

Application Prayer

I Adore You my God of Infinite WorthI Confess my being discontent & divisive

Thanks for Your Infilling & Indwelling PresenceI Pray for holy & absolute oneness with You

Ephesians 5:21-33 Divisions

21-24 Lead and Submit25-30 Love and Respect31-33 Leave and Cleave

Philippians 2:5-8Christ Jesus, Who, being in very nature God, made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!

Vow - MenI take you to be my wedded wife. With deepest joy I receive you into my life that together we may be one. As is Christ to His body, the church, so I will be to you a loving and faithful husband. Always will I perform my headship over you even as Christ does over me, knowing that His Lordship is one of the holiest desires for my life.

Vow - MenI promise you my deepest love, my fullest devotion, my tenderest care. I promise I will live first unto God rather than others. I promise that I will lead our lives into a life of faith and hope in Christ Jesus. Ever honoring God's guidance by His spirit through the Word, And so throughout life, no matter what may lie ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as a loving and faithful husband

Vow - WomenI take you to be my wedded husband. With deepest joy I come into my new life with you. As you have pledged to me your life and love, so I too happily give you my life, and in confidence submit myself to your headship as to the Lord. As is the church in her relationship to Christ, so I will be to you.

Vow - WomenI will live first unto our God and then unto you, loving you, obeying you, caring for you and ever seeking to please you. God has prepared me for you and so I will ever strengthen, help, comfort, and encourage you. Therefore, throughout life, no matter what may be ahead of us, I pledge to you my life as an obedient and faithful wife.

Nothing bad can ever result

from obeying God

Principle

God of All Love

Ephesians 5:21-33