God is sovereign and has a sense of humor. 12th anniversary.

Better than than last week, wives submitting to husbands!

Talked about what it doesn’t mean, and then what it does:

1. Let your actions speak louder than your words.
2. Let your spirit be your prettiest feature.

Kay is more beautiful than the day I married her. Physically, yes, but mostly because of how’s she’s grown.

3. Let your hope make you fearless.

Now, husbands…

Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Peter 3:7

This is the word of the Lord.

”In the same way”

Same as last week… In what same way? Same way as wives?

No, as in the same way as all the rest of these acts of submission. The same as Jesus.

1. Let your submission be mutual

Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives.

Leading doesn’t mean you get what you want all the time!

Most famous passage in the Bible on marriage: start in verse 21, not verse 22!

…giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,

Ephesians 5:20–22

What does “in an understanding way” mean, exactly?

Literally, “according to knowledge” What knowledge are we to understand?

• Knowledge of these verses, for startes!
• Knowledge of a husband’s role in marriage.
• Knowledge of her! Every one is unique. Unique from hour to hour!
• Knowledge of the gospel, most of all!

Don and Ramona, “say yes to everything you possibly can.”

2. Let your actions be honoring.

“Weaker Partner” (vessel)

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

There’s a reason we have NBA, WNBA, golf, tennis, Olympics. Men have a genetic advantage… testosterone.

• Jeep vs Porche
• Tupperware vs fine china.

Dick van Dyke Show, “My Mother Can Beat Up My Father”

1. Let your submission be mutual
2. Let your actions be honoring.

3. Let your Prayer life be vibrant

That’s a serious statement, guys. A life in the Spirit is a life of prayer.

What does that mean?

because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.

1 Peter 3:12

With a broken relationship, it’s hard to kneel.

Conclusion

Remember the overarching theme… as to the Lord. We are the distinct people of God, here to declare the glory of God.

One of the best ways we have to do that is through marriage, end of Ephesians 5, living parable.

Both of us should preach the gospel to the world in how we relate to each other: the wife by how she submits, the husband by how he serves, and how we both do it all for Jesus.

Wives:

1. Let your actions speak louder than your words.
2. Let your spirit be your prettiest feature.
3. Let your hope make you fearless.

Husbands:

1. Let your submission be mutual.
2. Let your actions be honoring.
3. Let your prayer life be vibrant