•Part 11 - Conclusion
Ephesians 5:18-6:4
We want to end by going back over what we have learned about the family from God's Word. We have learned a lot in a short time. We started out by looking at the family as being anti-cultural. As we have gone through this series of sermons it is obvious that the family is anti-cultural. Let us take a few minutes to look at Romans 1 and see the different stages that a people, a nation, and a family goes through when they are not submitting to Scripture. Each person from each family makes up a community, town, city, and a nation. This is a slippery slope, and having the right people in political office will not solve the problem. The message of a Biblical family is not accepted. People hate it and do not want to hear it, even among those who claim to be born again. There isn't only opposition from the culture but also from many inside the church. It is a sad and alarming day when even the church rebels against God's Word. A biblical family is portrayed as a threat to society, peace, and happiness. A biblical family is viewed as a drag on society.
We have also learned about a Spirit filled, controlled, family. "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit," Ephesians 5:18. Again I want to stress this is not us getting more of the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit getting more of us. You cannot make a Spirit controlled person mad (Galatians 5:22-26).
In Ephesians 5:19-21 we see some of the results of being controlled by the Spirit.
One of the results we learned about is that we won't be arguing and complaining or debating or in competition with each other. We will put the needs of others before our own needs. We will quickly forgive when others trespass against us. When we are controlled by the Spirit we will submit ourselves one to another. Without being controlled by the Holy Spirit this is almost impossible. Submitting is to allow oneself to be in subjection to another. This is where our pride swells up and says no. I don't mind singing hymns and giving thanks always in all things, but I'm not submitting to her or his needs etc… This is evidence that you are not controlled by the Spirit. This means that all those other things that you are doing, you are doing in the power of the flesh. When you say no, the old man has just risen up. Ephesians 5:19-21 are tuff verses. We have the influence of this present evil world against us and most of all we have our own fallen nature against us. This spiritual warfare isn't something to take lightly. All these evidences go together.
The first person of the family that we looked at was the wife. Look in Ephesians 5:22. She is given a specific command; submit. "Submit" means to submit oneself; to be subject; to be obedient. To place in order. This is contrary to our nature. As a result of the fall the desire of the woman is to rule over the man; and in a marriage for the wife to rule over the husband. We saw the biblical place for the wife to be is at home. This is her domain. Being home is not something to take lightly as we learned about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. We desperately need virtuous women.
Then we looked at the husband in Ephesians 5:25. Husbands are commanded to love their wives. We are to love with a biblical love not a Hollywood or postcard love. There isn't one thing in particular that should make us love our wives, we should simply love them for who they are, not what they can do for us. We are not to treat our wives as if they are inferior to us; she is God's gift to us. We are to love her as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.
We learned the husband is supposed to give his family the Word of God. He does this lovingly because it is beneficial to all and the Word of God gives stability to a home. It is also the cleansing agent in a home. We are to love our wives unconditionally and nothing should be able to separate our love from our wives, and our families. We see this example with Jesus and His bride, the church (Romans 8:28-39).
The next thing we looked at was the children. In Ephesians 6:1-3 the children are commanded to obey. This implies receiving instruction and obeying it. We looked at many Scriptures about the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. Children are to honour their parents until the day we die. "We" implying we are all children.
Then lastly we learned about raising our children (Ephesians 6:4). We are not to provoke them to wrath. We are to care for them and bring them up; raise them up; establish them; nurture them and admonish them. This is correction with discipline and on hands personal training. It is the parents God given responsibility to raise their own children. We also saw the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.
All of these commands from God implies to stop doing something and to start doing the opposite. Wives are to stop not submitting and to start submitting. Husbands are to stop not loving and to start loving. Children are to stop disobeying and to start obeying. Parents are to stop provoking and to start raising their children biblically. All this is to be done as unto the Lord, or as it is the Lord we are doing all this for. We have all this information, what do we do with it? Apply it. Don't deceive yourself into thinking that you are doing everything exactly right. We can all agree that we are all coming up short. In some areas very short.
The first thing we need to do is confess this to the Lord. Confession is simply agreeing. You are agreeing with the Word of God. Wives confess that you have not been submitting; husbands confess that you have not been loving; children confess that you have not been obeying; and parents confess that you have been provoking. Confess this sin. Repent; turn from this sin. Do what the Bible says to do. Wives start submitting; husbands start loving; children start obeying; and parents stop provoking. This involves crucifying of the flesh. This is hard, and can be painful; but it is beneficial for all. God's mercies are new every day. We messed up yesterday and today, but we can get up in the morning and start over and strive to do right, as unto the Lord. We can strive to be biblical.
There are steps we must take to line up with the Bible. The question is what steps do I need to take? First thing is we must be controlled by the Holy Spirit. He will lead, guide, and direct us according to the Word of God. He will point us to Jesus Christ and not to ourselves. It is by Him that we have the power to live unto the Lord. Strive to do what the Bible says. Wives, start submitting to your own husbands today, husbands, we have no excuse, we are to start loving today. Children you are to start obeying today, and parents you are to stop provoking today.
Look at your life. Is it biblical? Take inventory of your life. What is keeping you from being biblical? What changes do you need to make? Don't point out the failures of others, simply look at yourself. Are you biblical? Do you want to obey God, or are you concerned with what others will say about you? Go back to Ephesians 5:18. Be biblical, even if no one else is. It is worth it. Our God is so good to us. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
