relationships

Spirit Led Relationships

Ephesians 5:21-6:9

Good day to you. Today we are going to deal with relationships the way the Lord wants us to. This is the next to last study in the book of Ephesians. Next time we will be dealing with Spiritual Warfare. Beginning in July I will be producing these studies once a month instead of once a week or so. It will give me more time to prepare the studies, plus do other things that the Lord wants me to. In July we will be studying the letters to the Corinthian Church. The studies will be topical in nature instead of line by line, word-by-word.

In today's study we are going to look at the following relationships: 1} Husbands and wives; 2} Children and Parents; 3} and Employers and Employees. The Lord has a specific way we are to relate to each group. While there are similarities in each group, there are some differences as well.

In verse 21 we are given the command to submit to one another out of reverence for the Lord. The language indicates that 'you will...'. That means there is no other acceptable option. Usually when we study this passage this verse is either overlooked or treated lightly. People today don't know what it means to submit. Those who have served in the military do know. In that situation 'no I won't' means you and your troop is dead. Some men, when they use the word submit they mean for their wives to become slaves to their whims. God never intended that. In Hebrews 13:17-18 we are told to obey our spiritual leaders. Wives, your husband is the spiritual leader of your home. Submit to him as you would to Christ. In submitting we are given a spiritual covering, an umbrella of protection, just like when you insure your car. This produces blessing and favor. (Preferential treatment)

I remember when I was serving as a senior pastoral aide a few years ago. The man I was serving was a real taskmaster. In the natural he was rude, crude, and indecent. In the natural I would just as soon destroy him as look at him. I, however, knew I was required to be obedient and submissive to his authority. God put me there for a reason, so that is what I did. It wasn't easy to do. The end result the Lord blessed me richly after I left there. Even while I was there I received favor. Not only from him, but also from many other people I would have never met. Some of those people are Donny McGuire, Reba Rambo, Mike Murdock, Vickie Yoh'e, Randy White, Clint Brown, and many more. I eventually was able to travel all over North Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Canada to minister to people and help some ministries grow. Submission is the key to success in relationships.

Now let's go through the passage piece by piece. Vs 22-24 give instructions to wives. Vs 22 tell wives to submit to your husbands. The reason: The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. This means that while the wife has a say in how the house (family) is run, the husband has the final say so. He is the one who will answer to Christ. He is not a dictator, but a guide. Look at our relationship to Christ. We have a free will. We can choose to follow Christ or not. If we choose not to we create disharmony. So does the wife. Obedience and submission creates harmony. Don't fret ladies; God has a word for the men too.

In verses 25-29 husbands are told to love their wives. How? Just as Christ loved the church. That can still be a mystery until you've known the Lord awhile. The key, I believe, is the anointing. Christ=anointing. We can read in the Bible how Christ did that. To be 'in Christ' means to be in the anointing and subsequently 'in love.' Think about that. Unfortunately most men think they can go down to the store and buy love and bring it home. Not so. Time must be spent with the Lord to get it. It's called relationship. Most men don't want to take the time. It's an ego thing. So, ladies, pray for your man.

In verses 31-33 Paul refers back to Genesis 2:24 as a reminder of what the Lord had in mind from the beginning. The conclusion: The husband must love his wife and the wife must respect her husband. To deal with that will take too long here. So we'll save it for another time.

In Chapter 6:1-4 we come to dealing with relationships between parents and children. So often parents feel at a loss in dealing with their children. The laws of the land are contrary to spiritual laws. The law says parents are not allowed to spank their children. If they do they face going to jail or worse: loosing their children to Social Services. Yet the Bible says that it is sometimes necessary to spank them I have yet to see a child who went to pieces in life because of that. Usually it's because the child has chosen rebellion. Clearly a violation of scripture. Children are told: Obey your parents. One of the ten commandments says honor your parents. If you do you will live long and be prosperous. It's a promise from the Lord.

Fathers are told not to agitate their children and cause them to be rebellious. This means don't bully them. Parents are to teach, guide, and love their children. (See Pr 22:6; Deut 6:6-7) How's your relationship with the Lord?

Finally we come to relationships between employers and employees. (6:6-9) Those who work for a living are to obey their employers. They are to serve them as though they are serving Christ. In the long run you are. What's more you are to do so whether or not they are watching you. After all, God is!





		*Spirit Led Relationships* Ephesians 5:21-6:9 Good day to you. Today we are going to deal with relationships the way the Lord wants us to. This is the next to last study in the book of Ephesians. Next time we will be dealing with Spiritual Warfare. Beginning in July I will be producing these studies once a month instead of once a week or so. It will give me more time to prepare the studies, plus do other things that the Lord wants me to. In July we will be studying the letters to the Corinthian Church. The studies will be topical in nature instead of line by line, word-by-word. In today's study we are going to look at the following relationships: 1} Husbands and wives; 2} Children and Parents; 3} and Employers and Employees. The Lord has a specific way we are to relate to each group. While there are similarities in each group, there are some differences as well. In verse 21 we are given the command to submit to one another out of reverence for the Lord. The language indicates that 'you will...'. That means there is no other acceptable option. Usually when we study this passage this verse is either overlooked or treated lightly. People today don't know what it means to submit. Those who have served in the military do know. In that situation 'no I won't' means you and your troop is dead. Some men, when they use the word submit they mean for their wives to become slaves to their whims. God never intended that. In Hebrews 13:17-18 we are told to obey our spiritual leaders. Wives, your husband is the spiritual leader of your home. Submit to him as you would to Christ. In submitting we are given a spiritual covering, an umbrella of protection, just like when you insure your car. This produces blessing and favor. (Preferential treatment) I remember when I was serving as a senior pastoral aide a few years ago. The man I was serving was a real taskmaster. In the natural he was rude, crude, and indecent. In the natural I would just as soon destroy him as look at him. I, however, knew I was required to be obedient and submissive to his authority. God put me there for a reason, so that is what I did. It wasn't easy to do. The end result the Lord blessed me richly after I left there. Even while I was there I received favor. Not only from him, but also from many other people I would have never met. Some of those people are Donny McGuire, Reba Rambo, Mike Murdock, Vickie Yoh'e, Randy White, Clint Brown, and many more. I eventually was able to travel all over North Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Canada to minister to people and help some ministries grow. Submission is the key to success in relationships. Now let's go through the passage piece by piece. Vs 22-24 give instructions to wives. Vs 22 tell wives to submit to your husbands. The reason: The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. This means that while the wife has a say in how the house (family) is run, the husband has the final say so. He is the one who will answer to Christ. He is not a dictator, but a guide. Look at our relationship to Christ. We have a free will. We can choose to follow Christ or not. If we choose not to we create disharmony. So does the wife. Obedience and submission creates harmony. Don't fret ladies; God has a word for the men too. In verses 25-29 husbands are told to love their wives. How? Just as Christ loved the church. That can still be a mystery until you've known the Lord awhile. The key, I believe, is the anointing. Christ=anointing. We can read in the Bible how Christ did that. To be 'in Christ' means to be in the anointing and subsequently 'in love.' Think about that. Unfortunately most men think they can go down to the store and buy love and bring it home. Not so. Time must be spent with the Lord to get it. It's called relationship. Most men don't want to take the time. It's an ego thing. So, ladies, pray for your man. In verses 31-33 Paul refers back to Genesis 2:24 as a reminder of what the Lord had in mind from the beginning. The conclusion: The husband must love his wife and the wife must respect her husband. To deal with that will take too long here. So we'll save it for another time. In Chapter 6:1-4 we come to dealing with relationships between parents and children. So often parents feel at a loss in dealing with their children. The laws of the land are contrary to spiritual laws. The law says parents are not allowed to spank their children. If they do they face going to jail or worse: loosing their children to Social Services. Yet the Bible says that it is sometimes necessary to spank them I have yet to see a child who went to pieces in life because of that. Usually it's because the child has chosen rebellion. Clearly a violation of scripture. Children are told: Obey your parents. One of the ten commandments says honor your parents. If you do you will live long and be prosperous. It's a promise from the Lord. Fathers are told not to agitate their children and cause them to be rebellious. This means don't bully them. Parents are to teach, guide, and love their children. (See Pr 22:6; Deut 6:6-7) How's your relationship with the Lord? Finally we come to relationships between employers and employees. (6:6-9) Those who work for a living are to obey their employers. They are to serve them as though they are serving Christ. In the long run you are. What's more you are to do so whether or not they are watching you. After all, God is! "But my boss is a real jerk! He is mean and abusive. He doesn't obey his superiors." So, pray for him. Ask the Lord if it's time to move on. IF yes, then go. If no, then be the best employee in the house. God will reward you for it. Think vertically, not horizontally. Employers, you are to treat your employees with respect and dignity. Don't threaten them. Let them know when they do a good thing. Give them praise. When I was working as a senior pastoral aide the pastor�s wife often praised me for what I did. So did the Pastor. He often gave me clothes from his closet when he bought new ones. He sometimes told the church about the good things I was doing in the church. His wife often bought lunch for me. When I moved into a new place she gave me things from their home to outfit the house. Next time we will finish out the book of Ephesians. That will be later this month. Beginning in July we will start the first book of Corinthians. Be Outrageously Blessed! Pastor *E-mail:* Soaring Eagle Ministries Last updated February 20, 2004