25-1210wc Transcript

(0:04) I saw a quote, but I’m going to reword it. (0:09) I’m going to say, (0:12) someone needs help from someone. (0:19) Someone needs help from someone.

(0:26) You know, in Galatians 6, 1 and 2, (0:33) Paul tells the church there in Galatia, (0:39) says, brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, (0:50) you who are spiritual, restore such a one. (0:57) In the spirit of gentleness, (1:01) consider yourselves lest you also be tempted. (1:08) Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law.

(1:16) In other words, he’s saying there are those (1:20) that might need help, (1:24) and they might be bearing burdens (1:27) that others could help them with. (1:35) Now, I’m going to go to Ephesians 5, (1:49) and I’m going to build on families. (1:57) Sometimes families need help.

(2:07) We find that in the beginning, (2:10) when God made Adam, (2:16) he saw that Adam was alone, (2:22) and he said that it’s not good that man be alone. (2:29) And so when Adam gave names to the animals, (2:40) none of these animals could provide him (2:45) the help that he needed. (2:50) So God put Adam to sleep, (2:54) and took one of his ribs, (2:57) and from that rib built a woman.

(3:02) And so in Ephesians 5, 22, (3:17) through chapter 6 and verse 4, (3:23) we’re going to look at family, (3:29) the family’s relationship. (3:34) First of all, the relationship (3:38) between the husband and wife. (3:44) First of all, in verse 28 of chapter 5, (3:56) and also in verse 29, he says, (4:02) And so husbands ought to love their own wives (4:06) as their own bodies.

(4:10) He who loves his wife loves himself. (4:15) For no one ever hated his own flesh, (4:20) but nourishes and cherishes it, (4:24) just as the Lord does the church. (4:31) So husbands ought to love their wives.

(4:38) They’re not to become domineering. (4:45) They shouldn’t mistreat their wives, (4:50) but love them. (4:53) And love them as Christ loved the church, (4:57) and he’s talking here to those (5:01) that are Christian, (5:04) those that are in the church there in Ephesus.

(5:13) Therefore, in verse 25, he says, (5:19) Husbands, love your wives (5:21) just as Christ also loved the church (5:25) and gave himself for her, (5:29) that he might sanctify and cleanse her. (5:35) With the washing of water by the word. (5:41) So Christ is spoken of in the scriptures (5:50) as the bridegroom.

(5:52) We find him, Jesus, being referred to (5:58) as the bridegroom. (6:00) And thus we find that the church (6:05) would be his bride, (6:10) and the Lord loved the church (6:16) just as husbands ought to love their wives. (6:22) And then he says, (6:24) Wives, submit to your own husbands (6:30) as to the Lord.

(6:33) And then verse 22 of chapter 5, (6:41) we find that the husband (6:43) is the head of the wife. (6:47) That is the order that God placed (6:52) the husband as head over the wife. (6:58) The wife’s desire, as in Genesis 3, (7:06) which would be to her husband.

(7:13) But we find that as Christ is the head of the church (7:20) and the savior of the body. (7:23) So Christ is the head of the church (7:31) and he is the savior of the body. (7:37) And as Christ loved the church (7:40) and gave himself for her, (7:43) husbands ought to love their wives (7:46) and be prepared to defend her (7:49) and be even to stand (7:54) and to even give their own lives for her.

(8:01) Now some may not think to go that far, (8:09) but Jesus did. (8:12) And if we’re going to follow Jesus, (8:17) then, you know, be prepared. (8:23) And as the church is subject to Christ, (8:28) let wives be to their own husbands.

(8:36) We find that we are members of Christ’s body, (8:43) of his flesh and of his bones. (8:46) And it says, (8:47) For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother (8:51) and be joined to his wife (8:55) and the two shall become one flesh. (9:01) Paul says this is a great mystery, (9:05) but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

(9:11) Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular (9:17) so love his own wife as himself (9:22) and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (9:29) And so with this kind of relationship (9:35) between the husband and the wife, (9:41) things would go well. (9:42) Now that’s not saying (9:44) that there’s not going to be disagreement.

(9:49) It doesn’t say that there won’t be disagreements (9:55) and problems to enter in, (9:58) but there needs to be respect (10:04) and love from the husband (10:06) and respect of the husband from the wife. (10:16) You know, there was an account given (10:22) where this woman went and spoke to this man. (10:33) I don’t know if he was a preacher (10:35) or if he was a doctor.

(10:40) But anyway, she was telling that man (10:45) that her husband was just not treating her right, (10:54) that she was about to come to the decision (11:02) that she would divorce him. (11:06) But then she was told, (11:12) I tell you what you do. (11:18) Try this for one month (11:24) without him saying anything to you.

(11:32) Why don’t you set out his slippers (11:35) and give him his newspaper. (11:41) When he comes home from work, (11:44) have his supper ready. (11:51) And then afterward, (11:55) later when I see you, (11:58) you can tell me what you finally decide to do. (12:05) So she does that. (12:09) She does what she was told. (12:15) And she met this man later (12:20) and he asked her, (12:21) well, how did things go? (12:27) Are you still thinking of divorcing your husband? (12:33) No, she said.

(12:37) I did what you told me, suggested to me. (12:44) And he’s the nicest man I’ve seen. (12:51) So if we treat one another like we’re supposed to, (12:59) then we find that things will go well.

(13:08) Then in this relationship, (13:13) there are children in the marriage relationship. (13:23) And these children need nurturing (13:26) in the admonition of the Lord. (13:33) It’s sad to know that children today (13:38) are not getting the kind of teaching (13:44) the parents ought to be giving to their children.

(13:51) And the children are just not getting (13:57) the type that they should be getting. (14:04) Or maybe they both spend time working (14:12) and spending time. (14:17) And then when they come home, (14:19) they’re too tired to, (14:22) or at least they say they are, (14:26) to spend time with the children, (14:30) to teach them.

(14:31) And then they are told elsewhere in the schools (14:39) by others that there’s no God, (14:44) that they just happen to be. (14:50) And we came from animals and such. (15:00) And they, being taught of this, (15:06) they began to accept it.

(15:12) But of course in this, (15:17) we know that he’s talking to those (15:21) that are in the church. (15:25) And he is telling in verse 4, (15:31) Do not provoke your children to wrath, (15:36) but bring them up in the training (15:39) and admonition of the Lord.

(15:45) Then there’s the children’s part. (15:52) He tells the children in verse 1, (15:57) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, (16:03) for this is right. (16:06) Obey your parents in the Lord. (16:11) Do what the Lord wants you to do. (16:19) Colossians 3, 20 says, (16:21) Children, obey your parents, (16:27) for this is pleasing to God, (16:34) and for this is well pleasing to the Lord. (16:41) And so the children ought to be brought up (16:45) to the point where they are willing (16:50) to be pleasing to the Lord (16:56) and do what is acceptable to him. (16:59) He says, Honor your father and mother, (17:05) which is the first commandment with promise, (17:11) that it may be well with you, (17:14) and you may live long on the earth.

(17:21) Now this could very well be taught (17:25) to small children, (17:29) but for those that are older, (17:33) they’re still their parents' child. (17:36) When their parents grow old, (17:43) just as their parents have taken care of them, (17:49) they ought to honor their father and mother (17:54) and take care of them. (18:01) You see, that’s the thing that Jesus got onto (18:07) the Pharisees and the scribes in Matthew 15, (18:13) when they came and asked (18:16) why he and his disciples (18:23) ate with unwashed hands.

(18:26) To them, they didn’t follow their rituals, (18:34) but they went through to really clean their hands. (18:40) They wanted to make sure (18:41) that they really had their hands clean. (18:48) I don’t believe that Jesus and his disciples (18:53) ate with dirty hands.

(18:56) I believe they washed their hands, (18:59) but they didn’t go through the ritual (19:01) that they did. (19:07) But he got onto them (19:14) about the command that God gave (19:22) that the parents were to be honored, (19:34) that the father and mother (19:36) were to be honored. (19:39) They were transgressing the commandment of God (19:44) because of their traditions.

(19:51) For God commanded saying, (19:53) honor your father and your mother, (19:56) and he who curses father or mother, (19:59) let him be put to death. (20:04) But you say, whoever says to his father or mother, (20:12) whatever profit you might have received from me (20:17) is a gift to God. (20:21) Then he need not honor his father or mother.

(20:28) Thus you have made the commandment of God (20:32) of no effect by your tradition. (20:38) In other words, (20:42) I’m saying that gave your gift to God. (20:50) Gave what was supposed to go to you, (20:54) gave it to God.

(20:59) But he says the commandment is (21:05) honor your father or mother, (21:08) and he who curses father or mother, (21:11) let him be put to death. (21:14) So he says you just made the word of God (21:20) of no effect. (21:23) To honor the father and mother.

(21:29) Now parents certainly are to take care (21:37) of the children when they’re young, (21:40) bring them up, nurture them, (21:42) give them the admonition of the Lord (21:46) and teach them that when they are on their own (21:52) that it would be good to be obedient to God. (21:58) And if they are obedient to God, (22:02) then there’s that command, (22:05) at least one of the commands, (22:07) to honor father and mother. (22:12) But this is where families sometimes (22:20) can get into a terrible shape (22:25) if they don’t, (22:27) if the husband and the wife (22:29) are at odds with each other.

(22:34) And the husband, (22:37) being a domineering person, (22:40) he wants to do his own way (22:44) and spending money (22:47) and wasting it on things that have no value. (22:57) Taking the money that’s supposed to (23:02) supply them with food (23:04) and other necessary things (23:10) then there is a fractured home. (23:19) But you know, (23:24) God realized that man needs help.

(23:30) God wants to help everyone. (23:35) And those that command in Matthew 28 (23:42) come unto me, (23:44) all you who labor and are heavy laden (23:47) and I will give you rest. (23:51) Take my yoke upon you (23:53) and learn from me (23:55) for I am gentle and lowly in heart (23:58) and you will find rest for your souls (24:03) for my yoke is easy (24:04) and my burden is light.

(24:09) So when we come to Christ (24:15) we can find rest. (24:20) When we can give help to somebody else (24:30) as we see that there is help needed (24:34) and we give it as they need that help (24:41) let us be the one to provide that help (24:47) because someone needs help from someone. (24:57) And so now this might be the first of (25:06) other lessons that might come after this (25:15) but I just wanted to put this together (25:20) that one of the things that needs help (25:30) sometimes is a family.

(25:38) And if there is something that can be done (25:43) to help them in whatever way that they need (25:50) then someone should be there to provide that help. (25:59) That is all that I have on this (26:05) so let us have a word of prayer. (26:11) Father in heaven we come before you now (26:16) giving you thanks for this day (26:18) and this time that we’ve had now (26:23) to search a portion of your word (26:29) and to see that and to realize that (26:35) sometimes we need help (26:41) sometimes others need help (26:48) and as the lesson says (26:51) somebody needs help from somebody.

(26:57) Help us to be that somebody (27:03) that can offer another help when we see (27:08) and if we can give it (27:12) may we be the one to help them. (27:17) And father in heaven we know that (27:20) you’re looking after us (27:27) that you know we need help. (27:32) Jesus said that he is with us (27:39) always and to the end (27:42) as he said to his apostles.

(27:46) We know that God you said that (27:52) you would never forsake us. (27:58) We know that you are ready to help us (28:02) so help us to help somebody else. (28:07) Father in heaven we ask that you go with us (28:14) guide us, guard us and provide for us (28:22) and may we have another opportunity (28:25) to gather together to study another portion of your word. (28:32) In the name of Christ we pray. Amen.