Bethlehem Baptist Church
Prayer Meeting 12/10/25
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
  • Joy To The World
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • Joy To The World
  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing
  • Introduction:
    We are in the holiday season and one of the hallmarks of the season is Christmas baking. I recently realized that I needed to shed some weight, but the problem for me is that this epiphany came at the wrong time of year!
    I love to eat the Christmas treats and most of these treats are baked goods. Now, many of you know that if you cook a meal and try to follow a recipe, you have some wiggle room in that recipe. You can change out some spices or have a little wiggle room on the measurements of things like Worchestershire Sauce or maybe choose a different type of BBQ sauce than the recipe calls for.
    However, with baking, you are performing a science experiment that tastes good. Now, you are not going to kill yourself if you don’t follow the recipe correctly, but you are mixing certain ingredients that have to have a proper proportion if the recipe is going to turn out ok. If you are making bread or biscuits, you need them to rise, so you have to have the proper proportion of yeast, water, and flour to make it happen.
    In other words, it is critical to follow the recipe to get the outcome you are aiming for when you bake.
    A Christian marriage is a lot like following a baking recipe. You have to follow what Scripture teaches if you are going to have a successful, happy marriage.
    So, I promised last week, when we looked at the roles of a godly wife, that we would take a look at what husbands are required......get that! I said required.....to do as a Christian husband.
    So, men, it’s time to go cut our own switch or bring the belt and get to the woodshed tonight, unless we are already obeying what our Heavenly Father has commanded us to do to be a godly husband.
    Ephesians 5:25–33 ESV
    25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
    Remember that Paul is speaking to Christian Households of how they are to interact with each other and submit to each other in Christ.
    There are different roles and levels of submission, but everyone is submitting to someone.
    For example:
    Children Submit to Parents
    Wives Submit to Husbands
    Husbands Submit to Christ
    Slaves Submit to Masters
    Masters Submit to Christ
    Ultimately everyone is submitting to Christ and Christ even submits to the Father so that He may be all in all.
    1 Corinthians 15:28 ESV
    28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
    Remember that we are following the recipe for a successful marriage and family.

    1. The Command to Love Your Wives (vv.25-26)

    Ephesians 5:25–26 ESV
    25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
    Not emotion-driven love (though it will involve our emotions)
    We have to make a covenant
    I don’t want to say a commitment, because our culture sees commitments as something that can easily be broken
    A Lofty Example - Christ
    Christ is the groom
    Church is His bride
    We are called to love our wives like Christ loves His church
    Sacrificial Love - “gave Himself up for her”
    Marriage is a call to lay down your selfishness for your spouse
    Wives would do well to follow this advice as well, but the command is given to husbands (no doubt we are called to do it)

    2. Why We Should Love Our Wives (v.27)

    Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV
    25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
    To Help Her Sanctification
    You cannot save her but you can lead her to the One who can
    You are to wash her with the Word - v.26
    There is without a single doubt that men are called to shepherd and disciple their families
    We are all imperfect, but we must strive to do this
    Why do you think there is so much opposition and opportunity to neglect leading your family in worship?
    What happens when you lead your family in worship?
    Your family is strengthened - wife and kids
    Your church is strengthened
    The enemy cannot win

    3. How We Should Love Our Wives (vv.28-30)

    As Our Own Body (v.28) - great care given
    Ephesians 5:28 ESV
    28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
    Cherishing Her (v.29) - without bitterness
    Ephesians 5:29 ESV
    29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
    As Christ Loves the Church (vv.30-32) - sacrificially
    Ephesians 5:30–32 ESV
    30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

    4. Summary (v.33)

    Ephesians 5:33 ESV
    33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
    Husband Love Your Wife
    Wife Respect Your Husband

      • Ephesians 5:25–33ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 15:28ESV

      • Ephesians 5:25–26ESV

      • Ephesians 5:25–27ESV

      • Ephesians 5:28ESV

      • Ephesians 5:29ESV

      • Ephesians 5:30–32ESV

      • Ephesians 5:33ESV

Bethlehem Baptist Church
info@bbced.org
478-272-7827
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