HUSBAND AND WIFE

Text: Prov.18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.


Intro: In spite of all attempts by some to denigrate marriage, it remains the norm for human kind the world over. It has always been so, and because it is part of the nature implanted by the creator, it shall always be. All attempts to do away with it always lead to disorder in society and dissatisfaction in the human soul.


I. It was established with the very first humans by the Creator.
Gen.2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.


20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.


23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.


A. Animals could not fill the need. v-20


B. God created [out of Adam] the proper mate. v-22.

The purpose of her being created was to be the helper who would meet the needs of man.
I Cor.11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.


11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.


1.For this reason as well as others, same sex marriage is neither Godly nor practical


C. Adam expressed two great truths which will still work to make a marriage last. Vv-23,24


1. The truth that neither will ever be complete without the other.


2.That each belongs exclusively to the other.This is the total commitment which is absolutely necessary for a successful marriage.


II. God has established the ORDER which must be present in a successful marriage.

For this, one must abandon both Male Chauvinism and Womens Lib. Either will endanger the union.


A.The husband must be head of the wife but the husband's head must be Christ.
I Cor.11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.



Any rebellion against this order is the equilavent of the rebellion of Lucifer, who

rebelled against his order and tried to usurp God's place.



Isa 14;12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.


B. This order brings with it specific responsibilities.

Eph.5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;


1. Christ has done and is doing his duty toward the church and toward us.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.



2. The husband must be subject to Christ and must cherish the wife even as Christ loves the church.


3.The wife must have complete confidence that the husband has only her welfare as his interest.

I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.


III.There is also a MUTUAL responsibility.
A. To picture the relationship between Christ and His Church.


B. To provide the proper surroundings for the children..

Eph.6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.


IV. Like all other human endeavours the starting place MUST be the Cross.
Prov.3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.