Gods Plan for Man in the Home

God’s Plan for Man: In the Home

Ephesians 5.23-33

-I) Facts

A) Divorce Rate Statistics (2005) (per, 1000 people)

1. 3.6 the lowest rate since 1970

2. 7.8 was the divorce rate n 1980 (considered the highest)

B) Percentage of Population that is married

1. 59% down from 62% in 1990

2. 72% of the population was married in 1970

C) Percentage of Population that is divorced

1. 10% in 2005

2. Up from 8% in 1990

3. 6% in 1980

D) Why is the divorce rate declining?

1. People not getting married but "living together" 7.5 percent in 2005

2. 5.5 million couple living together today.

3. Many view marriage as optional; those areas that do not still have the highest divorce rate.

E) Sexualization of society

1. Sex is used to sell products from toothpaste, the cars, to food, and cosmetics

2. Sex is glamorized in movies and on tv. In most cases it is either premarital or extramarital sex.

3. Sex is now viewed not as a moral issue but social.

F) Results of this sexualization is seen in the above numbers and those below

1. Overwhelming majority of high school students have sex before they are 18 years of age

2. ¼ of the babies born today are out of wedlock

3. .Fox News Reported: ¼ of all teenage girls have some type of STD

4. Poverty and divorce have a direct correlation.

5.63% of children grow up with both biological parents (the lowest figure in the Western World)

6. Fatherless homes:

a. 63% of youth suicides

b. 90% of homeless/run away children

c. 85% of children with "behavioral problems"

d. 71% of High School dropouts

e. 85% of those in prison

II) God’s Plan for Man: In the Home

A) For one man to be married to one woman, 1 Corinthians 7.2

1. In all three dispensations that was the rule.

a. In the Garden of Eden, Genesis 2.24

b. We have some cases of man deviating from God’s law

i. Lamech took two wives, Adah and Zillah, Genesis 4.19

ii. He also boasted to his wives of killing a man, Genesis 4.23

b. Dinah in Genesis 34.2-4 goes out to meet the daughter’s of the land. She laid with and was "violated" by Shechem. This ended badly for Shechem and the men of the city were all killed by Dinah’s brothers.

2. The law of Moses regulated marriage and divorce (divorce not mention in Genesis)

a. It was not God’s intention for man to marry and divorce for any reason.

b. Jesus’ answer in Matthew 19.6-8

c. Romans 1 describes the downward spiral of the Gentiles. Even the Jews had the practice of divorcing for any reason.

d. Such leads to unstable homes, and children without parents

e. Once again we can read of different people deviating from God’s law

i. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11

ii. Unintended consequences were; pregnancy, attempted cover up of the sin, murder of the husband.

iii. King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. They turned his heart away from God.

3. The Law of Christ, Mark 10.11-12

a. God intended for every person to marry someone that is not already bond to another. Romans 7.1ff

b. God intends each to faithful to each other. Hebrews 13.4

II) God’s Plan for Man: In the Marriage

A) In any marriage there must be some type of foundation.

1. An unstable foundation will result in an unstable marriage, Matthew 7.26-27.

a. A marriage based on looks will eventually have problems.

b. A marriage based upon selfishness or self centeredness will not last.

2. A marriage based upon God will last, Matthew 7.24-25

a. Husbands are told to love their wives, nourish, and cherish them. Ephesians 5

i. Provide leadership in the home, by the authority of God, 1 Corinthians 11.3

ii. Your wife should not have to fear your headship. How is that possible? If she knows you love God and trying to serve Him; if she knows you love her and want her to go to heaven.

b. Wives are told to love their husbands, submit, and even respect their husbands, Ephesians 5.33

c. You want to have a good and happy marriage? Serve God and be a good spouse.

d. God intends for couple to use their home to serve Him. Priscilla and Aquila is a good example of this in the New Testament, Acts 18, Romans 16.

B) Children

1. In the marriage is where children should be reared. Ephesians 6.4

a. Mom’s and Dad’s have a few years to affect a lifetime. By the time children are 4 or 5 a lot of their attitudes and personality is set. Don’t wait too late to be a parent.

b. children need nurturing and guidance.

2. Teach your children to obey God and you, Ephesians 6.1-3

Conclusion: We have recently seen a number of cases in the news where political figures have been caught being unfaithful to their spouses. Some resigned in disgrace, some are in trouble with the law, and others try to keep their marriages together. Recently I heard of a couple that we used to worship with. They divorce because of unfaithfulness. Such is tragic. The betrayed spouse, the children, pain of the parents and in-laws. The greatest tragedy is they have betrayed God. When we sin we sin against God and need His forgiveness. That is why God gave His only begotten Son on the Cross for us.

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