1. Ephesians 5:22-25 (NKJV)
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

3. Faithfulness Our theme for 2017: Faithfulness
Last month we spoke about raising faithful children
This month we want to keep the theme of the family, but concentrate more on our marriages

4. Faithfulness
Certainly we want to show faithfulness in all areas of our lives
One area that we seemed to have struggled in as a whole over the last years is in our marriages
God expects us to be faithful to our spouse

5. Faithfulness
No one ever said that marriage was easy, especially not our Lord
When we look to God for His help and guidance, it certainly can be easier
The Bible is clear on it’s teachings of faithfulness in marriage (Matt. 19); do we know what it takes to be faithful?

6. Faithfulness
1. Love God
It may sound odd when speaking of being faithful in our marriage, but it is key
God should be our first love, and if He is, it will help us remain faithful
That’s because He wants us to be faithful

7. Faithfulness
1. Love God
When a man and woman are joined, the two become one flesh (Gen. 2:24)
What God has brought together, man is not to separate (Matt. 19:6)
We also know that God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16)

8. Faithfulness
1. Love God
Only death (Rom. 7:1-3) or marital unfaithfulness (Matt. 19:9) separates one from their spouse
Knowing that, we should desire to stay faithful
This will please the God that we love!

9. Faithfulness 2. Love your spouse
Too many times we hear someone say, “I just don’t love them anymore”
Remember those vows that we took on our wedding day?
We don’t just fall out of love with our spouse, it happens due to our choices

10. Faithfulness 2. Love your spouse
The Bible gives us ample inspired thoughts on the love that husband and wives should have for each other
We see it in Ephesians 5:22-25, 28 as well as I Peter 3:1-7
I Corinthians 13 does a great job of describing love

11. Faithfulness 2. Love your spouse
We need to determine that we are going to love our spouse and not hope that it continues by accident
We certainly don’t need to allow that love to go to someone else
Marriage takes work, so we need to work at loving our spouse continually

12. Faithfulness 3. Keep God as center
Generally speaking, the marriages that dissolve are because both are not keeping God as the center
Notice what God in the home will do for someone (II Sam. 6:6-12)
The Lord blessed Obed-Edom while the ark rested in his home

13. Faithfulness 3. Keep God as center
A God-centered marriage will affect…
our speech
our mind (attitude)
our actions
our reactions

14. Faithfulness 4. Make faithfulness a priority
There are things that should be a priority to Christians
Jesus said we should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matt. 6:33)
Obviously it shows importance

15. Faithfulness 4. Make faithfulness a priority
People should always hold importance over things (I Jn. 2:15-17)
Our relationships are an important part of our lives
The relationship we have with our spouse is a reflection of our relationship with God

16. Faithfulness 4. Make faithfulness a priority
Paul likened the marriage relationship to the relationship between Jesus and the church (Eph. 5:22-33)
In the OT, we see the same idea of the relationship between God and His people
We need to be found faithful in all things