PowerPoint

Jack Graham: As Christians, as Bible-believing Christians, we don't believe that men are to rule over their wives, but rather the biblical admonition for husbands is to love your wives.

Guest (Female): On today's PowerPoint, Dr. Graham brings a message about how to be the husband of a happy wife. Now here's Dr. Graham with his message, A Man and His Marriage.

Jack Graham: First Peter chapter three is our text and this is our marriage series called The Way Home. And Jesus is the way home for all of us. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by the Lord Jesus Christ. And so life's way is His way. And so that's for marriage and that is certainly for family.

And today I am speaking on the subject, A Man and His Marriage. If I was giving this message a subtitle, it would be how to be the husband of a happy wife. Happy wife, happy life. And I believe it's true because God has given us His plan, His way for successful marriages. And that includes the relationship and the roles that are given to us in scripture between a man and a woman.

The secret to marriage is a loving commitment for a lifetime, that husbands and wives would determine and decide to do the will of God forever as long as they both shall live. Marriage is meaningful when there is harmony in the home and each person playing their part. Husbands that are honorable and loving, wives that are loving and respectful of their husbands.

And so today, let's man up first to be committed to godliness in our home. To be a man like Christ, a Christ-like man and a spirit-filled man. To be responsible and respectful and even reverential of our wives, willing to lay down our lives for the sake of our wives in Jesus' name. The highest office in the land is not in the Oval Office at the White House.

The highest office in the land is in your house, men, because leading a home and leading a family and serving well in that capacity is our greatest calling if we are married. First Peter three, verses seven and eight gives us counsel and likewise husbands, verse seven, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel.

Since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, both men and women, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, so very important, men, that you be like a velvet-covered brick. A tender heart, strong for the Lord and a humble mind.

So I want to say four things from this text regarding marriage and a man and his marriage. Number one, that is we are to love, lead with love. First and foremost, and I give you a parallel passage from Ephesians chapter five on marriage to both men and women, but the instruction, the clear counsel and commandment to husbands is to love your wives.

This is Ephesians five, verse 25, love your wife as Christ has loved the church and gave Himself for it. So to love our wives steadfastly to love our wives sacrificially. Now there is a principle in the Bible that we could call the principle of authority. God has set everything in order in the universe and in culture, society, the church, there is an order of authority and leadership in the church.

Certainly there is order in the marriage because before there was a church, there was a family and God established the marriage order. And in that order, God has established Himself as the lead and His ordained authority to the male as head of the home. Look at First Corinthians 11:3 and let's just see exactly what God says.

So if you have an argument, don't send me an email, just take it up with the Lord. I don't say that arrogantly. I just say it forthrightly. Look at First Corinthians 11:3 and I'll explain what it means once we get there and through there. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Now what does that mean, the head of Christ is God? Because the Bible teaches us that God is a trinity. That is God is three, but He is one person. He is Father, we have a Father, we have a savior, Jesus, we have a Spirit, the Spirit who is our helper. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And this triune God, this holy trinity of God are, listen to this, co-equal and co-eternal.

The Holy Spirit is just as much God as the Father. The Father is just as much God as the Son. The Son is just as much God as the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are one, but in the Godhead, in the deity, there are different responsibility and roles that are given to each one. And when Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, God the Father sent His only Son.

Jesus laid down His prerogatives of deity and took on, according to Philippians chapter one, the servanthood of man, the humanity of a man. And in that sense, Jesus submitted over and over and over again by obeying the will of the Father. And ultimately to obey the will of the Father to go to the cross to die for our sins.

That was His mission sent by God Himself. And God became flesh, one of us. And in His humanity, in this position, in this rank, in this role responsibility, Jesus, as the scripture is telling us here, is subject to the Father. And this illustrates the relationship between a husband who is the head and over the household and the wife who is to be under the authority and the leadership of a godly man, the husband of the house.

Now, with that all said, there is complete equality among men and women. As we are going to see in just a moment, this is not talking about inferiority of a woman as compared to a man, but I like what Dr. Adrian Rogers said, it just came to me. A man is far superior at being a man and a woman is far superior to being a woman. God created us differently and distinctively and uniquely.

And so there is this authority and responsibility. So men, what we are to do is to lead with love as Christ has loved the church and given Himself for us. So as Jesus gave Himself sacrificially and steadfastly to the end as He loved His disciples and loves us, we are to give ourselves in this way. So this kind of love is strong, it is dynamic and powerful.

It is the love of God, it is the love of Christ who is alive in us. It is sacrificial leadership, it is servant leadership. We lead when we love our wives by serving them. There is not one time, there is not one verb in the Bible that says, men, rule over your wives. That is how the world gets it wrong and how it gets it as to what we believe in this marriage relationship as Christians, as Bible-believing Christians.

We don't believe that men are to rule over their wives, but rather the biblical admonition for husbands is to love your wives. And earlier in Ephesians chapter five, it says that we as Christians are to submit to one another. Submission is not just for wives, it is for Christians. And so when we mutually submit and assume our responsibilities to love one another, a wife loving respect and obedience to the Father's will and to the husband's will through the Father, and the husband lovingly sacrifice.

Look, we should be willing, men, to lay down our lives for our wives. That is the biblical point of view, that is the biblical worldview. It is not what the world tells you, it is what the word tells us. That husbands are to lead with love. We will say more about that as we go. But the second thing I want you to see if you want to be the husband of a happy wife, then also we are not only to lead with love, but we are to love with understanding.

Love with understanding. And that is important because the scripture says, verse seven, likewise, referring back to how women are to respond to their husbands, likewise husbands live with your wives in an understanding way. Live with your wives means to dwell with them, to live with them, it is the word intimacy that is engaged here. To be intimate with your wife according to understanding.

Now, I just want to say who could understand a woman? And the reason that is, it is not on the woman, it is on us, guys, because the woman is so unique, so miraculous, so wonderful, so great, that it takes a lifetime to understand her. And what we need to be doing is exploring the wonders of the woman that God has given us all the days of our life.

Explore that and that takes some time and effort. It means to put down your screen and to put down your cell phone when you come home. I know you're tired and you just want to watch sports, but it means taking time to study your woman, your wife, the one that you love, get to know her. And again, the word know has to do with intimacy.

Adam knew his wife, she conceived and brought forth a child, so it has to do with physical intimacy, yes, but more than that emotional and intellectual that we share life stories and dreams and conversations that bring us together. It takes two to communicate, but the fact is, men, it's on you and me to make sure. I know you're the strong and silent type, I know you're Clint Eastwood, but God wants you to slow down and stop long enough because your responsibility you go to the office, you're a winner there.

But you're so often a loser at home because you don't take the time to know what your wife is thinking, what she's going through, what she's dealing with, what she's dreaming. And that means that you're listening as well as talking.

Guest (Female): You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, A Man and His Marriage. We are excited to share that we have a new way to connect with us. It's our texting service designed to keep you connected with everything happening here at PowerPoint. You'll be the first to know about upcoming events, special announcements, and truly enriching content.

To join, start a new text conversation by texting the word CONNECT to 59789. Again, text CONNECT to 59789. Every gift given to PowerPoint Ministries before June 30th will be doubled through a $200,000 matching grant. This is a crucial moment as we close out the financial year because your support helps ensure that the truth of Jesus continues reaching people who are searching for something real they can trust.

And as our thanks for your gift, we'll send you The Jesus Discoveries by Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, a resource designed to strengthen your confidence in the truth of the gospel. To give your gift and request your copy, text JUNE to 59789. That's JUNE to 59789. And thank you for helping share the truth of Jesus with a searching world. Now let's get back to today's message, A Man and His Marriage.

Jack Graham: So we are to lead with love, we are to love with understanding, and we are to live with honor together. For the next part of verse seven of First Peter three says, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel. That doesn't mean inferior vessel. Not at all. Think a precious diamond, a jewel. Fine China. I ate on a paper plate this morning. That's you guys, you're a paper plate.

She is the weaker vessel and that means she is to be valued. She is to be treasured. She is to be cherished and adored because she shares with you, share in and share alike, she shares with you the grace of life. The weaker vessel is not weaker intellectually, morally. Physically, for sure, there is a difference. If we were having a cage fight, the man would probably win.

If we were going to have a war and divide up the women on one side and the men on the other, the men would probably win the war because physically a man is stronger. But the weaker vessel in the sense that she is to be treasured, she is to be loved. Put her on a pedestal, guys. Always speak well of her publicly as well as privately. Never demean your wife with your friends.

Never get around the coffee shop and take cheap shots at your wife with your buddies. Honor her, always. Cherish her, put her on a pedestal. I put Deb on a pedestal a long time ago. There is nobody like her to me. And I am so grateful for the value that she brings to our lives, to our family. Husbands, do you treat your wives as your most valuable possession in life on earth?

Does she know how precious she is to you, how perfect she is to you? No, she is not perfect, but to you? Do you realize that she desires to be treated with honor and elevated as the top priority of your life? Do you know that? Do you practice this? As a pastor, and this is how I am approaching this entire series, as a partner, because I am a partner with you in the marriage responsibility, but I am also a pastor.

So I have seen a lot in all these years in marriages and relationships. And what I've seen most often are women, wives and daughters, I might add, who are crying out for attention and affection and adoration. To be loved and cherished like this. Not constantly criticized and corrected, but comforted and caring relationship. Certainly never cursing your wife. That is abuse. If you are cursing your wife, you are cursing your own life before God.

Your wife wants you to be present and accounted for. That shows how valuable she is to you. You don't want to know what your kids want to know? They want to know, does dad love mom? And so many kids live in fear of a family breakup. No, we are to cherish one another. And we do this lastly by lifting with togetherness. Lift with togetherness.

And I get that, the lift idea from elevating because we are heirs together of the grace of life. Here's how we share and share alike in the grace of God in the gift of life together. Number one, read God's word together. Read and agree with God's word as a couple. It doesn't mean in every point you are just alike in what you read or what you hear or what God says.

In fact, God may say some wonderful things to you as He illuminates the scriptures that are different than what the husband may be reading, but I am saying read the word of God together. Find a way to do it, both publicly and privately. Then secondly, worship together. Worship together. And men, lead the way in that. In a Bible-believing, Christ-exalting, loving New Testament kind of church.

Don't just go to church randomly or anonymously, in and out, but commit as a couple to be in church together. If you came as a couple, God could do so many great things in your life. But too many men think, church, worship, church is for women and kids. It is fine for the little lady to get the kids to church and to Vacation Bible School, but me, I got other things. No.

Lead your wife and your children to church. I think the devil must be very pleased when he sees men either just dropping their families off to church and going doing something else or just never participating. Thirdly, this is important. It is not an advertisement, it is real. Be a part of a small group as a couple. Now I know men don't love just sitting around in a circle sometimes, but you're doing more than just sitting there and being there.

You're leading your family. You're loving your wife. You're doing something together that is very, very valuable for your home. Get in a life group, a small group that encourages your marriage and godliness in your home. Then next, develop friendships, good friendships with people who share your faith. So in social interaction, find friends that will encourage you. Some that are mentors to you.

We have a mentoring ministry here at the church where we put older couples with younger couples, but I am not even talking about a program here. That is good, but find couples where you share life together and that they call you on it if you're doing the wrong thing or encourage you when you do the right thing. Number five, discover your spiritual gifts and work together in a ministry in the church and community.

Serving together, serving Christ together will bond your hearts. And when you are serving the Lord together, it gives you a mission and you grow closer and closer together. And so next, regularly share your faith with others. When you are an active Christian witness, when you're sharing Christ, when your mission in life is to share the gospel, you're going to want your home base very strong.

And I am telling you, it strengthens your marriage when you are a witnessing Christian. And number seven, lead your children to know and love Jesus. Men, it starts with us. Above all, seek God and do His will. There is a verse in scripture that is often repeated for the nation to come back to God, but it is also a verse that I believe could take the mess that some of your marriages are in right now and turn it around.

Because when we pray together and pray for one another, and I am going to close with this. Second Chronicles 7:14 says this, but if My people, you, husband, wife, if My people will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, that is repentance, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. Or heal their marriage.

Healing for the hurts and say, I've messed up and I don't know how to get it right. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and heal their marriage. One final thing, men, are you praying for your wife and are you sincerely praying for your wife and are you praying with your wife?

There is such an intimacy in praying together. Truly. That is why you shouldn't pray, gentlemen, men, with another woman who is not your wife by yourself. Because the intimacy of praying with someone is very unique. It is a spiritual connection. So pray with your wife and watch God work in both of your lives.

Guest (Female): You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message, A Man and His Marriage. When you support PowerPoint Ministries, you help share God's word with people around the world through programs just like this one. And as a thanks for your gift this month, we'll send you The Jesus Discoveries by Dr. Jeremiah Johnston as our thanks.

This powerful resource walks through real historical evidence that points directly to Jesus, helping strengthen your faith and giving you confidence in the truth of God's word. And right now, every gift given before June 30th will be doubled through a $200,000 matching grant. This is a crucial moment as we close out the financial year because your support helps ensure that PowerPoint Ministries continues reaching people with the gospel in the months ahead.

To give your gift and request your copy, text JUNE to 59789. That's JUNE to 59789. We are excited to share that we have a new way to connect with us. It's our texting service designed to keep you connected with everything happening here at PowerPoint. You'll be the first to know about upcoming events, special announcements, and truly enriching content.

To join, start a new text conversation by texting the word CONNECT to 59789. Again, text CONNECT to 59789. Pastor, what is your PowerPoint for today?

Jack Graham: I tell you what really bothers me and that is that so many who profess to be believers in Jesus Christ are giving up on their marriages. And rather than committing to following Jesus Christ and His way and the word of God and building their marriages upon the rock, Jesus, they are just so ready to quit the first time a storm hits. And every marriage has storms.

Every marriage has trials. Every marriage has difficulties. As a pastor over the years, I have watched as couples have dealt with all kinds of tests and trials in their marriage. And I've watched as some, it is just devastated them, devastated their faith, divided their marriage, their family. But then I've watched as others who have faith in Jesus Christ and who live according to God's word and have built their marriages upon the solid foundation who is Jesus Christ.

In spite of the hurt, in spite of the pain, the struggles, the storms, they are able to stand and to withstand every challenge because their life is built upon Jesus. Everyone wants to know, how can I have a great marriage? How can I have a better marriage? And that's why so many have requested this message. And I would encourage our listeners today to contact us and get this message because it would be a great message to sit down with your husband, your wife, and listen to it together.

I mean just really listen to the word of God and then pray together and ask God to give you a marriage His way. I don't care what situation you may be in, your marriage may be at the breaking point, but it is never too late for a new beginning. It is never too late to start over when you're building your life upon Jesus Christ.

Guest (Female): And that is today's PowerPoint. Remember when you give a gift to PowerPoint, we'll send you Dr. Jeremiah Johnston's book, The Jesus Discoveries. Just text JUNE to 59789. And join us again next time as Dr. Graham brings a message about the woman's role in her marriage. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham. PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministries.