Victory Church

o We’ve all heard: “God’s ways are not our ways.” Right? But in our culture today that statement of truth has been watered down into a cliché. However that does not make it any less true or any less powerful.

>Economy can be defined as an exchange of authority and distribution to accomplish a purpose. It’s principle. It’s order.
> When you look at creation itself, there is order first (light, sun, moon, stars, land and atmosphere) followed by abundance (birds, fish, people).
> Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it in abundance. So the only way to have abundant life is to have order, right?

o There are core principles and truths that we can anchor our lives to that keeps us from drifting all over the endless sea.

o One of the things God orders is specifically for you husbands: Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the Church.

> So many men believe that the woman was created just to be the “help mate” designed to strictly “help” the guy pursue his “high calling”. Well guess what guys? Your bride is your high calling!

> Ephesians 5:25: And to the husbands, you are to demonstrate love for your wives with the same tender devotion that Christ demonstrated to us, his bride. For He died for us, sacrificing himself to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God. All that He does in us is designed to make us a mature church for his pleasure…glorious and radiant, beautiful and holy…

> This is not a “nicety” This is a necessity. In fact by loving your brides like Jesus loves you, the church, you are revealing to the world God’s very image and likeness. In fact what could be more Christ-like than laying down your life for your bride.

· Does that mean to literally die? Probably not. Does it mean to die to self? Probably so.

· What if Jesus was annoyed by us, his church, because what he really wants to do is work on his carpentry project every night?

· What would have happened in the garden if Adam would’ve protected his bride instead of standing by watching her be tempted in her identity?

· By loving your wives, you are making her to be the most beautiful version of herself… IN return she will feel safe with you, safe at home and safe in the world. That safety will translate to security in the home and the home will become a refuge for you, your wife, your children and your guests. THEN YOU CAN HIT THE STAGE OF YOUR VOCATION WITH CLARITY AND PURPOSE.

· Verse 32: Marriage is the beautiful design of the Almighty, a great and sacred mystery – meant to be a vivid example of Christ and His church. So every married man should be gracious to his wife just as he is gracious to himself. And every wife should be tenderly devoted to her husband.

> Most men believe that a good day at the office equates to a good day at home. That is what my upbringing would call “ars end backwards”.

> Funny Story of my dad telling me when I was a kid, “I love you son but not nearly as much as I love your mom”. As much as that stung in the moment. It was the best gift he could’ve given to me and my brothers, all of which were and are faithful to their brides.

> Coming in for a landing:
So many men go to such great lengths to be a hero at the workplace when all they have to do to be a hero… is walk thru that door at home and love their bride. She deserves a place of highest honor on this earth next to God. And all of your achievements, accolades, degrees, investments, ministries, successes, touchdowns will all be forgotten… they will all be lost to history with the next generation not even caring what you accomplished. But the legacy of loving your bride will carry with it a generational blessing that will cultivate an atmosphere for your descendants to have abundant life.

Paradox – many think wives were given to the man to serve him but God is instructing men to serve their wives.