Gentlemen, don't even begin to think about marriage until you have mastered the art of warfare.

In Genesis 2 we see God's incredible provision of a suitable helper for man. God's plan in the Garden was that husband and wife would not be burdened with sin or shame.

Then in Genesis 3, very crafty Satan attacks as he bypasses the headship of man as he approaches Eve. By her eating of the forbidden fruit, and then sharing it with Adam, woman has usurped the leadership and then man became the follower.

The curse is delineated , as it applies to the serpent, to women, and to men. Marriage is cursed. What better way for Satan to devastate the world than to destroy the most important of relationships. As we continue to "stroll" through the book of Genesis, we see evidence of this natural progression of fallen mankind reflecting polygamy (4:23), adultery (16:1-3), homosexuality (19:4-5), rape (34:2), and incest (38:15).

It almost appears that it is impossible to have a good marriage. BUT THERE IS TRULY HOPE! God Illustrates His solution in the Word. We will look at these principles in Ephesians 5 and 1Peter7. All Christian husbands need to have the following "mission statement": It is my intent to love my wife as Christ loves the church and to seek to be her spiritual leader. It is impossible to strive towards this goal unless the following prerequisites are fulfilled: 1) need to have a right relationship with God 2) need to pray for and with your wife.

BIBLE STUDY

1. Discuss the sacrificial love in Ephesians 5:25
2. How should a husband help his wife contend with a difficult boss when he loves her with a purifying love (Ephesians 5:27-27)?
3. Describe some ways that we can practice a caring or nurturing love towards our wives.
4. What important love does Ephesians 5:31 discuss and how does this relate to marriages in this age?
5. Name some ways that you can be the spiritual head/leader (Ephesians 5:23) of your home?
6. 1Peter:7 How should we treat our wives in an understanding way?
7. And how do we "honor her"?

LEARNING EXERCISE/ASSIGNMENT

1. Husbands, meditate on the mission statement: It is my intent to love my wife as Christ loves the church, and to seek to be her spiritual leader.
2. Husbands, discuss with you spouse the different types of ways you are instructed to love her in Ephesians 5.