Men, You are the Pastor. Husband and Guide

Husband and Guide

Ever wonder what it would be like to be a Pastor? A lot of people think about that from time to time. Last time we dispelled a few myths. The biggest one is that you ARE the Pastor. You are the spiritual leader of your house. Today we are talking about your other most important set of duties as the Pastor or spiritual leader of your house. You ARE the Husband and Guide to your wife. If you are blessed with a wife. You are it, my friend.

However, I do not want you to be misled. People read this,

"Wives, obey your husbands as you obey the Lord. The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church people. The church is his body and he saved it. Wives should obey their husbands in everything, just as the church people obey Christ." Ephesians 5:22-24

"Well, that means I'm the king of my house. You better do whatever I say." Uh, kind of. I know this is not a popular topic, but it is actually the truth. However, this does NOT mean that the man can be abusive. Keep reading.

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church," Ephesians 5:25-29

What does that mean? Well, for one thing, if you have an unhappy wife, you have an unhappy life. If your wife is filled with the world and is operating in the flesh, you will never ever ever have peace in your house, Guess what? According to what we just read, it is YOUR fault. Let's break this down a little more.

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,"

Jesus put God first, then the church, always. He loved the church so He dies for it. Are you willing to put your wife second to only God Himself and do so to the point of laying down your very life for her?

"that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,"

Stop. What did Jesus do? He washed her with the word. Are you having Bible studies in your home? Are you leading your family through the Word of God? Are you even reading the Bible?

"But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

How does faith come to your house? How does faith come at all?

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

How can they, your wife and children, receive faith, if no one is teaching them.

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" Romans 10:14

You are the Preacher. You are the Guide through this beautiful gift called life. You want a Godly wife? Be a Godly husband. Is your wife working, taking care of the kids, and trying to take care of you as well? Do you not think she deserves to be the center of your attention? The object of your desire? The most precious thing in the world to you. Your mate. Your helper. Your lover. Your EVERYTHING!

"so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."

Am I saying that if there is something wrong with your wife, it is your fault? Quite possibly. Not in every case of course. Yet the truth remains if you want your wife to be a godly woman, and you want your family to be going down that straight and narrow road, it is your responsibility to lead. To guide. To make those tough decisions.

I have a Godly wife. I will admit, sometimes? I really hate when she says things like, "Well, it's your decision." "What do you say?" "I told the kids you would make the decision when you get home." Sometimes I would much rather show up and be told this or that. Why? Not my problem if it goes sideways. I could point my finger at someone else. If it is me making the decision? Then it is I who bears the responsibility for that decision.

"In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,"

This is God's plan the whole time.

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24

One flesh. One. Jesus said,

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." Matthew 19:6

We are one. If someone attacks one, they attack all. If something good happens to one, it happens to all. If something bad happens? You get the point. One flesh. This is why God is so against adultery that He actually made it a commandment.

Commandment 7

"You shall not commit adultery." Exodus 20:14

You are one flesh. Yet, for a few seconds of pleasure you go and joint together with someone other than your other half. There is no deeper hurt. Oh, I know there are even TV shows nowadays where this is celebrated. Doesn't make it right. It is not just sex. It is not ok. It is the deepest hurt you can possibly cause to the one you claim to love the most.

This can also present itself to you as your other role as the Spiritual Leader of your house. Warrior. Yup. You must be willing to step up and go to war even if that is needed for your family. The enemy can come to you in various forms. One way the enemy can come to you is through a beautiful woman. I am getting to be an old man. A pretty young thing, with a flattering tongue and a touch of her hand? That can be very enticing. Very seductive. Very dangerous if I allow it to be. I must stand up against that enemy and stay firmly committed to my wife.

The enemy can come in the form of a time robber. Before you know it, you are spending more and more time away. Gotta make that money. Gotta take care of this or that. I gotta do my hobby. Whatever. Meanwhile, you are neglecting the most important person on this earth to you.

The enemy can come in many forms. For?

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12

God's plan for a family? One man and one woman become one flesh. We are born, learn and grow, leave our father and mother, come together and marry, becoming one. God's plan for us is that as parents, you take care of your children, raising them in the ways they should go, and then later in life, if needed, your children should be able, and willing, to care for you.

Look at the state of marriage and family in the world today. Marry anything you want, including yourself and including animals. Not joking. A majority and a growing majority of households are becoming fatherless. This is not by accident folks. I cannot tell you how many children over the years I have shown kindness and love to because they were looking for a father figure in their life. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with the mother. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. But children inherently seek a father. They seek a strong, safe, protective, loving person who truly loves them and wants nothing but the best for them. If you are a husband and father, that is your job. Not someone in the neighborhood. Not someone at the church. YOU. It is YOUR role. More on being a father next time.

You are the husband and the guide through life. Step up. BE that husband and guide. God is with you. Learn from Him how to best treat the gifts of a wife and children He has given you. If you have not first started by accepting Jesus, then say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

It is now your responsibility to guide your family to that church. To share the Word with them. To be the husband and guide to your wife that God wants you to be. Welcome to the family brother.

If you want to reach out to me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!