COLOSSIANS 3-4 3:18-4:12006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Colossians 3-4 3:18-4:1

So here we are in chapter 3, verses 18 through chapter 4, verse 1. Paul is dealing now with our

Our lives. He's dealing with the application. As we looked at a couple of weeks ago, the outline of the book of Colossians is this. It's chapters one and two deals with the doctrine of who Jesus Christ is, the fact that he is supreme, what he has done for us and the fact that we are complete in him, that we have everything that we need because Jesus Christ is king of kings and

And Lord of Lords. And as we've been looking through chapter three for the past couple of weeks and we'll continue on through chapter four, we're now looking at the application part of the book where Paul is essentially saying, you know who Jesus is and what he has done. And therefore, this is how you should live. This is application.

How your life should reflect that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is how you should live because you are complete in Jesus Christ. If you remember, he gave us three ways in the first part there of chapter three, three ways that we were to respond to what we have learned about Jesus Christ.

Number one, he told us that we were to set our mind on things above, that our heart's desire, our focus should be on eternity, on the things of heaven and not the things of this life, that we should not be consumed with this earth and our life here, but on the things above.

Number two, he told us to put off the old nature, the sinful lifestyle that we once had and the activities that we are involved in, the attitudes that we demonstrated in the flesh are to be put off, cast off from us so as to never be part of our lives again. And thirdly, we were to put on the new nature, not just stopping those old things, those sinful things, but replacing those attitudes and activities with

with the nature and the characteristics of Jesus Christ. Because of who Jesus is and what he has done for us, we are able and expected to set our mind on things above, to put off the old nature and put on the new nature. In this passage, as we continue on in chapter 3, Paul now deals with our relationships with others.

Since we are complete in Christ, since we know who Jesus is and what he has done for us, this is how we are to treat one another. Since we're new creations in Jesus Christ, here is how our earthly relationships should function, is what Paul will be teaching us this morning. Now, if you'll notice with me as we look through these portions, all of our relationships are

that Paul deals with, are based upon our relationship with the Lord. He provides for us the example in the way that he relates to us and requires that we relate to him. And all of our earthly relationships are based on that example, the demonstration that he has given to us. He has now become the center of our lives and therefore the basis for all of our attitudes and activities, especially as we relate to one another.

And so we start off in verse 18, which says, Wives, submit to your own husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

Paul starts out in dealing with relationships. He starts out with the husband and wife relationship. First, dealing with the wife and how she is to relate to her husband. He says, listen, gals, this is how you are to treat your husband. This is the way you are to be. Since you are complete, since Jesus Christ is Lord, here's what you do. Submit to your husband as is fitting in the Lord.

Now, I understand and realize that probably I've already made some of you upset, but that's okay. Remember that these are not my words, but the words of God. It's God who designed marriage.

He knows how it works. And so he gives us the instructions that we need to do it his way, the way that we'll be blessed, the way that we'll be ministered to and edified. He gives us his instructions so that we know how he intends for marriage to work.

Now, throughout the portion this morning, you'll notice that there is one line of instruction for the most part to each of the different areas that Paul addresses. It indicates to us as he gives one line of instruction, one command that he's giving and dealing with the major issue. He's dealing with the main point. And if we get that in line, then everything else will also come into order.

And so, ladies, may I challenge you to examine yourself this morning as Paul gives this one line of instruction, indicating that it's probably the most difficult thing for you, but also the most important thing for you. Are you living out this verse? He says, wives, submit to your own husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Paul is giving you the command that you need most as a wife. You might feel that you are doing pretty well.

You might feel that you don't need the command, but take some time, I challenge you, and ask God to show you where you stand in this area because for the rest of your life, God will be working in this area for you as wives. This word submit means a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.

It was a military term in the Greek used to describe how the soldiers were to respond to their commanding officers. And so Paul is saying, wives, you are to willingly obey your husband as is fitting in the Lord. It's something to be given willingly, not reluctantly. Something to be given eagerly, not grudgingly.

Obedience, submission, cooperation, assuming responsibility and carrying the burden. Now, husbands and wives, you need to understand that it has nothing to do with importance. God is not saying that one is more important than the other. It's simply the order that he has created. It's the way that he has designed it. It's the structure that he has given.

And it's the call for the wife to submit to her husband as to the Lord, because God has designated the husband to be the head of the home. He is to be the leader of the house. He is to have the final say. He is to hear from the Lord and give the direction for the family. So, wives, if you want to be in the center of God's will, if you want to experience the wonderful fullness of all that God has for you,

Submit to your husband as is fitting in the Lord. And if you want to spend more time meditating on that and considering that in your own heart, I would encourage you to read 1 Peter 3, verses 1-6. 1 Peter 3, verses 1-6, which deals with Peter speaking about the same issue, the importance of wives submitting to her husband as to the Lord. Verse 19 says,

Paul says, husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Here now he deals with the other side of the marriage relationship. Husbands, since you have been made a new creation in Christ, since you are complete in him, since you know who he is and what he has done for you, this is how you are to relate to your wife.

You're to love her and not be bitter toward her. Now, it's interesting. Most guys are pretty patient with themselves in the learning to love their wives. But they demand instant obedience from their wives in learning to submit. Guys, submission is not something that can be demanded or required. It can only be given.

And so here's the reality. When you love your wife as Christ loved the church, she will respond because that is how God designed marriage to work. You can't come to me and tell me that she is not submitting and she's the problem. Understand that when you do what God has called you to do, everything else will come in line. Men, we are a new creation in Christ. There is no more excuse for us.

We have everything that we need in Christ to love our wives as Christ loved the church. It's the command. It's the expectation that God has for you. Regardless of if she is a believer, regardless of if she submits, regardless of anything else that may come into our minds, men, love your wives as Christ loved the church.

This word love, it's the word agape in the Greek, which you're probably familiar with. It's unconditional, self-sacrificing love. We've looked at it many times before. It's a love that demonstrates itself by doing what is best for the one that is loved, not

not necessarily what the one that is loved would desire or ask for. Just like God gave to us because he loved us, he gave to us what we needed the most, not necessarily what we would have asked for or desired. He gave to us a savior because that's what we needed. That was our greatest need. And so God filled that need and provided that need and gives to us

Daily what we need, but not necessarily all that we desire. It's the love that God displays towards us through his son, Jesus Christ. And it's the love that God requires you husbands, us husbands, to demonstrate to our wives. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 25 says, Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for her.

That's the example. It's the model that he has given to us. As Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, husbands, you're to follow suit. Love your wives and give yourself for her. That's the model. It's the one instruction that we're given. The most important line or instruction for us, if you will.

Be obedient in that everything else will come into order. Love your wife as Christ loved the church. And how did he love the church? Well, there's so many ways that we could look at what he did for us in dying upon the cross. I point you back just as a reminder to Philippians chapter two, which talks about Jesus, how he humbled himself and he came not to be served, but instead to serve Christ.

And to become obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. And husbands, that is what we're called to do. To follow his example for our wives. To humble ourselves so that we serve. We do not come home to be served, but we come home to serve. And we become obedient to the point of death. If it requires dying to ourselves, we live to love and serve our wives. Guys, he gave us the example.

Love your wife. Die to yourself and live to serve her. It's what God requires of us. And you can spend more time meditating on that. I encourage you to in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 25 through 29. Verse 20. Children, obey your parents in all things for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Now Paul deals with a different relationship in verses 20 and 21. He deals with the child-parent relationship. Again, one instruction for the wife, one instruction for the husband, the most important, probably the most difficult things, the things that God will be working in our lives and hearts for the rest of our lives.

And now he focuses on the child-parent relationship and again gives one line, one instruction for children and for parents. This is the most important thing for children. This, if you are a child, is what you need to practice and what you need to understand. Just as the husband and wife are required by the example that Jesus gave to love and serve one another and submit to one another,

The child is to submit to the parent on the basis of their relationship with the Lord. It says, children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. This is the one command, the one instruction to children. So, children, here's what you're to do. It's very simple. Obey your parents. We dealt with this in great detail in the 5, 6, 7, 8 series a few months ago. Whatever your parent says...

That is what God says. Whatever your parent commands, that is what God commands. You are to be fully and completely obedient in all things to your parents. You want to hear God speak to you? Ask your parents to tell you what to do. That's the command. That is the principle. That is what God says.

This is well-pleasing to the Lord. Your obedience to your parents in that way is well-pleasing to him. Now, if you do not want to be well-pleasing to the Lord, then that is a completely different story. You're already in rebellion to God, so you don't care what God says, and this means nothing to you.

But if your desire is to be pleasing to the Lord, you must be obedient to your parents. Even to the extent, even to the point that you cannot be in right relationship with God while being disobedient to your parents. You can only be in right relationship with God in full, complete obedience and submission to your parents. Paul says, in all things.

Not in just certain areas, not in certain aspects, not if grandma says otherwise. You're to be obedient to your parents in all things. Now, of course, the exception to this is if obedience to your parents would be contrary to the word of God. But in everything else, you are called and required to obey. Some children will say, but my parents are really strict. And that's okay.

You know, they have the right, the freedom to be strict. And parents, you do have that right and that freedom to be strict. Even if the child says, but that's stricter than the Bible. That's okay. You have that right as parents. Children, your parents have that right to be stricter. They can say you have to be 30 to date. No, I'm just kidding.

To an extent. But they have the ability to restrict. Really, the requirement to restrict and to command and be stricter in areas that they know that you need it. And you're to be obedient in those areas. Even if you disagree. Even if you think they're too strict. Even if everybody else's parents lets them do those things. Doesn't matter. God has given you those parents and you are to be obedient to them in all things.

Some will say, well, my parents are not believers. Same principle. In none of these relationships that Paul is dealing with does he give the exception, well, if the other person is not a believer, then everything is null and void and you can do whatever you want. No. Wives are to submit whether their husband is a believer or not or spiritual or not. Husbands are to love their wives whether their wives are believers or not or spiritual or not. Children are to obey their parents whether their parents are believers or not or spiritual or not.

Unless it's contrary to the word of God, you're to be obedient in all things. My parents are out of touch with reality. I mean, they grew up in the 70s or the 60s or the 50s or maybe the 80s. They've been kind of young, but that's okay. They're allowed to be. That's not your choice to be obedient or be disobedient, to ignore, to follow. It's not your choice. As a child, if you want to be pleasing to God,

Your role is to be obedient to your parents in all things, because that is what is pleasing to God. Now, some, of course, will think that they're not children. And so who is a child? What's the guideline for who a child is or what a child is? I'll give you a general definition. Of course, there's exceptions. But by rule of thumb, this is the vast majority. You are a child if you depend on your parents to live. Simple as that.

If you depend on your parents to live, then you are a child. And so until you provide for yourself and buy your own food, pay your own rent, provide your own transportation, etc., etc., you are a child and to be obedient to your parents and all those things. Until that time, what your parents say is God's command to you. So obey them in all things because it's pleasing to the Lord. It might not be pleasing to you right now, but it will be because it pleases the Lord.

Verse 21, fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged. Now he deals with the fathers, the other aspect of the parent-child relationship. Why does he deal with the fathers? Well, fathers, you need to know God holds you responsible for the upbringing of your children. They're your responsibility. They're in your charge. It's the tendency of fathers to neglect this element of the parent-child relationship.

For this aspect of life. But as Christians it should not be the case. Fathers you're to be intimately involved. In the raising and training up of your children. Paul says fathers do not provoke your children. Lest they become discouraged.

This verse is not an encouragement to withhold discipline from your children because proper parenting involves discipline. In fact, God uses the discipline that fathers give as proof of his love towards us when he disciplines us in Hebrews chapter 12. It's a proper and rightful thing for a father, for parents to discipline their children. It's necessary and you must do that.

But what he is doing is he's encouraging you. He's commanding you. Listen, don't provoke them lest they become discouraged. In other words, do not mistreat them or withhold from them what is necessary, what is due from you as their father. Commentator John Gill writes,

Had this to say about this thought of not provoking your children. And he breaks it into two categories by word and by deeds. He says first by words, do not provoke your children by unjust and unreasonable commands, by contemptuous and reproachful language, by frequent and public chidings and by indiscreet and passionate expressions. Then he goes on to say, nor by deeds,

Do not provoke your children by preferring one to another, by denying them the necessities of life, by not allowing them proper recreation, by severe and cruel blows and inhumane usage, by not giving them a suitable education, by an improper disposal of them in marriage, and by profusely spending their estates and leaving nothing to them. Whether in word or deed,

You're not to beat them, to mistreat them, to hold back from them what is due towards them. You're to honor them and love them and train them up in the ways of God. Fathers, it's your responsibility to make sure that your children are well taken care of, whether they're in your home or not. It's an awesome responsibility. God has entrusted them to you.

God has given to us the model by calling himself our Heavenly Father. So that you as a father can look to the Heavenly Father and notice and see to observe how he relates to us, how he deals with us as his children, that you might follow his example towards your own children. How did God deal with us as his children? Well, he loved us so much that he sent his disciples

Beloved son to die on the cross for us. He gave up what was most precious to him in order to provide for us what we needed the most. God serves us and provides for us continually. He corrects us when it's necessary, which is quite often. He leads us. He guides us.

He's our great Heavenly Father. And He provides for us all of our needs. He's the model for us so that you as a father can look and follow suit and say, that is how I am to treat my children. This is how I'm to be towards them. Fathers, do not provoke your children by withholding any of these things. You're their father. You are

You owe it to them to raise them up following the example of our Heavenly Father. Ephesians chapter 6 verse 4, Paul tells us, And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. So he says, you fathers, do not provoke your children. Same thing we're looking at here. And then he gives the contrast to that. The opposite of provoking your children is training them up.

Bringing them up in the training and admonition of the Lord, teaching them the things of God, teaching them the ways of the Lord by instruction verbally, but by example that they may observe the principles of God in you. Verses 22 through 25. Paul says in verse 22, bond servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

Verse 23, and whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. Verse 25, but he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done. And there is no partiality. He's dealt with husbands and wives. He's dealt with the child parent relationship.

And now he begins to deal with the employee-employer relationship. Bond servant was the common occupation of the day as Paul was writing to this. And we recognize it, we understand it to be what we would call an employee today. Someone who is serving others for pay. Someone who would be paid for their services. And that is what an employee is. And so as an employee, how are we to relate to our masters?

Paul says, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh. The same command that is given to children is given to employees. And you might not be so excited about that, but you are to be obedient in all things to your employer, to your boss, to your supervisor.

Now, again, the exception is if being obedient is contrary to the word of God, if they ask you to do something that violates God's word, that would be the exception. But in all things otherwise, you are to be obedient to those who have authority over you. Now, notice that Paul uses several verses here to deal with this issue. Verse 22, 23, 24 and 25. All the other issues, he just gives one line, one instruction here.

Per issue, per relationship. But here he spends a little bit extra time. Why is that? Well, we know that he deals with some of these other issues and other portions. And so maybe he felt that it was unnecessary. Maybe there was an actual issue that was going on in Colossae regarding the bond servants and the employees, the way that they were relating to their to their masters.

But whatever the case, this morning we're here in this portion and he spends a little bit extra time because it's an area that God wants to speak to you and to me. That we would spend a little bit extra time examining our hearts as employees, which most of us are. As employees that we might learn to relate the way that God would have us to relate.

And so first of all, the first thing he says, the first thing that we are to do as employees is obey in all things. Obey in all things. Does this describe your workplace activities? Do you obey in all things? Do you do what you are told to do at work? Now, I know what it's like to be

In the workplace. I know what it's like to have bosses that frustrate you and do not know what they're talking about. You know, many of us can laugh and enjoy the Dilbert cartoons because we've had similar real life experiences. Sometimes it really is that ridiculous. Sometimes if you were to put it in a cartoon, the whole world would laugh because we all know what it's like to have that type of leadership in the workplace at times. However,

God expects you to obey in all things, regardless of if you think it's the right way to do things or if you think that there is a better way or if you don't like your boss or if your boss plays favorites or whatever the case may be. Regardless of anything else, God expects you to obey in all things. That's our role as employees.

You, as an employee, are called to obey in all things. To be obedient without dispute, without complaint. To do what you're told. As we've been looking on Wednesday nights, wisdom is the ability to receive instruction and do what you're told. It's the wise thing to do in your workplace. It's the right thing to do. It's what God commands you to do. But not only that, he wants us to do it with the right heart.

Paul challenges us to examine our hearts there at the end of verse 22. He says, not with eye service as men pleasers, but in sincerity of heart. We're to do it with a sincere heart, not pretending to obey. God doesn't ask you to, you know, obey when they're looking at you or when they're watching you or when it might be discovered how you were acting or what you were doing. He doesn't ask you to obey just enough to get by.

Instead, he says, whether anyone is watching you or not, whether it will be discovered or found out if you did it one way or another, you to be obedient with a sincere heart. That means with all sincerity, you obey, not with duplicity, obeying on the outside, but grumbling on the inside. Sincerity, it's a singleness of heart, a singleness of mind that you understand and know my place simply to be obedient.

Not to question, not to grumble, not to complain, not to stir up and rile and tell my coworker about how much I hate that they ask us to do it this way or whatever. Our place, your place as an employee is to be obedient, sincerely, not with eye service, not just when the boss is watching or there's some advantage to us.

Now, it should really cause us to examine our attitude because you know how it is. When the boss is gone, things change. When the cat's away, the mice will play, the expression goes, right? When the boss is gone, lunch breaks get longer, coffee breaks become more frequent, the social hangouts become more populated. It's just that way. Things change. The boss isn't there anymore.

And so we're more apt to goof off, to play around, to do things the way that we want to do them or to not do them at all until it's necessary for us to do them because the boss is around. God says, no, don't be like that. It doesn't matter if they're watching you or not. Be obedient even when nobody else will know, even when it's just you and the Lord. Be obedient sincerely to your boss, to your supervisor, to your employer.

Now, Paul tells us why here in verses 23 and 24. He says, Why is it so important for you to be obedient in all things? Well, it's because you are actually serving the Lord and not man, just like a child-parent relationship.

Children have to be obedient to their parents because, well, God has given the parents that authority. And in serving the parents, the child is actually serving God. It's well-pleasing to the Lord.

The same way for an employee-employer relationship. Whatever your boss says, that is God's command to you. And so if you want to hear the voice of God in your life, ask your boss to tell you what to do. That is God's voice, God's word to you. It's what he wants you to do. It's his command. It's as effective as if it was a verse in the Bible.

You're to be obedient in all things. Heartily, as unto the Lord, because that is who you are really serving. You know, being in ministry, it's easy to think, man, if I could cut some corners to get the job done so I could get to church a little bit earlier and serve the Lord there. That's faulty thinking. Serving the Lord is not just something that is done at church or in ministry events. It's what you do all of the time.

You're to be serving the Lord. And so do your job well with all your heart because you really are serving God and not man. So you're to obey in all things, not just when people are watching, but when nobody is watching with sincerity of heart, to do it heartily with all your heart as to the Lord and not to men. But then also Paul protects us from bitterness.

You know, the bitterness that can happen when we don't get what we feel that we deserve. And there's lots that can take place in that. He says, do not expect reward from your boss because you're serving God. Be faithful and serve with all your heart. Look to him for reward. That's what he says here in verse 25. No, verse 24. Knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the reward of the inheritance for you serve the Lord Christ. See, God is saying,

You're not to look to your earthly master for your reward. You're to look to God. Your employer is not the one who meets your needs and provides for you. It's God who meets your needs and provides for you. And you're to look to him to do that and not your employer so that you don't grumble and complain.

Oh, you know, they don't pay me enough to work this hard to do this and work these extra hours to do these things. They don't give me enough benefits for all of this. This isn't part of my job description, all the things that we can grumble and complain about. Paul says, know that from the Lord you will receive the reward. Look to him and then you won't be bitter towards your employer because they're not responsible for giving you the reward because you're serving the Lord and not man.

He will compensate you. He will take care of you. Do it heartily as unto the Lord, knowing that from him you will receive what is just for what you do. Employees, obey in all things, even when nobody is looking, because you serve the Lord. So do it with all your heart and look to him for reward. And if you do wrong, if you disregard this,

Know that it is the Lord who will repay you without partiality. That's what he says in verse 25. You cannot get away with it. If you do wrong, he will deal with it. He will judge sin and rebellion in your heart. If you're cheating, if you're stealing, if you're being lazy, disrespecting,

Know that it's God who's going to deal with you in that area. Just as you serve the Lord by serving your employer, when you are cheating your employer, when you're disregarding your employer, when you're rebelling against your employer, you're doing it against the Lord. And he will bring judgment into your life. Verse 1 of chapter 4. Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a master in

Paul finally deals with the masters, those who are employers, supervisors, the boss, etc. And he says, here's how the masters are to relate to their employees. They're to give what is just and fair. Do you have employees that work for you? Are you put in charge of others? That's good. It's an important role, an important position to be in. But Paul says, remember, you have a master in heaven.

And so you must treat those that are entrusted to you the way that God treats you or the way that you want to be treated by God. When they work hard, give them what is just and fair. Give them what is right. When they do not work hard, same applies. Give them what is just and fair. Give them what is right. Sometimes it will involve blessing and sometimes it will involve discipline.

But as an earthly master, you're to make sure that your employees get what they need, that they get what they deserve, that you treat them right and fairly, not showing favoritism. James deals with this as well. In James chapter 5, verse 4, he says, Indeed, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out. And the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

James says, listen, you employers and bosses and masters on earth, here's what you need to know. When you cheat your employee, when you keep back by fraud wages that are due, when you don't give what is just and right, that injustice cries out to the Lord and he will bring justice to that situation. He's going to take care of it. And so you need to deal rightly with

To give what is just and right to those who deserve it, to those who deserve punishment or discipline, you're to give it. To those who deserve more responsibility or more compensation, more benefits, you're to give it. I understand that in the corporate world, it's not always possible, but you're to do your best to provide for them and treat them as your Heavenly Father treats you.

And so six areas that Paul has given us today that we're to relate to one another on the basis of being complete in Jesus Christ. That we have everything that we need to fulfill and meet these obligations that God gives to us. To relate to one another in these ways. Wives, you're complete in Jesus Christ. You have everything that you need.

And if you want to experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in the center of God's will, submit to your husband as to the Lord. That's what God requires. It's the way that God designed it. Husbands, you have everything you need. You're complete in Jesus Christ. And if you want to experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in the center of his will, love your wife as Christ loved the church.

And give yourself for her. Live to serve her. It's how the Lord loved us and gave himself for us. Children, you're complete in Jesus Christ. It might not be the popular thing or the easy thing, but you have everything that you need to be obedient to him. And if you want to experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in the center of his will, obey your parents in all things. It's pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, you have everything you need. You're complete in Jesus Christ. He's made you a new creation that you can train up your children. So do not provoke them, but train them up in the admonition of the Lord. Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Be intimately involved in their upbringing, not withholding from them anything that is due to them by you as a father. As the Lord treats you and is your heavenly father,

You are to treat them. Employees, you have everything you need. You're complete in Jesus Christ. Your co-workers might think you're insane, but that's okay. You're not serving man. It might not be the popular thing to do. It might go against what you desire, your thoughts, but you have everything you need. And if you want to experience the fullness of joy from being in the center of God's will, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh. Be obedient to them.

Even when nobody is looking. And employers, you're complete in Christ. You have everything that you need. To experience the fullness of joy that comes from being in the center of God's will. Use your position of authority the way that God does. To give what is just and fair. To give what is right to those who have been entrusted to you. Deal justly and righteously with them. In giving of compensation, discipline, vacation, whatever the case.

Give what is right, just, and fair as the Lord gives to you. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you that your word speaks so specifically to our hearts. God, that your spirit brings up in our lives examples and instances, Lord, areas that you want to deal with. And so, God, we ask this morning that you would help us in all of these relationships. Lord, with the understanding that we are complete in you.

Lord, that there's no excuse for us. Lord, as we set our mind on things above and put off the old nature and put on the new nature, Lord, you equip us with everything that we need to be obedient to you. And so, God, I pray for the wives of this body. Lord, that you would help them to experience all that you have in store for them as they submit to their husbands as is fitting to you. Lord, that you would...

Wipe away the hurts. Lord, that you would heal the wounds in the husbands and wives of this fellowship. You would restore relationships. But Lord, that you would encourage both the husband and the wife not to wait for the other, not to wait for it to change. Lord, that they would be the first to change and to be obedient to you. Lord, I pray for the wives. Give them strength and fill them with your Spirit. Give them understanding.

that they might submit to their husband. God, I pray for the husbands, Lord, that you would strengthen them, fill them with your Spirit. God, I pray that you would bring before their hearts and their minds continually the picture of what you have done for us. Lord, that they might be constantly reminded of how they are to love the wife that you have provided for them. God, I pray for us as husbands that you would strengthen us and fill us with your Spirit. Lord, that we would learn to die to ourselves.

That we wouldn't hold on to the flesh or our dreams and desires. That we wouldn't live to please ourselves and serve ourselves. But God, that we would follow your example and humble ourselves. And not come to be served, but instead to serve. And to give our lives in the service of our wives. Lord, I pray for the children of this body. Lord, even those who are not here or not listening to this. God, I pray that you would...

Teach the children of this fellowship to be obedient to their parents. God, even as difficult as it is amidst the peer pressure, the things that are popular, the trends of the world, which are in contrast to the desires and instructions of the parents. God, I pray that you would stir up the hearts of the children to be pleasing to you. Lord, and that their love for you would be the motivation for

that they would be obedient in all things to their parents. Lord, that they would be able to stand, that they would be steadfast. Lord, even when they're not at home, away at a friend's house or somewhere else, God, that they would be faithful to the instructions that were given to them, that they would be obedient in all things because it's pleasing to You. And God, I pray for the fathers of this body. Lord, that You would be with them, God.

But as we see in our society today, the man is absent from the family life. God, may that not be the case in this body for believers. We ask, God, that you would help the fathers, encourage the fathers, strengthen the fathers to play an intimate part in the upbringing of the children. Lord, that you would strengthen them to be able to stand fast in the midst of

the temptations, Lord, and distractions that could take place. Lord, they would set those things aside, Lord, and that they would make the highest priority loving and serving those that you've entrusted to them, bringing them up and training them in you. God, I pray that you would help the fathers not to provoke their children by withholding anything that is due to them as you demonstrate to us as our heavenly father.

Lord, by providing for them, by meeting their needs, by leading them and guiding them, help the fathers, Lord. Be obedient to you and follow your example as our Heavenly Father to love, cherish, and take care of their children. Father, I pray for the employees. Lord, that we wouldn't give you a bad name in the workplace. Lord, that our ethics and our work would not be a misrepresentation of who you are.

But God, I pray for employees that we would be obedient in all things to our masters in the flesh. God, that you would humble us. Lord, that we would not be insistent upon our own way, our own rights, our own thoughts. But Lord, teach employees to be submissive, obedient to those who have been given authority over them. Lord, teach employees to serve because they're serving you.

And to look for you for reward because we're serving you. To not be bitter, not to hold back, not to work grudgingly, but sincerely with all of our hearts. God, I pray for employers, those who are bosses and supervisors, those who have people in their trust and their charge. Give them the strength, Lord, the fortitude to do what is right for those that serve. Lord, that they would be just and fair.

and always in all aspects, whether it be in discipline or compensation, God, teach them to follow your example as you, our master, are diligent and faithful to provide for us and to meet every need and to repay us for our service towards you. God, in all these areas, in all these ways, we thank you that you have made it possible by your death for us, that you finished it, you completed the work, and we have everything that we need.

Lord, remind us that we are new creatures in you, that we may have the strength, the confidence, the boldness to walk in obedience to you in all these ways. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.