Your wife is not the weaker vessel because she’s inferior, she’s there because of the order of God.  When woman sinned and man followed in his sin, loving himself more than he loved God, he was placed into a position of responsibility and oversight.  In other words, basically what was being said was, “Get it right this time.  You didn’t take care of your woman like you were supposed to.”  Adam did not have to partake of that fruit, “But because you obeyed your wife,” God said, “because you broke order.”  Now, was there at that time an obvious co-authority?  We don’t know.  People will debate that, were they co-equal at that time, was it a co-authority?  We don’t know.  I lean toward thinking there was, but that does not negate the fact that the Bible says the woman was made for the man.  So, we have that clear understanding.  What am I saying?  Work together, work in unity, respect one another, but realize the moment that we get out of the role that God has called us to fulfill, it’s not because we’re in conflict with our husbands.  When you and your husband are having a fight, when you guys are opposing one another, you’re opposing God; amen?  When we can see it that way, it helps us to realize, first of all, who’s behind this thing and your enemy is not your spouse, your enemy’s the devil.  Thank God, our weapons are mighty through God as we oppose the accuser of the brethren; amen?  How many times has the devil ever come to you and edified your wife?  He’s the accuser of the brethren.  Let me tell you, in all of his accusations, he’s also a liar and the father of lies, and there’s no truth in him.  He has one method: divide and conquer.  “A house divided against itself cannot stand;” amen?

So, we’re battling for our lives, we’re battling for our children’s lives.  We’re seeking to walk out this life of sanctification in hope of glorification.  Marriage is so critical.  Relationships are so fragile.  Best of friends can turn on each other in a moment over many different issues.  It’s amazing to see how small of things can break up lifelong commitments and usually the cause is the love of self.  So, as we’re fulfilling our roles here, I’m wanting us to catch, this morning, the fact that there are eternal consequences.  You see, in the natural mind, there are not eternal consequences, because, in our society today, if you don’t like the situation, you just get a divorce.  “Irreconcilable differences.”  They’ve made it that easy.  “We just can’t get along anymore.”  We, as believers, have made a covenant in God, recognizing the worth and the role of the other individual.

You’ll notice, in modern days, they’ve changed the marriage vows, haven’t they?  God’s rule and what used to be the vows for marriage for thousands of years, “until death do us part”; amen?  “What God has joined together no man has the authority to put asunder,” and that’s why this is not to be entered into unadvisedly; amen?  But there is no separation; we’re one.  There is not pulling apart.  I don’t want to get off course.  We talked about it a little bit prior to this study, but the fact of the matter is divorce, according to Jesus, is only allowed for one reason and that’s adultery.  Other than that, there is no other recognized cause for putting asunder.  When Jesus was asked the question about Moses’ bill of divorcement, He said, “From the beginning it was not so but because of the hardness of your hearts”; amen?  Now, who is their heart hardened against?  Not that person but God.  I know this is Your intent from the beginning that we would be joined together, that we would mutually, Adam and Eve, rule this planet together.