Summary: 1 of 3 +1. Paul unveiled the vital role of submission inherent to a Christ-honoring marriage & family. Christ-honoring families must operate under the umbrella of submission. But How? Foundational family integrity is found in...

Redneck Valentine—

Straight from L.A.(Lower Alabama)

Collards is green,

my dog's name is Blue

& I'm so lucky

to have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk

a-flapping in the breeze.

Softer than Blue's

& without all them fleas.

You move like the bass,

which excite me in May.

You ain't got no scales

but I luv you anyway.

Yo're as satisfy'n as okry

jist a-fry'n in the pan.

Yo're as fragrant as "snuff"

right out of the can.

You have some'a yore teeth,

for which I am proud;

I hold my head high

when we're in a crowd.

On special occasions,

when you shave under yore arms,

well, I'm in hawg heaven,

& awed by yore charms.

Still them fellers at work,

they all want to know,

what I did to deserve

such a purdy, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape

yo're there fer yore man,

to patch up life's troubles

& fix what you can.

Yo're as cute as a junebug

a-buzzin' overhead.

You ain't mean like those far ants

I found in my bed.

Cut from the best cloth

like a plaid flannel shirt,

you spark up my life

more than a fresh load of dirt.

When you hold me real tight

like a padded gunrack,

my life is complete;

Ain't nuthin' I lack.

Yore complexion, it's perfection,

like the best vinyl sidin'.

despite all the years,

yore age, it keeps hidin'.

Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie

with a RC cold drank,

we go together

like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy chocolate

for Valentine's Day;

They git it at Wal-Mart,

it's romantical that way.

Some men git roses

on that special day

from the cooler at Kroger.

"That's impressive," I say.

Some men buy fine diamonds

from a flea market booth.

"Diamonds are forever,"

they explain, su-a-vee & couth.

But for this man, honey,

these jist won't do.

Cause yor'e too special,

you sweet thang you.

I got you a gift,

without taste nor odor,

more useful than diamonds...

IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR!!

Luv, from yore romeo.

[Everybody loved this!! But then again, I can really lay down a thick ‘redneck’ southern accent. I R wun 2!]

MUTUAL SUBMISSION-I—Ephesians 5:21—6:4

—OR—

‘Foundational Family Integrity’

—OR—

‘A Family’s Integrity in Mutual Submission’

Attention:

Redneck Valentine—Straight From LA(Lower Alabama)

The world has & individuals have very different views regarding love.

Need:

Our country is embroiled in individualistic endeavors to the exclusion of & to the ruin/destruction/devastation of others....manifested in Hedonism(drugs/sex/possessions)

Work-ism or busy-ness(Work=Good)...borne by financial indebtedness, etc.

It is not possible for a marriage & family to survive, when one or more of the members is into themselves to the exclusion of others!

We may learn to live with one another, but we will have no power in the world!

Integrity—“The state of being whole & undivided: upholding territorial integrity & national sovereignty.” a.—The condition of being unified, unimpaired, or sound in construction. b.—Internal consistency or lack of corruption.

&/or

Integrity—1. Adherence to moral & ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty; 2. The state of being whole, entire, or undiminished; 3. Sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition.

Paul unveiled the role of submission inherent to a Christ-honoring nuclear family.

Christ-honoring nuclear families must operate under the umbrella of submission.

How is the implementation of submission essential to the integrity of Christ-honoring nuclear families?

4 arenas in which the implementation of submission secures Christ-honoring integrity for your (nuclear)family.

*Foundational(Christ-honoring) family integrity is found in Mutual Submission!...AND...

*Mutual Submission cannot be experienced fully apart from God’s love!

The Background of “SUBMISSION”:—:15-21 The Background of SUBMISSION:—:15-21

:15—“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,”

“Circumspectly”—akribwv—Adverb—1) Exactly, accurately, diligently. Strong—Exactly. Used 5X.

From—akron—1) The farthest bounds, uttermost parts, end, highest, extreme. Strong—The extremity.

“Fools”—asofov—Adj.—1)Unwise, foolish.

From—A(as a negative particle)—&—sofov—akin to safhv(clear); Wise(in a most general application).

“Wise”—sofov—1) Wise—1a) Skilled, expert: of artificers, 1b) Wise, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned—1b1) Of the Greek philosophers & orators, 1b2) Of Jewish theologians, 1b3) Of Christian teachers, 1c) Forming the best plans & using the best means for their execution. Sofov denotes wise, skilled, an expert. Strong—akin to safhv(clear); Wise(in a most general application).

:16—“redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

“Redeeming”—exagorazw——1) To redeem—1a) By payment of a price to recover from the power of another, to ransom, buy off, 1b) metaph.--Of Christ freeing the elect from the dominion of the Mosaic Law at the price of his vicarious death; 2) To buy up, to buy up for one's self, for one's use—2a) To make wise & sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal & well doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the time our own. Strong—To buy up, i.e. Ransom; figuratively--To rescue from loss(improve opportunity). Used 4X.

From—ek/ex—1) Out of, from, by, away from. Strong—a primary preposition denoting origin(the point whence action or motion proceeds), From, out(of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote).—&—agorazw—properly--To go to market, i.e. by implication--To purchase; specially--To redeem. [BKS=make an exchange for goods received.]

“Evil”—ponhrov—Adj.—1) Full of labors, annoyances, hardships—1a) Pressed & harassed by labors, 1b) Bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith & steadfastness; causing pain & trouble; 2) Bad, of a bad nature or condition—2a) in a physical sense: Diseased or blind, 2b) in an ethical sense: Evil wicked, bad. Ponhrov is a word at once stronger & more active than kakov, it means mischief-making, delighting in injury, doing evil to others, dangerous, destructive. Kakov describes the quality according to its nature, ponhrov, according to its effects. Strong—Hurtful, i.e. Evil(properly, in effect or influence) figuratively--Calamitous; also passively--Ill, i.e. Diseased; but especially(morally)--Culpable, i.e. Derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular)--Mischief, malice, or (plural)--Guilt; masculine (singular)--The devil, or (plural)--Sinners.

:17—“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

“Unwise”—afrwn—Adj.—1) Without reason; 2) Senseless, foolish, stupid; 3) Without reflection or intelligence, acting rashly. Used 11X.

From—A(as a negative particle)—&—frhn—probably from an obsolete fraw(to rein in or curb; compare frassw[to fence, enclose, block up]); the midrif(as a partition of the body), i.e. figuratively & by implication, of sympathy--The feelings(or sensitive nature; by extension[also in the plural]--The mind or cognitive faculties).

“Understanding”—sunihmi—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To set or bring together—1a) in a hostile sense--Of combatants; 2) To put(as it were) the perception with the thing perceived—2a) To set or join together in the mind—2a1) i.e. To understand: the man of understanding, 2a2) idiom for--A good & upright man(having the knowledge of those things which pertain to salvation). Sunihmi implies a native insight, knowledge gained through the five senses. Strong—To put together, i.e. mentally--To comprehend; by implication--To act piously.

From—sun— With or together(but much closer than meta[with, after, behind, amid] or para[from, of at, by, besides, near]), i.e. By association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.—&—ihmi—To send.

:18—“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,”

“Drunk”—meyuskw—Perfect Passive Infinitive 2nd Plural—1) To intoxicate, make drunk; 2) To get drunk, become intoxicated. Strong—a prolonged(transitive) form of meyuw[to drink to intoxication, i.e. get drunk]; To intoxicate. Used 3X.

“Dissipation/Excess/Debauchery/Reckless actions”—aswtia—Noun Nominative Sing. Fem.—1) An abandoned, dissolute life; 2) Profligacy, prodigality. The fundamental idea of aswtia is “wastefulness & riotous excess.” Aswtia means reckless & extravagant expenditure, chiefly for the gratification of one's sensual desires. It denotes a dissolute, profligate course of life. Strong—from a compound of A(as a negative particle) & a presumed derivative of swzw[To save, i.e. Deliver or protect]; properly--Unsavedness, i.e. by implication--Profligacy.

“Filled”—plhrow—Perfect Passive Imperative 2nd Plural—1) To make full, to fill up, i.e. To fill to the full—1a) To cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally—1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied; 2) To render full, i.e. To complete—2a) To fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim, 2b) To consummate: a number—2b1) To make complete in every particular, to render perfect, 2b2) To carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking), 2c) To carry into effect, bring to realization, realize—2c1) Of matters of duty: to perform, execute, 2c2) Of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish, 2c3) To fulfill, i.e. To cause God's will(as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, & God's promises(given through the prophets) to receive fulfillment. Strong—To make replete, i.e. literally--To cram(a net), level up(a hollow), or figuratively--To furnish(or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute(an office), finish(a period or task), verify(or coincide with a prediction), etc..

:19—“speaking to one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

“Speaking”—lalew—

“One another/Each other”—eautou—

“Psalms”—qalmov—Noun Masc.—1) A striking, twanging—1a) Of a striking the chords of a musical instrument, 1b) Of a pious song, a psalm. Qalmov designates a song which took its general character from the OT Psalms, although not restricted to them. The leading idea of qalmov is a musical accompaniment. It is quite possible for the same song to be at once described by all three of these words[umnov, qalmov,wdh]. Strong—A set piece of music, i.e. A sacred ode(accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument; a "psalm"); collectively--The book of the Psalms. Used 7X.

“Hymns”—umnov—Noun Masc.—1) A song in tithe praise of gods, heroes, conquerors; 2) A sacred song, hymn. Umnov designates a song of praise, especially of praise to God. It is quite possible for the same song to be at once described by all three of these words[umnov, qalmov,wdh]. Strong—apparently from a simpler(obsolete) form of udew(to celebrate; probably akin to adw[to sing]; compare 5667); A “hymn” or religious ode(one of the Psalms). Used 2X.

“Spiritual”—pneumatikov—Adj.—1) Relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God & serves as his instrument or organ; 2) Belonging to a spirit, or a being higher than man but inferior to God; 3) Belonging to the Divine Spirit; 4) Pertaining to the wind or breath; windy, exposed to the wind, blowing. Strong—Non-carnal, i.e. humanly--Ethereal(as opposed to gross), or demoniacally--A spirit(concretely), or divinely--Supernatural, regenerate, religious.

English=‘Pneumatic’

“Songs”—wdh—Noun Fem.—1) A song, lay, ode. It is quite possible for the same song to be at once described by all three of these words[umnov, qalmov,wdh]. Strong—from adw[to sing]; A chant or “ode”(the general term for any words sung; while umnov denotes especially a religious metrical composition, & qalmov still more specifically, a Hebrew cantillation). Used 7X. (CONT...)Background of SUBMISSION:—:15-21

“Singing”—adw—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To the praise of anyone, to sing. Strong—a primary verb; To sing. Used 5X.

“Making melody/Praising/Make music”—qallw—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To pluck off, pull out; 2) To cause to vibrate by touching, to twang—2a) To touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate, 2b) To play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc., 2c) To sing to the music of the harp, 2d) in the NT--To sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song. Strong—probably strengthened from qaw(to rub or touch the surface; compare qwcw[To triturate, i.e. by analogy--To rub out(kernels from husks with the fingers or hand)]); To twitch or twang, i.e. To play on a stringed instrument(celebrate the divine worship with music & accompanying odes). Used 5X.

“With/In”—en—

“Heart”—kardia—

:20—“giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

“Giving thanks”—eucaristew—Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To be grateful, feel thankful; 2) Give thanks. Strong—To be grateful, i.e. actively--To express gratitude(towards); specially--To say grace at a meal.

:21—“submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

“Submitting to one another”—Mutual, shared submission! At this juncture, this “submission” has ramifications which extend beyond a focus limited to its relation in marital relationships(5:22-33; 6:1-3, 4; 6:5-8, 9).

“In the fear of God”—The manner in which submission is carried out.

“Submitting”—upotassw—Present Passive Participle Nominative Plural Masc.—1) To arrange under, to subordinate; 2) To subject, put in subjection; 3) To subject one's self, obey; 4) To submit to one's control; 5) To yield to one's admonition or advice; 6) To obey, be subject. Upotassw is a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader.” In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, & carrying a burden.” Strong—To subordinate; reflexively--To obey. RWP—Present middle participle of upotassw, old military figure--To line up under(Col 3:18).

From—upo—Preposition—1)By, under. Strong—a primary preposition; Under, i.e. (with the genitive case)of place--Beneath, or (with verbs)the agency or means--Through; (with the accusative case)of place--(whither--Underneath, or where--Below, or time when--At).—&—tassw—a prolonged form of a primary verb(which latter appears only in certain tenses); To arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. Assign or dispose(to a certain position or lot).

“Fear”—fobov—Noun Masc.—1) Fear, dread, terror—1a) That which strikes terror; 2) Reverence for one's husband. Strong—from a primary febomai(to be put in fear); Alarm or fright.

1(part a)—Foundational family integrity is found in...

A WIFE’s submission(:22-25, 33)

Explanation/Argumentation:(:22-24, 33)

:22—“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

Maj.T’s “Be subject,” is added for clarification only. The thought is carried from :21— “submitting[upotassw] to one another in the fear of God.”

All that follows(:22ff.) is a function of :21.

Paul relates the proper relational functioning of a Christ-honoring marriage. Both “wives” & “husbands” are qualified here as belonging to each other(“your own”).

She is to “submit” to her own husband, & not someone else’s. She is not to kowtow to men in general. She is only to recognize, regard, & operate within those God-ordained roles of the Lord’s design.

“As to the Lord”—In the same manner as you would to “the Lord” Jesus Himself. This assumes a husband who is indeed like Jesus, “the Lord. He gives himself to the direction of the Holy Spirit. He has an aptitude for prayer

The quality of this submission is tempered & secured by means of one’s relationship to the Lord.

A wife is to relate to & hierarchically(role) seek to arrange her marital priorities in a manner consistent with her God-ordained & self-applied relational & hierarchical arrangement expressed toward her Lord Jesus.

There can be no God-driven viable hierarchy apart from loving respect(:33) at the minimum!

A husband is to command/engender the same respect/fear in his wife that the Lord Jesus commands in His church. This obviously puts much pressure upon the recipient of such respect/fear. He must ‘be worthy’ of such respect/fear.

?Would Jesus, or a godly husband, parade his so-called ‘manliness,’ maliciously/malevolently forcing you(his wife)...?

—Force you into immoral situations?

—Force you to do His will?

—Treat you like a 2nd rate citizen?

—Force you to walk behind Him?

—Force you to Change the baby’s diapers?

—Force you to Clean His toilets?

—Force you to serve His meal at a specified time under fear of punishment?

—Force you to go to bed at a certain time?

—Refuse to allow you to leave the house?

—Limit your time in a store?

—Hit you when you don’t fulfill His desire at any time?

—Criticize your every endeavor? Have a critical spirit?

Titus 2:1-5—“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

“Submit”(See :24—“Subject”)[TR & Byz.]—*Maj.T includes “Be subject” for clarification only, as the thought is carried from :21—“submitting to one another in the fear of God.”—upotassw—Present Middle Imperative 2nd Plural—1) To arrange under, to subordinate; 2) To subject, put in subjection; 3) To subject one's self, obey; 4) To submit to one's control; 5) To yield to one's admonition or advice; 6) To obey, be subject. Upotassw is a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, & carrying a burden.” Strong—To subordinate; reflexively--To obey.

From—upo—Preposition—1)By, under. Strong—a primary preposition; Under, i.e. (with the genitive case)of place--Beneath, or (with verbs)the agency or means--Through; (with the accusative case)of place--(whither--Underneath, or where--Below, or time when--At).—&—tassw—a prolonged form of a primary verb(which latter appears only in certain tenses); To arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. Assign or dispose(to a certain position or lot).

Thus=‘Under/By/Through Subordinate/Arrange’

“Husbands”(See :23, 24, 25, 28, 33)—anhr—Noun Masc.—1) with reference to sex—1a) Of a male, 1b) Of a husband, 1c) Of a betrothed or future husband; 2) With reference to age, & to distinguish an adult man from a boy; 3) Any male; 4) Used generically of a group of both men & women. Strong—A man(properly as an individual male).

“As to”—wv—Adverb—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).

“The Lord”(See :29, 6:1)—kuriov—Noun Masc.—1) He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Kuriov has a wider meaning[than despothv], applicable to the various ranks & relations of life & not suggestive of either property or of absolutism. Strong—from kurov(supremacy); Supreme in authority, i.e. as noun--Controller; by implication--Mr.(as a respectful title).

:23—“For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; & He is the Savior of the body.”

Paul fleshes out this concept more fully by stating it from the husband’s perspective. And that is, that the husband’s marital relationship & hierarchical arrangement is also God-ordained yet from the complementary aspect as the “head of” his “wife.” Again, as with the wife, the husband’s marital function is tempered & secured in the same manner that “Christ” Himself relates to the church as both “head” of & “Savior” of that body.

“As also Christ is head of the church”—In the same manner as Christ “heads” the church.

*The “head” offers/gives direction, anticipating a predictable response on the part of the “body.”

Christ is “head of the church” in that He is the One that the church must depend upon for equipping, empowerment, direction & guidance. It is thru & in Him that the church exists, consists & has purpose.

Col. 1:15-18—“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven & that are on earth, visible & invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him & for Him. And He is before all things, & in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”

“& He is the Savior of the body.”

Christ is also the “Savior of the body.” The church itself is deemed “the body of Christ”(Col. 1:24; 1Pet. 2:5) & thus her salvation is bound up in Christ alone & not in herself.

?Why does the body need a Savior?—Because it(the body/flesh) tends to serve self to the exclusion of anyone or thing else.

*?How is it possible for a mere man(husband) to fulfill that role? ...OR...?How does this relate the responsibilities of husband & wife to one another?....

1)The husband is accountable & answerable for fostering the well-being, betterment, growth, & complementary ministry of the wife; Without the head(Christ/husband) the body(church/wife) cannot attain to the fullness of her intended design—thereby the body(church/wife) is ‘saved’ to the purposes of God(Christ/husband)...

2)The wife(body/church) is accountable & answerable for making herself freely available for the godly intentions of the head(husband/Christ).

Col. 1:24—“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,”

1Pet. 2:5—“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

?Does God's Church operate out of Intimidation &/or Manipulation?

?Does a godly Husband threaten to Leave /Run around/Remove provision?

“Head”—kefalh—Noun Fem.—1) The head, both of men & often of animals. Since the loss of the head destroys life, this word is used in the phrases relating to capital & extreme punishment.; 2) metaph.--Anything supreme, chief, prominent—2a) Of persons, master lord--Of a husband in relation to his wife, 2b) of Christ--The Lord of the husband & of the Church, 2c) of things--The corner stone. Strong—from the primary kaptw(in the sense of seizing); The head(as the part most readily taken hold of), literally or figuratively.

“Savior”—swthr—Noun Masc.—1)Savior, deliverer, preserver. The name was given by the ancients to deities, especially tutelary deities, to princes, kings, & in general to men who had conferred signal benefits upon their country, & in more degenerate days by the way of flattery to personages of influence. Strong—A deliverer, i.e. God or Christ.

“Body”(See :30)—swma—Noun Neuter—1) The body both of men or animals—1a) A dead body or corpse, 1b) The living body—1b1) Of animals; 2) The bodies of planets & of stars (heavenly bodies); 3) Is used of a (large or small)number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body—3a) so in the NT--Of the church; 4) That which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself. Strong—The body(as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

CONCLUSION:

Visualization:

Redneck Valentine—Straight From LA(Lower Alabama)

Action:

Foundational(Christ-honoring) family integrity is found in...

1(part a). A WIFE’s submission(5:22-25, 33)

Pt. 1(part a), thru verse :23 only! Presented 02/14/2016am Valentine’s Day to:

FBC Cbelle

206 Storrs Ave. SE

Carrabelle, FL 32322

Pts. 1-4 Presented 06/17/07Father’s Day to:

Lyerly Evangelical Church

1320 Crescent Rd.

Salisbury, NC 28146