Ephesians 5:23 (NKJV) For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Saviour of the body.
It is crucial for us to have a vision of a good marriage. Strong, healthy, godly families do not happen automatically but require an intentional effort to build them with the correct biblical values, principles, and priorities. This way, we also help our children visualise the kind of marriage they want in the future.
1 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Spiritual leadership is required to establish a vision for the marriage. The husband is the head. As a leader, he leads the marriage and family that he wants to develop from the front, while the wife follows in submission. Spiritual leadership is a position given by God to the man. It is not about being a male chauvinist but an order that God has placed in the home. Sadly, many men today have prioritised their jobs rather than their families, and some would prefer not to take the role of the leader.
The man should be the family’s visionary. He needs to know what a Christian marriage should be like and envision how his family and marriage will grow. He must walk with God, know His ways, and live a consecrated life. He also needs to take up his rightful place in the family. He needs to know the difference between a marriage covenant and a contractual marriage, choose to honour the marriage covenant and build up his family in God’s ways.
A significant factor in spiritual leadership is the ability to motivate others. Therefore, a father should encourage and inspire his wife and children to love God and walk in His ways. As a leader, he must be able to lead his family from point A to point B, but he must have been to point B himself, seen it in the vision and knows the way there. He will work backwards from the vision to get what he wants for his marriage and family. He needs to have a goal in mind and know how to work with his wife to build the marriage.
Leadership also means taking responsibility and initiative to get everyone into the Word, walk with God, and be God-fearing. The family must have a godly voice to point out the direction, show them the way, and move towards the vision. The father must speak up in front of their children and not shy away from topics such as LGBTQ and gender confusion. This will help the family to finish well.
Sermon Series: Before You Say I Do (Lesson 5 & 6)
婚姻中的属灵领袖
以弗所书5:23 因为丈夫是妻子的头，正如基督是教会的头，祂自己又是教会全体的救主。
对我们来说，有一个美好婚姻的异象是很重要的。坚强、健康、敬虔的家庭不会自动发生，而是需要刻意的努力，以正确的圣经价值观、原则和优先事项来建立。以此，我们也帮助孩子对于他们将来想要的婚姻有一个直观的感受。
提摩太前书3:12 执事只要作一个妇人的丈夫，好好管理儿女和自己的家。
建立婚姻的异象需要属灵的领袖。丈夫是头，作为一个领导者，他站在前头带领着他想要建立的婚姻和家庭，而妻子则顺从地跟随。属灵领袖是神赐给男人的职位。这不是一个大男子主义的问题，而是神为那个家安排的秩序。可惜的是，今日的许多男性把工作置于家庭之前，有些人不愿意担负领袖的职责。
丈夫应该是家中最有远见的人。他需要知道基督徒的婚姻应该是什么样子，并设想他的家庭和婚姻将如何成长。丈夫必须与神同行，晓得祂的道，过一种献身的生活。他需要在家庭中占据他应有的位置。他应该认识盟约婚姻和合约婚姻的区别，选择信守婚姻的盟约，并以神的方式建立他的家庭。
属灵领袖的一个重要因素是激励他人的能力。因此，一个父亲应该激励他的妻子和孩子们爱神，遵行神的道。作为领袖，他必须能够带领一家人从A点到达B点，但是他必须自己已经到过B点，在异象中看见它，并且晓得如何去到那里。他会从异象倒推，以满足他对婚姻和家庭的期望。他需要胸有成竹地知道应该如何与妻子一起经营婚姻。
领袖也意味着承担责任，主动带领每个人进入神的道，与神同行，敬畏神。家庭中必须有一个敬虔的声音来指出方向，指明道路，接近异象。当涉及到LGBTQ和性别困惑的话题时，父亲必须当面对孩子们说出来，这将有助于家庭美满。
讲章系列：步上红毯之前（第五和第六课）
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