II. The Place of
the Wife
·
Genesis
2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God
had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
It is important to note that God chose to take a bone from
Adam’s side to create a wife.
He didn’t take a bone from his foot, or his hand, or his head.
The significance of this was to indicate that the wife’s
place was to be at the side of her husband.
JOKE: An American women’s lib activists went to Afghanistan to see the
plight of the women. She saw a woman in a burka following about 20 feet behind
her husband with her head down as they walked through the streets. The American
feminist walked up to her and said, “In my country, we don’t walk behind our
husbands, we walk in front of him!” The
Afghani woman replied, “In your country, you don’t have landmines hidden in the
streets!”
One of the greatest example in the Bible of a
Christ-honoring, God-fearing, truly balanced and functioning marriage that I
have found is the example of Aquila and Priscilla. (Even their names rhyme!)
1. United in their occupation (versus
two individual careers and two different livelihoods)
·
Acts 18:2
And found a certain Jew named Aquila,
born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that
Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And
because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their
occupation they were tentmakers.
The wife was created to be the help meet.
She didn’t have her job and her own banking account and her
own agenda.
She didn’t pursue her own plans and her own goals.
Her life was one of partnership and cooperation with her
husband.
I like the word OCCUPATION. She was occupied with what her
husband was occupied with.
2. Their home was suitable for the man of
God.
He abode with them.
A man of God that preached and taught on the importance of a
godly home.
They weren’t afraid of him seeing their relationship on a
day to day basis.
·
Prov.
21:9 It is better to dwell in a
corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
·
Prov.
25:24 It is better to dwell in the
corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
3. They were loyal to the man of God
·
Acts
18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his
leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and
Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
·
Romans
16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4. They were willing to sacrifice their own
life for their faith
·
Romans
16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give
thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
They were both loyal to Paul – even during a time when he
may or may not have been right.
Paul referred to them both as his helpers. This was a joint effort.
One of the biggest obstacles in a man of God’s ministry is
the ungodly couple – working together AGAINST God.
EXAMPLES
Ahab and Jezebel fought Elijah his entire ministry.
Ahab and Jezebel fought Elijah his entire ministry.
Herod liked John the Baptist; his wife didn’t.
·
Mark 6:20 For
Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed
him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. (look at
verse 26)
·
Matthew
14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison
for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
5. They knew their Bible – and they
invested in the lives of young preachers
·
Acts
18:26 And he began to speak boldly in
the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto
them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
They were both concerned about doctrine and understood it
well enough to teach it to a preacher.
Both of them knew their Bible; both of them were serious
about the Word of God.
God give us couples that UNDERSTAND GOD’S WAY well enough to
teach it to others!
People today are obsessed with their own way – not concerned
about God’s way.
Definition: way
of God – journey, highway
6. They were willing to use their home for
the church
·
1
Corinthians 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and
Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Several KEYS to glean in this verse:
1. They had a church in their house.
This without a doubt took a husband and a wife working
together and taking risks for Christ together.
They were both passionate about serving the Lord in a
significant way.
They didn’t tolerate each other’s desire to live for God, or
each other’s lack of desire: they were a team.
This required boldness and confidence in their ministry.
Persecution was rampant.
The risks were unbelievable.
The personal sacrifice and the personal stress-level was
unreal.
·
Acts
5:40-42 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and
beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus,
and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing
that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house,
they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
2. They had a passion for other believers.
1 Corinthians 16:19b
…Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in
the Lord
They were passionate in their love and in their embrace of
other believers.
Salute you much – a genuine, heartfelt, overwhelming gesture
of love and affection
Means also to bid welcome, to extend a heartfelt invitation
of joyful reception
There was a mutual admiration and love for God’s people and
God’s work, coupled with a mutual dedication to the furtherance of the ministry
and encouragement of God’s people.
Aquilla and Priscilla were not self-centered people; they
loved the ministry!
They opened their home, probably daily for the work of God
and discipleship and training of God’s people.
