Eph 5:21 - "..submitting yourselves one to another."

"Submission" is the ancient Greek military word "ὑποτάσσω" or "hypotasso" meaning "to arrange yourself in order, under a leader; to arrange yourself in formation, under your commander."
If the Governor of our land, or the President of the United States were to walk into this room, everyone would stand up, even the one's who didn't vote for him. Out of respect for his God-given authority, and because of the position that God has put the man in, everyone should stand as he enters the room, even the ones who don't agree with his programs or philosophy. WHY?? Because he is the Governor or the President by position, regardless of your personal vote on the matter. God commands that the man be respected because of the position that he occupies. Even if you didn't vote for him - God voted for him, and this demands your respect. THAT is a great example of what it means to "submit" in the Bible. To "willingly choose to bring yourself under the authority and position of your God-given leader."

"To let God be God, means you must climb down from your own "executive chair" and choose to let God be in control!" - Philip Yancey
"Before anything that is truly of God can be born, your own preferences have to die." - David Putnam
"If you try to surrender only little bit to God, He'll know it. It's like trying to carry on a conversation with someone who's preoccupied with their cell phone - it's very frustrating and practically useless!" - Karon Goodman

Gen 2:18-25 - "And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, band He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

In this section of Scripture, we'll see that the Lord created made man and woman. He will bring them together in His brand new invention called family. And He gives them the principles for that relationship to succeed.

"Marriage is like a violin - it only works with strings attached." - Anonymous

Message Outline

1. Submission to God's CREATIVITY.
2. Submission to New IDENTITY.
3. Submission to Big RESPONSIBILITY.

1 - Submission to God's CREATIVITY

"And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, band He brought her to the man."

"..not good that man dwell alone.." - This is the first time that we read this exact phrase in Genesis. Seven times God said "it's good" but here we read for the first time "it is not good...". The original Hebrew says "Not good, not good is man alone!" Obviously, this is not an absolute statement, as there ARE some things that are good when you are alone and unmarried:
-More personal independence...
-More personal time...
-More personal money...
-Singles should realize these benefits and TAKE ADVANTAGE of their singleness for Jesus, while they still can!! (Mt 6:33; 6:21)
-Elijah, Daniel, John B., Paul, and JESUS were all outstanding SINGLE people who harnessed their singleness and used it for God's Kingdom!! (Phil 4:11)

However, this is not the ULTIMATE state the Lord has designed for man to remain in. God has not engineered mankind to stay single FOREVER. This is why He states it is "not good for man to be alone." God created human life to have FELLOWSHIP with Him, and a SOCIAL LIFE with other humans. Isolation is NOT God's design for us. We were quite literally MADE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS! (Gen 1:27-28)
"The human being is the only species that can't survive alone. Humans need other humans." - Dr. Leonard Kramer

"helper" - Though most don't realize it, this is a beautiful word, and a strong complement to Eve, and to all wives that follow in her place. It is the Hebrew word "עָזַר" or "`azar" means "to supply something that is crucially lacking; to aid, help, or ever rescue"
Exo 18:4 - "The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh"
Ps. 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble"
Ps. 54:4 - "Behold, God is my helper"

"comparable to him" - This word means "to be suitable; to be matching him; to correspond as a counterpart". This word means to complete something else, to be the opposite part that corresponds and matches it:
-Every Negative (man), must have the Positive (woman)
-Every South Pole (man), corresponds to a North Pole (woman)
-Every King (man), needs a beautiful and necessary queen (woman)
-"Behind every good man, there is an even greater woman!"

2 - Submission to New IDENTITY

"And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

"Isa" is the Hebrew word "אִ֣ישׁ" meaning "man" - This is a new word used for Man. In Genesis, it was the Hebrew word "adam" (from "adama" - the earth) that was used, but here it is a NEW WORD and a brand NEW IDENTITY, using the Hebrew word "Ish" for the man.
"Isha" is the Hebrew word "נָשִׁים" meaning "woman" - Her name now corresponds to Adam's. It's as if she is almost a mirror image of him - they match up, they are perfect counterparts to each other, they are 2 new halves of a corresponding whole!
"Now at length I have obtained a suitable companion who is part of the substance of my flesh and in whom I behold as it were another self." - Calvin

Marriage begins a NEW UNIT and a NEW IDENTITY, through a legal and binding covenant with God. Adam and Eve submit to the NEW IDENTITY and this NEW RELATIONSHIP that they have with each other. This is vitally important for any marriage today that wants to survive - embrace your NEW IDENTITY as Husband and as Wife!
-He needs to STOP doing certain things....and START others!
-She needs to STOP doing certain things....and START others!

3 - Submission to Big RESPONSIBILITY

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed."

"Leaving" - "Therefore a man shall leave his mother and father..." - One relationship must be SEVERED in order to SOLIDIFY another. The DEPENDENCY on the parents must be cut, released, and become a thing of the past. They must be TREATED like adults, and the must now BEHAVE like adults!
Parents: Release your kids and don't try to control their lives! Your goal is to launch them into their God-Ordained future! In this "Leaving" every other relationship must take a back seat:
Career...Friends...Family...Hobbies...Television
"A successful marriage demands a divorce—a divorce from your own self-love" – Jerry McCant

"Cleaving" - "...and be joined to his wife.." - This word means to "bind, glue, or even weld together". The idea is to be faithful to spouse until death. (Unless D-3)
TO THE HUSBAND: It doesn't matter if she is not as pretty as she once was, or if she doesn't cook good, or doesn't clean - be a man & keep your promise to GOD!
TO THE WIFE: It doesn't matter if he gains a lot more weight, over time becomes bald, develops really bad breath, mismanages your finances - ladies, keep your promise to GOD!
This "Welding" between Husband & Wife must be continual and constant to maintain a strong marriage... just like in the Eiffel Tower!!

Unfortunately, today PERMANENCE in marriage is not part of our thinking. Many people have sought to "redesign" God's blueprint for marriage....by inserting a back door!!
A little girl came to her grandma and noticed that her grandmother's ring was big and gaudy and ugly looking.She said "Grandma, those rings back then, when you and Grandpa got married, were so big, and heavy, and gaudy looking! Why??" Her grandmother simply answered, "Yes dear, that because back in the day when I got my rings, they were made to last."
"Our WEDLOCK should be like a PADLOCK. The two different pieces are joined together, locked in place securely through a covenant to each other and to the LORD. Then the "key" should be thrown away for life!"

"Weaving" - "...and they shall become one flesh." - This speaks of the deep union and oneness that now begins to take place in the marriage relationship! This can speak of a child that is produced between the husband and wife...but it is even deeper than that. You begin to share and combine everything you have in your love relationship:
-You share your bodies & intimacy...you share your possessions & money...you share your insights & ideas...you share dreams & passions....you share your hopes & fears.... your failures & victories!!
-"It is the type of relationship that is shared with no one else other than one's mate. It is a partnership in every area of life for as long as both partners live. In other words, there's absolutely nothing about which one spouse may say to the other, 'That's none of your business.' The wife has complete and unfettered access to every area of her husband's life and so also the husband to every area of his wife's life. There are no locked doors or secret hiding places." – Wayne Mack

It takes a long time to "become one flesh" with your spouse. It is a lifelong process that happens over years, and throughout many decades of shared experiences, pains, victories, and joys in the Lord, as you walk together, hand in hand!
"Marriage isn't held together by chains, but by threads that are woven with your spouse every day!" - Heitzig

In summary, today in Ephesians we've seen that ALL Family Relationships depend upon the principle of SUBMISSION one to another. In Genesis, we've seen that the Lord created made man and woman. He brought them together in His brand new invention called "family". And He gives them the principles for that relationship to succeed: They had to choose to submit to God's CREATIVITY; submit to their new IDENTITY; and submit to fulfilling a big RESPONSIBILITY. Throughout the coming weeks, as we continue in this Family Series, may you choose to do the same. And in doing so, my the Lord help your family, heal your marriage, and bless your home, as you choose to submit to your Creator and do FAMILY: God's Way!