SERMON THESIS- Marriage is a sacred institution because it is the decree and design of the Creator, not the Culture. God invented, initiated, and instituted marriage as a sacred Covenant Union between one man and one woman for life. In this Covenant Union God ordained that husbands and wives should enjoy Covenant Communion through a relationship rooted in providentially prescribed roles and responsibilities. Marital roles and responsibilities are Creational not Cultural, because they were established by the Creator Himself. The wife's role and responsibilities form the focus of today's message---I. God's prescribed ROLE for Wives within marriage---A. The DECLARATION of the wife's role - Gen. 2-18-B. The DEFINITION of the wife's role - --help- Heb. 'ezer---NOTE- The noun -help- -Heb. 'ezer- denotes -one who aids, assists, complements, and succors-- From this we derive the name Ezra -the Lord helps-- The complete Hebrew phrase -'ezer kenegdo- means a -complementary helper corresponding to man's needs-- Woman was made to complement man, not contradict him- to cooperate with him, not compete with him---APPLICATION- When a wife hinders or hurts or husband, she is forsaking her role. When a wife helps her husband, she is fulfilling her role---II. God's prescribed RESPONSIBILITIES for Wives within marriage---A. HELP her husband - Prov. 31-10-12-B. HONOR her husband - Eph. 5-22, 33-C. HEED her husband - Gen. 12-10-13- 1 Pet. 3-6-D. HEIGHTEN her husband - Prov. 12-4-E. HARBOR her husband - 1 Cor. 7-3-6