Submission has to do with order—not subordination. In the spirit world, there is no difference between men and women. In the natural realm, however, God has established a rank of authority in order to maintain order and avoid confusion.

Ephesians 5:22 says, “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” This is not elevation of the man above the woman in importance, power, anointing or revelation. It simply means that in the home, the husband is the leader.

The husband and wife should operate together in faith as one unit. This is the reason Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents...” instead of “Children, obey your father....” The woman has just as much spiritual authority as the man.

In the beginning, God placed the man and woman side by side, as equals. When Eve allowed Satan to use her, she fell to a subordinate position. However, Jesus changed all that! He brought the woman back to a position equal to the man. He raised them up together and made them sit in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).