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The Character of a Holy Woman 1 Peter 3:1-6

The Character of a Holy Woman 1 Peter 3:1-6. Happy Mother’s Day! We express our sincere appreciation to our Mom’s on this special day. Mother’s Day is not always a joyful time. Today : Consider a mother in Scripture who also suffered with a heavy heart for many years. But she lived in hope!.

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The Character of a Holy Woman 1 Peter 3:1-6

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  1. The Character of a Holy Woman1 Peter 3:1-6 Happy Mother’s Day! We express our sincere appreciation to our Mom’s on this special day. Mother’s Day is not always a joyful time. Today: Consider a mother in Scripture who also suffered with a heavy heart for many years. But she lived in hope!

  2. What is it about Sarah that God wants us to learn from today? • Three things that characterize a “holy” woman • Her Hope in God • Her Gentle and Quiet Spirit • Her Submissive Heart

  3. 1. Her Hope in God v.5 – “…this is how the holy women who hoped in God…” What set Sarah apart was her hope in God. Sarah experienced a number of hardships in life that presented huge obstacles to her faith and could have caused her to lose all hope. • Sarah moved away from her family - her home – her roots. • Facing the challenges of nomadic life

  4. She never showed any reluctance to follow her husband to this new land. • Sarah hoped in the promises of God. • God’s promise to Abraham: • Genesis 12:2-3 [ESV] - And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” • Sarah understood this promise and she believed it.

  5. Another monumental challenge: • Sarah had been childless for over 65 years  huge burden to her. • God promised that Abraham’s descendants would make a great nation and that His redemptive plan would come through him. • Sarah believed this promise. • She made many bad decisions along the way trying to “fix the problem” herself. • God was gracious with her and kept giving her reasons to hope.

  6. Scripture reminds us about Sarah’s faith in God’s promises. • Hebrews 11:11 [ESV] - By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. • Genesis 21: 5-7 [ESV] - Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

  7. Women  what hardships are you going through today? • Sarah is an example to be a comfort and encouragement to you. • Psalm 42:5 [ESV] - Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. • 1Peter 3:6 [ESV] - And you are [Sarah’s] children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

  8. The presence of hope drives away fear. The daughters of Sarah do not fear anything but displeasing God. Or to be more accurate, the daughters of Sarah fight the anxiety that rises in their hearts. They wage war on fear, and they defeat it with the promises of God. They know that following Christ will mean suffering. But they believe the promises – like in 1 Peter 3:14 – But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them nor be troubled, but in your heart reverence Christ as Lord. • (John Piper)

  9. 2. Her Gentle and Quiet Spirit • God’s design for a woman’s beauty should be focused “inward” not “outward” • Sarah was an incredibly beautiful woman. • We never read in Scripture that she flaunted her beauty. • God is more interested in what’s on the inside • 1 Samual 16:7 [ESV] - For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

  10. 1 Peter 3: 3-6 - Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. • Biblical emphasis  not on prohibiting any outward adornment but on putting the right sense of value on it. • “hidden person of the heart”  the character of a woman.

  11. Peter is urging Christian women to regard external appearance as secondary • A Christian woman is to cultivate a character of gentleness and a quiet spirit • Gentleness (or meekness) – strength under control • Quiet – having a peaceful disposition – not being cantankerous, nagging • Recall: Believers are all called to walk worthy of our calling as followers of Christ  humility – gentleness – patience – and forbearing love (Ephesians 4:2)

  12. 3. Her Submissive Heart • 1 Peter 3:5 [ESV] - For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. • Submission is an ugly word in our 21st C. western society. • Scripture teaches us a lot about submission: • submit to the governing authorities who are over us – (1 Peter 2:13) • The Church is called to submit to Christ – (Ephesians 5:24)

  13. Paul: • Ephesians 5:18-25 [ESV] – “…be filled with the Spirit, …giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. • Mutual love and respect in a marriage… • Ephesians 5:22,25 [ESV] - Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. …Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

  14. Context of 1 Peter 3: • 1 Peter 3:1-2 [ESV] - Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.

  15. Peter is speaking to Christian wives with unbelieving husbands and he calls these women to • focus on their inner character rather than external appearance • have a quiet and gentle spirit towards their husbands •  and submit to them through love and respect – not words • so that they might be able to win them over to Christ.

  16. Key principle for us: • It is through a submissive heart that the world will see Christ in us. • We honor you – Holy Women of God. • We encourage you to live in hope because God is faithful and will keep his promises to you. • Live with godly character and look to Him through the joys and challenges of real life!

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