Sunday Worship 17th August 2014
Illustration: The moment we pick a rose to admire its beauty, it begins to whither in our hands and this is the nature of all earthly riches and beauty. That is why, 1 John 2 says that the world is passing away along with its desires, and Jesus said in Matthew 6, not to lay up treasures where moth and rust corrupt and thieves steal. What we value in life determines the value of the life we have lived. This is why we have a proverb that says: “Physical beauty does not pay debts.”
Text: 1 Peter 3:3-6
Purpose: Peter is teaching that all Christians are to be clothed in godly character; therefore he applies this principle to women.
Proposition: God wants us to embrace godly values.
Interrogative: How can we do this?
Truth 1: Recognize the battle: We were born selfish, and deceived, but when we trusted Christ, we became new creatures and the Sprit began His work in us. This worldliness in our thinking is still at work in us tempting us daily to embrace temporary pleasures, and to love the created over the Creator. Worldliness must be constantly identified, rooted out, and replaced with Godly thinking.
- God saved us to change us: Romans 8:4 God saved us so that…the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…
- Change involves a new affection in our hearts: 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world.
- Change involves God renovating our minds: Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
- Change involves submitting our wills. Matthew 10:33-39 Whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven…He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.
Truth 2: Search the scriptures: 3:3-5 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
- What should a woman value?
- Do not let your adornment be merely outward: He is not saying that it is sinful to wear jewelry. The fact that the passage does not only mention jewelry, but it also mentions clothing. His point is that a woman’s beauty should be focused on something other than her outward appearance.
- Let it be the hidden person of the heart: Here is Peter’s concern. Beauty should be in a godly character.
- Incorruptible beauty: This beauty does not get old like outward beauty. It actually becomes more pronounced as we age and grow more into the image of Christ.
- Meekness: calm and controlled
- Quiet spirit: Not agitated
- Very precious in the sight of God: Value what God values
- In this manner the holy women who trusted God adorned themselves: There is a rich heritage of faithful women in the Bible
- Summary: Be concerned that you are growing into Christ-likeness, not expanding your wardrobe.
- Is Peter’s teaching only apply to ladies? Humility, gentleness, and meekness as not just feminine Christian virtues. They are Christian virtues for both men and women.
The way a pastor should do his work: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting …
The way we relate to government: Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to…to obey…to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.
The way we pursue our calling: Ephesians 4:1-2 Walk worthy of the vocation with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love…
The way we relate to other believers: 1 Peter 5:5 You younger, submit to the elders…be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
*The fruit of the Spirit in all believers is…Galatians 5:22-24 Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance/self-control.
Truth 3: Admit your faults
Four areas that reveal our values:
- Courtship: The kinds of people you are romantically interested in, and the way you present yourself to these people reveals something about your values. What do these interests and actions reveal about you?
- Education: The schooling arrangement that you have chosen for yourself or for your children and the course of study that you direct them or yourself toward says something about your values. What do these decisions reveal?
- Occupation: The occupation you have chosen and the schedule it demands says something about your values. Does your occupation take you away from studying the word, ministering to your family, and faithfulness to the local church? What do the decisions you have made about your occupation reveal about your values?
- Entertainment: The movies you watch, music you love, and websites you visit say something about your values. What do they reveal?
Conclusion: We were born selfish, and deceived, but when we trusted Christ, we became new creatures and the Sprit began His work in us. This worldliness in our thinking is still at work in us tempting us daily to embrace temporary pleasures, and to love the created over the Creator. Worldliness must be constantly identified, rooted out, and replaced with Godly thinking.
- Our position in Christ calls us to a godly walk.
- He wants to give us right thinking, godly affections, and to guide us into a holy walk, but only we can make the necessary choices to see this take place.
- May we, this morning, cry out to our God for grace, confessing our sins, purposing to let Him change us! May we continue to progress in this great process of sanctification!
Ministry Musings 