HOW TO BE A SUBMISSIVE WIFE

TEXT- 1 PETER 3:1-6

INTRODUCTION

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EBENEZER CHURCH FOR INVITING ME TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU TODAY AND PASTOR AGUILAR FOR INTERPRETING MY MESSAGE.

I HAVE PREPARED A SPECIAL HANDOUT FOR YOU TO USE WHILE I AM PREACHING TO HELP YOU TO REMEMBER THE MESSAGE AND I HOPE YOU WILL USE IT TO WRITE DOWN ANY VERSES OR THOUGHTS THAT WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR STUDY OF GOD'S WORD.

I HAVE CHOSEN AS THE TEXT FOR MY MESSAGE, 1 PETER 3:1-6 AND THE TITLE IS, "HOW TO BE A SUBMISSIVE WIFE."

BEFORE WE ACTUALLY STUDY THIS PASSAGE I WOULD LIKE TO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOK OF FIRST PETER.

IF YOU STUDY AND READ THIS BOOK FOR YOURSELF YOU WILL DISCOVER THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL KEY WORDS THAT COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT PETER'S PURPOSE WAS FOR WRITING TO THESE PEOPLE.

FOR INSTANCE, SIXTEEN TIMES SOME FORM OF THE WORD "SUFFER" IS USED.

IN FACT, THIS WORD IS FOUND AT LEAST ONCE IN ALL FIVE CHAPTERS.

A SECOND WORD THAT IS USED IS THE WORD "GRACE" WHICH COMES FROM THE GREEK WORD "CHARIS" AND MEANS, "GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR."

IT IS USED 10 TIMES AND ALSO FOUND AT LEAST ONCE IN EVERY CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK.

ANOTHER INTERESTING WORD THAT IS USED IN THIS BOOK IS THE WORD "HOPE" WHICH IS FOUND FIVE TIMES.

AS CHILDREN OF GOD EACH OF US EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS TO SOME DEGREE IN OUR LIFE.

WHEN WE DO, GOD'S GRACE IS ABLE TO SUSTAIN US AND THEREFORE GIVE US THE HOPE AND PEACE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THOSE TIMES.

THROUGH GOD'S GRACE WE HAVE HOPE AND PEACE IN TIME OF SUFFERING.

THAT IS THE OVERALL THEME OF THE BOOK OF FIRST PETER.

THESE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS TO WHOM PETER WROTE WERE EXPERIENCING MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THEIR FAITH.

SOME WERE BEING PERSECUTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

OTHERS WERE BEING PERSECUTED BY THEIR MASTERS OR EMPLOYERS.

MANY OF THEM WERE ALSO HAVING SEVER PROBLEMS IN THEIR MARRIAGES.

THIS REASON FOR THIS WAS BECAUSE SOME CHRISTIAN WIVES HAD MARRIED LOST OR NONCHRISTIAN HUSBANDS.

ANYTIME A SAVED PERSON MARRIES A LOST PERSON THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THEIR MARRIAGE.

2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-15  DO NOT BE BOUND TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS; FOR WHAT PARTNERSHIP HAVE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LAWLESSNESS, OR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HAS LIGHT WITH DARKNESS? OR WHAT HARMONY HAS CHRIST WITH BELIAL, OR WHAT HAS A BELIEVER IN COMMON WITH AN UNBELIEVER?

TODAY MORE THAN HALF OF ALL MARRIED COUPLES END UP IN DIVORCE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO AFFECTING CHRISTIANS.

SUBMISSION IN THE FAMILY OR IN MARRIAGE IS NOT A POPULAR TOPIC, YET IT IS ONE THAT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE SURVIVAL OF THE FAMILY.

NOT ONLY IS DIVORCE ON THE RISE, BUT SO IS CHILD ABUSE, WIFE ABUSE, ABORTION AND NOW SOMETHING NEW, CHILDREN DIVORCING THEIR PARENTS.

AS A RESULT WE FIND MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HOME, TEENAGERS COMMITTING SUICIDE, MARRIAGES BEING DESTROYED AND THE FAMILY SUFFERING.

SUBMISSION IS A KEY INGREDIENT TO HAVING A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, WITH YOUR CHILDREN, WITH YOUR PARENTS OR WITH YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE.

AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT TODAY THERE ARE THREE THINGS I WOULD LIKE US TO NOTICE FROM THE LIFE OF SARAH AND A WOMAN TODAY CAN BECOME A SUBMISSIVE WIFE.