The Word, Women and Authority (A Personal Testimony)

I have read Word, Women and Authority and do completely agree with it (and would recommend it to all women seeking right relationships with their husbands in Christ Jesus)! I have in the past, allowed other women to cause me to stray a little from it at times because I didn't believe the Word spoke to my circumstances and what they said sounded good to my itching ears...however, I knew something was not right and could never figure out what it was. I knew I needed to submit to my husband, but I didn't know how to do that. He is not a practicing Christian, and because he does not understand the heart of God, our relationship can be difficult and at times strained (...however, I am coming to understand, through the renewing of my mind, that I cannot expect my unsaved husband to behave any differently...it helps me to be more patient with him...). I used to think that that made it all right for me to not obey him at times.... That was until I did this bible study! It clearly states here in 1Peter 3 that we, as wives, must obey our husbands.... EVEN when they are perverse and willfully disobedient! It's all there, clear as day, for those who are seeking Truth! I can't deny what the Word is saying there! It ripped the rug right out from underneath me!

I found it very profound how the Word also says that we are to win over our men by our chaste behavior and/or conversation! It never even occurred to me (silly me) that my husband would even listen to my conversations with others...I usually went into another room to have my conversations so that my husband wouldn't hear.... But after reading this I decided to start talking with my friends openly in front of him....Unfortunately, I was a bit short with a friend of mine one night and my husband rebuked me after the conversation was over by saying, "That was really Christian-like!" Well, I knew that if he was listening to that, then he would be listening to my other conversations as well and I thought, hmmmm...... Besides, it has made me even more conscientious about how and what I am saying to others which is something the Lord has been trying to teach me for years! So it has been good for the both of us! Praise the Lord!

When I first became a Christian I used to think that I would be someone great like Paul or Elijah! WOW!!!! I thank the Lord everyday now that I am just a woman and under submission to my husband and the authority that the Lord has placed over me! Men have it real tough! The Lord holds the men responsible for our well-being and our spiritual being because we are the weaker sex! That is NOT a bad thing! That is a GOOD thing! I would NOT want that responsibility! I have, thank the good Lord above, become satisfied to be just a woman! And a woman fully sold out to my Lord Jesus Christ! I am happy to serve Him in whatever capacity He sees fit to put me in! As for my husband,...he, and I, and our relationship, are still very much a work in progress.... But I am confident that He who has started a good work is COMPLETELY able to finish it! Praise the Lord! Thank You Lord!

We as women need to quit hiding behind the way the world does things! The sooner we submit, the happier we will be! Our roles are just as exciting and maybe sometimes even more fulfilling as the men's! We are ALL mothers of ALL God's children! How awesome is that? What an awesome thing it would be if the marriages and relationships were restored once again back to biblical principals....

Well, I could talk all night on this I'm sure....there is so much yet to learn! I want to be in the center of God's will for my life! I know there are many women out there who want the same....but it's going to take a lot of change on our part...a lot of renewing of our minds and dying to that ugly old flesh! Praise God! We can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us!

God bless you,

Cheri

1 Peter 3:1 In like manner (1 Pet 2:18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward (perverse/perverseness = willfully continuing in sinful ways), ye wives, be in subjection (to subordinate, reflexively to obey: be under obedience, put under, subdue unto, make subject unto, be in subjection to, submit self unto) (Eph. 5:22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body.) to your own husbands (fellow, husband, man, sir); that, even if they obey not (disbelieve (willfully and perversely), not believe, obey not) the word, they may without the word (1 Cor 9:19 For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more) be gained by the behavior (conversation) of their wives;

1Pet 3:2 beholding your chaste (inspecting, watching your innocent, modest, perfect, chaste, clean and pure) behavior (conversation) with fear (be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror)

1Pet 3:3 Whose adorning (1Tim 2:9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness, (downcast eyes, bashfulness, modesty toward God, awe, reverence) and sobriety (soundness of mind, sanity, self-control, soberness, sobriety), not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly raiment. Compare to Is 3:18ff In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, cauls (nettings for hair), and the crescents (a round pendant for the neck; like the moon) let it not be that outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;

1Pet 3:4 but let it be the hidden man (Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man) of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek (mild, humble) and quiet (still, peaceable, quiet) spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1Pet 3:5 For after this manner aforetime the holy women also who hoped in God (1Tim 5:5 Now that she is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications (petition; prayer, request) and prayers (pray earnestly) night and day.), adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord (Gen 18:12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, after I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?): whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror (Compare to vs 14 But even if ye should suffer for righteousness sake, blessed are ye: and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;)

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