1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) Your adornment must not be merely external—with interweaving and elaborate knotting of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or [being superficially preoccupied with] dressing in expensive clothes; but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God.
While some people might look beautiful on the outside, it doesn’t mean they can tame their tongue. Those who are sarcastic, vulgar, bitter, divisive, ultra-opinionated, argumentative, gossipy and fierce bring a sense of discomfort or dislike to those in their company.
Although this passage refers to married women, in fact, every person should begin living it out. The Lord encourages us to let the inner man who is gentle, peaceful, self-controlled, not overanxious, full of love, gracious and spiritually mature to flow out of our lives. Therefore, let the spring that is full of fresh water flow out of you—it will attract people to you and even cause your spouse to change.
You need to declare God’s blessings over your family. You can and should say good things about your spouse, your kids, and your finances, such as “my marriage is blessed. I love my wife/husband. We have a marriage made in heaven.” It means your marriage is glued together by God’s blessings.
You also need to make faith declarations. Because God’s love is the best way to build relationships, we can say, “I walk in God’s love, and am patient and kind. I am never envious or jealous, boastful or vainglorious. I don’t display myself haughtily. I am not conceited, rude and don’t act unbecomingly. I don’t insist on my rights, for I am not self-seeking; I take no account of the evil done to me. I don’t rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but when right and truth prevail. God’s love in me will never fail (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). I want to have friends, so I will show myself to be friendly. Today, I will sow friendship seeds (Proverbs 18:24)”.
If you want to see good days in your life and enjoy the abundant life, you need to be intentional in making changes to your speech by speaking life and blessings. The transformed life is living from the inside out, and allowing the inner man to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bridle our tongue and to reign in the flesh. The new life will respect, honour, and pray for those in authority rather than rebel in words and actions, and instead of being an instigator for strife or creator of a toxic environment, we will be peacemakers and restorers of relationships.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (2305 Session 4)
你隐藏下的美丽
彼 得 前 书3:3-4 你 们 不 要 以 外 面 的 辫 头 发 ， 戴 金 饰 ， 穿 美 衣 为 妆 饰 ，4 只 要 以 里 面 存 着 长 久 温 柔 、 安 静 的 心 为 妆 饰 ； 这 在 神 面 前 是 极 宝 贵 的 。
尽管有的人外表看起来很美丽，但并不意味着他们可以管好自己的口舌。那些尖酸、庸俗、苦毒、挑拨离间、极端自以为是、好争论、爱八卦，和凶巴巴的女人总是带给人一种不适感，或者令人不乐意与之为伍。
尽管这段经文是针对已婚妇女，但我们每个人都应该开始践行其教导。上帝鼓励我们让我们内在的那个温柔，平和，自律，不过度焦虑的，充满爱心，感恩和有着成熟灵性的自我来主导我们的人生。那么，就让这清新的泉水从你里面涌出–这将使人被你吸引甚至使你的伴侣发生改变。
你需要宣告上帝对你家人的祝福。你可以也应该对你的伴侣，孩子和财务状况给予美好积极的评价，例如“我的婚姻是蒙福的。我爱我的妻子/丈夫。我们的婚姻天作之和。”这便意味着你的婚姻在上帝的祝福下牢不可摧。
你还需要作信心的宣告。因为上帝的爱是建立各种关系的最好方式。我们可以说，“我行在主的爱中，我有耐心和慈悲心，我从不羡慕或是嫉妒，也不自夸或虚荣。我不会傲慢地表现自己。我不自负，不粗鲁不做不合时宜的事情。我不坚守自己的权利因为我不谋求私利；我原谅别人对我所做的恶事。我反对不公正和不正义的一切，但追求正义和真理。我里面那上帝的爱永不止息 （哥林多前书 13:4-8）。我想要有朋友，所以我会友善待人。今天，我将种下友谊的种子（箴言 18:24）“。
如果你想在生命中见证美好的日子，享受你的丰盛生命，你需要有意识的去改变你的言语，说出生命与祝福。转变了的生命是自内而外活出来的，让我们的内在灵人藉着圣灵的赋能管控好我们的舌头，统御肉体。重生的生命将会尊重，尊荣那些当权者并且为他们祷告，而不是在言语和行动上唱反调。我们不要作无事生非唯恐天下不乱的小人，我们将成为和平的缔造者和关系的修复者。
讲章系列：细胞小组活动 （2305 第四部分）
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