Our marriages has to work if we understand these factors that enhance our marriage relationships.

1. FACTORS THAT
ENHANCE MARRIAGE
RELATIONSHIPS
4 Factors forWives and 3 Factors
forHusbands
Lets Learn fromthe Bookof
1 Peter3: 1-8
September 4, 2013
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2.  1 Peter3:1-8
 “Thesamegoes foryouwives: Begood
wives to yourhusbands, responsiveto
theirneeds. Therearehusbands who,
indifferent as theyareto anywords
about God, will becaptivatedbyyour
lifeof holybeauty.
September 4, 2013
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3.  What matters is not yourouter
appearance--thestylingof yourhair, the
jewelryyouwear, thecut of yourclothes--
but yourinnerdisposition. Cultivateinner
beauty, thegentle, gracious kindthat God
delights in. Theholywomenof oldwere
beautiful beforeGodthat way, andwere
good, loyal wives to theirhusbands.
September 4, 2013
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4.  Sarah, forinstance, takingcareof
Abraham, wouldaddress himas "my
dearhusband." You'll betrue
daughters of Sarahif youdo thesame,
unanxious andunintimidated. The
samegoes foryouhusbands: Begood
husbands to yourwives. Honorthem,
delight inthem.
September 4, 2013
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5.  As womentheylacksomeof your
advantages. But inthenew lifeof
God's grace, you'reequals. Treat your
wives, then, as equals so yourprayers
don't runaground. Summingup: Be
agreeable, besympathetic, beloving,
becompassionate, behumble.”(MSG)
September 4, 2013
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6.  Petergives some essential
factors that would enhance our
marriage relationships.
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7. I. FORTHE WIVES
 In the first six verses of 1 Peter
Chapter3, the Apostle hands wives
fourfactors that enhance marriage
relationships.
September 4, 2013
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8. A. Actions (vs.1-2)
 The tendency formany is to read this
and say, "Sure, I’ll be happy to be
that kind of wife IF he’s the right
kind of husband." But that misses the
majorpoint of the passage. Peteris
writing here with the wrong kind of
husband in mind - "even if any of
themare disobedient"(v.1)
September 4, 2013
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9.  Instead of hitting these kinds of
husbands with a brick, wives are to win
them backto the Lord by demonstrating
the solid brickof "chaste and respectful
behavior."Nagging, shaming, preaching -
these only alienate the man and worsen
the situation. But the powerful witness
of a wife’s submissive behavior, Peter
says, will attract the husband’s attentionSeptember 4, 2013
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10.  To emphasize this, the Apostle uses a
termfor"observe"that means "to
peerintently at an athletic event."
Make no mistake about it, even
though a husband may be stubborn
and rebellious toward the Lord, he
still studies and watches his wife
intently when she lets herfaith speak
through herGodly behavior.September 4, 2013
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11. B. Adornment (v.3)
 Notice the words "merely external."
Peteris not attacking orcriticizing
externals such as hairstyles and
clothing. He’s not saying, ignore the
way you look! Ratherit is telling
wives to go overboard in their
preoccupation with external
appearance. The adornment of inner
godly charactershould be a wife’s
primary focus. September 4, 2013
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12.  Some wives, however, have gone
overboard in the opposite direction,
focusing all theirattention on the inner
person and none on the outer. There’s
nothing spiritual about looking like an
unmade bed all day. A betterbalance -
certainly one yourhusband will appreciate
more- is to make outward appearance a
neat and attractive complement to yourSeptember 4, 2013
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13. C. Attitude (v.4)
 The most attractive quality about wife
is not outerbeauty, but herinner
attitude-which allows herspirit to
manifest itself in two specific ways:
gentleness and quiet spirit.
Gentle - the idea of genuine humility
Quiet spirit - connotes tranquility,
describing woman of strong character
and self-control
September 4, 2013
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14. D. Attention (vs.5-6)
 This means "to listen orattend to one
another." It’s the idea of paying close
attention to someone.
Wives, don’t give away all your
attention and energy to meeting needs
outside the home. Start within the
home, with yourhusband, pay
attention to him, take time to listen
and respond to his needs. September 4, 2013
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15. II. FORTHE HUSBANDS
 In the seventh verse of 1 Peter
Chapter3, the Apostle hands
husbands three factors that enhance
marriage relationships.
September 4, 2013
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16. A. Live with yourwife (7a)
 Staying in the same house, eating the
same meals, and sharing the same beds
are not all that Peterhas in mind. It
means "to dwell together"and it suggests
familiarto one another. The proposition
‘with’ reinforces the idea of togetherness
and close companionship. Therefore, it is
the husband’s taskto promote and
maintain harmony and intimacy in the
marriage relationship.
September 4, 2013
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17. B. Know yourwife (7b)
 How? "in an understanding way."It
means "dwell togetheraccording to
knowledge." Husbands’ listen to what
she’s saying. Be sensitive to hercares
and concerns. Take time and initiative
to discoverherfears, desires, plans,
and feelings. This will ‘to know your
wife’ is one of the majorways
husbands demonstrate their love to
theirwives. September 4, 2013
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18. C. Honoryourwife (7d)
 Honormeans "to assign."Husbands,
you are assigned to nurture and
uphold yourwife’s honor. Treating
herwith the best manners, etc.
Honormeans "precious". The husband
is to considerhis wife a priceless gift,
a precious treasure worthy of the
highest esteem.
September 4, 2013
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19.  1 Peter3:8
 “Summing up: Be agreeable, be
sympathetic, be loving, be
compassionate, be humble”.(MSG)
September 4, 2013
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20.  If we adhere to this book’s teaching
on ourrespective roles as wives and
husbands, ourmarriages are going to
blossom more and more.
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