Encouragement for Those Married to a nonbeliever

(Check out part 1 here: Responsibilities of Those Married to a nonbeliever)

Establishing the need: It is not easy to be married to someone who does not know Christ; What does God’s Word has to say to encourage those who are married to unbelievers?

Purpose: In this session we will see more responsibilities to your unbelieving spouse and also encouragement when your marriage is hard so that you continue to live these out to please God in your marriage.

• Further responsibilities

• God’s truth to encourage you when marriage is hard

(Note for the two session we will be looking at a lot of verses in 1 Corinthians 7 and 1 Peter 3 since they are speak on the topic of being married to unbelievers)

Further responsibilities

Point: There are two more responsibilities we need to go over for both husband and wife.

Proof

1. Husbands and wives be kind: “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit” (1 Peter 3:8)

   1. When the verse says “To sum up” it is concluding the section about being marriage to unbelieving spouse.

   2. Here we are called to be kind!

2. Husbands and wives do good even if your spouse do wrong: “not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;” (1 Peter 3:9a)

   1. It can be tempting to have a vengeful heart. But this ought not be.

   2. Instead a Christian spouse should be “giving a blessing instead”

Practice

1. Every morning you wake up go to God in prayer to pray to God that you be revolve to be kind to your spouse.

2. Also every night inventory if you have shown any kindness to your spouse.

3. Also realize daily that your spouse will sin against you! We are sinners, they will sin against you.  Knowing this helps us to be prepared to be wrong so we don’t automatically think vengeance.

4. Bless your spouse. Do the exact opposite of what you think they deserve.

God’s truth to encourage you when marriage is hard

Proof

1. Encouragement 1: Be encouraged by the example of godly marriage: “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.” (1 Peter 3:5-6)

   1. Remember the context of this passage is about wives married to an unbelieving husband.

   2. Here the motivation is the example of “holy women” (5)

   3. The example include those women “in former times” (5)

   4. Sarah, Abraham’s wife is mentioned as an example.

   5. Application

      1. Study women in the Scriptures.

      2. Read books on women in the Bible.

      3. Also look for godly women to disciple you or fellowship with them to learn from their example!

      4. Also realize you are not the only women who have a difficult marriage; let that encourage you that others have walked your journey.

2. Encouragement 2: Know that what you are going through is God’s Will: “for you were called for the very purpose” (1 Peter 3: 9b)

   1. Sometimes the best place to be is exactly where God’s will is for you to be at the moment.

   2. Realize that you being in your marriage is something that God has a purpose for you and for your family.

3. Encouragement 3: Consider God’s way of accomplishing His purpose using people in lowly place

   1. Think of Jesus and Jesus’ disciples. Through them the Church will grow.

   2. The persecuted church submitted to the government and yet the Roman Empire would turn to Christianity (not perfectly).

   3. Slaves are also called to submit and endure suffering: Colossians 3:22-4:1, Ephesians 6:5-8, 1 Peter 2:18-25. Slaves doing God’s will shall be rewarded which means they were doing God’s will.

   4. Even sometimes God use sons and daughters to bring fathers and mothers to God.

4. Encouragement 4: Know that you will be rewarded:

   1. “that you might inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3: 9b)

   2. “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed” (1 Peter 3:14a)

   3. “But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” (1 Peter 2:20b)

   4. “If you are reviled or the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:14)

5. Encouragement 5: Go to Christ:

   1. We follow Christ: “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21)

   2. Does your unbelieving spouse misunderstand you? Jesus’ was understood by family in Mark 2:21, 2:31 and by friends in John 11:21.

   3. Does your unbelieving spouse slander you? Jesus’ was slandered in John 8:41, Luke 7:34.

   4. Does your unbelieving spouse even hate you? Jesus’ was hated in his home town who wanted to push Him off the cliff in Luke 4:29.

   5. Has your unbelieving spouse even rejected you? Jesus’ was rejected by people He created in John 1:11 and by His own brothers in John 7:5.

   6. Sharing in Christ’s suffering, we can rejoice: “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” (1 Peter 4:13)