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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
DRESS IN MODERATION
"For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" 1CO 7:16
In 1CO 7:16 we read, "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?...." I mentioned earlier about my mother's personal friend whose husband was a professed unbeliever. I believe she saved her husband through her meekness. There's good hope that at the end of his life the Lord brought him home as a prodigal son. He was in church when a pastor was speaking about the prodigal son. This man was so overcome. He was taken in by that sermon. The Lord may have saved that man through the patience and submission of his wife, "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?" 1CO 7:16. A woman's example of patience can be a much more powerful ministry than any attempt at a public ministry.
In 1PE 3:4 what, in the sight of God, is of great price? That meek and that lowly spirit of subjection and submission is a preaching by example, which is in the sight of God of great price. The Lord looks at that as He looks at the robe of righteousness. This is so blessed if we see how in heaven the glory of God, which is Christ's righteousness, and the Lamb shall be the light of it, REV 21:23. The glory of God is righteousness or submission. Righteousness is the habitation of His throne; therein, the Lord is glorified.
Now we want to speak about modest apparel. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel...," 1TI 2:9. "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting of the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel." 1PE 3:3. This is another example that the women must set. They should not try to outdo each other with the prettiest hairdo, the most gold, or the nicest garments, etc. Why? Because it distracts.
The Lord tells us, "Let your moderation be known unto all men...," PHI 4:5. Doing things with moderation does not mean that we should wear black, so that we become a spectacle. If after spending a day with you a person is asked what kind of clothes you had on, the answer should be, "I don't rightly remember." There should be absolutely nothing about your clothing that would cause vanity or pride. It is not revealing or radical, nor does it indulge in excesses. This is what is called moderation.
When our clothing causes jealousy, or is a spectacle, the Lord is not pleased. Modest apparel means moderation. This means you should wear clothing that has no tendency to draw attention. "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting of the hair, or wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel." As I said before, it should be in moderation.
1 Timothy 2:9 speaks about shame-facedness and sobriety. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame-facedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." What do we mean by shame- facedness? When sin came into this world, the Lord pronounced a curse upon all mankind.
The man and the woman were both cursed. "And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," GEN 3:17-19.
The woman also had a curse pronounced upon her. "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee," GEN 3:16.
This shame-facedness means we shall not exalt ourselves. If we make much ado over hair styles and apparel, we are forgetting the curse and the sobriety. Women must adorn themselves in modest apparel. Men and women alike were brought under the curse of sin. Christ, who knew no sin, became a curse by hanging on that cross. It is that curse which we're acknowledging by shame- facedness with sobriety.
In speaking of modest apparel we must address DEU 22:5. I think this is an important point that we must touch on. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." Now the question comes, "What about in today's society? Are women wearing that which pertains to a man?" My answer is yes. I believe they are in direct violation of that command. The argument is, "Well, but that's not man's clothing; that's still a woman's garment." There's still a state of confusion. It's still a double standard.
My first question is, "Is that garment modest?" NO!! All too many of these pants or slacks are designed with the purpose of causing lust! They are designed with the intent of causing a man to cast his eye upon them to lust!
When I go into a school zone, I see a sign with a black silhouette. It seems to me that one member in the silhouette is a boy dressed in trousers, and the other is a girl in a dress. Now am I confused? Does that silhouette show two girls, one taller and in pants, with the other in a dress? I think the intent of that silhouette is that one is a boy and one is a girl.
In order to resolve the state of confusion, I would like you to take notice when you are in a public place. Look at the silhouette on the bathroom doors. One door will have a silhouette with the trousers, the other with a dress. Am I consistently going in the wrong bathroom, or do pants pertain to a man?
I don't think it's a point of argument. I think it's a point of gainsaying. It's a matter of trying to justify an evil to even argue whether or not pants pertain to a man. These examples from the world should end all question in our minds. It's not a matter of whether it's men's pants or women's pants, but pants pertain to a man. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man...." It is not a matter of opinion; it's a matter of submission to the authority of God's Word. The purpose of the Lord, stated in this command, is that there should be no confusion. Amen.
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have ceased from my wandering and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many, are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
These on-line devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion. See also our sermon notes. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.