B EAUTIFUL D AUGHTERS (G EN 2:21-25) Daughters of our Father 1

INTRODUCTION Prayer for mothers

DAUGHTERS ARE THE CROWNING BEAUTY IN GOD’S CREATION Genesis 2 21 So the L ORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the L ORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

YOUR BEAUTY MAKES YOU THE SPECIAL TARGET OF THE EVIL ONE Genesis 3:1-7 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the L ORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

YOUR BEAUTY MAKES YOU THE SPECIAL TARGET OF THE EVIL ONE 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

YOUR BEAUTY MAKES YOU THE SPECIAL TARGET OF THE EVIL ONE Satan’s Envy False Ideal – you become your own enemy Separation of beauty and object – men become your enemy through porn Satan’s new temptation – the envy of men Daughters of our Father or daughters of Eve? Retake the beauty God gave you

WOMEN CAN ADOPT THE BIBLICAL/NATURAL MEANING OF PHYSICAL BEAUTY Beauty is subjective Self-esteem of local women is low

OUR FATHER CALLS HIS DAUGHTERS TO TOTAL BEAUTY 1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.

OUR FATHER CALLS HIS DAUGHTERS TO TOTAL BEAUTY 1 Peter 3:1-6 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

OUR FATHER CALLS HIS DAUGHTERS TO TOTAL BEAUTY Contrast of emphasis, not exclusion 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, … Psa You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

OUR FATHER CALLS HIS DAUGHTERS TO TOTAL BEAUTY Spiritual beauty beyond physical 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves.

OUR FATHER CALLS HIS DAUGHTERS TO TOTAL BEAUTY Our hearts cry out for beauty – and there is nothing more beautiful than Our Father’s Daughters! Separation of beauty and object is a recent construct – enlightment Return – to total beauty & to your Father

EMBRACE OUR FATHER’S DESIGN Gender war is highly destructive Higgins of Pygmalion Annie get your gun Christian woman: embrace your beauty and cultivate it to total beauty Christian man: embrace the beauty of your woman and cultivate it to total beauty

EMBRACE OUR FATHER’S DESIGN 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her.. to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

CONCLUSION: FOR BEAUTY AND FOR GLORY Important connection between beauty and glory. Ecclesiastes 3 “ 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Not abstract beauty, all things all in its proper place. Truth calls us to reason. Beauty calls us to imagination. Story of Michael and Hisham Point: Jesus is beautiful Isa 4 2 In that day shall the branch of the L ORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

CONCLUSION: FOR BEAUTY AND FOR GLORY You are already beautiful Let the beauty of Jesus shine through you You can become a powerful declaration of the Good News when the beauty of Jesus shines through Beauty – Glory – Truth