Overcomer - Honor God with your Body

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

This is the passage where our memory verse is found - see verses 19b & 20.  The call to honor God with our body comes after a strong warning about sexual immorality.  But notice how the focus is on the positive NOT the negative.  Here is a great example of the lesson we learned back at the beginning of this series:  Don't fixate on the temptation - focus on the solution.

Reflect

Questions

Read verse 15 and 16 again. Really focus on the startling image the author points out as a great reason to avoid immorality.  

What do you think about this teaching concerning the connections between the body and the spirit?

Is it true?  How so?

Prayer

Father in heaven, I thank you today for both the body and the spirit you have given me. Help me to honor you with both parts - every part of who I am.  Purity seems like a very high bar in a world like ours - but with your help I am committed to pursue purity - in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memory Verse

You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.  1 Corinthians 6:19b-20 NIV

Share

Gather some family and friends together and read this passage. Then discuss this question:   

What evidence is there to support the idea that sex is more than just physical - it is also spiritual. 

Pray for each other.

DFM Nation

Next Sunday Pastor Glenn Teal will teach on the topic “Self-control overcomes Gluttony.”  This is a great Sunday to invite a friend.  Pray for an open opportunity to do just that!