Honor God with Our Bodies

Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 Theme: Honor God with your body. Key verses: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God?” (v. 9a) “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (v. 11) “‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’ — but I will not be mastered by anything.” (v. 12) “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” (v. 13b) “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee sexual immorality.” (v. 17-18a) “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (v. 1-20) What God said to me: Dwayne, this is dead-on stuff and exactly what you, my servant, needs to hear and heed today. I take very seriously any sexual sins my children commit. I made you as a sexual being. I gave you sexual desires. That is my gift to you. And only I, your Creator and gift-giver, understand how you can best fulfill those desires to bring you the greatest satisfaction and me the greatest glory. How dare you or any of my own take what I have freely given and use it your selfish ends. Do you know better than I how to satisfy your deepest cravings? I grow weary of repeating this basic theme with you. I am Your God. I am Your ultimate lover. Are you first of all truly joined with me so that we are one? That must be your greatest priority and goal. Nothing else, no physical pleasure, will take you to the heights of ecstasy like knowing and worshiping me. Paul was literally comparing the physical act of sexual union with the spiritual act of uniting with me. Be careful here. Paul was not in any way implying that union with me will bring you physical pleasure. But he was clearly saying though that holy union with me will bring you spiritual satisfaction and completeness. Dwayne, do you realize how few of my children have ever really embraced and experienced spiritual wholeness with me? It’s available to them all. Positionally they are already there. But practically, they rarely experience my abundant life and provisions. The reasons are many but yet they boil down to selfishness and sin. Many would rather be mastered by their bodies and their physical desires than mastered by me. Many would rather give up a lifetime of joy for a few moments of fleeting pleasure. What about you, Dwayne? Will you always choose me, and therefore always choose real life? What I said to God: God, my God, early will I seek You. My flesh longs You, my soul thirsts for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thank You for speaking loudly to my soul this morning. I so needed to hear and comprehend the depth of this passage and this truth. Oh Father, please help me heed this warning and exhortation from Paul. I desire perfect holy union with You first and foremost. You are my true satisfaction. Nothing else will do.