GLORIFYING GOD WITH YOUR BODY

GLORIFYING GOD WITH YOUR BODY

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Key Verse: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." — 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: Romans 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Romans 6:12-13; Galatians 5:16

Description: Glorifying God with your body means recognising that you belong to Christ and using every part of your life to honour Him in holiness, purity, and obedience.

INTRODUCTION

The human body is often treated by society as a possession to be used solely for personal pleasure, appearance, achievement, or satisfaction. Scripture presents a completely different perspective. For the believer, the body belongs to God because Christ purchased us at the cost of His precious blood.

Paul addressed the Corinthian believers because some were treating bodily appetites and sexual desires as though they had no spiritual consequences. He reminded them that their bodies were temples of the Holy Spirit and that they were not their own. Christian liberty therefore does not mean freedom to use our bodies however we please; it means freedom to honour God with everything He has entrusted to us.

Glorifying God with the body involves sexual purity, disciplined appetites, healthy stewardship, righteous actions, and a lifestyle that reflects Christ. What we do with our bodies matters to God because our bodies are instruments through which His purposes can be expressed in the world.

1. RECOGNISE THAT YOUR BODY BELONGS TO GOD

The foundation of bodily holiness is understanding ownership. When we recognise that we belong to God, our attitude towards our bodies changes.

a) You Were Bought With A Price (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Christ paid the price for our redemption through His sacrifice. We therefore belong to Him and should not treat ourselves as independent possessions.

b) Your Body Is God's Temple (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The Holy Spirit dwells within believers. This makes the body sacred and calls us to treat it with reverence.

c) You Are Not Your Own (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Christian discipleship involves surrender. We cannot claim Christ as Lord while insisting on absolute control over our bodies and conduct.

d) Belonging To God Requires Consecration (Romans 12:1)
Paul calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices. Our physical lives should become instruments of worship.

Biblical Example: Samuel was dedicated to God from childhood, and his life became an instrument for God's purposes because he was surrendered to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:27-28; 3:19-21).

2. MAINTAIN SEXUAL PURITY

Sexual purity is an important part of glorifying God because sexual sin directly affects the body and contradicts God's design for human sexuality.

a) Flee Sexual Immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18)
Paul does not tell believers to negotiate with sexual immorality. He commands them to flee from it because of its destructive consequences.

b) Honour Your Body (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)
God's will includes sexual sanctification and self-control. Believers must learn to manage their bodies in holiness and honour.

c) Guard Your Eyes And Mind (Matthew 5:28)
Sexual purity begins internally. Jesus taught that sinful desire entertained in the heart is spiritually serious.

d) Avoid Defiling Relationships (2 Timothy 2:22)
We must flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call upon the Lord sincerely.

Biblical Example: Joseph refused the sexual advances of Potiphar's wife and fled when the temptation became intense (Genesis 39:7-12).

3. USE YOUR BODY AS AN INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

God does not merely call us to avoid sinful actions; He wants our bodies actively employed in righteous service.

a) Present Your Members To God (Romans 6:13)
Our hands, eyes, mouths, feet, minds, and abilities should become instruments through which God's righteousness is expressed.

b) Control Your Appetites (1 Corinthians 9:27)
Paul exercised discipline over his body so that his physical desires would not control his spiritual life.

c) Practise Self-Control (Galatians 5:22-23)
Self-control is part of the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit. It enables believers to govern bodily desires rather than being governed by them.

d) Honour God In Daily Activities (Colossians 3:17)
Everything we do should be carried out in the name of the Lord and with thanksgiving to God.

Biblical Example: Daniel demonstrated disciplined living when he refused to defile himself with the king's food and wine (Daniel 1:8-16).

4. CARE FOR YOUR BODY AS GOD'S STEWARD

Glorifying God with the body includes responsible stewardship. Our bodies should be cared for rather than abused or neglected.

a) Practise Moderation (Philippians 4:5)
Christian living requires balance and self-control. We should avoid allowing physical appetites to dominate our lives.

b) Avoid Destructive Habits (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
God's temple must not be deliberately defiled. Believers should reject habits that knowingly damage their bodies or testimony.

c) Rest And Labour Wisely (Exodus 20:8-10)
God's pattern includes both work and rest. Responsible stewardship involves recognising our physical limitations.

d) Give Your Strength To God's Purpose (Isaiah 40:31)
Our physical strength and abilities can become instruments of service when surrendered to God.

Biblical Example: Elijah became physically exhausted after his confrontation on Mount Carmel, and God provided rest, food, and renewed strength before giving him further instructions (1 Kings 19:4-8).

5. LET YOUR BODY REFLECT CHRIST

Our outward conduct should provide evidence of the transformation taking place within us. The body can become a visible testimony of our faith.

a) Walk In Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God calls believers to holiness in every aspect of conduct because He Himself is holy.

b) Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16)
Our actions should point others towards God. What people see in our lives should support the message we proclaim.

c) Dress And Conduct With Modesty (1 Timothy 2:9-10)
Believers should demonstrate godliness in their appearance and conduct rather than being driven by vanity or sensuality.

d) Represent Christ Honourably (2 Corinthians 5:20)
As Christ's representatives, our behaviour should bring honour rather than reproach to His name.

Biblical Example: Timothy was instructed to be an example to believers in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

6. LIVE WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW

Our bodies are temporary, but what we do with them has eternal significance. We should therefore use our earthly lives with eternity in mind.

a) Remember The Resurrection (1 Corinthians 6:14)
God raised Jesus from the dead and will also raise believers. The body therefore has eternal significance.

b) Honour God While You Have Strength (Ecclesiastes 12:1)
We should not postpone serving God until later. Our present abilities and opportunities should be surrendered to Him.

c) Give Account Of Your Life (Romans 14:12)
Every believer will ultimately give an account to God. This should influence the way we use our bodies and opportunities.

d) Pursue An Eternal Reward (1 Corinthians 9:25)
Paul compared Christian discipline to an athlete preparing for a prize. We must exercise spiritual discipline with eternity in view.

Biblical Example: Paul disciplined his body and remained focused on his divine assignment, refusing to allow temporary desires to interfere with his eternal calling (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

CONCLUSION

Your body is not merely a physical possession; it belongs to God. You were bought with the precious price of Christ's sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit dwells in you. Therefore, your body should not be surrendered to sexual immorality, uncontrolled appetites, destructive habits, or anything that dishonours the Lord.

Glorify God with your body by maintaining purity, practising self-control, caring responsibly for yourself, and using your strength and abilities for God's purposes. Let your body become an instrument of righteousness and a visible testimony that Jesus Christ is truly Lord over every area of your life.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, help me to remember continually that my body belongs to You because I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, sanctify my body and make every part of me an instrument that brings glory and honour to Your name, in Jesus name.

3. Father, deliver me from sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and every temptation that seeks to defile my body, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, give me grace to control my appetites, desires, thoughts, emotions, and physical impulses according to Your Word, in Jesus name.

5. Father, help me to flee every relationship, environment, habit, and influence that can lead me into bodily defilement, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, give me wisdom and discipline to care responsibly for the body You have entrusted to me, in Jesus name.

7. Father, let my eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, mind, and every part of my body become instruments of righteousness, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, let my outward conduct consistently reflect the transformation You are producing within me and bring honour to Christ, in Jesus name.

9. Father, help me to remember eternity and use my physical strength, abilities, and opportunities faithfully for Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my entire life and body become a living testimony of Your grace, holiness, and transforming power, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall recognise that your body belongs to God, and you shall receive grace to honour Him with every part of your physical and spiritual life.

2. Every power of sexual immorality, lust, impurity, and bodily defilement working against your life shall be broken, and you shall walk in purity.

3. Your mind, eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, and every part of your body shall increasingly become instruments of righteousness and service to God.

4. You shall receive supernatural strength to exercise self-control over every appetite, desire, and impulse that could lead you away from God's will.

5. The Lord shall give you wisdom to recognise and avoid relationships, environments, habits, and influences that could damage your purity and testimony.

6. Your body shall be preserved from destructive influences, and you shall have grace to practise responsible stewardship of the physical life God has entrusted to you.

7. Your conduct shall reflect the holiness of Christ, and those who observe your life shall see evidence of God's transforming grace.

8. You shall not allow temporary physical desires to destroy your eternal purpose; your body and abilities shall remain surrendered to God's kingdom.

9. The Lord shall renew your strength and enable you to use your time, energy, gifts, and abilities faithfully for His glory.

10. You shall glorify God in your body and spirit, remain faithful to Him throughout your earthly journey, and finish your course with a testimony that honours Jesus Christ.