Mars Hill Fellowship

MESSAGE |

Our Bodies Belong to the Lord

SERIES |

Stewardship

SCRIPTURE |

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

Since our bodies belong to the Lord, we must continually surrender our physical body, its desires, appetites, and strength, to the Lord and make healthy choices that honor God.

1) While we often see the spiritual/physical duality of man, God desires to sanctify all of the parts of mankind

for His glory.

 a.  While all moral things may be permissible, not all of these things are beneficial when they cause our bodies to be used outside of God’s design.

b.  The Lord gives us physical bodies to be used for his glory. Just because our bodies belong to the Lord doesn’t mean that He doesn’t want us to enjoy our bodies, rather, He wants us to enjoy it in the context of His divine design.

2) Why does God care about our physical bodies?

a.  Our physical bodies will be resurrected into new incorruptible bodies, which will bear our unique identity, but have no deformities, disease, or aging.

b. The fall of mankind was both physical and spiritual death but salvation restores both arenas, the fullness of which is to come at the Lord’s return.

c. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, which means that we must use our bodies to serve God’s purposes, rather than for service to ourselves and the sinful nature.

3) How do we honor God  and exhibit proper stewardship over our physical bodies?

a. We cannot let our physical desires have mastery over us.  All things are in my power, but I will not be brought under the power of any of them.

b. Our bodies must reflect true ownership by God and not be casually united with those things that destroy it or cause decay.

c. Our bodies must be used as instruments to reflect God’s glory in the earth.  Ask yourself how your body and strength can be used to increase God’s glory in the earth.

d. We must consider the impact of how we treat our bodies on our earthly and eternal purpose.

Scripture Index

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

1 Corinthians 15:12-44

thoughts for further study

1)     What do the Scriptures reveal about why God is concerned with our physical bodies?

2)     How can improper care of our physical bodies affect our ability to minister to others? 

3)     How does discipline play a role in taking care of our physical bodies?

More Information:

 Mars Hill Fellowship Healthy Living Guide