HOW CAN I GLORIFY GOD IN MY BODY?

INTRODUCTION-- In today's moral climate, it is easy to think that our relationship with God is purely spiritual, having nothing to do with our physical bodies. The prevailing idea is, "I own myself, and I can do anything I wish with my body, with no consequences."

1. God made us the way we are, but physical and spiritual, and knows that we have appetites in our physical bodies that need satisfying.
   
2. He has provided ways to satisfy these appetites, but in ways that put our physical bodies in cooperation with His spiritual plan for us.

LESSON--

1. His first lesson for us is self-control.
   
   1. This is the message of Romans 6:12-18. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: 13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; 18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness."
      
      1. I have control of my body, but God wants me to use it for Him.
         
      2. We cannot serve two masters, Jesus said, whether self or God.
         
   2. Paul tells us how he does it. 1 Corinthians 9:27 "I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected."
      
   3. Even "little" members of the body need control. James 3:1-6 "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment. 2 For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth. 5 So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
      
   4. Other "members of the body" need this control. 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 "Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: 14 and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up as through his power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. 16 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; 20 for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body."
      
2. The incentives to exercise this control over the body are spiritual.
   
   1. The sinner who gives in to the appetites of the body will be lost, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
      
   2. The purchase price paid by God for us is the precious blood of Christ. 1 Peter 1:18-19 "ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:"
      

APPLICATION---

1. Each person's bodliy appetites may be different, but control of them is needed in every case.
   
   1. The tongue not a problem? How about the stomach?
      
   2. The feet not a problem (to run to mischief)? How about the eyes?
      
2. Paul felt such a blend between his physical responsibility and his spiritual duty that he devoted his mortal body to Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:10-5.9