Abused: Who owns your body?

by Pastor Joey Asher

Big idea:
God desires His family to dedicate their body to Him

Since we as the temple are now that sacred space where the Spirit dwells in, how much more must we keep this body set apart and sacred?

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
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.


What we are discipled by determined how we make decisions and live. Is it media, social, people etc?

The main issue the corinthians faced is a distorted view of who truly owned their body. Therefore, they had sexual intercourse with prostitue, with their slaves etc.

1 Corinthians 6:12-13
“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.


In this above passage, Paul was referring to a specific roman law.

Sometimes doing what is permissible in the eyes of the law isn't always pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.

Paul warned us that our physical body is dedicated to God and His holy purposes which includes sexual purity

1 Corinthians 7:1
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”


A. Pursuing chastity in Singleness

First question:
What is christian freedom if our body belongs to God?

1 Corinthians 6:12
“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.


Above passage states that we must be subjected to God's standard, not the world nor our own standard

# Christ freedom isn't freedom to what pleases your flesh but to do what pleases God

# Do your action pleased yourself or God?

Second question:
What is the purpose for our body?

1 Corinthians 6:13-14
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.


Christ resurrection is proofed our body will be raised. Our purpose is to rule and reign on His behalf, that's our function on earth. We will have another glorified body when we rule and reign with God.

Third question:
Who are we joining our body with when we commit fleshly desires?

1 Corinthians 6:15-17
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.”[a] 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.


Above passage denotes sexual union between 2 individuals results in one flesh with each other. We are already joined with God with one integral unit, still do the unthinkable by doing the immorality with a prostitute?

Fourth question:
How can we flee from sin in the body?

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
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.


Above passage exorts us to glorify God in our body, for God redeemed us at a very high price. Our body is for the lord with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, living in us.

What does it mean to pursue chastity?
# Flee from sexual immorality

First step in fleeing:
# Identify the trigger points
- Eliminate the trigger points, wiser to flee then to resist it, ie. put phone our of the bedroom, tv etc.

Second step in fleeing:
# Change your thought pattern
# Trying not to think of it
# Pray in tongues
# Play a worship song
# Get a prayer partner

B. Pursuing faithfulness as Married couples

1 Corinthians 7:2-5
But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.


Above passage means it is not "you owe me" but it is "I owe you". A spouse should not deprive and should not demand

What does pursuing faithfulness look like?
Married christian must flee as much as those who are singles

Proverbs 5:18-20
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. 20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?


Confession is the first step to healing

Matthew 5:27-30
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.