Success Scripture April 28, 2009

Honoring your Body as the Temple of God   

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5 (KJV)

"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." - Ephesians 2:22 (KJV)

EXPLORATION

The word of God teaches that the body of the believer is a spiritual temple. A temple is a place of worship where God is exalted and praised. Because the building is dedicated to the worship and service of God, it is not available for any secular use. Therefore, anything that does not glorify God nor is used for his worship or service, is never brought in there. It is unlike the case of a public building where anything could be done inside as long as it is paid for.

INSPIRATION

Not every human being is the temple of God. This is because not every person has the Spirit of God in him. The Bible says: "But we are built up a spiritual house, a royal priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices ... and built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together growth into a HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord; in whom ye also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit." (1 Peter 2:5, Ephesians 2:20-22, Hebrews 3:6)

The Bible says: "Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body ... know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall l then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid." -1Corinthians 6:13-15

In very clear terms, the Holy Scriptures stress the need to keep our physical bodies sanctified to God. So, the carnal sin of fornication or adultery must not be mentioned among us as saints of God. (Ephesians 5:3)

The Bible mentions things like uncleanness and lasciviousness. These are outward acts that could lead or suggest sexual sin to the opposite sex. They include lustful and unholy kissing and bodily contact, the manner in which a woman or man carries or moves their body, or indecent exposure of the body by wearing dresses said to have sexual appeal to seduce the opposite sex. "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without (outside) the body, but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body". (1 Corinthians 6:18, Proverbs 6:25-29)

At this point we shall state the dangers in sexual sin

• One could contact incurable diseases like AIDS
•  It defiles the body and causes the Holy Spirit to depart from a believer - Samson is an example
•  It opens the way for demon possession.
• By it people have been indirectly initiated into cults.
• Your personality is abused and degraded.
• It hinders the working of God's power in the church.
• Causes tribulation in the community.

It is clear that apart from the sexual sin of fornication and adultery, there are also the unnatural use of the body such as homosexuality, lesbianism, masturbation and beasiiality. The Bible says: "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:" - Romans 1:24 KJV "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet." - Romans 1:26-27 KJV

In the Holy Scriptures, the sanctity of a believer's body was so highly upheld that any form of marking or painting on the body and trimming of the beard were strictly forbidden. (Leviticus 19:28)

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO & DRUGS Alcoholic drinks appear in the Bible as WINE, STRONG WINE or STRONG DRINK. (Numbers 28:7, Proverbs 20:1, Psalms 69:12) The most common wine is usually made from grapes - fermented grape juice (Genesis 40:10-11). There is also spiced wine of the juice of pomegranate. Other liquors that fall into the family of strong drinks include pomegranate wine, palm-wine, apple wine, honey wine, even beer. When alcohol is taken it produces the following effects: Redness of the eye, unbridled tongue, perverted judgment, vile effection, indecent exposure of the body, sickness, etc. Read (Genesis 49:12, Proverbs 20:1, Psalm 60:3, Proverbs 23:29, Proverbs 23:35 Zechariah 9:15, Hosea 4:11, Hosea 7:5).

See some instances of drunkenness. (Genesis 9:21, 1 Samuel 25:36-37) People with troubled minds, who lack the joy and peace of God drink alcohol in order to forget their sorrows. (Proverbs 31 3-7) Unfortunately, this never solves their problems. (Isaiah 5:11-12) Instead, they damage various organs of the body and hinder its efficient performance. Medical science has proven beyond every reasonable doubt that alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking and the use of drugs are dangerous to man's health. The Bible says:  "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." -  Isaiah 55:2

The body of the believer has been consecrated for the work of God. It needs to be in a good physical condition to be able to carry out spiritual assignments. Anything, therefore, that does not promote the well-being of the body desecrates it and make it unholy. Whosoever defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) "Give not thy strength to that which destroyeth kings..." (Proverbs 31:3-5)

Ministers of God in Old Testament time were forbidden from taking strong drink.  "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" - Ephesians 5:18 (Luke 4:18-21 John 2:16-17, John 4:34-36, Acts 17:14-17)

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" - 1 Peter 2:9 The Bible says: "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God , which is your reasonable service ..." - Romans 12:1

"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

Beloved: God has made us HIS habitation so that HE can be more closer to us. And so it is for our interest to protect this blessings of HIS presence in our life. When we cherish this temple, God will keep sickness away from it, Favor will manifest, doors of great blessings and opportunities will be open. Joy and peace will be the talk of the day, and anyone that comes around you and will be blessed by YOU for you honoring the temple, the very habitation of God in YOU

Remember: the Bible says: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" - 1 Peter 2:9

We love you!  

God bless.

Bliss & Fire Network Team

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