You Belong To Someone Else

YOU BELONG TO SOMEONE ELSE

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

As you read this chapter it seems to fall into five divisions. 1. Conflict in the church.

2. Judging others. 3. Diet considerations. 4. Sex appetite and control. 5.Ownership of self.

Our specific consideration today will deal with ownership of self. We are inclined to say that we belong to ourselves. St. Paul said that isn’t true. He then goes on to tell us why it isn’t true and what we need to do about it.

I. OWNERSHIP “not your own”

(A) We were born in sin. (Psalm 51:5)

(B) There are no new sins; just variations of the same old sins.

(C) Sexual sins are debasing. When God’s people went into sin he referred to their rebellion in sexual terms such as ‘whoring after other gods’ or spiritual adultery.

(D) Whether it is fornication (sex outside of marriage); adultery (sex with someone other than your spouse); Sodomy (sex with member of same sex) they destroy self-respect and show rebellion against God’s laws. Controlled (owned) by the devil.

(E) Alternatively, there is a Liberator who loved us even though we were in slavery. He suffered for us. He paid the ransom for our sin. It was more than we could pay. It cost his “precious blood”. During communion we remember that blood.

(F) We had sold ourselves to sin. Once we were sold we were owned by ‘sin’. Our body behaved according to the desires of sin in our heart. Whether a sniper or rapist or thief, they are listening to the orders of their owner.

(G) The condition of the soul guides the body.

II. DELIVERANCE “ye are bought”

(A) Repentance and confession must precede deliverance.

(B) Remorse whines, complains and feels guilty.

(C) Restitution will attempt to straighten out the crooked paths.

(D) Redemption will remove the curse of sin. (Gal. 3:13)

(E) Reconciliation will bring us to where we no longer fight against God. Our body is surrendered to God for righteous purposes. Satan wants to use us for destructive purposes.

(F) Restoration means our body is God’s workmanship and is filled with His spirit. It should not be viewed with contempt. It belongs to God. We are his workmanship. (Gen 1:26)

III. OBLIGATION “therefore”

(A) You are not your own. Either God controls your thoughts, possessions, time, values, talents and ambitions, or the devil does.

(B) The positive command is that we should glorify God (not self) because God is sovereign. “And shall man alone be dumb, ‘Til this glorious kingdom come? No! the church delights to raise, Psalms and hymns and songs of praise.”

(C) Learn from God. Psalm 119:11.

(D) Listen to God.

IV. OPPORTUNITY “glorify God”

(A) Use your body for God. Care for it. Keep it clean; make it smell good rather than repulsive. Illus: man in Iowa who wanted to smell like a shepherd. “in your body…”v.20

(B) We are a temple and should be well maintained. Avoid destructive habits (alcohol, drugs, immorality) and keep your activities sacred (as a temple).

(C) Your outer framework is readily seen, keep it pure.

(D) Your inner sanctuary (thoughts) should be inspiring. Feed them with good books and Scripture. (Phil 4:8)

(E) Maintain your surrender to God no matter what…

(1) Joni Earickson Tada and her broken neck (quadriplegic).”I belong to God”

(2) Betty Elliot, wife of Jim Elliot, returned to natives who killed her husband.

(3) Jesus in the garden at Gethsemane. “not my will but your will”

(4) Expect challenges to your surrender. Satan will challenge it as foolish and so may members of your family. (I.e. missionary)

(5) The beatitudes in Matthew 5 reflect surrender to God’s purposes.

(6) David Brainerd, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Robert McCheyne, George Whitfield, and Jesus all died young doing the will of God. Long life is not our guarantee! Eternal life is.

There is security in surrender. You are not your own. You are following the example of Jesus who did not avoid the challenges of God’s will. God knows all your tomorrows so you’re safe in His will.

As we partake of communion, allow this to be a time of surrender to the will of God. You are not your own.

13 October 2002

London Pillar of Fire Chapel

Bernard D. Dawson, pastor Offering last Sunday £69.62 (am)

£12.14 (pm)