How To Have The Right Focus In Everyday Life

“How To Have The Right Focus In Everyday Life”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

INTRODUCTION:

Illustration:Preview: Three Key Bible Truths that will help you to maintain the right focus in daily living:

•YOU HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AT GREAT COST

•YOUR BODY IS THE PLACE OF A SPECIAL PRESENCE

•YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE HAS A SPECIAL PURPOSE

I. YOU HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AT GREAT COST (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NLT

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

A. You no longer belong to yourself (1 Corinthians 6:19b).

1 Corinthians 6:19b NLT

19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

1. It is vital that you understand this truth.

a) εἴδω = to know,(i.e. get knowledge of, understand, perceive)

2. Failure to understand this truth leads to misunderstanding your role in life.

a) Gives the misconception that you belong to yourself.

3. Failure to understand this truth leads to a misunderstanding of God’s role in your life.

a) Leads to the mistaken idea that God exists to serve your purpose.

B. You belong to the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20a).

1 Corinthians 6:20a NLT

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1. You belong to the Lord by right of law.

a) The law of provision: (He created provision before the one who needed it.)

(1) He created air before man.

(2) He created vegetation before animals

(3) He created water before fish.

(4) He created the cross before Eden.

b) The law of possession

(He reserves something in the physical realm to teach us of his possession of all). (Psalm 50:11-12).

Psalm 50:11–12 NLT

11 I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.

(1) He taught it with a tree (Gen.2:16-17)

(2) He taught it with a day (Gen.2:2-3)

(3) He taught it with a city (Josh. 6:19)

(4) He taught it with the land (Ex. 23:10-11; Lev. 25:4-5; 2 Chr. 36:21)

(5) He taught it with the tithe (Mal. 3:8)….the ultimate tithe (Rom. 12:1-2).

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

2. You belong to the Lord by right of redemption.

a) He paid a great price for you.

(1) Left his throne in heaven to come to earth. (Gal. 4:4-5)

Galatians 4:4–5 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

(2) Endured severe torture (Beatings, etc.)and was crucified for your sins.(Matt. 26:67- 27:50)

II. YOUR BODY IS THE PLACE OF A SPECIAL PRESENCE (1 Corinthians 6:19 a).

A. Your body is the place of God’s special presence.

1. There are two words for “temple” in the NT.

a) ιερόν = refers to the whole temple compound.

b) ναός = refers to the inner temple (Holiest Place)

(1) This is the one used of the believer’s body (note: John 14:16-17).

John 14:16–17 NLT

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

B. Your life is marked by God’s continual presence.

1. Remembering this fact helps us in holy living (1 Corinthians 6:15; Psa. 139:1-12).

1 Corinthians 6:15 NLT

15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!

2. Is there anything that you wouldn’t do if Jesus were bodily present? Don’t do it…He is present in your body!

Psa. 139:1-12

Psalm 139:1–12 NLT

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. 11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— 12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

III. YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE HAS A SPECIAL PURPOSE (1 Corinthians 6:20 B).

1 Corinthians 6:20 NLT

20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

A. Your ultimate purpose is to glorify God.

1. Glorify (δοξάζω) = to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged

2. You are to glorify God in your body and spirit.

a) How much does Jesus mean to you?

b) You are to live in such a way that other people see Jesus.

(1) Ben (as a small child) said of missionary,” There is Jesus, Mama.”

B. Your urgent purpose is to glorify God.

1. You are to glorify God in the Immediate.

a) Original language indicates urgency..”already be glorifying God…”

b) People all around you are in danger of dying without Christ.

(1) They are watching you.

CONCLUSION:

Summary:

Three Key Bible Truths that will help you to maintain the right focus in daily living:

•YOU HAVE BEEN PURCHASED AT GREAT COST

•YOUR BODY IS THE PLACE OF A SPECIAL PRESENCE

•YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE HAS A SPECIAL PURPOSE

Illustration:

Dr. Walter Wilson (Kansas City Bible Church and Bible Institute):

“This is your body…do with it whatever you want.”

DATES / PLACES PREACHED: