But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1 Corinthians 7:17-19

We don’t choose Jesus, Jesus chooses us! This is a statement you probably have heard, and it’s Biblical. Look at the scriptures here from the Apostle Paul “God has distributed to every man, as The Lord has called everyone, so let him walk” Notice who has distributed the calling and gifts , it is God not man. There is no group or organization that can anoint you as a Christian leader, God anoints you first!

And as we know God calls the people who are least expected. Just look at the life of the Apostle Paul, he was probably the last person the Church expected to be called, but as the scripture says “So let him walk” If someone is anointed and called by The Lord, then let them serve God. We don’t need to examine their credentials or their past, God is the one who calls and anoints us. 

We see Paul uses the example of circumcision, many wouldn’t accept Timothy unless he was circumcised, so he became circumcised to please those who were skeptical of him. (Acts 16:3) However Titus didn’t want to get circumcised and he didn’t (Galatians 2:3) Yet it doesn’t change whether these men were called by God or not. These men were anointed by the Holy Spirit whether they were circumcised or not. 

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. 1 Corinthians 7:20-24

Paul then goes on to say “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” God placed you where you need to be, in that specific town with that group or people, answer your calling and be the Shepherd for those people. Don’t use the excuses that your not qualified or inexperienced, if God put the calling on you, we need to obey The Lord and not our flesh

The Apostle Paul uses this phrase again “You were bought with a price” When you become Born Again in Christ, you don’t belong to yourself anymore, you belong to Jesus. Christ is our Lord and we are his servants, be obedient to the calling that God has placed upon our lives, Amen!

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 1 Corinthians 7:8-11

As we continue to look at Pauls teachings here, it’s important to understand the core of the message. Paul as the shepherd of this Church is addressing the issue of sexual immorality in the Church. So one of Pauls suggestions is , if you can’t control your sexual desires you should get married.

Paul is not making a commandment to get married, as Paul addresses here “to the unmarried and widows” there are situations where Christians are not going to be married for several reasons, we don’t need to address all of them. As Paul says here “but if they cannot contain, let them marry” Meaning if you can’t control your sexual desires , you really should get married

As brother John said in our Twitter group “Many people want today’s Church like the 1rst century Church” well in many ways it is, sexual immorality was a big issue in the 1rst century Church as it’s still a big issue in todays Church. So much of an issue, many denominations are splitting over sexual immorality. The battle of the flesh is severe , and we need to deny ourselves daily to continue this Christian walk

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 1 Corinthians 12-16

The Apostle Paul brings up another scenario that is still prevalent in todays Church, a Christian who is married to a non-believer. This is obviously a very difficult situation for everyone involved, this is why the Church is so important in your life. Many people need to lean on their brothers and sisters in Christ for fellowship and comfort, when they can’t receive it at home. This again was an issue in the first century just as its an issue in today Church today

Reflecting on these words by Paul “God has called us to peace” don’t allow this situation to destroy your family. Be patient and pray for your spouse that the Holy Spirit will remove the veil in Jesus name Amen!

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20

I would like for you to picture a Church building in your mind, think about when your stepping into that sanctuary for a service. Think about how everyone was probably properly dressed and on their best behavior. The walls and floors of the sanctuary were cleaned in preparation for the service. You can see the sunlight gleaming through the stained glass windows.

Speaking of being on your best behavior , while in the Church building you probably refrained from using foul language, you probably refrained from looking at your other members with lust, you probably treat your sanctuary as a sacred space, because it is!

So now going to our scriptures today , the Apostle Paul says “Do you not know your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit”? The same way you treat your Church building is the same way you should always treat your physical body, think about that! Don’t just be on your best behavior when your in the Church building, because you are the Church, be on your best behavior always because you are the Temple of God

Now you might say, how can I do this? Paul tells us “The Holy Ghost which is in You” , the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, the same spirit that rose Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11) There is no sin that you can’t overcome, you have been set free by Jesus Christ (John 8) God will not allow you to be tempted beyond your control (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The next question will be, why should I do this? The Apostle Paul answers again “You were bought with a price, therefore Glorify God in your body” When you give your life to Christ, you no longer are the boss. Jesus is our Lord, our Master, the salvation of our souls was redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ

We are the Temple of God, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, glorify God in everything you do! Amen!

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17

As we examine our Christian faith, the way we live our lives should reflect our relationship with Christ. There will be some who reject that Jesus Christ is a personal relationship, however when you are joined with him by the Holy Spirit, there is no other way to explain this journey

We , the Church , are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12) we say this but do we really believe it? We need to live as we are physically joined with Christ. As Jesus explained “Take my yoke upon you” (Matthew 11:29) When we are Born Again in Christ, we are yoked with Christ, we abide in Christ, everything we do reflects him and he is with us everywhere we go

The Apostle Paul asks “Shall I then take the members of Christ , and make them the members of a harlot or prostitute”? So what is Paul trying to teach us here? We as Christians should view our bodies as Temples of God, a sacred space with the Holy Spirit. If we truly viewed ourselves in this way, then we wouldn’t be desecrating our bodies with sin and pollutants of the world. 

Notice how Paul describes this, a Christian who fornicates with a prostitute is also joining Christ with this prostitute because we are all yoked together. Any sin that you partake in, you are including Christ in that sin. Interesting Paul quotes the covenant of marriage in this teaching “Two become One flesh” (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5) As a Born Again Christian you are joined together with Christ, just as a husband and wife are joined together in marriage. 

You might ask how is this possible? Paul says “He that is joined unto The Lord is One Spirit” Remember you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) When you are baptized by the Holy Spirit, God is now living inside of you, you are now the Temple of God, everything you do, effects The Lord also

As a Born Again Christian, you are joined with The Lord, you are not your own, you were bought with a price, the precious blood of Christ, Amen!

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. 1 Corinthians 6:12-14

There is Freedom in Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1) Jesus has set us free (John 8) but just because we live now under grace through Christ (Romans 6:14) doesn’t mean we should do whatever we want, especially sin. It’s like when you received your driver’s license, you now have the authority and ability to drive wherever you want, but does that mean we should drive however we want? No of course not

A true Born Again Christian has the Holy Spirit living inside of them, you have received a new heart and new spirit,( Ezekiel 36:26) the law was written on your heart. (Romans 2:15) As the Apostle Paul says “All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient or beneficial to me” Everything we do should be to glorify God, not to please our flesh. 

As Paul says here also “The body is not for fornication, but for The Lord” As Paul said also “We were bought with a price” (v20) When we give our lives to Jesus, we truly give our lives to Jesus, it’s not just a bumper sticker or cliche. Even though we have been give freedom in Jesus Christ , we shouldn’t abuse that freedom with our flesh

We should live as vessels for God, everything in our lives, including our physical bodies should be to honor The Lord. As Paul revealed our bodies are the Temple of God, and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we need to be careful not to be desecrating our Temples which belong to God

Jesus said “If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) You have been given freedom in Christ, however don’t abuse that freedom in your daily walk. Allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify and lead you in Jesus name Amen!

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 mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Are you on the list? There is a popular YouTube Street Preacher who carries around a sign with a list of sins, then he asks people if they are on the list? The majority of people he encounters obviously are highly offended and typically try to justify their lifestyles. Some will argue whether this is a good method of evangelism, however the fact remains, there is a list, and those on the list that have not repented will not inherit the Kingdom of God

As brother Fred says “There can be no good news without bad news”, how can people understand the gospel if they don’t understand they are a sinner? How can people understand their need for Jesus if they don’t understand how depraved they are? This is the line we have to walk as we evangelize with people, yes we want people to know Jesus loves them, however they also need to understand they are headed to Hell without Christ

The Apostle Paul here also presented a list , anyone on this list will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Often when you read these verses to anyone , it immediately delivers anger. However there is good news, yes the bad news is we are all probably are or were on this list. The good news is there is a solution to our sin, its Jesus Christ!

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11

This is one of the greatest messages in the Bible, as such were some of you! Maybe you are on the list, but Jesus can set you free. This is not just talking about a “confession of faith” this is about becoming Born Again in Christ. As Paul says here “You are Washed, You are Sanctified” We could preach a whole sermon just on those words, washed by the blood of Christ, Sanctified by the Holy Spirit

The good news is even though you were a sinner, by faith in Christ, you are justified to God and filled with the Holy Spirit. But notice Paul says “such were some of you”, in Christ you are no longer living in the sins you were , your old man is dead and crucified with Christ, and you now walk in the newness of life with Christ, Amen!