In this post, we’ll delve into why the Bible instructs us to steward our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit!
The Importance of Treating Our Body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit
The dictionary defines the body as the physical structure of a man or animal that includes flesh, bone, and organs. To the Christian faith, the human body houses God’s Spirit, which makes it holy. It is not just a biological entity but a place where God resides; it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Since God purposefully formed humankind, the body is considered an essential part of spiritual life and our relationship with God; there are consequences when we do not responsibly adhere to biblical instructions about stewarding our bodies.
What Does The Bible Say About Being the Temple Of The Holy Spirit?
One of the most explicit biblical passages that emphasize the body as a temple is 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; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”
This Scripture communicates to Christians that even the body they possess does not belong to them, and they are not free to use it carelessly. Hence, treating your body with contempt or uncontrollably indulging it in evil acts is to live in a manner against the Spirit, which dwells in us.
Psalm 139:14 tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” indicating that even our bodies were premeditated and made deliberately.
Treating the body as a temple for the Holy Spirit makes it important to honor our bodies with our daily choices. We are made in God’s image, redeemed, and indwelled by God.
Paul said in Romans 12:1 that you should present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God; he called this “true and proper worship.” Treating your body with honor is one of the ways to give God your devotion and faith as an image bearer of God.
Spiritual Health
Human beings are created with both a spiritual and a physical component. The Bible reveals that sinful acts done with our bodies have consequences. For instance, sexual immorality is condemned in 1 Corinthians 6:18, “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually sins against their own body.” This kind of disobedience pollutes the temple and disrupts fellowship with God.
When you yield to sin and the activities of the flesh, you give the devil a foothold and an opportunity for demons (disembodied spirits) to come and indwell your body. These demons are always looking for a human body to occupy, like Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2) and the madman of Gadarene (Luke 8:26-39). Since the body is a house for spirits, we can choose between obeying God’s commandments and having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Or by living in disobedience and giving place for demonic and unclean spirits to occupy.
Physical Health
Treating your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit has many physical health benefits, too. When we commit to living a healthy life (eating well, getting adequate sleep, regularly exercising), we can enjoy life more because we will be sick less often, deal with fewer mental and emotional issues, and have fewer cumulative health issues later in life.
When we fail to take care of our bodies and engage in harmful habits like overindulgence with food, drunkenness, or smoking, it shows that we are not displaying self-control (a fruit of the spirit) and are not honoring God with our entire being.
Taking care of our physical health is essential to being good stewards of our bodies. When we are not in our best health, it affects our connection to God and makes us less effective as vessels of Christ.
How To Make Your Body The Temple Of God? 10 Ways To Glorify God With Your Body
1. Consistent Prayer
Prayer is our direct line of communication with God. It enables us to express our heart’s desires, seek answers/direction, and align our will with God’s. In prayer, the spirit, body, and soul align, and we are in a state where our entire being can focus on God. When we pray consistently, we come into this dwelling with God and can receive more precise directions for how He wishes to use us as His vessels, and it allows us to remain in a Spirit-driven mindset rather than a carnal one. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6-7 and Luke 18:1 all encourage believers to make a habit of prayer.
2. Study God’s Word
Renewing your mind with the word of God is vital to stewarding your body effectively. Bible study is not an ordinary academic exercise; it is a spiritual exercise involving the mind, heart, and soul to transform one’s behavior pattern to one acceptable to God. The word of God is our guide that empowers us to know God’s standard of holiness and righteousness. When we follow His word, we wash our minds of unclean thoughts and deeds so our body might be holy and be His temple (Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119;11).
3. Meditate on God’s Truth
Biblical meditation is reflecting on Scripture and allowing it to work in you. This method causes the Word of God to enter and dwell in your spirit to sanctify you from the inside out. (Psalm 1:2-3, Philippians 4:8, Joshua 1:8).
4. Engage in Fasting
Fasting is a spiritual practice in which you feed the soul by withholding food or another desire of the flesh. Fasting is how we crucify our flesh to make ourselves more sensitive to the spirit and to God’s will.
Matthew 4:4 tells what Jesus said to Satan after His forty days fast in the wilderness. This statement showed that fasting instills in people a greater reliance on God’s spiritual food than physical food. Isaiah 58:6-9 also explains that fasting is acceptable in the sight of God, which brings righteousness, justice, and the liberation of the oppressed.
5. Choose Good Nutrition
Caring for our bodies begins with choosing foods that nourish and sustain us. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us to do all things, including eating and drinking, for the glory of God. Do away with those things that are destructive to the body, like alcohol, illicit substances, and fatty foods. This is a clear indication that embracing healthier lifestyles helps make your body the temple of God in
6. Engage in Physical Activity
Physical exercise is fundamental for the proper functioning of our bodies. It improves our strength, endurance, mind, and heart. It can even deepen our spirituality. For example, pacing and jogging while reciting a scripture passage can be considered prayer and devotion.
7. Prioritize Mental and Emotional Care
One’s mental and emotional health is as important as physical health. Philippians 4:6-7 says “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
The spiritual war we face begins in the mind, which is why it’s so essential to make out thoughts obedient to God’s truth and promises rather than listening to the lies the enemy used to try to wound us.
8. Overcome Cultural Pressures
We exist in a world that feeds us distorted images and encourages behaviors detrimental to our well-being. Therefore, as children of God, we must reject the world’s system of beauty and worth. Romans 12:2 invites us not to be like the world but to change (transform) through the renewing of the mind. This kind of transformation enables us to look at the physical body through the eyes of God in terms of health, service, and worship.
9. Deal with Personal Struggles
We all face many personal challenges that threaten our ability to be faithful vessels of God. Whether we’re struggling with substance abuse, eating disorders, pornography, or addiction, Paul tells us in Philippians 4:16 that “you can do everything through Christ. You must know that you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you and through His grace.” We can overcome these challenging struggles by pursuing a steadfast relationship with Christ, studying the word of God, and remaining in fellowship with like-minded people in the faith who will support us.
10. Community Involvement
Honoring the body cannot be done in isolation which is why God created the body of Christ to be a community! The early Church in the book of Acts lived in a community. Hebrews 10:25 says, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching..” We can support one another and make better decisions for our faith.
Conclusion
The Bible tells us that our bodies are to be treated as temples of the Holy Spirit; it is not an option but a directive. They are temples, not our own, planned to be filled with His glory. We must examine our present behavior, pray for direction, and change our ways to glorify God in our mortal bodies.
You’ll Also Love:
What Does the Bible Say About Body Image – 7 Important Things about our Worth in God’s Eyes
Why God Asked Me To Leave My Unequally Yoked Relationship
How To Be A Godly Woman: 12 Key Characteristics
What is God’s Purpose for my Life? How to Walk in God’s Plan Everyday
9 Meaningful Ways to Deepen your Relationship with God