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1 Corinthians 6: Freedom That Does Not Enslave | Full Meditation · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:14
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Around here, we put aside all distractions so that we can enter into God's presence and to hear from Him better and to allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ.
• 0:31
  Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:40
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to the podcast, or if you're not a believer, then I'd like to suggest that you check out episode 164 that talks about the who, the what, and the why of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
• 0:59
  Pastor Robert Young: If you suffer from severe anxiety, depression, or trauma, psychotic episodes, or if you're in active addiction, then please consult your physician before beginning this or any meditation practice.
• 1:19
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're not filled with the Holy Spirit, then friends, this process may not apply to you.
• 1:26
  Pastor Robert Young: In fact, our whole podcast only applies to those who have repented, confessed, and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
• 1:36
  Pastor Robert Young: If you haven't done this, then repeat this prayer of salvation with me now.
• 1:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Father, I want and desire a fellowship with you.
• 1:49
  Pastor Robert Young: I know that my sins separate me from having that full relationship with you.
• 1:57
  Pastor Robert Young: I also know that I can only have that relationship with you by acknowledging, accepting, and believing in Jesus' redemptive work on the cross.
• 2:10
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, I repent of my sins, I receive Jesus as my Savior.
• 2:18
  Pastor Robert Young: I receive your forgiveness and Holy Spirit.
• 2:22
  Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to the scriptures, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
• 2:49
  Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of an Almighty God.
• 2:55
  Pastor Robert Young: So let's begin by repeating the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms 51, verses 1 through 4, where it says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies.
• 3:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
• 3:24
  Pastor Robert Young: For Lord, I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
• 3:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on our verse for today's meditation, let's prepare our minds by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
• 3:51
  Pastor Robert Young: First, we're going to take a deep breath in for a count of seven, we're going to hold the breath for a count of four, and then we're going to slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 4:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin.
• 4:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat this exercise.
• 4:14
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, let's prepare our bodies by releasing any tension with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 4:31
  Pastor Robert Young: We're going to simply tense each muscle group for three seconds, and then we're going to release the tension from that muscle.
• 4:41
  Pastor Robert Young: And as I always say, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 4:47
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
• 4:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense calf muscles for a count of three.
• 4:55
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 4:58
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads, and glutes.
• 5:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 5:06
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:10
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the abdominals, chest, and back area.
• 5:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 5:19
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and shoulders.
• 5:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
• 5:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to enter into worship by repeating a verse from the book of Psalms where it says, Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
• 5:55
  Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
• 5:58
  Pastor Robert Young: Come before Him with joyful songs.
• 6:01
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to lift up our voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father who is worthy of all honor and glory.
• 6:14
  Pastor Robert Young: By repeating Psalms chapter 8, verse 9, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
• 6:28
  Pastor Robert Young: Now that we've prepared our mind, our body, and our spirit, let's begin to examine and reflect on 1 Corinthians chapter 6.
• 6:51
  Pastor Robert Young: 1 Corinthians chapter 6, Paul turns to the Corinthians with urgency.
• 6:59
  Pastor Robert Young: He's addressing three major problems threatening their witness.
• 7:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Lawsuits among believers, confusion about holiness, and a distorted view of the body.
• 7:14
  Pastor Robert Young: The chapter opens like a courtroom scene.
• 7:19
  Pastor Robert Young: Believers dragging one another before secular judges.
• 7:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul is stunned.
• 7:25
  Pastor Robert Young: He reminds them that the saints will one day judge the world and even angels, so surely they can settle small disputes within the church.
• 7:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Taking each other to court damages their witness and reveals spiritual immaturity.
• 7:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Better, Paul says, to suffer wrong than to shame Christ's body.
• 7:52
  Pastor Robert Young: Paul then shifts to a warning.
• 7:56
  Pastor Robert Young: Those who persist in unrighteousness, sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, greed, drunkenness, reveling, extortion will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• 8:13
  Pastor Robert Young: But he reminds them of their transformation.
• 8:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Such were some of you.
• 8:19
  Pastor Robert Young: They have been washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ.
• 8:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, Paul confronts a dangerous slogan circulating in Corinth.
• 8:31
  Pastor Robert Young: All things are lawful for me.
• 8:34
  Pastor Robert Young: He counters that not everything is beneficial, nor should anything enslave them.
• 8:41
  Pastor Robert Young: Their bodies are not disposable containers.
• 8:45
  Pastor Robert Young: They are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit.
• 8:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Sexual sin is uniquely destructive because it violates the very body God has claimed and dwells in.
• 9:01
  Pastor Robert Young: They were bought with a price, so they must glorify God in their bodies.
• 9:09
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take five minutes to reflect on this question.
• 9:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Where am I tempted to justify harmful habits or attitudes under the banner of freedom?
• 9:34
  Pastor Robert Young: And how is the Holy Spirit inviting me to choose what is truly beneficial and holy?
• 9:44
  Pastor Robert Young: My body belongs to the Lord. I choose purity, unity, and Spirit led wisdom, honoring God in every part of my life.
• 15:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Lord, guard my heart from pride, conflict, and compromise.
• 15:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Lord help me to honor you with my body, with my choices, and with my relationships.
• 15:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Strengthen me to seek peace within your family and purity within myself.
• 15:43
  Pastor Robert Young: Lord, let my life reflect the price you paid and the spirit who dwells within me.
• 15:50
  Pastor Robert Young: In Jesus' name. Amen