Laws Of Health. According To God s Word. By Tom Stephens. I. KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS Galatians 1:11-17; Philippians 3:12-14

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1 Laws Of Health According To God s Word By Tom Stephens I. KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS Galatians 1:11-17; Philippians 3: ) But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12) For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13) For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14) And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb and called me through His grace, 16) to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, (Gal. 1: 11-17). In Philippians, Paul says, 12) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3: 12-14). Commentary: Paul, the Apostle, was likely the most relevant, the most awesome man of God since the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Here he gives a portion of his testimony a part that shows us something about himself that many haven t realized about him. He tried very hard to destroy the church of Jesus Christ, by binding Christians hand and foot, taking them to the courts, beating them, imprisonment, and even slaying them. It did not matter to Saul. But here s the point. When Jesus met Paul on the road to Damascus that day (Acts 9), Paul did not question God. He gave his whole self to the Lord (to make the story really short) in minutes of meeting Him. This is the most awesome event of true salvation written in the Word of God. Jesus presence on the scene blinded Paul where he had to have his fellow travelers guide him into the city. So God speaks to His priest Ananias and tells him He wants him (Ananias) to go to a street called Straight. There s a man there praying called Saul of Tarsus. I want you to go to that house and pray for Saul, that he receive his sight. Of course, everyone knew Saul was a persecutor of the Church, and the Christians were afraid for their lives. Therefore, Ananias argued with the Lord; but here s what the Lord told Ananias: God said to Ananias, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name s sake. So Ananias did pray for Saul, and for his sight. It was at this time Saul was healed, Filled with the precious Holy Spirit (at least three days after he was saved on the road to Damascus), and received his sight. Christ had spoken to Ananias to do these things with Saul, but here s the amazing thing about Saul s calling to minister God s Word. He never, no not one time, ever went to Bible College; he did not go to any man for his Christian education. Fact is, the New Testament epistles were not written at the time. The miracle? Well, the Holy Spirit led Paul into the desert where he remained for the most part of three (3) years (in Arabia). The Holy Spirit stayed with Saul, as he remained in prayer and fasting. Literally, Saul learned all the Church Doctrines from supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit. Don t believe me? Read it for yourself. It s clear that not one word was on paper concerning these doctrines before Saul. I suppose all the major doctrines written in the epistles of the New Testament were written in Paul s epistles. Church doctrine was basically written by Paul; the other Apostles continued in the teaching of these. What s this about Paul s testimony? Well, Paul is the best example of the Christian not leaning too heavily on man. He didn t. So now you know. Paul, by the Holy Spirit was supernaturally

2 taught the doctrines he later wrote. God sanctioned these epistles, and they became a permanent part of the Word of God. Remember the text above? Paul himself claimed he never met with men after Ananias prayer. He testified that he went immediately to Arabia where the Spirit taught him the doctrines of the Church those we read each day in the New Testament. You see, we only need the Holy Spirit to aid us in not being deceived but in order to find the revelations freely given you and I by His Spirit we must have a genuine, working relationship with the Saviour, Jesus Christ. Paul, a brand new Christian, knew he did not need to confer with man. God was all he needed. How about you. Paul, in Philippians 3: 12-14, speaks of the resurrection of Christ and desires to attain that same resurrection by his continued walk in Power walk in the Holy Spirit. In realizing this great possibility/opportunity for a blessed eternity, Paul is leaving the past behind and looking to the eternal things of God s plan for us. Therefore, pressing toward the goal for the prize of the highest calling possible in Christ Jesus would remain to be his reaching out. How about you, my friend. Do you reach out to Christ more than to any man? II. LOCK THE DOOR TO THE ENEMY (SATAN) Luke 11: ) When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, I will return to my house from which I came. 25) And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26) Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worst than the first. Commentary: unclean spirits leave our physical bodies (the flesh) when we are saved. I know that because the Word of God tells us that only Jesus, by His precious blood, can wash away all our past sin, and fully cleanse us. Once that work of the Holy Spirit is done, It becomes our responsibility to continue in Him by learning the Word of God and understanding what God is saying to us. If we do not know what the Word says, we will soon fall away (see Matthew 13, etc.), and that s when this portion of scripture speaks to us (Luke 11:24-26 The parable of the Sower). Why do we fall away? Because we are no longer interested in the things of God (You ll find the reasons for lack of interest in the parable of the Sower. Therefore, it is not only important to read and understand the Word, but it is also extremely important to have a personal relationship with the Father through prayer in Jesus name. You should always be aware that many are not coming to Christ; therefore, God may have chosen you to tell them how to come to Jesus. Because the winning of souls is at the top of God s list of things we are called to do, we should be trying to win souls. But first, remember to have your meditations and prayers up to date, and on time. You know. Be instant in season and out of season. Always be ready to give a godly response to those who question you about spiritual things. Here s a testimony about a female who was raised in the church. She was on fire for the Lord. But hers was a dysfunctional family. A war zone. That s no atmosphere for any Christian (you might expect this in the world). When we are saved and brought out of the miry clay by God s Holy Spirit, then it is a very serious error to fall away. Here s why. Satan hates God. He hates the triune Godhead, and because of that, he wants to destroy everything of a righteous nature. That means you, Christian! He hates you so much that when he feels he has defeated you solidly enough that you fall away, he sends the original demon back to you; then he sends seven other demons, more evil than the original ones to you. No, they aren t there to serve you ice cream and cake. They take over your mind and your body. He wants to kill you. Without the power and authority which Christ gave to His Church on the day of Pentecost (to destroy the works of the devil, and minister His Word with power and authority over all the evil wiles of the devil), you haven t any chance whatsoever. None! All s been said that I can say. Heed my lesson to you this date. Come to Christ with great vigor (like Paul of Tarsus did), and looking to heaven, set your goal highup. And do not forge to Look up; for your redemption draws nigh). Our redemption is not yet complete.

3 III. BEING HONEST AND HUMBLE BEFORE GOD 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Commentary: Obviously, God is speaking only about His own people those who are deeply in love with Him and are fully committed to walking side by side with Him. Are we called by His Name? Really? Many who really know nothing about Him claim His name, yet do not feel comfortable being in His presence, for they feel like He is always judging them. They want to do the things He asks of them, but because their sin overcomes them, they do not want to be in His presence. In that case, this portion is not speaking about you. You are not a born again Christian. How do I know? Because you do not have the fruits of the Spirit growing up in you. Therefore, you do not know Jesus as your own Saviour. But those who Loves Him He also knows them, and trusts them to continue in Him and walk daily very close to Him. Therefore, He says to us who do love Him, If you, My child, will humble yourself (I won t have to judge you), and if you will continue to pray and seek My face, and, by all means, listen to the things Paul teaches in the Word concerning sin. I say do not sin. Let sin not continue to have dominion over you. Do not sin because you have My grace. My grace will not cover sin. Only My precious, flowing blood can do that for you. My child, if you will do these things I have asked of you, here s what I will do for you. I will hear you when you pray to Me in My Son s name. I will not only hear you, but I will also forgive all your sin and I will heal both you and your land. I will even go farther than that. I will help you to grow in the fruits of My Spirit. I will pour out on you My precious Spirit so you will have the authority over the enemy of your soul, and minister to others by the power of the Holy Ghost! Now hear Me, for I am worthy of all these things; and because I am worthy and am full of grace, I will also make you worthy to be included in MY eternity to live eternally with me and all who have served me before you and after you. I want you to know how very much I love you. My Word is a letter of agape love sent to you as an individual. If you accept Me and love Me, then this is your letter directly from Me. Now, be strong in all My might, and I will see you soon if you do these things. IV. THE DOMINION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Galatians 5: ) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (to do).18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:16-18) 7) Now, in the following chapter of Galatians, Paul emphasizes walking in the Spirit: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will reap. 8) For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (Galatians 6: 7,8). Commentary: This portion of scripture explains, along with multiple other scriptures, the 7 th chapter of Romans, in that Paul is commanding us to walk in the Spirit in order that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. He continues by stating that the Spirit and the flesh are mortal enemies; and when we fail Paul s continuing exhortations to walk In The Spirit, we then cannot do what we Know we must do to Walk in the Spirit ; and on the other hand, we are forced to do what we know we should not do. I will repeat that If we do not walk after the Spirit, then we are in the flesh and that causes us to be as the man in Romans Seven who found it impossible to walk in the Spirit, and resist sin. The man who fails to walk in the Spirit is in the flesh and that s being under the law. If we do not walk in the Spirit, we cannot (it is impossible to) please God; nor are we any part of Him (God) and that s scary. Paul then, in verse 18, says, But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. What Paul is saying in verse 18 is this: Those who are walking in the Spirit on a daily basis are fully in grace and are pleasing to the Lord because they understand that satan cannot force them to do things that the Word of God describes as sin. In other words, walking in the Spirit is the Godly walk; but walking in the flesh is the ungodly way

4 to walk, and you will keep on sinning. You are under the law, and not under grace. You will continue to sin on a habitual basis because you do not know Who the Holy Spirit is, and you do not have the power in yourself to say NO! to the enemy of your soul. So, do it the way Paul asked. Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Now, considering Galatians 6: 7,8, I want to ask a question. If one man who claims Christ sows in the flesh and reaps corruption; and his best Christian friend sows in the Spirit, tell me which man will find eternal life awaiting him at judgment? Paul is speaking about opposites corruption vs. eternal life shouldn t you believe that the man who sows in the flesh and reaps corruption will be judged guilty by Christ when he dies, and that judgment being eternal loss? V. BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING Proverb 26:2; Matt. 6:25-34; Matt.14:27; Phil. 4:6 25) Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26) Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27) Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28) So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29) and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31) Therefore, do not worry, saying, What hall we eat? Or What shall we drink or What shall we wear? 32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things. 33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6: 25-34). In Philippians 4:6, Paul says, 6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. (Phil. 4:6). There. That should take care of that commentary. Jesus and Paul stated it very clearly! VI. TEMPERANCE IN EATING Daniel 1:8, 11-17; 1 Corinthians 9:25 8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 11) So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12) Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13) Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants. 14) So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15) And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king s delicacies. 16) Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17) As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 25) And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Commentary: Daniel s refusal to eat the king s delicacies (red meats, rich food and wine) was accredited to three things there were problems with the king s menu. First, It included food forbidden by the Law and food not prepared not according to Mosaic regulations (see Leviticus 11), Second, the meat probably was dedicated to idols, as was customary in Babylon; to partake of the food would have been to recognize the idols as deities. And Third, the four young men were concerned about their overall health. In our nation today, we would consider what sort of harm the wrong kinds of foods, such as red meat, certain delicacies, and of course alcoholic beverages might be doing to our bodies. The verses 11 through 17 indicated strongly that it was not just a problem for the Mosaic Law and cooking practices; it was a real concern health wise. The test obviously proved the vegetables and water

5 consumed by the four young men did, in fact, improve their features in appearing better and fatter in the flesh over all the others who did consume the king s delicacies, simply by consuming the vegetables and water! In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul is saying something like this: As Christians, we are fighting to win the race, and therefore reach out for the mark of the highest calling of God in Christ Jesus! But there s a great difference in world athletes and we who are setting eternal goals. The goal of athletes are to obtain a perishable crown on this earth; but we who serve the Lord, an imperishable Crown. So brethren, what are we doing to be temperate in all things? VII. REST, BE GOOD TO YOUR BODY Ex.16:28-30; Mk.6:30, 31; and Rom.12:1; 14:5 30) Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31) And He said to them, Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest awhile. 1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. 2) And be ye not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Commentary: Mark 6:30, 31 The Apostles were exhausted, as was Jesus. Many had been coming and going. They, including Jesus, did not even have time to eat, as the multitudes were breaking in on them. This was the situation when the Apostles returned to Jesus to report their individual ministries of miracles and healings among the people. As the Apostles excitedly gathered around Jesus to give their reports. It seemed to me in reading from the NKJV that these soon to be men of God, turning the world upside down, were filled with the joy of the Spirit of Christ, even then. It s awesome simply knowing I belong! Romans 12:1, 2 There s even a finer way to rest in our bodies. Just commit the flesh to Christ Jesus and put away the things of the world. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:16, 17, And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore Come out from among the And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty. Now, Paul encourages us to, under the mercies of God, present our bodies as a living sacrifice which is holy, acceptable to God. This is our most reasonable service as His children. But He requires more that that and that is reasonable. We must put away the sin in our lives because if we walk in the Spirit, we are no longer under the law. (Gal. 5:16-23). Do not allow your flesh to be conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of His precious Spirit, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Oh, brother and sister in the Lord. Do not allow satan, the enemy of your soul trap you into believing destructive lies about Paul concerning this topic, for there s no place written by Paul the Apostle or any other apostle that indicates in any way that we cannot stop sinning! The other Apostles do not teach that false doctrine; neither did Jesus Himself teach that. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it (Romans 6:12) For sin shall not have dominion over you. (Romans 6:14) Blessings to you Tom Stephens (Numbers 6:22-27)