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Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000043A
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00:26 I'd like to welcome you here once again,
00:28 from wherever you're watching 00:30 or listening around the world to this six part series. 00:33 This is part five, "End-Time Living, 00:38 Loyalty and Love towards God." 00:41 And today's topic is "Happy and Healthy." 00:43 I want to welcome those who are here today 00:46 to this very important topic, one of my favorites. 00:50 So, I'm going to really look forward 00:52 to going through this message together with us here 00:55 and wherever you may be, 00:57 there's a lot of important information to cover, 01:00 and I'm going to do my best to cover 01:02 as much of it as possible in the time 01:05 that we have remaining. 01:06 As I've pointed out, our title is 01:09 "Happy and Healthy," 01:10 and wherever you may be in your journey in health, 01:14 I'm going to encourage you to go 01:16 to the next step in your journey, 01:17 and I know that this will be a wonderful blessing. 01:20 Well, I'm going to share some good news and some bad news. 01:23 Which one do you want to hear first, 01:25 the good news or the bad news? 01:26 Good news. All right, the good news. 01:27 Let's start off with the good news. 01:29 Here's the good news. 01:30 The good news is that our life 01:33 expectancy has improved globally 01:37 over the last number of years in particular 01:40 in the last century, in the 20th century. 01:44 As you can see from this graph, 01:46 the life expectancy has been rising and rising. 01:50 However, here is the bad news. 01:52 The bad news is this. 01:54 And that is according to this ABC News article, 01:58 August 28, 2015. 02:00 The title, "Global life expectancy rises, 02:03 but research shows people just leave sicker for longer." 02:08 Notice these words from the article, 02:10 "People around the world are living longer, 02:13 but many are also living sicker lives for longer, 02:16 according to a study of all major diseases 02:19 and injuries in 188 countries." 02:23 Let me share with you some more data. 02:26 This was from another ABC News article, 02:29 November 14, 2019. 02:31 The headline, "Chart of the day: 02:34 Half the world's deaths 02:35 are from four preventable factors". 02:38 There were some 57 million people 02:40 that died in 2017. 02:43 And notice how they died. 02:45 "The deadliest things on the planet aren't guns, 02:48 sharks or even road accidents." 02:50 That's what we hear on the news, don't we? 02:51 We hear about these things on the news, 02:53 but notice the things that kill us. 02:56 "Of all the things that killed people last year," 02:59 as I pointed out some 57 million people died in 2017. 03:04 "More than half of deaths are attributed to just four," 03:08 that very important word preventable risk factors. 03:11 We're going to come across that word over and over again. 03:14 "And those four factors are high blood pressure, 03:17 smoking, high blood glucose and high body mass index 03:21 according to a series of reports published 03:24 in The Lancet," 03:25 which is one of the most prestigious 03:28 and respected medical journals. 03:30 So what is killing us is preventable 03:34 for more than half the population. 03:39 Let's bring it closer to home, that was worldwide. 03:42 Now let's bring it closer to home. 03:43 Let's take a look at Australia's health report card. 03:47 Are you ready for this? 03:49 Have you got your seat belts on? 03:50 Are you ready? 03:51 Well, here we go, ready or not, 03:53 I'm going to share with you. 03:54 This is from the Australian 03:55 Institute of Health and Welfare. 03:57 This is a biannual government 04:00 sponsored program that, 04:05 that looks to take a look at where we are in health. 04:08 This is a summary from this media release 04:12 back in June 20, 2018. 04:16 So this is in Australia. 04:18 "Half of Australians have 04:19 a common chronic health condition, 04:21 such as diabetes, heart disease, 04:23 a mental illness, or cancer. 04:25 Importantly, almost a quarter of us have 04:28 two or more of these conditions, 04:30 often making our experiences of health 04:33 and healthcare particularly complex." 04:36 Secondly, "Many chronic health conditions 04:38 share common preventable risk factors such as smoking, 04:41 excessive alcohol consumption, 04:43 and not getting enough exercise. 04:45 In fact, around one-third 04:47 of our nation's 'disease burden' 04:49 is due to" what's that word? 04:51 "Preventable risk factors." There is that word again. 04:55 "Sixty three percent of Australians, 18 years 04:57 or over are overweight or obese." 05:01 And finally, "Health spending continues to rise, 05:05 reaching 170 billion dollars in 2015 and 16 05:09 and outstripping population growth." 05:11 So that is our report card here in Australia. 05:16 Now there is a significant 05:17 health crisis in the area of diabetes, 05:22 Type 2 diabetes in particular. 05:24 Notice this headline, 05:26 ABC News article September 4, 2018. 05:29 "Type 2 diabetes: Understanding Australia's 05:33 fastest growing chronic condition." 05:36 That is lifestyle related, 05:38 Type 2 diabetes is lifestyle related. 05:41 All the evidence is in, 80 to 85 to possibly 90% 05:47 of the 2 million Australians that suffer from diabetes 05:51 today are affected by Type 2 diabetes, 05:55 which is by and large lifestyle related. 05:59 And as the headline points out, 06:00 it's Australia's fastest growing chronic condition. 06:05 Now is that God's plan for you and I? 06:08 I don't think so. 06:09 Notice what Jesus had to say in John 10:10, 06:12 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, 06:15 and to destroy." 06:16 And who do you think the thief might be? 06:19 That's the enemy. That's the devil himself. 06:21 That's his aim. 06:22 That's his plan for you and I, to steal, 06:24 kill and destroy our health and our well-being. 06:27 But Jesus says, "I have come that they may have," what? 06:31 "Life, and that they may have it more," what? 06:34 "Abundantly." John 10:10. 06:36 So that's God's plan for us. 06:38 God's plan for us is to enjoy the abundant life. 06:42 I like to put it this way. 06:43 God's promise of an abundant life 06:46 is not only about quantity, but about quality of life. 06:51 As far as I'm concerned, what I'm focused on 06:54 more than anything else is quality of life. 06:58 I would rather have 60 or 50 good quality 07:02 and healthy years than have 70 or more years, 07:06 where I'm suffering chronic pain 07:08 and having chronic health issues. 07:11 But God's plan is that we will have both, 07:14 that you can have your cake and eat it too. 07:16 Maybe that's not a good way of putting it. 07:19 Happy and healthy guy can eat it too. 07:22 God wants us to enjoy quantity and quality of years. 07:28 So how can we do that? 07:30 We're going to pray and we gonna once again 07:32 go to God's instruction manual, the Bible, 07:36 to discover the secret 07:38 to how we can enjoy happy and healthy living. 07:42 Amen? Let's pray. 07:44 Father in heaven, we once again before 07:46 we open Your Word, we ask and pray that 07:49 You give us understanding so that as we open Your Word, 07:52 You will open our hearts and our minds and enable us 07:55 to understand what Your plan is for us that 07:59 we may enjoy the abundant life experience 08:03 that you have for each and every person. 08:04 So wherever we may be watching or listening from, 08:08 we pray that this will be a blessing, 08:11 a life changing blessing. 08:12 And this is our prayer in Jesus' name. 08:15 Amen. Amen. 08:19 Let's go and take a look 08:22 at the World Health Organization, 08:24 1948 definition for health. 08:27 The World Health Organization defines health 08:30 in the following way. 08:31 "Health is a state of complete physical, 08:33 mental and social well-being 08:35 and not merely the absence of diseas 08:37 or infirmity." 08:39 With all due respect 08:40 to the World Health Organization definition, 08:42 I believe that it is lacking one all important element. 08:45 And so if I was to share a definition on health, 08:50 and I believe it's very much backed up by 08:53 solid strong evidence, 08:55 this is what I would include. 08:56 Here is my definition. 08:58 "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social," 09:01 and what's that word? 09:02 "Spiritual well-being and not merely 09:04 the absence of disease or infirmity." 09:08 The truth is, you and I have been 09:11 created with this four dimensional 09:14 aspect of health and well-being. 09:16 Notice what we read in Luke 2:52 regarding Jesus, 09:20 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, 09:23 and in favor with God and men." 09:26 Here we have four dimensional living. 09:28 Let me share with you as we take a look at 09:32 that scripture again. 09:33 Wisdom is what? 09:35 Mental health and well-being, 09:38 stature, physical health and well-being, 09:41 with God, that spiritual health 09:43 and well-being, and finally with men, 09:45 that social health and well-being, 09:47 all four of these are important. 09:49 And along with mental, 09:51 I would also include emotional health 09:53 and well-being, the two go hand in hand. 09:57 Now as we take a look at the all important 10:00 four dimensional living, notice what we discover. 10:04 That at the very beginning of time in Genesis 1:27, 10:07 we discovered that "God created man 10:10 in His own image, in the image of God, 10:12 He created him, 10:13 male and female He created them." 10:15 So as Jesus excelled 10:17 in these four dimensions of life, 10:20 the mental and emotional, the spiritual, 10:22 the social and the physical, so too God created us 10:26 in His image, that we too would excel 10:29 in the same four dimensions. 10:34 Optimum health and well-being is to be 10:37 discovered in God's four dimensional plan 10:39 for a happy and healthy life, 10:41 physical, mental, social, and spiritual. 10:45 Let me share with you this very popular, 10:50 one of the most popular editions 10:51 of National Geographic back in November 2005, 10:56 entitled "The Secrets of Living Longer." 11:00 And here on the front cover, we have a picture 11:03 of this 84 year old Japanese man, 11:07 Fumiyasu Yamakawa, how did I go? 11:12 About 3 out of 10. 11:15 He is 84 years old. 11:17 And yes, he's standing on his head. 11:19 He is doing some exercises 11:21 and he is preparing for a decathlon 11:25 or a heptathlon. 11:26 And guess what his favorite activities are? 11:29 High Jump and pole vault. 11:31 How many of you would like to attempt high jump 11:33 and pole vault at 84? 11:35 Okay, I would. 11:38 Now it's fascinating how this article begins. 11:42 Notice how this Time, sorry, 11:44 this National Geographic article 11:48 on the Secrets to Living Longer begins. 11:51 The article by Dan Beuttner 11:53 who researched the happiest 11:55 and the healthiest people on the planet. 11:56 And we'll get to that as we go along. 11:58 He says. 11:59 "What if I said to you, 12:00 you could add up to ten years to your life? 12:02 A long healthy life is no accident. 12:04 It begins with good genes, 12:06 but it also depends on good habits. 12:08 If you adopt the right lifestyle, 12:10 experts say, chances are you may live up 12:12 to a decade longer. 12:14 So what's the formula for success? 12:16 In recent years researchers have fanned out 12:18 across the globe to find the secrets to long life. 12:21 The first three regions 12:22 where people are living significantly longer, 12:25 produce a high rate of centenarians, 12:28 suffer a fraction of the diseases 12:30 that commonly kill people in other parts 12:31 of the developed world, 12:33 and enjoy more happy and healthy years. 12:36 Hence my title. 12:38 They are to be found in Sardinia, Italy, Okinawa, 12:41 Japan, and Loma Linda, California." 12:44 Now, this group of people has been added to 12:50 by two other groups. 12:52 And another one is to be found in Nicoya, 12:54 Costa Rica as you can see there on the map 12:56 and another one being Ikaria, Greece. 12:59 Now, the fascinating group, 13:01 the most fascinating group of these five 13:03 is the group in Loma Linda, California. 13:06 Now, what's so fascinating about them, you ask? 13:08 Well, we'll get to that in just a moment. 13:10 But before that, a number of books 13:13 have been written by Dan Beuttner 13:15 on this very subject 13:17 that he has been studying now for a number of years. 13:20 The Blue Zones Solution, The Blue Zones of Happiness, 13:24 The Blue Zones, Thrive, Finding Happiness, 13:28 The Blue Zones Way. 13:29 Now you might be thinking, 13:30 "What's these Blue Zones business all about? 13:32 Why are they called Blue Zones?" 13:34 Well simply put, when the researchers 13:37 fanned out across the globe, 13:38 and they wanted to find out the places 13:41 in the world where people live the happiest 13:43 and the healthiest 13:45 where they suffer the least disease, 13:46 and they live the longest. 13:49 What they did, every time they came across a group, 13:51 a significant group, 13:53 they would put a blue circle on the map 13:56 to designate where they came from. 13:58 And so these people became known as the Blue Zones people. 14:03 And so, that's how they got their name. 14:06 Now, another National Geographic magazine 14:10 in 2016 Special Edition came out, 14:14 and it was entitled, Blue Zones, 14:16 The Science Of Living Longer. 14:18 So now, researchers and scientists have been 14:22 working hard to find out what is it? 14:26 What is it that brings these people to a point 14:29 of living long and living well? 14:33 That is what they have sought to find out, 14:35 what are the key ingredients. 14:38 Time magazine back in February 26, 2018, 14:42 also featured on this very powerful phenomena. 14:49 And the title was, How to Live Longer Better, 14:53 How to Live Longer Better. 14:55 And so I want to share with you 14:56 some of the conclusions that these researchers discovered, 15:02 Dan Beuttner and others regarding 15:04 what makes these people tick. 15:07 Why do these people that live in these communities 15:10 live significantly longer and live without 15:13 the chronic diseases that affect 15:17 most people in the world, 15:18 in particular, the Western world. 15:20 And there are eight key areas that I have discovered 15:23 as I've examined the evidence, and here they are. 15:26 All five groups had the following in common, 15:28 there are differences between the groups, 15:30 but these eight points they all had in common. 15:33 Predominantly, they eat fruits, nuts, 15:36 vegetables, and whole grains. 15:37 Secondly, they have constant moderate physical activity. 15:41 They have a positive outlook, they have strong purpose. 15:45 Family is a priority. 15:47 Social engagement is also another high priority, 15:52 and they take time to rest and relax. 15:54 And finally, every single one of the five groups 15:57 have spiritual faith lived out in community. 16:01 And as I took a look at these eight points, 16:03 guess what I discovered? 16:05 They all fit within 16:06 the four dimensional aspect of health 16:10 that God created us at the very beginning. 16:12 Let me put them up on the screen, the physical. 16:15 The first two points, look at our physical health 16:18 and well-being, mental. 16:20 The next two, positive outlook 16:22 and having a strong purpose focus on mental health 16:25 and well-being. 16:26 Priority of family and social engagement, 16:28 that taps into the social aspect of our lives. 16:33 And finally, taking time to rest and relax 16:36 and spiritual faith lived out in community, 16:39 is all focused on spiritual health 16:40 and well-being. 16:42 So these five groups, 16:44 they are living in four dimensional life 16:48 that God has instructed in His Word, 16:51 which is optimum which provides for that 16:53 abundant health and lifestyle. 16:57 Now you may be asking the question, 16:59 if only I was born in a Blue Zone? 17:02 Wouldn't it be nice to be born in a Blue Zone? 17:06 Well, I have good news for you. 17:08 Are you ready for the good news? 17:10 Who came here to hear some good news? 17:12 If you came here to hear some good news, 17:13 you, it's your lucky day. 17:15 Oh, it's your blessed day I should say. 17:17 Notice this. 17:20 This is from Dan Beuttner 17:22 in that National Geographic magazine. 17:26 And by the way, I look long and hard 17:29 to get my copy of that magazine, and I got it. 17:33 I don't think you're going to get it off me. 17:35 This was so hard to find but I finally found it, 17:38 and I'm just so pleased and I treasure it. 17:40 It's got some beautiful gems. 17:42 Anyway, this is from Dan Beuttner. 17:43 And notice what he has to say. 17:45 "To make it to age 100, 17:47 you have to have won the genetic lottery." 17:49 Yeah, that's true. 17:50 Genetics are very, very important. 17:52 As someone said, "Your bags are packed for you 17:54 before you come into the world." 17:56 However, genetics is only 25% 18:01 in determining your overall health 18:03 and well-being, 75% is your choice. 18:07 So chance 25%, choice is 75%. 18:11 All right, let's keep reading. 18:13 "But most of us have the capacity to make it well 18:16 into our early 90's 18:17 and largely without chronic," what? 18:20 "Disease. As the," who? 18:22 "The Adventists," 18:24 they're that group in Loma Linda, California. 18:27 "As the Adventists demonstrate, 18:28 the average person's life expectancy 18:30 could increase by 10-12 years 18:32 by adopting a Blue Zones lifestyle." 18:35 Well, so the Adventists in Loma Linda, California 18:40 are exhibit A of how you can enjoy 18:44 optimum health and well-being 18:46 by simply following the Blue Zones lifestyle, 18:50 the Blue Zones life. 18:53 And today, we're going to discover 18:55 what the secret is to that Blue Zones life, 18:58 that Adventists all around the world 18:59 have discovered and many others today, 19:01 Adventists and non Adventists are discovering, 19:04 based on the principles that God gave us 19:06 at the very beginning of time. 19:08 So the question is, 19:09 "What are the secrets to living a happier 19:12 and a healthier life?" 19:13 Do you want to know the answer to that? 19:15 I do. 19:16 Well, as we go back to the Book of Revelation, 19:19 God's final message of love to the world, 19:21 notice these words that we read. 19:24 In Revelation 14:6, 19:26 this is the first angel's message, 19:28 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 19:30 having the everlasting gospel to preach to those 19:32 who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, 19:34 tongue and people." 19:35 So this is a message from God 19:37 for the entire planet that will prepare people 19:39 for the Second Coming of Jesus. 19:41 And notice, we keep reading, verse 7, 19:42 "Saying with a loud voice," 19:44 with that megaphone voice, "Fear God," and do what? 19:48 "And give glory to Him." 19:51 Now, what does it mean to fear God, 19:53 and to give glory to Him? 19:54 What does it mean to give glory to God? 19:57 Well, notice what we read in 1 Corinthians 10:31, 20:01 the Apostle Paul writes, "Therefore, 20:03 whether you eat or drink 20:04 or whatever you do, do it all to," what? 20:07 "The glory of God." 20:08 So we are to eat, and we are to drink 20:12 to the glory of God. 20:14 So if we can eat and drink to the glory of God, 20:17 can we also not eat and drink and live to the glory of God? 20:21 Yes, indeed. 20:23 Now, why is it so important for you and I, 20:26 as those who have decided to follow Christ, 20:30 and to be loving and to be loyal to Jesus 20:33 in an end time context? 20:34 Why is it important for you and I to live our lives 20:37 for the honor and glory of God? 20:39 The last time I checked, according to many, 20:42 it's my life, it's my body, 20:44 and I'll do with it as I please. 20:46 Isn't that the philosophy out there by many? 20:48 Eat, drink and be merry for what? 20:51 Tomorrow you, you die. 20:53 So why should I worry? 20:55 Well, a believer in Jesus Christ, for him or her, 20:59 it's about giving glory to God 21:01 for one very important reason amongst many. 21:04 And here it is. 21:05 In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 21:09 Paul writing to the believers in Corinth that had 21:11 this dualistic belief about the human body 21:15 where the soul was all important, 21:18 and that's all that mattered and didn't matter 21:20 how you treated your body, and he says to them, 21:22 "Or do you not know that 21:23 your body is the temple of," who? 21:26 "Of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, 21:28 whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" 21:30 Why? 21:31 "For you were bought at a," what? 21:33 "At a price, therefore glorify God 21:36 in your body and in your spirit, 21:38 which are," whose? 21:39 "Which are God's." 21:40 So for the believer in Jesus, 21:43 he or she recognizes that this body doesn't belong 21:48 to him or her. 21:49 It's not my body. 21:51 This body was given to me by God as a gift. 21:55 He is the one that has created me, 21:57 He's the one that gives me life and breathe and sustains me. 22:00 And He's inviting me to live my life 22:04 holy for His honor and glory. 22:07 He wants me to be around for as long as possible, 22:10 not for my sake, but for His sake, 22:13 for God's honor and glory that He may use me 22:17 in the greatest possible way for the greatest possible time 22:20 to lead others to Him. 22:23 Does that make sense, yes or no? 22:24 That is why I have a keen interest in health, 22:27 not because I want to necessarily live 22:29 10 to 12 years longer, that would be lovely. 22:31 But my aim is to glorify God, that God can use me 22:35 in the best possible way for the longest possible time 22:38 to draw as many people to Jesus 22:40 as I possibly can through His strength. 22:42 Amen? That's the whole point. 22:47 The whole point is to fear God and give glory to Him 22:51 and worship Him, 22:53 as that first angel's message says, 22:55 "Who made heaven and earth, 22:56 the sea and the springs of water." 22:58 He is our Creator. 22:59 God is our Creator. 23:01 So how did He make us? 23:02 Let's go to the very beginning of time. 23:05 Let's go to the Book of Genesis, 23:07 where God created Adam and Eve, 23:09 and notice what the Bible says. 23:12 In Genesis 2:8, "The Lord God planted a garden eastward in," 23:17 where, "In Eden, and there He put the man 23:19 and the woman whom He had formed." 23:22 Now notice that word Eden, I looked up that word Eden, 23:26 and the original word Eden in the Hebrew means pleasure 23:30 and delight, and I love that. 23:32 I love that. 23:34 God placed Adam and Eve in a garden 23:37 that was filled with pleasure and what? 23:39 Delight. 23:40 Does that sound like the abundant life 23:42 that God has in store for each and every person? 23:45 Yes, it does. 23:46 God's original plan was for Adam and Eve 23:49 to enjoy communion with one another, 23:53 to enjoy communion with their Creator, 23:56 to enjoy the natural surroundings. 23:59 The animals, and the plants, and the trees, 24:03 and everything God created. 24:05 God created Adam and Eve in a holistic sense 24:09 to enjoy the blessings 24:11 in the four dimensions of health 24:14 and well-being right at the very beginning of time. 24:17 Now when it comes to die, when it comes to fuel, 24:21 what kind of fuel did God gift Adam and Eve? 24:24 When He created them, did He give them 24:26 an instruction manual, as you receive 24:29 when you get a brand new car? 24:30 The answer is yes. The answer is yes. 24:33 Notice what we read. 24:35 Eight powerful secrets to better 24:37 and long-lasting health direct from the Garden of Eden. 24:41 And they begin with this acronym, 24:46 this acronym NEWSTART, popularized by 24:49 a health institute there in the United States of America 24:53 in a place called Weimar in an area 24:57 near the Blue Zones. 24:58 And Weimar back in 1978, if I remember correctly, 25:03 popularized this acronym NEWSTART, 25:06 that stands for total health and well-being. 25:10 As healthy as we can possibly be in this sin sick world 25:15 that we live in, where we just never know 25:17 what's around the corner. 25:19 But how we can enjoy the optimum health 25:21 that God has for us, NEWSTART. 25:23 And that's what we want to take a look at today. 25:25 And we're going to take a look at these eight laws of health 25:28 that don't come to us, originally from Weimar. 25:30 Weimar, there in 25:32 the United States in California, 25:33 they simply took these principles 25:35 straight out of the Garden of Eden. 25:38 And we'll discover who 25:39 more than a century ago popularized 25:42 what we're about to take a look at 25:44 in just a moment. 25:45 So the end, let's start off with the end. 25:48 Well, this new creation, let's talk about that 25:50 for a moment before I run ahead. 25:52 We're in 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Apostle Paul writes, 25:55 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ," 25:57 he is a what kind of creation? 25:58 "A new creation, old things have passed away, 26:00 behold, all things have become new." 26:02 So this is an opportunity for us to have a new start. 26:06 This is an opportunity for us to make a new beginning. 26:09 So wherever you may be in your journey of health, 26:13 this is an opportunity to make a new start. 26:15 God is in the business of recreating, 26:18 He's in the business of new creation. 26:21 That's what God wants to do, in and for all of us, 26:24 wherever you may be watching or listening 26:26 or those who are here, 26:27 this is an opportunity for us to get on board 26:30 with God's plan for us for optimal health and happiness. 26:35 So let's take a look at that first letter in the acronym N, 26:40 which stands for nutrition. 26:41 We're going to spend most of our time on nutrition 26:44 because nutrition makes up about 70 to 80% 26:47 of our overall health and well-being. 26:49 The majority of the reasons why we suffer 26:54 all these chronic health conditions 26:57 that are detrimental to our health 26:58 and well-being is due to what we put in our mouths. 27:02 So we're going to spend most of our time on that. 27:04 But we're also going to take a look 27:05 at the seven other points. 27:06 Now when it comes to nutrition, 27:08 notice what God gave to Adam and Eve. 27:10 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb 27:14 that yields seed 27:15 which is on the face of all the earth, 27:17 and every tree whose fruit yield seed, 27:19 to you it shall be," what? 27:21 "For food," Genesis 1:29. 27:22 So at the very beginning of time, 27:24 God gave to Adam and Eve, nuts, fruits and grains. 27:28 It was a seed diet. 27:31 After the fall and after they sinned, 27:34 God added one other dimension to their diet. 27:37 And here we have it. 27:38 In Genesis 3:18, we read, 27:41 "Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you 27:43 and you shall eat the," what? 27:45 "The herb of the field." 27:47 And the herb of the field 27:48 there is in reference to vegetables. 27:49 So the original diet of man was nuts, fruits, 27:53 and vegetables, nuts, fruits and grains 27:56 with vegetables added. 27:57 So as you can take a look at these mouth watering pictures, 28:00 and are your saliva glands moved into gear? 28:06 As we take a look at this beautiful fruit, 28:08 as we take a look at the grains, 28:10 the nuts and the grains that Jesus' given, 28:13 that God has given to us, the beautiful vegetables. 28:15 This was God's original diet. 28:18 And today we have discovered 28:23 through science conclusive 28:25 scientific studies that 28:27 "We were created by God to operate 28:30 at peak efficiency and maximum longevity 28:33 on a natural plant based diet." 28:35 The evidence is in today. 28:37 When you read National Geographic, 28:41 when you read other magazines on this very topic, 28:44 when you take a look at the research, 28:46 the evidence is in that the best way forward 28:50 for health and longevity is a plant based diet. 28:55 Now, one of the best, one of the most 28:59 comprehensive studies that 29:02 has ever probably that has been 29:04 conducted is called The China Study. 29:08 The China Study, as it says there in that subheading, 29:13 just above the title. 29:14 It's the most comprehensive study 29:17 of nutrition ever conducted by 29:19 a father and son combination, T Colin Campbell 29:24 and Thomas Campbell, two physicians, 29:27 well respected physicians from the United States. 29:30 And notice the subtitle underneath the title, 29:32 Startling Implications for Diet, 29:35 Weight Loss, and Long Term Health. 29:37 I don't have time to take a look at this study in detail, 29:42 but I just want to share with you a summary. 29:45 Notice the summary. 29:47 The China Study examines the relationship between 29:50 the consumption of animal products, 29:52 including dairy and chronic illnesses 29:54 such as coronary heart disease, 29:56 diabetes, breast cancer, 29:58 prostate cancer and bowel cancer. 30:00 Let me ask you, are these cancers 30:03 something that you and I are familiar with today 30:05 in the Western world in particular? 30:07 Anyone heard of these cancers? 30:09 We all have sadly, we have been horribly afflicted 30:13 by these horrible cancers that are snuffing out 30:16 the lives of our loved ones, sadly. 30:20 They go on, the authors conclude, 30:22 "That people who eat a predominantly 30:25 whole plant based diet, avoiding animal products 30:28 as a main source of nutrition, including beef, 30:31 pork, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese and milk, 30:34 and reducing their intake of processed foods 30:37 and refined carbohydrates will escape reduce or," 30:41 what's that word? 30:42 "Reverse the development of numerous diseases?" 30:46 Well, I have good news for you, my friend. 30:49 And that is that God has placed within 30:53 our human mechanism 30:55 an opportunity for those diseases that afflict us, 30:59 that take away that happiness, that joy, 31:02 that abundant life experience that God wants for us. 31:06 They can be reversed. They can be reversed. 31:10 Notice what God promised to the children of Israel 31:13 when He led them out of Egypt. 31:16 This was His incredible promise to the children of Israel. 31:19 Notice these words, in Exodus 23:25, we read, 31:24 "So you shall serve the Lord your God, 31:26 and He will bless your bread and your water. 31:29 And I will do," what? "Take sickness away." 31:32 That's another word. 31:34 That's another phrase for saying, 31:35 "I will reverse from the midst of you," 31:40 diseases, the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians. 31:43 And I don't have time in this presentation 31:46 to share with you the diseases that afflicted the Egyptians. 31:50 But when you take a look at that long list of diseases 31:54 that have been discovered 31:55 by those that have been examining 31:58 and doing autopsies on the Egyptian mummies 32:01 that have been found. 32:03 What the Egyptians died off is what will you and I 32:05 are today dying from 32:07 in the Western world in particular, 32:09 and the world at large today, 32:11 those Western lifestyle related diseases. 32:16 Notice, today we have here in our part of the world 32:21 and in many parts of the world, 32:23 this popular health 32:26 and well-being program called CHIP, 32:29 which stands for the Complete Health 32:31 Improvement Program. 32:33 And you can go to chiphealth.org.au 32:35 to get more information if you live here in Australia, 32:37 or just get to chip health. 32:38 And I'm sure you'll find information 32:40 if you're in North America or wherever you may be. 32:43 This is a powerful program 32:46 and at my church where I pastor, 32:48 we run this program every year with incredible success. 32:51 And this is what this program promises to those who attend 32:55 and are willing to put the principles 32:58 of this lifestyle that we are looking 32:59 at today into practice. 33:02 "CHIP is a proven program that reverses 33:05 the Western world lifestyle diseases 33:07 that we are plagued with as a result 33:10 of poor lifestyle choices and habits." 33:13 What did God say? God said, "I will reverse. 33:17 I will take away the sickness from you 33:20 if you cooperate with Me." 33:22 So what's God want to do? 33:25 He wants to take it away. What do we need to do? 33:27 We need to cooperate with Him and what He has given to us. 33:31 Well, you may be thinking, "Oh, I really like my meat. 33:34 I would like to continue to eat my meat." 33:37 Does the Bible have anything to say about that, 33:40 and there are some parts in the world 33:42 where they don't have 33:45 a wide array of fruits, nuts, vegetables 33:49 and grains such as we do here in Australia. 33:51 In Australia, we are blessed. 33:53 We are blessed as my dad referred to Australia 33:55 when he first came almost 50 years ago, 33:58 he referred to Australia as the land flowing 34:00 with milk and honey. 34:01 And it's true, we are blessed in Australia. 34:04 And in many parts of the Western world, 34:05 we are blessed to have 34:06 a wide array of plant based food. 34:10 But there are places around the world 34:12 where people do not have this array 34:14 and they need to have 34:19 some meat products 34:21 in order to make up for that nutritional intake 34:25 that they so desperately need. 34:26 Well, when it comes to meat, what did God say? 34:29 Let's take a look at what the Bible says. 34:30 In Deuteronomy 14:6, God says, 34:34 when it comes to what you can eat, 34:36 in the area of flesh, God says, 34:39 "And you may eat every animal with cloven," what? 34:42 "Hooves, having the hoof split in two parts, 34:46 and that chews the cud, among the animals." 34:48 So animals that chew the cud and have a split hoof, 34:52 like your beef, your sheep, goats and so forth. 34:58 When it comes to the pig, 35:02 is the pig an animal 35:05 that is good to be eaten, yes or no? 35:07 No. Why? 35:09 Well, it's got a split hoof, but does it chew the cud? 35:11 No, it doesn't. 35:14 Notice, what we read regarding 35:18 the scientific discoveries 35:20 when it comes to eating bacon, 35:24 or eating ham or eating sausages. 35:25 This was ABC News, October 27, 2015. 35:29 The title, bacon, sausages, ham 35:31 and other processed meats are cancer-causing, 35:34 red meat probably is too:" 35:37 World Health Organization. 35:39 Let me read this quickly. 35:41 Underneath, "Processed meats like bacon, 35:43 sausages and hot dogs can cause colon cancer 35:46 and red meat is also a likely cause of the disease. 35:49 World Health Organization experts say, 35:51 in a potentially heavy blow for the global meat agenda, 35:55 meat industry," 35:57 I should say, let's continue on, 35:58 "The analysis of 800 studies, 36:01 now this is not one or two studies, 36:02 these 800 studies from around the world by 36:06 the International Agency for Research on Cancer 36:10 found sufficient evidence in humans, 36:13 that the consumption of processed meat 36:15 causes colorectal cancer. 36:20 Wow! 36:21 So the evidence is in, the evidence is in. 36:27 God said thousands of years ago that the pig is unclean. 36:32 In fact, God says, the pig is an abomination. 36:35 And we've discovered from our previous program, 36:37 God uses that word abomination in order to make it clear 36:43 in the strongest possible way that that is not healthy, 36:46 that is not good, and that is not in your 36:47 best spiritual interest. 36:50 Today, science is finding out what God said 36:54 thousands of years ago in His Word. 36:58 We are continually playing catch up. 37:01 Isn't that right? 37:02 We are continually playing catch up with God. 37:05 God knows what's best. 37:06 He's the one that designed the human body. 37:09 He's the one that made us. 37:11 He's the designer. 37:13 You and I simply need to follow the designer's manual 37:18 for how we can enjoy the best possible life 37:22 in the here and now on this sin sick planet 37:25 that we live in. 37:26 But we can still get the most out of life 37:29 if we cooperate with God. 37:30 Here was the front cover of Time magazine 37:33 shortly after this research came out. 37:37 The war on delicious. 37:40 Talk about a picture telling a thousand words, 37:44 the war on delicious. 37:46 Well, what about when it comes to sea life, 37:49 that which lives in our oceans and rivers and lakes? 37:52 Deuteronomy 14:9, "These you may eat 37:56 of all that are in the waters: 37:57 you may eat all that have," what? 38:00 "Fins and scales." 38:01 Nice and easy, fins and scales. 38:03 So are oysters to end up on your plate? 38:06 No. what about squid? 38:08 No. What about shellfish? 38:11 No. What about crabs? 38:13 No. What about lobster? 38:15 No, no, no, because they're not clean. 38:17 And there are scientific reasons 38:19 why these creatures are not clean, 38:21 which we don't have time to get into today. 38:23 Well, what about when it comes to the bird life? 38:27 God simply says in Deuteronomy 14:11. 38:30 All what kind of birds? "All clean birds you may eat." 38:33 Okay, and when you take a look at the list that God gives, 38:36 we're looking at foraging birds, 38:38 we're not looking at the eagle, or the hawk, 38:43 the carnivore kind of birds. 38:44 We're looking at foraging birds, 38:46 generally speaking like your chicken and your quail, 38:50 your dove, your pigeon. 38:53 Who would want to eat a poor little pigeon? 38:55 How could you? How could you do that? 38:57 But anyway, that's what we're looking at. 38:59 Another very important point that God raises 39:02 and He shares in Leviticus 3:17. 39:04 If you're going to eat meat, you need to have this in mind. 39:08 "This shall be a perpetual statute 39:10 throughout your generations." 39:11 In other word, that word perpetual means 39:13 it's to be eternal. 39:14 It's to be forever. "In all your dwellings: 39:18 you shall eat neither the fat nor the blood." 39:21 God said, "Don't eat the fat," for obvious reasons. 39:26 It's not good for you, is it? 39:27 That's where we have our problems today, don't we? 39:30 The fat, so don't eat the fat. 39:32 Also, the Bible says the fat belongs to the Lord. 39:34 You know, that was something associated 39:36 with the worship service as well, 39:38 but also don't have blood. 39:40 So kosh 'em, and the Jews today 39:43 they eat meat that is kosher. 39:44 And by kosher, there is no fat and there is no blood. 39:48 It's been drained of all of its blood. 39:51 And today we know that blood carries what? 39:55 Disease. 39:56 When you're not feeling well, you go to the doctor 39:58 and the doctor will do what? 40:01 Conduct the blood test, isn't that right? 40:03 Ask you to go to get a blood sample 40:06 and then based on that blood sample, 40:08 the doctor will be able to determine what it is 40:11 that is your problem through a blood sample. 40:13 So God knew what He was doing. 40:15 And so He made that very clear. 40:18 ABC News, June 1, 2018. 40:22 Another reason why a plant based diet 40:26 would be highly, 40:29 highly good for each and every person. 40:31 Would you go vegan to save the planet? 40:33 Researchers say it might be our best option. 40:36 Notice this from this news article. 40:39 The key points: 40:40 Even well-managed meat production 40:42 has a greater environmental impact 40:44 than vegetables, study finds. 40:46 We could cut our agricultural land use 40:48 by 76%, if we got rid of meat. 40:52 Getting rid of the worst producers 40:54 would make a substantial difference. 40:56 Is there a lot of talk today about the environment 40:59 and saving the environment? 41:01 Yes, indeed there is. 41:03 I'm telling you, 41:04 probably the best way, 41:06 the best way to save the environment 41:08 is to go green, 41:10 is to go green as far as a natural plant based diet. 41:15 So I my decision that 41:17 I have made for the sake of the environment, 41:18 for the sake of my health and well-being, 41:20 and that is, 41:22 I asked the question, does it have a mother? 41:23 And if it has a mother, 41:25 I say, "No, I'm not going to eat it." 41:26 So that's all you need to do. 41:28 You need to ask yourself, 41:29 "Does it have a mother?" 41:31 If it has a mother, 41:32 well, it's not the ideal for you? 41:34 Well, let's go to our next letter exercise. 41:38 Notice what God did for Adam and Eve. 41:41 He placed them in the garden, the Bible says, 41:43 and in Genesis 2:15, 41:45 we read, "Then the Lord God took the man 41:47 and put him in the Garden of Eden to," do what? 41:50 "To tend and to keep it." 41:51 So exercise very, very important, 41:53 extremely important. 41:55 Let's move to our next point. 41:57 Water. 41:58 Was there water in the Garden of Eden? 42:01 Yes, there was, there was a River Euphrates, 42:03 the Bible says and it parted into four rivers 42:06 that was running through the midst 42:08 of the Garden of Eden. 42:10 So water is very important and you and I, we need water. 42:13 We need a good amount of water, 42:15 a couple of liters a day at least 42:17 is what most people need. 42:19 Let's go to our next 42:22 health nugget, 42:24 our next secret to health 42:26 and that is sunlight. 42:27 Is sunlight important? 42:29 Yes, indeed it is. 42:31 God gave us the sun 42:33 in order to provide health and well-being, 42:35 and the sun is just so important. 42:36 And I don't have time to get into all these 42:38 'cause we just don't have the time 42:40 but you can, you can look that up for yourself. 42:42 The next one is temperance. 42:43 Now, what is temperance? 42:45 Temperance is an old fashioned word. 42:46 We don't generally use that word today, 42:48 temperance. 42:50 It simply means moderation in all things. 42:54 And I would like to add all things that are good. 42:57 Moderation in all things that are good. 42:59 You know, how having a balanced diet 43:01 is temperance. 43:03 You know, you can eat, 43:05 you know, a kilogram of nuts a day, 43:08 but is that necessarily good for you? 43:09 No, or you can just live on fruit? 43:12 And that's not very good for you either. 43:14 And there are some fruitarians out there 43:15 that just live on fruit, 43:17 but that's not a balanced diet. 43:18 So temperance is about having a balanced diet, 43:21 having a balanced lifestyle. 43:24 Now let me put up a few things 43:25 that may cause a bit of indigestion. 43:28 This, excuse the pun, 43:30 this one here is drugs. 43:32 Is God's plan for us to have drugs? 43:34 No, no. 43:36 Now drugs, drugs come in all shapes and sizes. 43:39 Here is another drug. 43:42 And that is tobacco. 43:43 Tobacco sadly, 43:45 takes the life of sadly way too many people 43:47 each and every year, millions and millions of people 43:49 around the year. 43:51 And now can you give up smoking? 43:53 Can you be free from drugs? 43:56 Indeed. 43:57 Philippians 4:13 says, 43:58 "I can do all things through Christ 44:00 who strengthens me." 44:02 Here's another one. Here's a very popular one. 44:04 This is an extremely popular one 44:06 in all the world, 44:08 not just here in Australia, but throughout the world, 44:10 and that is alcohol. 44:12 Alcohol today is seen as, 44:17 as a necessary evil 44:20 in the minds of many. 44:21 Most people, I believe, 44:23 understand and believe 44:24 that alcohol is not good for you. 44:26 There are plenty of research studies today 44:28 that indicate that 44:30 even one glass of alcohol is no good for you. 44:33 But alcohol... 44:36 What does alcohol do? 44:37 It affects many parts of our body, 44:41 but in particular, it affects that one organ 44:44 that God communicates His truth to us, 44:47 and that is what? 44:48 Our minds, our minds. 44:51 Who wants to affect our minds? 44:53 Who is it that wants to confuse our minds? 44:55 Who is it that wants our minds not functioning 44:58 in a clear manner, 45:00 especially those who are preparing 45:01 for the coming of Jesus? 45:03 Who is it? 45:04 It's the enemy. It's the enemy. 45:06 Now you may be thinking, "But, Danny, 45:08 didn't Jesus turn water into wine? 45:11 Isn't that what the Bible says in John Chapter 2 45:14 that Jesus turned water into wine?" 45:16 Yes, indeed He did. 45:17 Let's take a look at 45:19 what Jesus did in John chapter 2. 45:21 This is a summary of what Jesus did. 45:24 There were six water pots, 45:25 each containing 20 to 30 gallons, 45:28 that's 80 to 120 liters 45:30 in total. 45:32 We're looking at 45:33 480 to 720 liters. 45:36 Now think about it with me. 45:37 Let's just use a little bit of logic. 45:40 At the end of the wedding in Cana, 45:42 okay, they have already been drinking 45:44 all through the wedding. 45:46 It's coming to the end of the wedding. 45:47 They've run out of wine 45:48 according to Scripture, according to the story. 45:50 And now Jesus fills up 45:53 with alcohol 480 45:59 to 720 liters of alcohol, 46:04 sends the people on their way 46:06 drunk as drunk can be, 46:10 to beat up their wives, 46:13 to possibly get lost, 46:14 to possibly hurt themselves, 46:16 and ultimately to destroy their health and well-being 46:19 and to destroy their minds. 46:20 Can you imagine Jesus Christ who said, 46:23 "I have come that they many have life, 46:25 and that they may have it more abundantly?" 46:27 Can you imagine Jesus 46:29 destroying the minds and the health 46:32 of those who He came to save 46:33 and give the abundant life too, can you? 46:36 Does that make any sense 46:37 that Jesus would intoxicate 46:40 an entire community? 46:42 It absolutely does not make sense. 46:44 The truth is they had not only alcoholic wine 46:47 back in the day of Christ, 46:49 but they also had sweet, 46:50 pure grape juice 46:52 that Jesus drank with His disciples 46:54 on that Passover evening 46:56 when He instituted the communion service. 46:58 It just simply says wine. 47:00 And you understand or you can gather 47:02 which kind of wine whether it's alcoholic 47:05 or non alcoholic by the context. 47:07 And who is the one 47:09 that is performing the miracle? 47:11 Who is the one that's performing the miracle? 47:13 It's Jesus. It's Jesus. 47:16 And what does Jesus want to do? 47:17 He wants to give you the abundant life. 47:19 He wants to give you the abundant life. 47:22 So what about this next one? 47:24 Oh, my, oh, my. 47:27 Now, we've just gone too far. 47:29 Danny have gone too far, a coffee. 47:32 I mean, please. 47:35 What's wrong with a cup of coffee 47:36 or two, or three, or more a day? 47:38 It gets me going, it keeps me alert. 47:40 It keeps me awake. 47:42 I'm on the night shift 47:43 trying to look after patients. 47:45 If I don't have a coffee or two, I'm just not going to. 47:48 I'm just not going to get through. 47:51 Well, is coffee a drug, my friends? 47:53 Yes, it is. Yes, it is. 47:55 I have discovered 47:57 that everything 48:00 that is addictive 48:02 comes from the enemy. 48:03 If it's addictive, it comes from the enemy. 48:06 All these things that we've looked at coffee, 48:08 alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, 48:09 they all have addictive elements. 48:13 When was the last time you woke up 48:15 at 2 o'clock in the morning 48:17 and you were trembling, you were shaking, 48:21 because there were no carrots in the fridge. 48:24 You went to the fridge to find a carrot 48:27 to have your carrot fixed. 48:29 And there were just no carrots 48:30 and you came back to your wife or to your husband 48:32 shaking and trembling. 48:34 You have to get me a carrot. 48:36 I'm just not gonna cope, 48:38 I'm not going to get through the night without a carrot. 48:42 The point is obvious. 48:44 We laugh and we smile but the truth is, 48:46 whatever God has created, 48:49 it's not with the addictive element 48:51 that you are tied like a ball and chain to, 48:54 and that takes away 48:56 from your health and your happiness. 48:58 Keep that in mind. Keep that in mind. 49:00 Philippians 4:13, 49:02 I can do how much through Christ? 49:04 "I can do all things through Christ 49:06 who strengthens me." 49:07 Well, what about junk food? 49:10 What about junk food? 49:11 Well, 49:13 if I had more time I'll share with you my journey. 49:15 But in brief, 49:16 I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. 49:18 I used to eat tons of junk food. 49:20 I was the junk food king. 49:22 I used to eat it like you would not believe. 49:24 It didn't make any difference. 49:26 I didn't look any different on the outside, 49:27 but who knows what was going on in the inside. 49:31 But when I discovered 49:32 that my body was the temple of the Holy Spirit, 49:34 and God wanted to use me in the best possible way, 49:36 I made a decision 49:37 to turn my back on old junk food, 49:40 the chips, the ice cream, the chocolates, 49:42 turn my back on that and instead 49:44 incorporate into my life 49:47 fruits, nuts and grains and vegetables. 49:49 And guess what? 49:51 God in a miraculous and in a beautiful way, 49:53 He reversed my taste buds. 49:55 He reversed my taste buds. 49:57 And today, 49:59 I have no desire, 50:00 and I don't enjoy ice cream, 50:03 I don't enjoy chocolates and potato chips and the like. 50:08 I don't enjoy that anymore, but you put a mango, 50:11 you put a banana, you put some nuts, 50:14 you put some carrots in front of me and look out, 50:17 look out. 50:19 God can do that for you as well. 50:21 He can do that for you as well. 50:22 If He could do it for me, He can do it for you. 50:25 Notice this beautiful promise. 50:26 Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and a shield, 50:30 the Lord will give grace and glory." 50:32 Notice these words, 50:33 "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." 50:37 I love that promise. 50:38 No good thing. 50:39 If it's good, 50:41 God will not withhold it from you. 50:42 He will give it to you. He'll say, enjoy it. 50:45 Enjoy it temperately, 50:47 enjoy it in moderation, 50:48 enjoy it in a balanced way, but enjoy it. 50:51 So let's move to our next... 50:54 Our next law of health, 50:56 air, the importance of having lots of air. 51:00 And I don't think I need to say much about that, 51:02 that is extremely important. 51:03 And we move on to the seventh, 51:06 and that is rest, rest. 51:08 Notice what we discover 51:09 when it comes to rest. 51:11 I'm going to take you back 51:13 to that National Geographic 51:15 magazine of 2005, November, 2005. 51:19 The secrets of Seventh-day Adventists, 51:20 they featured Seventh-day Adventists 51:22 and notice the two secrets 51:25 that they discovered amongst this community 51:27 in the Blue Zones there in Loma Linda. 51:29 Number one, 51:31 they have a plant based vegetarian diet and secondly, 51:35 they enjoy a regular practice of rest, 51:38 worship and fellowship with other Christians 51:40 every seventh day. 51:43 The truth is that scientists and researchers 51:46 are now discovering that God created us 51:50 with a seven day cycle. 51:52 Did you know that? 51:53 Our bodies were created 51:56 in a seven day cycle. 51:57 I don't have time to unpack that right now, 52:00 but we were created 52:02 in a seven day cycle, 52:04 and we have been created to operate 52:07 maximum efficiency and longevity with rest, 52:13 not just at night and getting our eight hours of sleep 52:16 a night for most people, 52:18 but to take one day off every week 52:20 and to enjoy rest, and that Sabbath rest 52:23 is what God gave to the human race. 52:24 Guess what? 52:26 At the very beginning of time in the Garden of Eden, 52:27 every single one of these eight principles 52:29 found in the Garden of Eden. 52:34 More than a century ago, 52:35 one of the pioneers of the Seventh-day 52:37 Adventist Church with a third grade education 52:40 by the name of Ellen White. 52:41 She wrote off these principles 52:44 that come to us from the Garden of Eden 52:46 and notice her words that she wrote 52:48 more than a century ago, 52:50 more... 52:51 A long time before the modern day research 52:54 came to town. 52:56 Notice these words, "Pure air, sunlight, 52:59 abstemiousness," 53:00 oh, man, that took about a mouthful, "rest." 53:03 Well, that's temperance. 53:05 That's another word for temperance, 53:06 "rest, exercise, 53:08 proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power, 53:11 these are the true," what? 53:13 "These are the true remedies." 53:15 And she got them from the scriptures. 53:18 She got them from the Garden of Eden. 53:21 Well, we want to take a look at this final, 53:23 this final law and I believe it's the most important one, 53:26 the T, trust in who? 53:30 Trust in divine power, trust in divine power. 53:35 You see, we live on a sin sick planet, 53:38 and I can live 53:39 the healthiest possible life. 53:41 I can put those seven principles 53:43 into practice. 53:45 I can have good nutrition, 53:46 exercise, water, sunlight, temperance, 53:51 air, good fresh air, rest, 53:54 but I can still die of cancer. 53:57 Isn't that right? 53:58 There are many people 53:59 who today are no longer with us 54:02 who have followed these eight principles, 54:05 these seven principles of health, 54:07 and have still passed away. 54:09 Because there's genetics, 54:10 there is a sin sick planet that we have to contend with. 54:14 That's why this eighth and most important principle 54:17 is the one we need to treasure most, trust in God. 54:20 Trust in God. 54:22 I love this scripture 54:23 from Proverbs 3:5-6, 54:26 "Trust in," who? 54:28 "Trust in the Lord with," how much of your heart? 54:30 "With all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, 54:33 in all your ways acknowledge Him, 54:34 and He shall direct your paths." 54:36 Put your trust in God, 54:39 trust in Him, trust in Him, 54:41 trust in His promises, trust in His ways. 54:45 And no matter how long you live on this sin sick planet, 54:48 if you continue to put your faith and trust in God, 54:52 you know that your eternal future 54:55 is secured in those nail scarred hands of Jesus. 54:57 Amen? 54:59 Your eternal future 55:00 is secured in a nail scarred hands of Jesus. 55:03 I think of the example of Daniel. 55:05 Daniel, who, 55:07 at the very beginning 55:08 of his journey there in Babylon, 55:10 he purposed in his heart 55:11 the Bible says that he would not defile himself 55:15 with what the king provided when it came to food and drink, 55:18 and that instead he would be faithful to God. 55:20 And the Bible says, God blessed Daniel. 55:22 He blessed him 55:24 in many ways, 55:25 and his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 55:28 And I want to put it to you, my friends, 55:29 that God will bless you also if your honor Him 55:32 in how you live your life. 55:34 And I want to encourage you to begin 55:36 the journey today. 55:39 Begin the journey today, 55:41 not tomorrow but today. 55:43 Begin the journey today. 55:46 Will God help you? 55:47 Will God enable you to begin this journey today? 55:50 And to continue it step by step by step 55:53 all the way through to the end? 55:55 Yes, indeed. 55:56 Notice what God promises 55:58 in Philippians 1:6, 56:00 "Being confident of this very thing, 56:02 that He," that is God, 56:03 "who has," what? 56:05 "Begun a good work in you will do," what? 56:07 "Will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 56:10 And I say hallelujah. 56:12 The one who has began this good work, 56:15 He will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 56:17 When Jesus comes, 56:19 and He takes away all the pain, 56:20 and all the suffering, and all the sorrow. 56:23 I wanna conclude with our final prayer, 56:27 the prayer of John 56:28 in 3 John Chapter 2. 56:31 3 John Chapter 2, there's only one chapter. 56:33 And this is what his prayer was. 56:35 And this is what my prayer is for you today 56:37 and wherever you may be watching or listening from. 56:40 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things 56:43 and be in health, 56:45 just as your soul prospers." 56:46 Beloved, I pray that by the grace of God 56:50 and by putting your faith and trust 56:52 in His Word and following His principles 56:54 for healthy and happy living, 56:55 that you will prosper in all things. 56:58 My God bless you here today and those who are watching. 57:01 Let us pray. 57:02 Father in heaven, 57:04 we thank You so much for Your blessings. 57:05 We thank You so much for Your Word 57:06 that Your plan for us is to enjoy 57:08 a happy and healthy life in the here and now. 57:11 And ultimately to look forward to the day when You will come 57:14 and there'll be no more pain, and no more suffering, 57:16 and no more sickness, and no more death. 57:18 We long for that day, 57:19 and we pray 57:20 that we will be ready and prepare others, 57:23 and we pray all this in Jesus' name 57:24 and everybody said amen and amen. |
Revised 2020-01-08