Glorify God in YOUR Body!

Glorify God in YOUR Body!

As I read one of my textbooks for graduate theology I came across this quote:

1 Corinthians 6:20

NKJV “therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
TNIV “Therefore honor God with your bodies”

This example was chosen to illustrate that, on occasion, changes to the original text were made by copyists for theological reasons.  The words “and in your spirit, which are God’s,” though found in most of the late medieval Greek manuscripts, do not appear in any early Greek evidence or in the Latin-speaking church in the West.  Had they been in Paul’s original letter, it is nearly impossible to explain how/why they would have been left out so early and so often.  But their late appearance in Greek manuscripts can be easily explained.  All such manuscripts were copied in monasteries at a time when Greek philosophy, with its low view of the body, had made inroads into the Christian theology.  So some monks added “in your spirit” and then concluded that both body and spirit “are God’s.”  While this is true, these additional words deflect Paul’s obvious concern with the body in this passage and are thus no part of the Spirit’s inspiration of the apostle.

Fee, Gordon D., and Douglas K. Stuart. How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2003

As most of you know, I swam on the varsity team during my undergraduate years, but after graduation, I became born-again, and left competitive sports right after. Problem was, I completely left off all exercise, and instead of staying in shape, I did not enter into another fitness program really, for almost ten years. Not healthy! Poured myself into work, prayer and ministry, and eventually, in 2009 had a mini-stroke, blacking out at the wheel while driving down a local highway here in Oklahoma. Fortunately doctors, meds, and discipline had its way with me, and I lost a pile of fat, began to watch my diet, and hit the gym again.

I know these verses:

1 Timothy 4:7

But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
So I began the disciplines of prayer, Bible study, weekly church attendance, financial stewardship, and carefully watching my words, my attitudes, and managing my time.

Yet what about bodily exercise?

I mean, I want to be all that I can be in Jesus, 1 Tim 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little..

So, I will take a little profit!

So, over the past twenty five years of life and ministry I have watched great Christian leaders, and watched their walks with the Lord, and noticed a couple of things.

Seems many Christian leaders, both in ministry, or whatever field of endeavor they find themselves involved in have often let themselves go physically.

I have wondered if a regular exercise program is a waste of time, or could actually help one in our pursuit of the press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Well, amazing thing about common sense, is that it is not always very common.

Clearly, there are tons of benefits from regular exercise, from stress release, to hundreds of clear health benefits. Think about Jesus for a minute, he walked everywhere, and ate non-processed natural foods, and clearly He was not only healthy, but not only not sick, but so full of the life and power of God, that He healed the sick.

We are created in the image of God, and we need to honor God in our bodies, the temples of the Holy Spirit.

That means getting in shape, cutting the fat, and becoming strong in the Lord, and the power of His might.

I was speaking this week with a friend of mine that does missions trips like I have, to native American reservations, and takes a team of people to build something for them while there. His lament, and I agree, is that often local pastors cannot help with the actual work, because they are so out of shape physically, obese, or struggling with diabetes, or some other diability, that prevents them from hard manual labor that is a joy, to those of us that are in shape.

Come on leaders,

2 Thessalonians 3:9

Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

Not sure how to say this really clearly, but it is true nonetheless: When you are strong, people respect you. When you are strong, you are able to lift others up…

So much more can be said here, and perhaps I will edit this at a later date, but let’s pray:

‘Father, help me to add a fitness program to my life, that will glorify You. Strengthen me, and give me the courage and discipline to lose extra weight, and to get into shape physically, that I might be strong in Your Lord, and in the power of Your might. I ask this Father, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Bible Confessions for Diet and Exercise

Confessions for eating right

 

By faith I do not overeat.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is Lord of my appetites, leading me to eat the right the correct foods and portions everyday.  I declare that my body does not store fat but metabolizes it quickly and fuels my muscles for regular active use.

 

I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  God gives me time and motivation to exercise every day.   I receive wisdom in how to train effectively to prevent injuries, and to maximize my training schedule.

 

I believe I receive correct proper rest and supernatural recovery from workouts because God renews my youth. I believe I receive wisdom on vitamins and supplements, to complement my diet, work, and training schedule.

 

Freedom from the Bondage of Food

Most of you know my testimony, how in 2009, I had a stroke, blacked out at the wheel in my pick up on the highway, and miraculously ended up in the grassy median, unhurt. The journey back to health, where I had to meticulously watch my diet, lose 45 pounds, monitor the high blood pressure meds I was on, and begin a regimented weekly exercise program. As I studied, and drank my water, and took myriads of supplements, vitamins, and health foods, I went the opposite extreme, where I was eating almost entirely supplements and stuff! Ugh!

Then I read these verses:

1 Timothy 4:3

forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1 Timothy 4:4

For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

And I began life as a full-time missionary, which meant that beans and rice were sometimes all we had, for weeks at a time, and it was brutal!

Idols die hard!

Yes, we need to eat healthy, but sometimes, simply having something to eat at all is a great blessing. I have learned that fasting will produce health, that while food is a great blessing from the Lord, as I have travelled, I have eaten some things that I would not have considered before (whale, seal, raw caribou, octopus, crickets, alligator, bear) to name a few things (all totally organic of course! LOL!)

In Isaiah 58, God’s chosen fast (https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/when-you-fast/)

⁶ Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?

…

v8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

Clearly there are health benefits from fasting, in faith, as we take time to pray and seek the Lord.

I am learning to not post long, in-depth teaching here, as few of your take the time to read them, but let me sum up today, with this thought:

Philippians 4:5

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s

Eat healthy, fast sometimes, yet refuse to enter into bondage over food. Have an ice cream with the kids, enjoy some chocolate sometimes, take a good multivitamin, drink water, stay away from soft drinks and energy drinks in general, but don’t lose your sanity if you have a coke with your friends. In fact, we were on a missions trip recently, where a group of natives served some ice cold coke with a meal on a tough work day, that tasted like heaven!

The challenge is to be free from appetites and lusts of the flesh, and to get in touch with our true hunger, the hunger for the things of God, deep in our hearts, that only Jesus and His Word can legitimately meet.

I have seen ministers who are overweight, because they pour out life to the people they serve, and then feel spiritually hungry, and tired. Instead of taking time away from the responsibilities of the ministry, and deliberately feeding their spirit, they eat, and eat, food that will never touch their true hunger. Seen the same thing with malnutrition, people that load up on empty calories, that do not feed their bodies, and so they still feel hunger pains, and so they eat more sugar, processed foods, eat, and their body naturally turns this into fat.

Solutions:

1. Find ways to receive the Word  of God and ministry, that require absolutely no effort. I simply listen to the audio Bible, and God meets me in His Word, in the deep places of my soul.

2. Eat more protein, a good multivitamin, and drink water instead of sugary drinks, (You might feel like a drug addict in withdrawal for a month or so, as your body regulates itself)

Balance, common sense, exercise, humility, prayer, and spirit led living produce LIFE, Joy, love, and health in every area of your life.

1 Timothy 6:17

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I know you love me, and have given me richly all things that I might enjoy life. Lord Jesus, free me from every bondage to food, and help me to eat to live, not live to eat. I trust You Holy Spirit for the gift of self-control in this, that I might truly glorify You in my body, today, and every day for the rest of my life.