SO MANY PEOPLE SPEND THE FIRST
HALF OF THEIR LIVES ACCUMULATING THEIR WEALTH BY WASTING THEIR
HEALTH. THEN THEY SPEND THE LAST HALF OF THEIR LIFE SPENDING
THEIR WEALTH TRYING TO GET THEIR HEALTH BACK AND THEY ARE UNHAPPY
IN BOTH HALVES OF THEIR LIVES. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SIMPLY
PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY FITNESS. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY'S PROGRAM. ADRIAN ROGERS WAS A MOTIVATOR, AN ENCOURAGER
AND A LEADER OF THE FAITH WHO PRESENTED A CLEAR INVITATION TO
FOLLOW JESUS AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. HE W
AS ALSO
PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESENTING SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION TO
EVERYDAY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN TODAY'S
PROGRAM. AND AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND
CHECK OUT PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINES, NOTES AND TRANSCRIPTS
ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW, LET'S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. BE FINDING IN YOUR BIBLES FIRST
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER SIX, FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER SIX. IN A
MOMENT WERE GONNA BEGIN READING IN VERSE 19. AN UNKNOWN PERSON
PAID $3,005,000 FOR ONE BASEBALL. $3,005,000 FOR ONE
B
ASEBALL. THE THING THAT MADE IT DIFFERENT IS IT WAS MARK
MCGUIRE'S 70TH HOME-RUN BALL AND SOMEBODY VALUED THAT BASEBALL SO
MUCH; A BASEBALL THAT COULD BE BOUGHT FOR ABOUT $9.00, THAT
THEY PAID $3,005,000 FOR THAT ONE BASEBALL. WELL, LET ME ASK
YOU A QUESTION. WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IT? LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT IS FAR MORE VALUABLE I THINK
THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE, AND THAT IS FITNESS; HEALTH. HEALTH
IS FAR MORE VALUABLE THAN MARK MCGUIRE'S BASEBALL. WOULD YOU
AGREE WITH
THAT? HA, HA, I HOPE SO. THE BIBLE SAYS, CONCERNING
OUR BODIES, THAT, "WE ARE" FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE,"
AND THAT, "OUR BODIES ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF
GOD. " LOOK IN VERSE 19, " WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS
THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE
OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE;
THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR "BODY AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH
ARE GOD'S." GOD PAID A GREATER PRICE FOR YOU THAN THAT MAN PAID
FOR THAT BASE
BALL AND YOU'RE NOT YOUR OWN. THEREFORE, GOD HAS
ENJOINED YOU, YES, HAS COMMANDED YOU TO GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY,
AS WELL AS IN YOUR SPIRIT. NOW THE PSALMIST SAID, CONCERNING
HIS BODY, THAT HE WAS, "FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY
MADE," PSALM 139 AND VERSE 14. THE PSALMIST SAID, "I WILL
PRAISE THEE; FOR I AM FEARFULLY" "AND WONDERFULLY MADE." YOUR BODY
IS A CAREFULLY CRAFTED, FINELY TUNED MACHINE, AND, AH, THANK
GOD IT COMES WITH A MAINTENANCE MANUAL. WE HAVE THE WORD OF GOD.
NOW REMEMBER, WE ARE HI
S PURCHASED POSSESSION, AND SO WE
ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD. NOW, IF WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, DON'T
YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO LOOK INTO SOME TEMPLE MAINTENANCE? I
KNOW SOME OF US ARE IN A TEMPLE BUILDING PROGRAM, HA, HA. HUH,
BUT, WHAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IS A LITTLE TEMPLE MAINTENANCE.
THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT OUR BODIES DO NOT BELONG TO US;
THEREFORE, THEY ARE TO BE DEDICATED TO GOD. NOW SOME
PEOPLE THINK THAT THE SPIRITUAL THING IS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR
SPIRIT AND YOUR SOUL, BUT WHO CARES ABOUT
THE BODY? THEY THINK
THAT PERHAPS THAT THE BODY IS, AH, OF NO CONSEQUENCE OR PERHAPS
EVEN EVIL, BUT ROMANS 12 VERSES ONE AND TWO THE APOSTLE PAUL
SAYS, "I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE", BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD,
THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES, "YOUR BODIES, A LIVING SACRIFICE
HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD." NOW, IS YOUR BODY PRESENTED TO GOD?
IS IT HOLY? IS IT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD? NOW GOD IS INTERESTED IN
THE TOTAL PERSON. GOD IS INTERESTED, YES, IN YOUR SPIRIT
AND GOD IS INTERESTED IN YOUR SOUL, BUT GOD
IS ALSO INTERESTED
IN YOUR BODY. FIRST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER FIVE AND
VERSE 23 SAYS, "AND I PRAY GOD" YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND
BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO "THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS
CHRIST." BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT, OR IN THE ORDER THAT, AH, PAUL
GAVE IT: SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY. WITH MY SPIRIT I HAVE SPIRITUAL
LIFE AND I KNOW THE WORLD ABOVE ME; WITH MY SOUL I HAVE
PSYCHOLOGICAL LIFE AND I KNOW THE WORLD AROUND ME; WITH MY
BODY I HAVE PHYSICAL LIFE AND I'M RELATED TO THE WORLD BENE
ATH
ME. WHEN MY SPIRIT IS RIGHT I'M HOLY, WHEN MY SOUL IS RIGHT I'M
HAPPY, WHEN MY BODY IS RIGHT I'M HEALTHY. AND, AH, A PERFECTLY
TUNED PERSON WOULD BE HOLY, HAPPY, AND HEALTHY. MOST FOLKS I
KNOW ARE UNHOLY, UNHAPPY, AND UNHEALTHY. I MEAN THEY'RE OUT OF
TUNE, THEY'RE OUT OF WHACK, THEY'RE NOT WHAT GOD REALLY
INTENDED FOR US TO BE. LISTEN TO THAT VERSE AGAIN, FIRST
THESSALONIANS FIVE VERSE 23, "AND I PRAY GOD YOUR WHOLE
SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO THE
COMING OF OUR LORD
JESUS "CHRIST." NOW, GOD WANTS US TO,
TO BE, AH, BLAMELESS. THAT IS, WE OUGHT NOT TO DO ANYTHING TO
OUR BODY, SPIRIT, OR SOULS THAT IS BLAME WORTHY. IT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE, AH, IN PERFECT HEALTH. WE WON'T HAVE
PERFECT HEALTH UNTIL WE GET TO HEAVEN. UH, THERE, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF REASONS WHY WE HAVE PHYSICAL AILMENTS. LET ME JUST
GIVE YOU THREE OR FOUR OF THEM BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT FAMILY
FITNESS. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A
CURSE UPON ALL CREATION. WE LIV
E IN A WORLD THAT HAS THE CURSE OF
SIN UPON IT AND, AH, ROMANS CHAPTER FIVE VERSE 12 SAYS,
"WHEREFORE, AS BY ONE MAN SIN" ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND
DEATH BY SIN, SO DEATH PASSED "UPON ALL MEN, FOR ALL THAT HAVE
SINNED." NOW IN THAT SENSE WE ALL HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS,
DON'T WE? UH, THE LATEST STATISTIC ON DEATH IS ONE OUT OF
ONE PEOPLE DIE. WE ALL HAVE A, A TERMINAL ILLNESS BECAUSE OF
ADAM'S SIN SO WE, WE, WE MIGHT AS WELL ADMIT THAT. EVER, EVERY
SO OFTEN WE SAY THAT SO-AND-SO DIED A NATURAL
DEATH. THERE'S NO
SUCH THING AS A NATURAL DEATH. ALL DEATH IS UNNATURAL. IT IS A
RESULT OF SIN. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT'S ONE REASON THAT WE'RE,
WE'RE SICK. THEN SOMETIMES, AH, WE'RE SICK BECAUSE WE HAVE
VIOLATED GOD'S MORAL LAW AND EVERY KICK HAS A KICKBACK, EVERY
SIN, SIN, AH, AH, FASCINATES, AND THEN IT ASSASSINATES, AND,
AH, MANY PEOPLE DIE JUST BECAUSE OF SIN IN THEIR LIVES. FOR
EXAMPLE, AH, THE, THE CHURCH AT CORINTH THEY WERE LIVING, AH,
WITH BLASPHEMOUS WAYS, AH, AT THE LORD'S SUPPER. AH, THE
Y WERE
NOT DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY AND PAUL WARNED THEM IN FIRST
CORINTHIANS 11 BEGINNING IN VERSE 29, "FOR THIS CAUSE MANY
ARE SICK AND WEAKLY AMONG YOU", "AND SOME SLEEP." AND HE MEANT BY
SLEEP SOME ARE DEAD, NOT DISCERNING THE LORD'S BODY. AH,
AND HE SAYS, "FOR IF WE WOULD" "JUDGE OURSELVES, WE SHOULD NOT
BE JUDGED." SOMETIMES SICKNESS IS THE JUDGMENT OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
SOMETIMES WE'RE SICK BECAUSE WE'RE AFFLICTED BY SATAN. JOB
WAS SICK THAT WAY. AH, THE LORD SAID TO SATAN IN THE BOOK OF JOB
CHAPTER TWO VERSE SIX CON, UH, CONCERNING, EH, JOB, "BEHOLD,
SATAN, HE'S IN THINE HAND; BUT" "SAVE HIS LIFE." AND, AH, THE
APOSTLE PAUL TALKED OF A THORN IN THE FLESH THAT WAS THE RESULT
OF, A, SATAN. SO SOMETIMES WE'RE UNDER SATANIC ATTACK AND, AH,
THAT MAY BE THE REASON THAT WE'RE SICK. SOMETIMES WE'RE SICK
AS THE DISCIPLINE OF GOD AND WE KNOW THAT TO BE TRUE. AH, DAVID
SAID IN PSALM 119 VERSE 71, "IT IS GOOD FOR ME THAT I HAVE BEEN
AFFLICTED, THAT I MIGHT LEARN "THY STATUTES." SOMETIMES, UH,
WE
HAVE TO BE FLAT ON OUR BACK BEFORE WE CAN LOOK UP AND WE SEE
MORE CLEARLY THROUGH EYES THAT HAVE BEEN WASHED BY TEARS. AND,
AH, SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ZERO IN ON
TODAY, OUR SICKNESS IS DUE TO A VIOLATION OF GOD'S NATURAL LAWS.
I MEAN IT, WE JUST, WE JUST GO OUT AND FLAUNT GOD'S NATURAL
LAWS AND EXPECT TO BE WELL. AH, SOME, FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE POISONING THEIR BODIES WITH NICOTINE. HUH, NOW,
SOMEBODY SAYS, "WELL, CAN I" "SMOKE AND GO TO HEAVEN?" THE
TRUTH OF
THE MATTER IS YOU MAY GET THERE A WHOLE LOT QUICKER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] SMOKING WON'T SEND YOU TO HELL; IT'LL
JUST MAKE YOU SMELL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN THERE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
YOU VIOLATE GOD'S NATURAL LAW. GOD DID NOT, GOD MADE THAT
NICOTINE TO KILL BUGS, NOT PEOPLE, BUT YOU TAKE THAT INTO
YOUR BODY. ONE PASTOR WAS ASKED TO PRAY FOR ANOTHER PASTOR WHO
WAS SICK, AND THAT PASTOR SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO PRAY FOR HIM.
WHY SHOULD I PRAY FOR HIM? HE "DOES THE WORK OF TEN MEN AND
EATS EVERYTHING IN SI
GHT." AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST WANT GOD
SOMEHOW TO GIVE US A PASS TO GO AHEAD AND VIOLATE HIS NATURAL
LAW AND THEN THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE WELL AND ASK GOD TO HEAL
US WHILE WE CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS THAT'LL MAKE US SICK. NOW
IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK, YOUR FAMILY THINKS
ABOUT YOUR FAMILY BEING FIT. BECAUSE WHEN YOU NATURALLY,
WILLINGLY VIOLATE THE LAWS THAT GOD HAS LAID DOWN IN HIS BIBLE,
I'M TALKING ABOUT NATURAL LAWS, IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL YOU WILL,
YOU WILL BECOME A BURDEN
TO YOURSELF AND A BURDEN TO YOUR
FAMILY AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BECOME A BURDEN TO OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU SEE, GOD TELLS US THAT YOUR MIND, YOUR SOUL IS TO RULE YOUR
BODY, JUST AS YOUR SPIRIT RULES YOUR SOUL. YOUR BODY REALLY IS A
SERVANT, BUT IF YOU ABUSE THAT SERVANT, IF YOU ABUSE YOUR
SERVANT, THAT IS, YOUR BODY, YOUR BODY MAY RISE UP AND SMITE
YOU FOR IT. YOUR BODY IS VERY UNFORGIVING. NOW MOST FOLKS
VALUE MONEY MORE THAN THEY VALUE HEALTH. ISN'T THAT TRUE? THEY
VALUE MONEY MORE THAN THEY VALUE HEA
LTH. WE VALUE THINGS MORE
THAN WE VALUE HEALTH UNTIL WE LOSE OUR HEALTH. SO MANY PEOPLE
SPEND THE FIRST HALF OF THEIR LIVES ACCUMULATING THEIR WEALTH
BY WASTING THEIR HEALTH. THEN THEY SPEND THE LAST HALF OF
THEIR LIFE SPENDING THEIR WEALTH TRYING TO GET THEIR HEALTH BACK
AND THEY ARE UNHAPPY IN BOTH HALVES OF THEIR LIVES. NOW, IT'S
A FUNNY THING ABOUT HEALTH. UH, WE VALUE MONEY MORE THAN HEALTH.
MONEY IS THE MOST ENVIED, BUT IT IS THE LEAST ENJOYED. HEALTH IS
THE LEAST ENVIED, BUT IT IS THE MOS
T ENJOYED, THAT IS, UNTIL YOU
LOSE IT. WHEN THE WEALTHY MAN LOSES HIS HEALTH THEN HE WOULD
GIVE ALL OF HIS WEALTH TO GET HIS HEALTH BACK, BUT HE DOESN'T
THINK ABOUT THAT HEALTH. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE SIMPLY
PRINCIPLES OF FAMILY FITNESS. NOW, I'M NOT A DOCTOR AND I
THANK GOD FOR DOCTORS. I BELIEVE IN DOCTORS. AND, AH, JESUS SAID,
"THEY THAT ARE WHOLE NEED NOT A "PHYSICIAN, BUT THEY THAT ARE
SICK." AH, LUKE WAS CALLED THE BELOVED PHYSICIAN. AND I THANK
GOD FOR WHAT DOCTORS CAN DO, BUT YOU KNOW WHA
T MANY OF US ARE
TRYING TO DO? WE'RE TRYING TO BREAK GOD'S NATURAL LAWS AND
THEN GO TO THE DOCTOR AND TRY TO GET HIM TO PUT THE SCRAMBLED
EGGS BACK IN THE SHELL. WE'RE TRYING TO GET HIM TO UNDO WHAT
WE HAVE DONE AND, AH, THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE OF MEDICINE. NOW LET
ME GIVE YOU FOUR PRINCIPLES, I, AGAIN, FOUR PRINCIPLES FOR
FAMILY FITNESS. ARE YOU READY FOR THESE? NUMBER ONE; FAMILY
FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE. WRITE IT DOWN,
FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE. NOW WE CALL
OURSELVES DI
SCIPLES. WELL THE WORD DISCIPLE AND THE WORD
DISCIPLINE ARE LINKED TOGETHER. WE CANNOT CALL OURSELVES A
DISCIPLE IF WE'RE NOT DISCIPLINED. WE HAD A STAFF
MEETING AND ONE OF OUR STAFF TALKED ABOUT PASSION. AND HE
SAID WE NEED TO LIVE OUR LIVES WITH A PASSION, AND THEN HE GAVE
A DESCRIPTION OF PASSION AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID, "PASSION
IS THE DEGREE OF WHAT ONE IS" WILLING TO ENDURE TO ACHIEVE
GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HIS LIFE." I LOVE THAT. LISTEN TO IT AGAIN,
"PASSION IS THE DEGREE OF WHAT" ONE IS WILL
ING TO ENDURE TO
ACHIEVE GOD'S PURPOSE FOR HIS "LIFE." MANY OF US ARE LIVING
LIVES WITHOUT PASSION BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE DISCIPLINED.
WE DON'T WANT TO ENDURE CERTAIN THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEED TO
BE DISCIPLINED IN MATTERS OF DIET AND THE THINGS THAT WE EAT.
NOW I KNOW THAT MANY OF US HAVE GONE ON DIETS AND WE FAIL
MISERABLY. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO SAID, "I WENT ON A LIQUID DIET.
IT, IT DIDN'T WORK WELL EITHER." I MEAN IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT:
THREE SHAKES FOR BREAKFAST, FOUR SHAKES FOR LUNCH
, AND TWO
SENSIBLE DINNERS, BUT I STILL DIDN'T LOSE ANY WEIGHT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THEN HE SAID, "I TRIED MANY DIETS. I
TRIED THE MUSH DIET, YOU EAT" WHILE RIDING ON A DOGSLED;
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THE EGGPLANT DIET, YOU PLANT AN EGG AND
WHATEVER COMES UP YOU EAT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] WELL, WE'VE
TRIED ALL KINDS OF DIETS. THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO WORK. I HEARD
OF A WOMAN, SOMEBODY SAID SHE'S A LIGHT EATER. AS SOON AS IT
GETS DAYLIGHT SHE STARTS EATING. AND, MANY OF US FAIL TO
UNDERSTAND THAT, AH,
WE ARE BREAKING GOD'S LAWS CONCERNING
WHAT WE EAT. NOW YOU MAY THINK THAT THE BIBLE DOESN'T SAY MUCH
ABOUT WHAT WE EAT, BUT THE BIBLE HAS MUCH TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WE
EAT, AND ALSO THE BIBLE GIVES US AN INJUNCTION IN FIRST
CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10 VERSE 31 WHICH SAYS, "WHETHER, THEREFORE,
YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER" "YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF
GOD." THAT OUGHT TO BE PUT IN OUR KITCHENS, MAYBE ON YOUR
REFRIGERATOR. "WHATEVER WE EAT", "WHATEVER WE DRINK, DO ALL TO THE
GLORY OF GOD." PEOPLE ARE
TELLING US THAT ALL FOODS ARE
EQUAL. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, AH, THAT, THAT ALL
FOODS ARE EQUAL, THAT GREEN BEANS AND JELLY BEANS ARE THE
SAME. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I MEAN THAT, THEY, THEY REALLY BELIEVE
THAT. FRIEND, THAT, THAT'S ABSURD. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT,
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE YOUR BODY A WALKING GARBAGE CAN. THE BIBLE
MENTIONS HEALTHY FOODS, WHOLE GRAINS, HERBS, FISH, FOWL, CLEAN
ANIMALS, NO EATING OF FAT, NO EATING OF BLOOD. BLOOD IN THE
BIBLE IS A, IS A SYMBOL OF LIFE, BUT ALSO GOD
PROHIBITED HIS
PEOPLE FROM THE INGESTION OF BLOOD. WHY IS IT? WELL, WE KNOW
THAT THE BLOOD IS, IT, IT CARRIES INFECTIONS AND TOXINS
THAT CIRCULATE IN AN ANIMAL'S BODY AND WHEN YOU EAT THESE
THINGS YOU, WHEN YOU EAT AND INGEST ANIMALS' BLOOD YOU ARE
NEEDLESSLY EXPOSING YOURSELF TO THESE INFECTIONS AND THESE
POISONS. THE BIBLE WARNS VERY CLEARLY ABOUT THE CONSUMPTION OF
FAT. SCIENTISTS ARE NOW JUST CATCHING UP WITH THIS, THAT,
THAT WE ARE TO HAVE, AH, DIETS THAT ARE LOW IN FAT. IT'S AN OLD
DISEAS
E. THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE AUTOPSIES ON EGYPTIAN MUMMIES
AND FOUND FAT DEPARTMENTS, AH, AH, FAT DEPOSITS IN THEIR, IN
THEIR ARTERIES. THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT WE EAT.
THE BIBLE MAKES A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEAN AND UNCLEAN
ANIMALS. AND, AH, WE SAY, "WELL", "THAT'S MOSAIC LAW." HA, HA,
LISTEN, YOU'D BETTER GO BACK AND READ YOUR BIBLE. YOU TALK ABOUT
EVERYBODY; EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT HOW THE ANIMALS WENT ON THE ARK.
HOW DID THE ANIMALS GO ON THE ARK? TWO BY TWO, TWO BY TWO, TWO
BY TWO. GO
READ YOUR BIBLE AND YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT SOME
ANIMALS WENT ON THE ARK BY SEVENS. PEOPLE, OH, I, WHERE'S
THAT? JUST GO READ YOUR BIBLE. WHAT ANIMALS WENT ON THE ARK BY
SEVENS? THE CLEAN ANIMALS. THEY WERE THERE FOR FOOD. THAT WAS
BEFORE THE MOSAIC LAW. THAT WAS BEFORE ANY OF THESE CEREMONIAL
LAWS. THEY'RE CLEAN ANIMALS. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE CLEAN AND THE UNCLEAN ANIMALS? GOD PUTS ALL ANIMALS
INTO TWO CATEGORIES: THOSE WHO ARE SCAVENGERS AND THOSE WHO ARE
NOT SCAVENGERS. GOD SAYS DO
N'T EAT THE SCAVENGERS, THOSE
SCAVENGERS WHO WILL EAT ROTTEN, DEAD, DECAYING FLESH, THOSE,
THOSE SCAVENGERS WHO EAT THE OFF-SCOURING OF OTHER ANIMALS.
YOU EAT THAT AND THEN YOU ARE PUTTING ALL OF THAT INTO YOUR
BODY. THE, THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT, AH, WHAT WE EAT.
THE BIBLE EVEN WARNS AGAINST JUNK FOOD. YOU KNOW SOMEBODY
THINKS THE THREE BASIC FOOD GROUPS ARE: FAST, FRIED, AND
JUNK. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THE BIBLE, LISTEN TO THIS, PROVERBS
23 VERSES ONE THROUGH THREE, "WHEN THOU SITTEST WI
TH A RULER,
CONSIDER DILIGENTLY WHAT IS SET "BEFORE THEE." THAT IS, THE RULER
IS THE GUY WHOSE, HE, HE'S THE HIGH MUCKETY-MUCK, HE'S THE GUY
WITH THE, HE CAN HAVE ALL OF HIS LITTLE DAINTIES, "AND PUT A
KNIFE TO THY THROAT, IF THOU BE" A MAN GIVEN TO APPETITE." AND
THEN THE BIBLE SAYS, "BE NOT DESIROUS OF HIS DAINTIES,"
LISTEN TO THIS, "THEY ARE DECEITFUL MEAT." A LOT OF US ARE
EATING DECEITFUL MEAT, DAINTIES, AND, AND PEOPLE ARE TELLING US,
"WELL, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE." DO YOU KNOW A SAD THING
?
"CHRISTIANS TEND TO BE MORE OVERWEIGHT THAN PAGANS." LISTEN
TO THIS. "STATES WITH A HIGH RATE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
MISSISSIPPI, MICHIGAN, AND INDI, INDIANA HAVE HEFTIER CITIZENS
THAN SUCH STRONGHOLDS OF "SECULARITY AS MASSACHUSETTS,
HAWAII, AND COLORADO." NOW LISTEN TO THIS, "AMONG ALL
DENOMINATIONS SOUTHERN BAPTISTS" ARE THE REAL HEAVYWEIGHTS."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] SOUTHERN BAPTISTS; MAYBE WE OUGHT TO CALL
OURSELVES SOUTHERN FRIED BAPTISTS. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I
MEAN, SOUTHERN BAPTISTS HAVE T
HE IDEA THAT WHEN WE GO TO HEAVEN,
HEAVEN IS GOING TO BE A GREAT BIG BANQUET TABLE UP THERE WITH
FRIED CHICKEN, BUTTERED BISCUITS, AND PECAN PIE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I THINK SOMETIMES OUR CHURCHES ARE
GUILTY OF ENCOURAGING GLUTTONY, PROMOTING GLUTTONY. THE BIBLE
SAYS, "IF YOU ARE A MAN GIVEN TO" GLUTTONY, PUT A, A KNIFE TO YOUR
THROAT IF YOU'RE A MAN GIVEN TO APPETITE. "" THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
CONSUMES 150 POUNDS OF REFINED SUGAR EVERY YEAR IN THIS
COUNTRY, AND SOME PEOPLE EAT AS "MU, MUCH AS 350
POUNDS OF
SUGAR." THAT'S A POUND A DAY, THAT'S A POUND A DAY, AND, AND
THIS, THIS IS A DECEITFUL DAINTY. IT'S PROCESSED WHICH
MEANS THAT THE NUTRIMENT IS TAKEN OUT OF IT. ALL THAT IS
LEFT IS NAKED CALORIES. THAT IS A DECEITFUL DAINTY. SOMEBODY
WENT THROUGH THE SUPERMARKETS AND FOUND OUT THAT 92% OF THE
ITEMS IN THE SUPERMARKET, 92% OF THEM CONTAIN SUGAR; DECEITFUL
DAINTIES. YOU SEE WE LIVE OFF OF HALF OF WHAT WE EAT; THE DOCTOR
LIVES OFF THE OTHER HALF. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] NOW, WHAT DO
WE DO? W
ELL, FIND THOSE FOODS THAT GOD CREATED FOR FOOD AND
EAT THOSE AND AVOID THE OTHERS. AND, AH, EAT THINGS AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE THE WAY THAT GOD CREATED THEM BEFORE THEY HAVE
BEEN POISONED AND PRESERVED AND MUTILATED AND STABBED AND BAKED
AND FRIED, OR WHATEVER ELSE. AND THEN, FRIEND, ONLY EAT THEM IN
THE RIGHT PROPORTION. IT'S WHAT GOD'S SAYS. "IF YOU ARE GIVEN TO
APPETITE PUT A KNIFE TO YOUR" "THROAT." BUT NOT ONLY DO WE
NEED, AH, TO BE DISCIPLINED IN WHAT WE EAT, WE NEED TO BE
DISCIPLINED IN OUR
EXERCISE. PUT DOWN FIRST TIMOTHY CHAPTER FOUR
VERSE EIGHT, THE BIBLE SAYS, "FOR BODILY EXERCISE PROFITETH
LITTLE." NOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THAT AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO
EXERCISE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S SAYING. HE IS SAYING THERE
IS PROFIT IN EXERCISE. HE'S SAYING THAT GODLINESS IS MORE
PROFITABLE, BUT HE'S NOT SAYING THAT EXERCISE IS NOT PROFITABLE.
I TOOK THE TIME TO LOOK THIS UP IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
TRANSLATIONS. THE RSV SAYS, "BODILY TRAINING IS OF SOME
VALUE." WILLIAMS'S TRANSLATION SAYS
, "PHYSICAL TRAINING INDEED
IS SOME SERVICE, IT DOES" "PROFIT." AND, AH, WHETHER YOU'RE
A COUCH POTATO OR PEW POTATO, AH, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT
GOD, AH, WANTS US TO EXERCISE THESE BODIES OF OURS. ONE THING
ABOUT BEING IN ROTTEN, PHYSICAL SHAPE YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXERCISE
TO KEEP IT UP, NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE. IF YOU'RE A
RICH MAN, IN MATTERS OF DIET AND EXERCISE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO LEARN TO LIVE LIKE THE POOR MAN OR ELSE YOU ARE GOING TO
KILL YOURSELF. I HAVE ANOTHER FRIEND W
HO, WO, DR. KENNETH
COOPER. HE IS CALLED THE, THE FATHER OF MODERN AEROBICS. I'VE
BEEN TO THE COOPER CLINIC OUT IN DALLAS, TEXAS. HE'S, HE'S THE
MAN WHO'S CHANGED AMERICA'S WAY OF THINKING ABOUT EXERCISE. AND
SO MANY OF US, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BODILY EXERCISE, WANT TO
GO OUT AND BUY A GYMNASIUM OR SOMETHING, PUT IT IN OUR HAND,
IN OUR AH, AH, ATTIC, AND START PUMPING IRON. YOU'RE JUST GOING
TO WASTE A LOT OF MONEY IF YOU DO THAT, MOST OF YOU. HERE'S
WHAT KEN COOPER SAYS, LISTEN TO THIS, AND BY T
HE WAY HE'S A
GODLY MAN, BELIEVES IN CHRIST, "RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MODERATE,
INTENSIVE EXERCISE, AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK, CAN INCREASE
YOUR LIFE SPAN BY AT LEAST TWO AND ONE-HALF YEARS. I HAVE
DEVELOPED A FIVE DAY A WEEK WALKING AND TONING PROGRAM THAT
TAKES LESS THAN ONE HOUR PER DAY "TO PERFORM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO
TO A GYM TO DO IT." THAT'S THE ONLY WORKOUT YOU NEED. JUST
WALKING IS, IS, IS THE PERFECT EXERCISE AND IF YOU WANT TO DO
MORE, FINE. BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISCIPLINE IN THE MA
TTER OF
DIET, A DISCIPLINE IN THE MATTER OF EXERCISE. YOU NEED TO GET
YOUR KIDS OUT, YOU NEED GET OUT YOURSELF, DADDY. THERE NEEDS TO
BE A DISCIPLINE IN THE MATTER OF REST. PSALM 127 AND VERSE TWO
SAYS, "IT IS VAIN FOR YOU TO" RISE UP EARLY, TO STAY UP LATE,
TO EAT THE BREAD OF SORROWS; FOR HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP." IT
LITERALLY SAYS, "HE'S GIVEN TO "YOU WHILE YOU SLEEP." THAT IS,
YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WHILE YOU ARE ASLEEP. JUST THINK
OF THOSE SIMPLE THINGS: DIET, EXERCISE, AND RES
T. OH, THAT IS
SO PHENOMENAL. FRIEND, THAT ABC'S; THAT'S JUST THE ABC'S. WE
NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED IN ALL OF THESE THINGS. NOW, HERE'S THE
SECOND THING; FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE. NUMBER
TWO; FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISPOSITION, THAT'S THE
SECOND THING. IT'S A MATTER OF DISPOSITION. HARDENING OF THE
ATTITUDES IS JUST AS BAD AS HARDENING OF THE ARTERIES.
LISTEN TO PROVERBS 15 VERSE 17, "BETTER IS A DINNER OF HERBS,"
THAT IS, A VEGETABLE PLATE, "WHERE LOVE IS, THAN A STALLED
O
X AND HATRED THEREWITH." A VEGETABLE PLATE IS BETTER THAN A
FILET MIGNON IF YOU HAVE THAT VEGETABLE PLATE WITH LOVE,
RATHER THAN THAT HEFTY STEAK WHERE THERE'S HATEFUL THERE;
NOW, HATEFULNESS THERE. DISPOSITION, EMOTIONS, EMOTIONAL
HEALTH, "I PRAY GOD YOUR WHOLE" SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE
PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO THE "COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST." YOUR SOUL IS YOUR PSYCHE. THE GREEK WORD FOR SOUL
IS PSYCHE. IT'S THE WORD WE GET PSYCHOLOGY FROM, PSYCHIATRIC,
AH, PSYCH, UH, EH, PS
YCHIC FROM. AH, YOU SEE IT'S THE SEED OF
YOUR EMOTIONS AND THERE'RE TWO KINDS OF EMOTIONS: POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE, HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY. WELL YOU SAY, "I CAN'T HELP MY
EMOTIONS." YES YOU CAN. YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR EMOTIONS LIKE YOU
CAN CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS. LISTEN TO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN
PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER FOUR VERSES SEVEN AND FOLLOWING. HE SPEAKS
OF THE, "PEACE OF GOD WHICH" PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING SHALL
KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS."
LITERALLY, GUARD YOUR HEARTS, GUARD YO
UR MINDS. GOD'S PEACE.
AND THEN HE SAYS THIS, "FINALLY", BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE
TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE
JUST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATSOEVER TINGS ARE
LOVELY, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT, IF THERE BE ANY
VIRTUE, AND IF THERE BE ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS."
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR THOUGHTS LIKE YOU CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS.
WHY LET THE DEVIL MESS WITH YOUR MIND? YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR
THOUGHTS. YOU CAN REJECT, AH, BAD THOUGHTS AND, AND, AH,
C
HOOSE YOUR ATTITUDES. TO REJOICE IS A CHOICE. IF YOUR
DISPOSITION GETS UPSET LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPSET STOMACH, HEADACHES, FAMILY
ARGUMENTS. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A DULL MEMORY. YOU'RE GOING TO
CRIPPLE YOUR THINKING. YOU'RE GOING TO WEAKEN YOUR BODY.
YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE YOUR EFFICIENCY. I'M TALKING ABOUT
NEGATIVE STRESS, NOT POSITIVE STRESS. THERE'S A GOOD POSITIVE
STRESS. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE JUST A DISHRAG. BUT I'M TALKING
ABOUT NEGATIVE EM
OTIONS. STRESS DOES GREAT DAMAGE TO THE TEMPLE.
CARDIOLOGISTS TELL YOU THAT IF YOU'RE A TYPE A INDIVIDUAL, HA,
HA, AH, YOU, YOU ARE, AH, YOU HAVE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY FOR A
HEART ATTACK. WHAT'S A TYPE A PERSON? WELL, HE'S AMBITIOUS,
AGGRESSIVE, SELF-DEMANDING, COMPETITIVE, CONSTANTLY STRIVING
FOR SUCCESS, DRIVEN BY THE CLOCK. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
MAN. IT CAN BE A WOMAN. ONE MAN SAID, "I GOT UP IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM." "WHEN I CAME BACK MY WIFE HAD
MADE UP THE BED." [A
UDIENCE [LAUGHTER] TYPE A PEOPLE ARE
SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK THAN TYPE B
INDIVIDUALS. NOW, IF YOU'RE A TYPE A PERSON THAT'S GOOD
BECAUSE YOU'LL ACHIEVE A WHOLE LOT, BUT YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW
TO REST IN THE LORD. AH, AH, PHYSICIANS HAVE LONG SUSPECTED
THAT STRESS BRINGS ON SOME CANCERS AND THE MIND IS THE
CENTER OF STRESS. MY FORMER DOCTOR, TOLD ME ONE DAY. HE
SAID, "PASTOR, ALL STRESS IS" "SELF IMPOSED, ALL STRESS IS
SELF-IMPOSED." I MEAN YOU HAVE TO AGREE TO IT IN ORDER T
O HAVE
IT. THE DOCTORS TALK ABOUT A PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESS. PSYCHO IS
THE MIND; SOMA IS THE BODY. IT IS THE MIND MAKING THE BODY
SICK. AH, SURVEY SHOWED THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE PATIENTS WHO WENT
TO A PHYSICIAN HAD SYMPTOMS CAUSED OR AGGRAVATED BY MENTAL
STRESS: TWO THIRDS; TWO OUT OF THREE CAUSED OR AGGRAVATED BY
MENTAL STRESS. YOU SAY, "WELL, I" "DON'T BELIEVE MY MIND REALLY
AFFECTS MY BODY." OH, YES, IT DOES. WHAT YOU THINK AFFECTS THE
AMOUNT OF BLOOD THAT FLOWS, AH, TO ANY ORGAN. WHAT YOU THINK
,
AH, AFFECTS THE SECRECY, SECRETIONS OF THE GLANDS IN YOUR
BODY. WHAT YOU THINK AFFECTS THE, THE TENSION IN THE MUSCLES.
LET ME ILLUSTRATE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. HAVE YOU EVER
SEEN SOMEONE BLUSH? WHAT CAUSES A PERSON TO BLUSH? BECAUSE OF
WHAT THEY'VE THOUGHT ABOUT. EMBARRASSMENT CAUSES THE BLOOD
VESSELS IN THE FACE AND THE NECK TO OPEN UP AND THE FACE TURNS
RED. WHAT THEY THINK HAS AFFECTED THEIR BODIES. AH, IF
YOU HAVE ANXIETY, AH, AH, YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO CAUSE, AH, BLOOD
TO RUSH TO YOUR HEA
D AND, AND YOUR SKULL IS VERY HARD AND IT
DOESN'T GIVE AND YOU'VE GOT A HEADACHE THERE. AH, FEAR, AH, IT
CAUSES THE, THE SALIVARY GLANDS TO DRY UP. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A
SPEAKER GET UP AND PUT A, A GLASS OF WATER THERE AND, AND
TALK AND DRINK AND TALK AND DRINK AND HIS MOUTH GETS DRY,
KIND OF LIKE A WINDMILL PUMPING OVER A DRY HOLE? AND HE'S JUST,
HE'S JUST DRINKING AND, AND TALKING. WHY? BECAUSE HE'S, HE'S
TERRIFIED OF STANDING UP THERE TO SPEAK. AH, THE MIND IS
CONTROLLING THE BODY. THE MUSCLES
TIGHTEN WHEN YOU ARE
FILLED WITH FEAR OR FRIGHTENED OR ANGRY, AND THAT, THAT CAUSES
PAIN. IF YOU JUST TAKE YOUR FIST AND JUST CLENCH IT YOU WON'T
FEEL ANY PAIN, BUT JUST CLENCH IT AND KEEP IT THERE LONG ENOUGH
AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP IT CLENCHED VERY LONG. YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO LET IT GO BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BEGIN TO HURT
BECAUSE YOU, PAIN IN THE NECK. DO YOU HAVE A PAIN IN THE NECK?
WELL, SO OFTEN THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN YOUR MIND.
WORRY, THEY TELL US, CAN CAUSE ARTHRITIS
. YOU CAN WORRY
YOURSELF STIFF. [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] HUH, LISTEN, IT IS A
MATTER NOT ONLY OF DISCIPLINE, IT IS A MATTER OF DISPOSITION.
DOUGLAS MACARTHUR; BOY, GIVE US SOME MORE MEN LIKE DOUGLAS
MACARTHUR. DOUGLAS MACARTHUR HAD THIS HANGING ON THE WALL OF HIS
OFFICE. "YOUTH IS NOT A TIME OF" LIFE. IT IS A STATE OF MIND. IT
IS NOT A MATTER OF RED CHEEKS, RED LIPS, AND SUPPLE KNEES. IT
IS A TEMPER OF THE WILL, A QUALITY OF THE IMAGINATION, A
VIGOR OF THE EMOTION. IT IS A FRESHNESS OF THE DEEP SPRI
NGS OF
LIFE. YEARS MAY WRINKLE THE SKIN BUT TO GIVE UP ENTHUSIASM
WRINKLES THE SOUL. WORRY, DOUBT, SELF-DISTRUST, FEAR, AND
DESPAIR: THESE ARE THE LONG, LONG, LONG YEARS THAT BOW THE
HEAD AND TURN THE GROWING SPIRIT BACK TO DUST." AND THEN THE
GREAT GENERAL SAID, "YOU ARE AS YOUNG AS YOUR FAITH, AS OLD AS
YOUR DOUBT, AS YOUNG AS YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE, AS OLD AS YOUR
FEAR, AS YOUNG AS YOUR HOPE AND "AS OLD AS YOUR DESPAIR." WHY DO
WE HAVE STRESS? STRESS IS THAT GAP BETWEEN OUR STRENGTH AND THE
DEM
ANDS THAT ARE PUT UPON US, AND WE ALL FEEL THAT. THAT'S THE
REASON THE BIBLE SAYS IN ISAIAH CHAPTER 40 VERSES 28 AND
FOLLOWING, "HAST THOU NOT KNOWN?" HAST THOU NOT HEARD, THAT THE
EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE "CREATOR OF THE ENDS OF THE
EARTH, FAINTETH NOT." GOD NEVER PASSES OUT. "NEITHER IS WEARY?"
GOD NEVER GETS TIRED. "THERE IS "NO SEARCHING OF HIS
UNDERSTANDING." GOD IS NEVER PERPLEXED. "HE GIVETH POWER TO
THE FAINT; AND TO THEM THAT HAVE" NO MIGHT HE INCREASETH STRENGTH.
EVEN THE YOUTHS
SHALL FAINT AND BE WEARY, AND THE YOUNG MEN
SHALL UTTERLY FALL. BUT THEY "THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL
RENEW THEIR STRENGTH." THE WORD LITERALLY MEANS THEY SHALL
EXCHANGE THEIR STRENGTH; THEIR WEAKNESS FOR HIS STRENGTH. "THEY
SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS" EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT
BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK "AND NOT FAINT." I BELIEVE THAT
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY AND HAVE A FAMILY
CONFERENCE. YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, "ARE WE A FAMILY LIVING
UNDER STRESS? WHAT IS
THE" "DISPOSITION OF OUR FAMILY?" AND
NEED TO FIND THOSE THINGS THAT ARE STRESSING YOUR FAMILY, THOSE
THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT ARE WRONG REPENT OF THEM, TURN
YOUR LIFE OVER TO THE LORD, WAIT UPON THE LORD. THAT MAY SOUND
SIMPLISTIC, BUT FRIEND, IT'LL WORK. NOW, HERE'S THE THIRD
THING; NOW WATCH. FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE.
FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DISPOSITION. THIRDLY, FAMILY
FITNESS IS A MATTER OF DEVOTION, DEVOTION; IT IS A MATTER OF
DEVOTION. THAT IS, WHEN YOU LOVE GOD
, HA, WHEN YOU SERVE GOD,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEALTHIER. AH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN
TOLD IN THE BIBLE THAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD ADDS YEARS TO LIFE
AND, AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT. I WAS READING AN ARTICLE
BY MARY ANN HERRING, AH, THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE, "BELIEVE
WELL AND LIVE WELL." I WANT TO QUOTE, "PICK OUT ANY MAN OUT OF
A CHURCH PEW ON SUNDAY MORNING" AND LIKEN HIM TO A NEIGHBOR WHO
IS STILL AT HOME POURING THROUGH THE TWO POUND SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
IN HIS EASY CHAIR. LET'S SAY THE TWO
ARE THE SAME AGE, AND ARE IN
COMPARABLE SALARIES. NEITHER OF THEM SMOKES, DRINKS, OR PLAYS
THE LOTTERY. BOTH FLOSS THEIR TEETH, COLLECT BASEBALL CARDS,
AND ENJOY CHEESECAKE. WHICH MAN WILL LIVE LONGER AND ENJOY THE
BENEFITS OF A STABLE MARRIAGE? ANSWER; THE MAN OR WOMAN IN THE
PEW. IN RECENT YEARS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS BACKING UP WHAT
COMMON SENSE HAS TOLD US FOR YEARS. MAINLY, THAT CHURCH GOERS
LIVE LONGER, STAY MARRIED, AND "FEEL HAPPIER THAN THOSE WHO SAY
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD." THAT'S
JUST A SCIENTIFIC FACT
THEY'RE TELLING US. NOW THE, THE SECRET IS OUT. FAITH, RELIGION
IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH, BUT SCIENCE IS JUST VERIFYING WHAT
THE SCRIPTURES HAVE TOLD US FOR YEARS. IN A 9, IN A 1987 REVIEW
BY LEVIN AND VANDERPOOL, SOCIAL SCIENCE MEDICINE, THAT'S THE
TITLE OF THE, AH, REVIEW, REPORTED THAT, "IN 22 OF 27
STUDIES THE MORE OFTEN A PERSON" "WENT TO CHURCH THE BETTER HIS OR
HER HEALTH." AH, THEY SAY, JUST DEVOTION, JUST COMING TO CHURCH,
JUST PRAISING GOD, LOVING GOD MAKE YOUR FA
MILY FIT. IT'S,
IT'S, IT'S AN AMAZING THING BUT THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TOLD
US THAT FAITH IS GOOD FOR FAMILY FITNESS. I HAVE SOME MORE
STATISTICS HERE ABOUT THAT BUT BECAUSE OF THE PRESS OF TIME I'M
GOING TO PRESS THROUGH HERE A LITTLE BIT AND I WANT YOU TO
FOLLOW ME NOW. GOD WANTS YOUR FAMILY FIT. YOUR BODY IS THE
TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU ARE A FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY
MADE MACHINE. THERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY YOU MAY BE SICK THAT
YOU CAN'T CONTROL, BUT THERE'RE OTHER REASONS, THERE'RE
OTHER
THINGS THAT YOU CAN CONTROL AND YOU SHOULD CONTROL. NOW, HERE'S
THE FINAL THING. FAITH IS ALSO, FAMILY FITNESS IS A MATTER OF
DECISION. NOW HERE, I LEFT THIS TILL LAST BECAUSE IF YOU GET
THESE FACTS DOWN AND YOU DON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS, SO WHAT?
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE I HEARD THE DEFINITION OF A COLLEGE
EDUCATION AND IT IS, AH, A COLLEGE EDUCATION IS GETTING
THAT WHICH IS IN THE PROFESSOR'S NOTEBOOK INTO YOUR NOTEBOOK
WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE HEADS OF EITHER ONE. HUH, I DON'T WANT
YOU TO
JUST GET THESE FACTS DOWN. I WANT THEM TO GET INTO
YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART AND THERE HAS TO BE A, A DECISION.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, AH, YOU NEED TO HAVE A FAMILY COUNSEL. THOSE
OF YOU WHO ARE PARENTS WITH LITTLE CHILDREN, AH, YOU NEED TO
SIT DOWN AND IF THERE'S A FATHER IN THE FAMILY HE NEEDS TO TAKE
CHARGE. IF THERE'S NOT A FAMILY, A FATHER, THEN MOTHER YOU NEED
TO TAKE CHARGE. BUT LISTEN TO JOSHUA CHAPTER 24 VERSE 15.
JOSHUA IS TALKING TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND HE SAYS
THIS, "AND IF IT SEE
M EVIL UNTO" YOU TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE
YOU THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS WHICH YOUR
FATHERS SERVED THAT WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FLOOD, OR THE
GODS OF THE AMORITES, IN WHOSE LAND YE DWELL, BUT AS FOR ME AND
MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE "LORD." IT'S A MATTER OF
DECISION. IT IS A MATTER OF DECISION. AND HOW DO YOU SERVE
THE LORD? "I PRAY GOD YOUR WHOLE" SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE
PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO THE "COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST." IT DEALS WITH THE B
ODY IN DISCIPLINE, IT DEALS
WITH THE SOUL IN DISPOSITION, IT DEALS WITH THE SPIRIT IN
DEVOTION, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE. YOU HAVE TO SAY, "AS FOR
ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE" "THE LORD." NOW THERE WERE OTHER
GODS WHO WERE CALLING UPON THE ISRAELITES. THERE WERE THE GODS
THAT THEY, UH, KNEW BACK IN EGYPT. THEN THE, WERE GODS IN
THE LAND OF THE AMORITES, THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE
LAND THEY DWELT. AND WHAT JOSHUA IS SAYING IS, "LOOK AROUND, LOOK
AT THESE OTHER GODS, LOOK AT" THESE
OTHER PHILOSOPHIES, LOOK
AT THEM, THEN LOOK AT JEHOVAH GOD." DO YOU KNOW WHAT GOD IS
SAYING? HE'S SAID, "YOU BRING YOUR BEST GODS OUT, I'll BEAT
THEM ALL, I'll BEAT THEM ALL. YOU BRING ALL THESE
PHILOSOPHIES, ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE ROUND THERE." AND HE
SAYS, "NOW LOOK, HERE'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE, HERE'S WHAT THEY
DO, HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE LIKE, BUT HE SAYS LISTEN, YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO CHOOSE, CHOOSE WHO "YOU'RE GOING TO SERVE." REMEMBER
WHAT I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT CHOICE. YOU'RE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT
YOU'RE NOT FREE NOT TO CHOOSE. NOT TO CHOOSE IS A CHOICE. HA,
HA. YOU'RE FREE TO CHOOSE. YOU'RE NOT FREE NOT TO CHOOSE.
AND YOU'RE NOT FREE TO CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR CHOICE.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. YOU'RE FREE TO CHOOSE, YOU'RE NOT FREE
NOT TO CHOOSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT FREE TO CHOOSE THE CONSEQUENCES
OF YOUR CHOICE. ONCE YOU MAKE A CHOICE THEN YOUR CHOICE CHOOSES
FOR YOU. OKAY. YOUR CHOICE THEN WILL CHOOSE FOR YOU. NOW WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO IS TO LOOK AT YOUR FAMILY AND SAY, "LISTEN,
WHAT IS
THIS WE'RE EATING? WHAT" IS THIS WE'RE DOING? WHAT IS
THIS WE'RE THINKING? ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LIVE THIS
WAY OR ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION AS A FAMILY SO, SOME
FAMILY FITNESS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE A TESTIMONY TO OUR NEIGHBORS
AND THOSE AROUND US? WE OUGHT TO "BE DIFFERENT." OUR FAMILIES
OUGHT TO STAND OUT IN MATTERS OF FAITH, IN MATTERS OF FUN, IN
MATTERS OF FINANCE, AND IN MATTERS OF FITNESS. OUR FAMILIES
OUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT, DON'T YOU BELIEVE THAT? I DO. BUT YOU SEE,
IF YOU JUST S
IMPLY DON'T, IH, IF YOU JUST HEAR THIS AND DON'T
MAKE A DECISION WHAT GOOD IS IT? WHAT, WHAT GOOD IS IT GOING TO
DO YOU WHATEVER? NOW, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE AS A FAMILY. OUR
TIME IS GONE. I WISH I HAD MORE TIME BUT I DON'T. BUT NOW,
LISTEN TO ME FOLKS. IF YOU THINK THAT I'M JUST TALKING TO YOU
ABOUT BEING HEALTHY AND PHYSICALLY STRONG AND THAT'S
ALL, YOU MISSED IT A THOUSAND MILES. WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT
MAKE IF YOU LIVED TO BE A SERENE OLD MAN OR WOMAN WITH THE BLOOM
OF HEALTH ON YOU AND THEN YO
U DIED? WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT
MAKE IF YOU DIED IN A MODERN HOSPITAL WITH THE AID OF DRUGS,
NO PAIN AT ALL, AND DIED WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE? WHAT
DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF THEY HAD A BIG FUNERAL AND ALL OF THE
HIGH MUCKETY-MUCKS OF SOCIETY CAME TO YOUR FUNERAL AND THERE
YOU ARE IN A BEAUTIFUL BRONZE CASKET AND, AND THE UNDERTAKER'S
DONE SUCH A GOOD JOB ON YOU? WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF
THEY CARRY YOU OUT AND PUT YOU IN A GRAVE AS BEAUTIFUL AS ANY
MO, ANY PARK AND FESTOON THAT GRAVE
WITH FLOWERS? I SAY WHAT
[SLAP] DIFFERENCE [SLAP] WOULD IT [SLAP] MAKE IF YOU RISE IN
THE JUDGMENT AND MEET A GOD THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WITH YOUR SINS
UNCONFESSED AND UNFORGIVEN? [AUDIENCE: THAT'S RIGHT] I AM
NOT TALKING ABOUT MERE PHYSICAL HEALTH, AND I PRAY GOD YOUR
WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS UNTO THE
COMING OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. GOD WANTS YOU
SAVED SO MUCH THAT HE SENT HIS DARLING SON TO PAY FOR YOUR SIN
WITH HIS BLOOD ON THAT CROSS. AND I PROMISE YOU
ON THE
AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD THAT IF YOU WILL TRUST JESUS
CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR HE WILL FORGIVE YOUR SIN,
I PROMISE YOU HE WILL, AND HE'LL SAVE YOU TODAY IF YOU'LL ASK
HIM. I WANT HEADS BOWED AND EYES CLOSED, NO ONE STIRRING AROUND.
BEGIN TO PRAY FOR THOSE ROUND ABOUT YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW THE
LORD JESUS. AND FOLKS, RIGHT NOW IN THIS SERVICE, WE CAN DO
BUSINESS WITH GOD. I MEAN RIGHT IN THIS SERVICE TODAY YOU CAN
RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR AND LORD. I INVITE
YOU TO
PRAY THIS WAY OUT OF YOUR HEART, SINCERELY, FERVENTLY, "DEAR GOD,
I KNOW THAT YOU LOVE ME AND I" KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE ME.
JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME AND YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF I
WOULD TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU JESUS." WOULD YOU TELL HIM THAT?
"I DO TRUST YOU JESUS, RIGHT NOW, THIS MOMENT WITH ALL OF MY
HEART. COME INTO MY HEART. I INVITE YOU IN. TAKE CONTROL OF
MY LIFE. I TURN IT OVER TO YOU. BEGIN NOW TO MAKE ME THE PERSON
YOU WANT ME TO BE. SAVE ME, LORD JESUS." PRAY THAT, JUS
T PUT IT
IN A SENTENCE. "SAVE ME, LORD JESUS." DID YOU ASK HIM? THEN
PRAY THIS WAY, "THANK YOU FOR DOING IT, JESUS. YOU'RE NOW MY
LORD, MY SAVIOR, MY GOD AND MY FRIEND. BECAUSE YOU DIED FOR ME
I WILL LIVE FOR YOU AND I WILL FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU LEAD ME.
HELP ME TO NEVER BE ASHAMED OF "YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN." MAY I HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT OF
YOUR TIME? I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE BROKEN HOPES, BROKEN HEARTS
AND BROKEN HOMES. WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE LORD JESUS TO COME,
RIGHT NOW, AND TO TAKE YOU
WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE, TO MAKE YOU
WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO BE, AND THEN FOR YOU TO BECOME THE
AMBASSADOR OF LOVE INTO YOUR FAMILY? DO YOU KNOW JESUS? WHY
DON'T YOU ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW? WHY DON'T
YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS, "DEAR LORD, I OPEN MY HEART, I
RECEIVE YOU IN TO MY LIFE AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. THANK YOU FOR
PAYING MY SIN DEBT WITH YOUR SHED BLOOD ON THE CROSS. THANK
YOU FOR LOVING ME SO MUCH, NOW PUT YOUR LOVE IN MY HEART. THANK
YOU FOR DOING IT JESUS. AND "JESUS, I
LOVE YOU." PRAY IT AND
MEAN IT. AND IF YOU DO, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US SO WE CAN
REJOICE WITH YOU AND WE'LL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU
GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY'S PROGRAM. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN OR SHARE
THIS MESSAGE WITH A FRIEND WHO'S HURTING, AT LWF.ORG. YOU CAN
ALSO DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES AND A COMPLETE
TRANSCRIPT OF THIS MESSAGE. AT LWF.ORG, YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT
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LS FROM ADRIAN
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FORGET, YOU CAN CATCH UP ON OUR PROGRAM EACH WEEK ON OUR
FACEBOOK PAGE OR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. THANKS FOR JOINING US
TODAY FOR OUR PROGRAM. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. THIS EASTER
SEASON, EXPLOR
E SOME OF THE DEEPEST QUESTIONS ABOUT GOD'S
SAVING WORK IN CHRIST. WHY DID JESUS DIE? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF HIS PASSION? PASTOR, TEACHER AND AUTHOR ADRIAN ROGERS,
DELIVERS A MASTERFUL PRESENTATION OF THE SAVING
SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU, IN HIS
BOOK "THE PASSION OF CHRIST AND" "THE PURPOWE OF LIFE." JESUS DID
NOT DIE AS A MARTYR, HE DID NOT DIE AS AN EXAMPLE, HE DIED AS A
SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST. FOR YOUR
GIFT TO LOVE WORTH FINDING THIS MONT
H, WE WANT TO SEND YOU A
COPY OF THIS POWERFUL AND POIGNANT EXPLANATION OF THE
GOSPEL. REQUEST "THE PASSION OF" CHRIST AND THE PURPOSE OF LIFE"
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Comments
It's so good in the lord Jesus you can feel it 🙏
Happy Sunday! ☀️✝️
Keep on sending the Truth💌
Hallelujah 🙌🙏🏻
Amen!