HEALTH TO YOUR FLESH
INTRODUCTION
A. (3Jn.v2) The word “health” occurs 17 times in 17 verses in the KJV.
a. OT - “health” translates 1 of 5 Hebrew words
a. shalowm (shaw-lome') - “safe, i.e. (fig.) well, happy, friendly; also (abstr.) welfare,
i.e.health, prosperity, peace”
b. yeshuw'ah (yesh-oo'-aw) - “something saved, i.e. (abstr.) deliverance; hence aid, victory, prosperity:--deliverance, health, help (-ing), salvation, save, saving (health), welfare”
c. iph'uwth (rif-ooth') - “a cure:--health”
d. marpe' (mar-pay') - “prop. curative, i.e. lit. (concr.) a medicine, or (abstr.) a cure; fig. (concr.) deliverance, or (abstr.) placidity:--([in-]) cure (-able), healing (-lth), remedy, sound, wholesome, yielding”
e. 'aruwkah (ar-oo-kaw') - “(in the sense of restoring to soundness); wholeness (lit. or fig.):--health, made up, perfected”
b. NT - “health” translates 1 of 2 Greek words
a. soteria (so-tay-ree'-ah) - “rescue or safety (phys. or mor.):--deliver, health, salvation”
b. hugiaino (hoog-ee-ah'ee-no) - “to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); fig. to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine):--be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be) whole (-some)”
B. (Prov.3:7,8; Ex.15:26) Obedience to the Word of God not only has spiritual significant, but physical benefits as well.
C. Disobedience to the Word of God is the main reason there is so disease in the world.
I. HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO ALCOHOL
A. (Prov.23:29-35) In addition to highway deaths, crimes, loss of production, & the cost of alcohol, there are a number of health problems produced by alcohol.
a. destruction of brain cells
b. delirium tremens (DTs) - withdrawal
c. severe brain damage
d. insanity
e. Cirrhosis (hardening of the liver) None of These Diseases pg.31
B. (Prov.20:1) Alcohol boast great promises to its consumers & then “mocks” them by striking them with these diseases, often in the prime of his life.
C. The NT warns against the consequences of drinking:
a. “drunkards” will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor.6:9,10)
b. Christians are not to fellowship a brother who is a “drunkard” (1Cor.5:11)
II. HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO WORRY & STRESS
A. (Ecc.5:12) TLB - “The man who works hard sleeps well whether he eats little or much, but the rich must worry and suffer insomnia.” “Insomnia” is not the only kind of suffering worrying produces. Consider the following:
a. vomiting b. diarrhea
c. asthma d. arthritis
e. strokes f. blood clots
g. bleeding ulcers h. spasms of the back muscles
i. gangrene of leg issue j. migraine headaches
B. (Prov.4:23) The brain is the control center of the body. From it millions of nerve fibers course out to every organ in the body. Chemicals released from these nerve fibers control or influence every chemical reaction in every organ of the body. Since our health is dependent on the proper balance of all of these chemical reactions, it is no wonder that emotional upset in our brains can disrupt chemical reactions in a far-removed organ & cause disease.
C. Heeding biblical admonition about stress can keep us healthy (Mt.6:25-33; Php.4:6).
III. HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO ANGER
A. (Eph.4:26; Ecc.7:9) . Illustration of John Hunter (None of These Diseases; pg.113)
B. By harboring anger & resentment, we are actually foolish because we are making ourselves become susceptible to diseases of the mind & body.
a. irritable bowel syndrome
b. cause and/or heightens high blood pressure
c. excess production of hormones from the pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, & other glands which can cause diseases in virtually any part of the body
C. The NT has sound medicine to cure harbored anger - (Mt.5:44; Rom.12:19-21; Col.3:8).
IV. HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO PROMISCUITY
A. (1Thess.4:3-7; 1Cor.6:18) When men & women (boys & girls) ignored God’s instruction regarding sexual intimacy, they put their bodies at risk in contracting venereal disease (sexually transmitted diseases). Such as:
a. Syphilis b. Gonorrhea
c. Genital Herpes d. A.I.D.S.
B. (Prov.5:11-18) God knew the cause of these diseases long before men discovered it.
He gave a plan, that if followed, will not only allow men & women to satisfy their desire
for sexual intimacy, but will also prevent venereal diseases. The plan is called
marriage - 1 woman for 1 man for life!!!
CONCLUSION
(Prov.3:7,8; Ex.15:26) God is so much smarter than man. Jesus is not only the Great
Physician for our souls, but for our bodies as well.