Lord; you know us and our many needs. You love us like a father and nurture us like a mother. In this hour of worship may we be drawn to the sacred place where you dwell, and give you the praise and the glory! Amen.

 

 

 

Good Morning, again, everyone. We are so glad you are here, just as we say every week. If you are a first-time visitor, we offer a special word of welcome to you. If you have been away for a while, we have been talking for, the last several weeks, about getting balance back into our lives. We have been talking about hopefully starting off ’08 by trying to get a few things straight, by aligning ourselves with God’s universal principle that is operative at every level of life. That is called balance. Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and today we are going to be talking about physically.

 

Third John 2 says, “I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as it is with your soul.”

 

Folks, it’s just OK to say it, even in our church. God wants us – God intends us – to be healthy people. The Scriptures are full of guidelines, and rules, and regulations about health. Jesus, himself, spent huge amounts of his time and energy in his ministry healing people.

 

Now, if you have ever been sick, you know the value of your health. God is concerned about, and therefore, we should be concerned about physical health. But more than that, in 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul says, “Therefore honor God with your body.”  

 

Isn’t that interesting? “Honor God with your body,” and that means use your body for God’s glory. Honor God by taking care of the gift God has given you. So, we are going to be talking about how. That’s the subject of the day.

 

The first thing we need to do is, quite frankly, own the fact there are many unhealthy attitudes about our bodies in this world. We need to develop healthy attitudes towards our body. The question today: When you think about your body, what comes to your mind immediately? Does it feel good? Does it not feel good? It makes a difference about how you think about your body – positively or negatively.

 

Let’s start with some unhealthy attitudes that are rampant in many places.

 

Number One: One attitude we can take is people reject their bodies. Some people are doing that right now. Even people in this community of faith. “I’m too this…” “I’m too that…” “I look in the mirror, and I say, ‘No, thank you, Lord. You goofed. I’m sorry. Send this back. We need to do this over’.”

 

Phyllis Diller and Joan Rivers made millions making fun of their bodies. I think that is, essentially, an unhealthy thing.

 

Secondly, you can perfect your body. That is just the extreme opposite. These are the body builders. These are the body sculptors. These are the people who are constantly striving to be the “Perfect 10.” Some of us have already achieved a “Perfect 50.” OK? They worship; they idolize their bodies. That is unhealthy.

 

Third, we can also neglect our bodies. Many of us here simply ignore our health. We’re careless about our condition. We don’t spend very much time or energy thinking about or using our bodies. That is a wrong attitude to take. 

 

Don’t reject. Don’t perfect. Don’t neglect. The healthy thing, I suggest instead, is to respect our bodies and to protect our bodies. Respect and protect.

 

In order to do that, as you know, you have to motivate yourself to change. Folks, God wants all of us, I believe, to be as healthy as we can be. The reason I believe that is because our health is a gift. God always expects us to take care of the gifts that God gives us.

 

There are three physical reasons I want to lift up today. These are obvious to you, but they just need to be said.

 

1. When we take care of our health and our bodies, when we are physically as fit as we can be, we feel better. Did you know that? It’s very simple. When I take care of my health, I have more energy. I’m more alert. I’m less stressed, less depressed. I have fewer aches and pains. I just feel better.

 

2. I look better. Now, you may have noticed that a lot of us guys have furniture problems. Do you know about that? That’s where are chest has fallen into our drawers. OK? It’s that “Perfect 50” I was telling you about. 

 

Now, I’ve seen folks who are in shape. They not only feel better, they actually look better. It’s amazing.

 

3. When we take care of our health, we tend to live longer. It’s a simple fact. When we take care of ourselves, we not only look better, we not only feel better, but also we are probably going to live longer.

 

Now, these are physical reasons. I want to also lift up to you today some spiritual reasons, as well. I ought to take care of my body because…

 

1. The Creator made my body. The Creator made your body.

Psalm 139:13 says, “Lord, you knit me together in my mother’s womb… I am awesomely, fearfully, and wonderfully made.”

 

God made us. God made your body. God made my body. God likes bodies. God doesn’t make junk. You ought to know that. Indeed, the Bible says, from Chapter 1, what God makes is good. Not only good, but very, very good. Since it’s good, then you and I have to take care of it. We have to respect it, and we have to protect it.

2. Another spiritual reason: Jesus paid for it.

 

According to the Scripture, Jesus paid for your body.

 

First Corinthians 6:19 says, “You are not your own. You have been bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

 

Isn’t that interesting? Folks, when God, in Christ, died on the cross, according to the Scriptures, he paid for you. He paid for me. He paid for all of us. That’s not just our spirit. That’s not just our soul. That’s not just our mind. That’s our body, as well. That makes your health and my health… That makes health care in this country… That makes health care in this world… That makes physical fitness… a stewardship issue. I believe that. Think about that.

 

Jesus bought you with a price, and that includes your body, my body. It’s on loan to you. We don’t own it. It’s just like your money. It’s just like your time. It’s just like your talent. Your body, like all the rest, is a gift. Our job is to be stewards. We are to manage it. That’s what being a steward means.

 

3. The Spirit of the Living God lives in your body.

 

First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple and that the Holy Spirit lives in you?”

If God made our bodies, and if Jesus died for our bodies, the Holy Spirit lives in our bodies, don’t you think we should do our best to make this body of ours a holy, a worthy, a sacred place that Scripture says it is. 

 

Doesn’t it tell you something about your personal health? Yes. But also the public’s health? Doesn’t it tell you something about physical fitness, and about medical care, and about the healing arts? Folks, if you are a Christian, you know that every, single human being’s body is the temple of God. Wow!

 

John Sulston, the son of an Anglican priest, educated at Cambridge, winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2002 said, “There are people in this world who believe that, basically, health is something you can buy. If you have money, you can buy health. If you have more money, you can greater health. I am one of the other people who say, ‘Health, at least in its most basic level, never mind all the bells and whistles and trimmings, is something that should be a universal right of everyone.’ Indeed, the progress of humanity and the peace of the world are underpinned by health care. Now, as soon as you take that view, and I do, then you have to say that anything that blocks that cheapest possible point of delivery of health care is wrong. Anything that blocks that is wrong. We have to find some way not to allow that to happen.”

 

Folks, if you are a Christian, you know what millions of people are denying, and that is that every, single human being’s body is the temple of God. Wow!

 

So, how? That’s what I want us to talk about today. How do you get in shape? What do you do?

 

These are some things you are going to find in your Scriptures. I’m going to start there. I want you to pay attention to the principles that are found in the Scriptures. We don’t talk about this very much. That’s a shame.

 

Proverbs 4:22 says, “Pay attention to my words, for they are health to a person’s whole body.”

 

Isn’t that interesting? When you follow the principles of God’s Word, found in Scripture, you are going to be a healthier person. Some of you know better than most, that when you feel bad, when you are tired, when you are fatigued, when you are out of shape, when you hurt, when you are sick, it affects, not only you, but everybody around you.

 

Shakespeare said, “It’s hard to be a philosopher when you have a toothache.”

 

Others say, “It’s hard to be spiritually alert when you are physically out of shape.”

 

Let’s get started with these principles.

 

1. Maintain your ideal weight. Folks, I’ve just stopped preachin’ and gone to meddlin’. What I want you to hear is this is about me. You can come along with me if you want to do so. You can check out if you want. That’s OK, but I’m preaching to me right now.

 

First Thessalonians 4:4 says, “Each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.”

 

Circle the word “learn.” 

 

Folks, I learned this week that when they rebuilt Yankee Stadium a few years ago, they lost 9,000 seats. Do you know why? They had to add three inches to every single chair, so that we could fit our behinds back into the seats. They lost 9,000 seats in Yankee Stadium.

 

Now, I know there are genetic and medical reasons that cause weight problems. They can’t be helped. I’m not talking about that. You know I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the rest of us. We simply eat too much. Why? Because it’s simply so dog-gone good! You know? I am a good cook. 

 

How many of you have ever seen Ratatouille? Share that with your neighbor. It’s about a rat who cooks. But that’s another story. It’s fantastic.

 

I love to eat. It’s one of life’s great pleasures. But the fact is, you know and I know, I cannot eat everything I want and still maintain my best weight.

 

Kary B. Mullis, the Nobel Prize winner for chemistry in 1993, said, “Some people eat too much. Some people eat too little. Nothing else about diet really matters.”

 

Folks, I have to do something about me. I have to stand up here in front of you, because I’ve been feeding on more than the Word. OK? I’m starting to feel like Pastor Blimp up here. My friend George, the other day, told me I, not only need to do some pushups. I also need to do some pushbacks. So, for the next six weeks, I’m going to make a commitment to you. I’m going to try. No. No. I’m not going to try. I’m either going to or I won’t. I am going to try… No. I’m going to… See the struggle I’m having here. I’m going to…

 

2. Balance your diet. I’m talking about control. I’m talking about control of quality and quantity. Do you eat a balanced diet? I always thought a balanced diet was a hamburger in this hand, and a hamburger in that hand. I’ve sort of been on the See-Food Diet for years. I see it, and I eat it. We need balance. I need balance. That’s what this series is about.

 

First Corinthians 6:12 says, “Everything is permissible for me.” (Paul is talking about this: any kind of food, any kind of drink.) “Everything is permissible to me… but I will not be mastered by anything.”

 

3. Commit yourself to a regular program of exercise. Circle the word “commit.” I’ve discovered that all of us are convinced, but not all of us are committed.

 

Our kid in San Francisco has been talking about doing the triathlon for years. Last week she actually signed up. She put her name on the dotted line. This busy, young, barely-making-it-financially, up-and-coming, active account manager has made a commitment to train with her team, there in her community, for six days every week from now until the triathlon in May. She signed a contract for $3,000 that says she’s going to do it. She either has to raise that money, or she has to pay for it. I will probably be getting a letter. Don’t laugh. You will, too.

 

First Timothy 4:8 says, “Physical exercise has value.”

 

A common excuse is, “I don’t have enough time.” The common mistake is we overdo it at first. Folks, the key to training is not straining. The key to training is sustaining. It’s exercising longer, not harder. 

 

The fact is our bodies were simply not designed for inactivity. God made us to be active creatures. Commit yourself to regular exercise.

 

4. Get enough rest and sleep. 

 

Psalm 127:2 says, “In vein you rise up early and you stay up late.”

 

Folks, rest is important. It’s so important that God made it one of the Ten Commandments. “Six days you should do your work, and on the seventh day you shall ‘Sabbath.’ You shall rest. For even the Lord, your God, on the seventh day of creation rested.” Make sure you get enough rest and sleep.

 

5. Reduce or avoid drinking alcohol. Now, folks, I’m not talking about a legalism here. I’m not talking about prohibition here. The fruit of the vine is one of God’s great gifts, and one of God’s great delights. I enjoy it as much as anybody else. I’m talking about control here. It is something that can very easily get out of control. You know that.

 

Proverbs 23:20 says, “Do not join those who drink…” No! It doesn’t say that at all. It says, “Do not join those who drink too much… or gorge themselves, for drunkards and gluttons become poor.”

 

They get hooked. They get bankrupt. They lose control. They go down the tubes.

 

The number of people in rehab and recovery in this country, and elsewhere, is staggering. Alcoholism is the number three greatest health problem in this country, behind heart disease and cancer. Some of us just need to leave it alone, completely. But reduce, avoid. Do what you have to do to get control and get healthy.

 

6. Live in harmony with the Spirit of the Living God.

 

Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace is life to the body.”

 

Folks, if you or someone you know is really struggling with guilt, and worry, and bitterness, and anger, and fear, don’t expect to have optimum health. It’s not going to happen. Those things have tremendous effect on our bodies. We’re all connected. We are a whole person.

 

“A heart at peace is life to the body.”

 

Now, where does a heart of peace come from? Two things. Two sources.

 

Number One: A clear conscience. You go to bed tonight, and nothing is bothering you.   A clear conscience; sleep like a baby.

 

Number Two: You wake up in the morning, and you have a purpose. You have a reason for getting up, and getting after it. It is something that gives meaning to your life. That’s what leads to a heart of peace.

 

The root of the word “salvation” means wholeness. When a person gets saved, they get healed. That’s what that means. They get made whole: mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally. That word got messed up somewhere down the line. Forget that. It’s about wholeness. It’s about what God offers. 

 

The starting point is when we invite that Spirit of the Living Christ, and we say, “Lord, I’m trying to get things together, and it’s tough. I want to live. I need your help. I want to live in synch. I want to live in balance. I want to live in harmony with you.”

 

I know there are people who are going to go out of this place today, and they are going to say, “My gosh! I went to church, and they had a sermon about physical fitness on Sunday morning.”

 

You know what? Why not? Because you know what? What we are talking about here is stewardship. You body is just like your money. It’s like your time. It’s like your talent. It’s a gift, a literal gift from God. Your job and my job is to be stewards. We’re to manage. That’s what “stewardship” means. We are to manage that gift, for God, the way God wants it done and for God’s purposes.

 

How do you get started? You have to accept responsibility. Now, I know there are things that are beyond our control. You didn’t choose your genes. You didn’t choose your parents. You didn’t choose the basic body type you have. You didn’t choose the circumstances under which you were raised, and fed, and nurtured as a child. There are things that have happened to you since that you have not been able to control. Those factors are not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about things we can control.

 

Believe me. I know what self-control is. It’s hard. Self-control is very hard. Isn’t it interesting that one of the nine spiritual gifts – the fruits of the Spirit – found in Galatians 5… One of the nine of all the things Paul could have said, one of the nine is “self-control.” Wow! Ask the Spirit of the Living God to help you with self-control. 

 

Then, as Romans 12:1 implores, “Make a decisive dedication of your body as a living sacrifice, devoted and well-pleasing to God.”

 

Your body and my body are gifts. Be a steward. Manage it. Use it in ways that are pleasing to God.

 

And all the people say… “Amen.” 

 

 

 

Creator God; thank you for making us in your image. Give us the discipline and heart to embrace who we are and to commit to being healthy and strong. We ask for your healing grace, knowing that we will best serve you and ourselves when we are physically well. Amen.