Welcome to another
edition of "Issues and Answers."
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And thank you,
friends, for joining us today.
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Can we talk about something
that's a little touchy?
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Here it is. Is God
concerned about our health?
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Good question, isn't it?
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I mean, is God really
concerned about our health?
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We're gonna be
talking about that today
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with none other than
Pastor Stanley Dixon.
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Let me tell you
little bit about him.
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He's a graduate of Los Angeles
City College, Oakwood College,
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and the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary
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at Andrews University.
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He's also a former military man,
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US navy ship
serviceman and honor guard.
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He has been a
former stand-up comedian,
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has worked on youth task
force around the country,
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has won awards with writing
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and other type of
seminars that he's presented.
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He's done evangelistic crusades.
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He's done television and radio
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and now he's here on our
program to talk about health.
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Welcome, Pastor
Dixon, to the program.
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Good to be with you again.
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Is God really
concerned about our health?
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Oh, absolutely, absolutely.
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And it's one of the myths,
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I guess, in the
Christian world today
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that God is not
concerned about health.
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We tend to see God and
health as--as separated,
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that God is not
concerned about that.
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But ironically in
Scriptures we find
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Jesus doing more
healing than teaching.
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He's always laying
hands on the afflicted
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and healing the sick and the--
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the dumb, the maim, the blind.
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So he was concerned about
health because it opened them--
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opened their hearts
to receive the gospel.
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And I think if we follow
that vision, that practice,
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we would see more
results in our ministry today.
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And one reason why I think
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that God is so
concerned about our health
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and this is the evidence
that I see in Scripture,
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at least one
evidence in 3 John 2, it says,
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"Beloved, I
wish above all things
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that thou mayest
prosper and be in health,
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even as thy soul prospers."
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Tell us more about that.
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So what John is
saying that it is God's ideal
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that as we progress spiritually,
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we are progressing spiritually
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with the state of the
blessing of having health.
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In other words, as you
enjoy the blessing of health,
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I desire and I'm praying
that you grow spiritually. Okay.
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Okay. So that's
what John is praying for.
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And I think
there's a Greek concept
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where the body and
the soul are separate
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and it sort of invaded
Christian circles today.
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But Paul says in 1
Thessalonians 5:22.
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1 Thessalonians... 5:22.
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New Testament Book. Okay.
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It's great to be able
to look into the Bible
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and to get an understanding
of what God wants to tell us.
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That's right, and
the Bible is always clear
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and if we follow its
guidelines we will be safe
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in our understanding
of how God is leading.
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Do you have it, Karen?
Sure do. 1 Thessalonians 5--
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Can you read it for us?
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Verse 2? Verse 22.
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Verse 22, okay.
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No, verse 23.
Yeah, go to verse 23.
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"And the very God of
peace sanctify you wholly,
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and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body
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be preserved blameless
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unto the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ."
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So again we find
Paul agreeing with John
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that the body is important.
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And he's praying
that our whole body,
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the body, mind and
the spirit be preserved
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blameless unto the
coming of the Lord.
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And I submit that, that's
God's original purpose for us
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that we grow spiritually
in the state of health.
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It doesn't mean that
we might not get sick,
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but it's His will,
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I mean, it's His
purpose that we develop--
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because when you're trying
to be patient and you're sick,
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I mean, it's more difficult.
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If you're trying
to watch and pray,
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you know, as the Scripture
tells us to do and we're tired,
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you know, it's hard to do.
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So Paul and John are saying,
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you know, as you grow, as you
operate in the spiritual realm,
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I'm praying that you would do it
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from the standpoint of
having health because it's easy.
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You're more
effective if you have health.
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Because, you see, God
never created disease.
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I mean, we've
gotten so used to it.
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So how we got
disease in this world?
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Well, it all
started with Adam and Eve.
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You know, with the fall of sin.
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So it's a sin problem?
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First it was health
and then there was disease.
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First it was life, eternal
life and then it was death.
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And so we are products
of what our fore-parents did
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and sin and death are intruders.
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You know, it's not something
that originates with God.
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God never
intended that we be sick.
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But because of sin
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that's why we have
illnesses and infirmities.
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And so when Jesus
came to the earth,
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He sought to
show the heart of God,
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that God was not pleased.
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You know, God is compassion.
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He doesn't enjoy us being sick.
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In fact, He would
prefer that you were in health.
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And so he would literally
lay His hands on people
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and heal them
physically before--
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I mean, not over
a period of time,
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but right then and there.
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If a person was
lame for 38 years,
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couldn't and
hadn't used his limbs,
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He would say "get up and walk,"
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you know,
"according to your faith."
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So we see the heart of God,
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you know, as
manifested in Jesus Christ
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and His ability
to perform healing
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and His compassion on
those who are afflicted,
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we find the very heart of God.
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And let me say a few
things about disease.
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Disease--when we're
disease our body functions,
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at least, our basic
body functions are impaired.
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And the two functions
that we need to be concerned
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about is our
circulation, you see.
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Because when there's a
little bad circulation,
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you're gonna
naturally have disease.
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And then the other basic
function is our respiration,
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the ability to breathe.
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And if you cut out circulation,
you cut off respiration.
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You have death. So those are
the two most important things.
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Well, I was fully
surprised to learn that.
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As you're sharing that,
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I thought surely would have been
our heart or some other part.
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But you're saying no,
just the basic circulation
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and then the
ability to breathe well--
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Right, right. Is impaired.
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Right. And God has given us
a plan to aid those functions,
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to work at its optimum
level. And God has certain laws.
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Not only does he
have the Ten Commandments,
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he has-- but he has health laws,
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you see, laws
that govern our being.
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And if those laws are violated,
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then we will have
impaired circulation,
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impaired respiratory process.
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But also above
the-- the body functions
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or the basic functions
there are higher functions
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that are also impaired
when we violate God's laws.
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Higher
functions? Higher functions.
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Higher functions such as
discrimination, you know?
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Discriminating
between this and that
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or one thing and another thing.
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Memory is also impaired
by violation of God's law.
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If you don't get enough
sleep you're gonna have,
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you know, poor memory.
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So it's more than drinking.
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You know, drinking
can impair your memory
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but there's also other thing.
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Not getting enough
rest, you see. Okay.
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Because when, in
fact, someone has suggested
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that if we go to bed
2 hours before midnight,
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it helps to promote some
of the natural body chemicals
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that help the filing
system of the brain--
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Yes, melatonin. Yeah.
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So that we can
have a better memory.
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Another function is judgment.
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And you mentioned the alcohol.
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Alcohol will
affect your judgment.
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And we live in a time
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where you've got
to have good judgment.
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Because if you
don't, you know, it may be,
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you know, a
disastrous experience.
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And self control.
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You know, someone has
said that appetite and passion
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are the common
means of man's downfall.
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Even entire cities have gone
down because of intemperance,
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because of
passions out of control.
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You know, I think of Rome.
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You know, the fall of Rome--
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Yes. It's a result of that. Yes.
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But with these higher functions,
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they become
important when we think
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about the ability to discern
right from wrong, you see.
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And it's not that having
good health will save you,
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but having good health
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will at least age you
in thinking more clearly
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about the issues of salvation
and the choices that we make.
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So that, you know,
while we may not obey,
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at least, we'll be clear
about some of those issues.
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You know, the Bible
says in the last days
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in Matthew 24
that the deceptions,
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the deceptive power of
Satan will be so--so intense
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that even the elect would
be in danger of being deceived.
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So we as the people of God
I believe need discernment.
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That ability to discern
what's right and what's wrong
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and that's why we have so many
interpretations of the Bible.
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Because the gift of
discernment is not operating.
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And so these are functions
that God is concerned about.
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And, yes, God is
concerned about our health
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because of these reasons.
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He wants us to be
able to think clearly.
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He wants us to be able
to make a right decision
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on who to marry, for example.
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About a Bible topic.
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I think of Daniel who was asked
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to eat a certain diet
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that was against and violated
the principles of God's law.
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And Daniel said, "No, we can't.
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Give us time to pray about it."
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So they prayed
about it and of course,
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you know, the Bible says that,
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that Daniel because
he stayed on God's plan
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that him and his
companions were 10 times wiser.
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And I believe God
wants to do that today.
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He wants to make
us 10 times wiser,
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not to show the world
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that we're anymore
important than anyone else,
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but to show the
world how God loves us.
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Well, I'm glad you
raised up the issue of diet.
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You know, there's a lot
to be said about what we eat
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and there's a lot of
debate about what we eat.
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And when you add the fact
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that from what
you've shared with us
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that God is very concerned
about our health-- Yes.
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And then also our health--
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the higher abilities are
affected by our health-- Yes.
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Is it okay maybe
to bless the food?
00:11:58.67\00:12:01.51
I mean, doesn't the blessing
kind of cover these issues
00:12:01.54\00:12:04.47
as far as what we eat?
00:12:04.50\00:12:05.87
Is it so important what we eat
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or is it most important
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that we have God's
blessing in our lives?
00:12:09.35\00:12:12.34
Yeah, and that's
another misconception.
00:12:12.37\00:12:15.05
And that's where I'm
going with this topic.
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When Jesus was in the wilderness
00:12:20.46\00:12:21.87
the first temptation
that was aimed at Christ
00:12:21.90\00:12:26.05
had to do with getting
Christ to bow down to pressure,
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because His, maybe appetite was,
00:12:31.77\00:12:34.37
you know, in conflict
with health, you know.
00:12:34.40\00:12:38.19
And so he pressured him to
give up His commitment to God
00:12:38.22\00:12:43.37
or to violate God's will
00:12:43.40\00:12:44.90
in order to feed His
physical appetite. Okay.
00:12:44.93\00:12:49.25
And the devil still
brings pressures like that.
00:12:49.28\00:12:52.03
And in the last days
we may see more of that
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where the devil will say,
00:12:54.69\00:12:56.28
"Okay, if you
like, if you do this,
00:12:56.31\00:12:58.87
you know, I'll let you
eat or if you sacrifice,
00:12:58.90\00:13:01.73
you know, God's principles
I'll give you this job."
00:13:01.76\00:13:04.78
So he works in that way.
00:13:04.81\00:13:06.28
But the second
commandment speaks to the issue
00:13:06.31\00:13:08.58
that we're dealing with--
00:13:08.61\00:13:09.98
the second
temptation speaks to the issue
00:13:10.01\00:13:12.27
where the devil comes at Christ,
00:13:12.30\00:13:15.01
not this time putting
pressure on physical needs,
00:13:15.04\00:13:18.56
but giving a religious excuse
00:13:18.59\00:13:21.31
to disobey and violate
God's commandments, you see.
00:13:21.34\00:13:25.74
And a religious
excuse is even more powerful
00:13:25.77\00:13:28.06
if you can back
it up with Scripture.
00:13:28.09\00:13:30.63
So Satan says, "Look, I
want you to violate God's will.
00:13:30.66\00:13:35.56
You know, cast yourself
down, for it is written,"
00:13:35.59\00:13:39.70
you know, 'God will give
his angels charge over you.'"
00:13:39.73\00:13:43.08
And so he
misinterprets Scripture
00:13:43.11\00:13:45.17
to give Jesus an excuse to
violate God's will for His life.
00:13:45.20\00:13:51.38
And I believe in
the Christian world
00:13:51.41\00:13:52.81
we're seeing much of that today
00:13:52.84\00:13:55.22
where the devil
twists the Scriptures
00:13:55.25\00:13:58.97
so that we now can say
according to Romans 14:5,
00:13:59.00\00:14:04.38
you know, it doesn't
matter what day you worship.
00:14:04.41\00:14:09.98
Let no man judge
you in food or drink
00:14:10.01\00:14:12.87
or respect of the Sabbath days.
00:14:12.90\00:14:14.29
But when you analyze the text,
00:14:14.32\00:14:16.91
Paul is not discussing Sabbath
days or the fourth commandment.
00:14:16.94\00:14:21.07
He's talking about those
ceremonial Sabbaths, you see.
00:14:21.10\00:14:25.24
So the Sabbath day
is not up for grasp,
00:14:25.27\00:14:27.34
but the devil
has twisted the text
00:14:27.37\00:14:29.30
to pervert our understanding
00:14:29.33\00:14:31.30
so that we will
violate His laws.
00:14:31.33\00:14:34.90
Another misconception
is found in Matthew 15:11
00:14:34.93\00:14:39.09
where the Bible says,
00:14:39.12\00:14:40.49
"It's not that which
goeth out of the mouth
00:14:40.52\00:14:43.72
that defileth the man,
00:14:43.75\00:14:45.37
but that which
cometh out of the mouth,
00:14:45.40\00:14:49.04
this defileth the man."
00:14:49.07\00:14:50.49
So it's not so
important what goes in-- Right.
00:14:50.52\00:14:53.93
Okay, that defiles,
but what comes out. Right.
00:14:53.96\00:14:58.17
As far as in what we're
saying with our speeches.
00:14:58.20\00:15:00.93
Right, well, actually, you
know, the subject of health laws
00:15:00.96\00:15:05.20
or the ceremonial health laws
00:15:05.23\00:15:07.45
are not the
subject of discussion here
00:15:07.48\00:15:10.03
but the tradition of the elders
00:15:10.06\00:15:13.73
and that was the
ceremonial washing of hands.
00:15:13.76\00:15:16.41
And so what Jesus
is contrasting is,
00:15:16.44\00:15:18.92
you know, the
tradition of men with,
00:15:18.95\00:15:21.40
you know, the inner
workings of the heart.
00:15:21.43\00:15:23.18
It says, it's no use in you,
00:15:23.21\00:15:24.58
you know, washing, having
all these man-made traditions,
00:15:24.61\00:15:27.54
the ceremonial
washings with which,
00:15:27.57\00:15:29.47
you know, may be
good in and of themselves.
00:15:29.50\00:15:32.64
But the most important thing
is what comes out of the heart,
00:15:32.67\00:15:36.86
like blasphemies,
murders, thefts, adulteries.
00:15:36.89\00:15:39.83
So health laws are not
the object of discussion here.
00:15:39.86\00:15:43.48
Well, let me ask
you, Pastor Dixon,
00:15:43.51\00:15:45.24
what can a person
take into their body
00:15:45.27\00:15:49.00
that can actually
be harmful to them?
00:15:49.03\00:15:51.89
Oh, well, there are
many things. And in fact--
00:15:51.92\00:15:54.13
As far as foods
and other things?
00:15:54.16\00:15:55.89
What type of things
specifically can we take in,
00:15:55.92\00:15:58.76
going with the principle
00:15:58.79\00:16:00.16
that God is
concerned about our health?
00:16:00.19\00:16:02.82
Well, Leviticus 11,
list a number of foods
00:16:02.85\00:16:08.40
that are prohibited
00:16:08.43\00:16:10.70
and also you'll
find it in Deuteronomy 14
00:16:10.73\00:16:14.15
where it talks about, you know,
pigs and certain types of fish
00:16:14.18\00:16:20.91
like catfish and the fish
that have scales are to be eaten
00:16:20.94\00:16:25.46
and fish that don't
are not to be eaten.
00:16:25.49\00:16:28.31
And then it
lists certain animals.
00:16:28.34\00:16:30.67
Well, I know,
some people would ask
00:16:30.70\00:16:33.53
even if they're cleaned,
00:16:33.56\00:16:34.93
I mean, if
they're thoroughly cleaned
00:16:34.96\00:16:36.33
and the blood is drained
from some of these animals--
00:16:36.36\00:16:39.44
Is there still
certain things about them
00:16:39.47\00:16:41.44
that could be harmful to humans?
00:16:41.47\00:16:44.46
It could be because,
00:16:44.49\00:16:45.95
you know, the animal kingdom
is more and more diseased.
00:16:45.98\00:16:49.09
And, I mean, that animal
that died that we're eating,
00:16:49.12\00:16:55.17
you know, is carrying also
what its mother and grandmother
00:16:55.20\00:16:59.50
and whatever generations
before, it is carrying also.
00:16:59.53\00:17:02.49
So--so I think
in today's climate,
00:17:02.52\00:17:07.06
today's time, you know,
there would be a question
00:17:07.09\00:17:10.39
about whether
it really is clean.
00:17:10.42\00:17:12.69
Now there are certain animals
00:17:12.72\00:17:14.58
that are listed in
Leviticus. I am familiar
00:17:14.61\00:17:16.35
with Leviticus Chapter 11-- Yes.
00:17:16.38\00:17:18.20
That are listed as clean animals
and then you hear some others
00:17:18.23\00:17:20.69
that are listed as unclean
animals, clean and unclean.
00:17:20.72\00:17:25.36
I'm just wanting to know
00:17:25.39\00:17:29.46
if they're both
prepared the same way.
00:17:29.49\00:17:32.95
Does that make a
difference or is there--
00:17:32.98\00:17:34.93
what is it about the
system of the clean animals
00:17:34.96\00:17:37.27
that makes them better to eat
than say the unclean animals?
00:17:37.30\00:17:41.07
Well, the unclean
animals were scavengers. Okay.
00:17:41.10\00:17:44.25
God had a purpose
for the unclean animals
00:17:44.28\00:17:47.59
and that takes
me to my next text
00:17:47.62\00:17:49.73
which is another
misconception of--
00:17:49.76\00:17:52.15
that we find in
the Christian world
00:17:52.18\00:17:54.17
that if we pray over
something or bless it,
00:17:54.20\00:17:56.84
that makes it okay.
00:17:56.87\00:17:58.46
And turn with me to
1 Timothy 4:4. Okay.
00:17:58.49\00:18:03.60
1 Timothy 4:4. All
right. It's okay if I read?
00:18:03.63\00:18:10.05
You're pretty quick. Okay.
00:18:10.08\00:18:12.33
I don't have those--I have this
new Bible and the pages stick.
00:18:12.36\00:18:13.96
This Bible, yeah--
you guys see at home
00:18:13.99\00:18:17.19
how thick this--okay, this
is like--this is my--my Bible.
00:18:17.22\00:18:19.21
Yeah, that's a broken in Bible.
00:18:19.24\00:18:20.61
I had this Bible for, I
don't know how many years now.
00:18:20.64\00:18:22.01
This is my wife's
Bible. She hasn't used much.
00:18:22.04\00:18:23.48
Okay. You're got to have
your own sword, right? Yeah.
00:18:23.51\00:18:25.85
But I appreciate you--
00:18:25.88\00:18:27.81
willingness to
even use this sword.
00:18:27.84\00:18:29.63
Yes, yes. Okay. 1
Timothy Chapter 4.
00:18:29.66\00:18:32.99
Yes, verse 4. Verse 4?
00:18:33.02\00:18:35.79
Okay "For every
creature of God is good
00:18:35.82\00:18:39.14
and nothing to be refused,
00:18:39.17\00:18:41.21
if it be received
with thanksgiving."
00:18:41.24\00:18:43.58
Yes, and so the
idea is that all--
00:18:43.61\00:18:46.72
any food is good
as long as it's--
00:18:46.75\00:18:48.16
So we're not to refuse it
if we ask thanks for it, right?
00:18:48.19\00:18:50.59
If you ask thanks over--
00:18:50.62\00:18:52.11
but would you ask
thanks over a rat's liver?
00:18:52.14\00:18:54.89
I mean that-- I
mean that's created
00:18:54.92\00:18:58.46
and you could actually eat
it if every creature is good.
00:18:58.49\00:19:01.54
Yeah, but in some
places people eat rat's liver.
00:19:01.57\00:19:05.01
So, I mean, it's considered
a delicacy in some places.
00:19:05.04\00:19:09.96
But, I mean, how can we really--
00:19:09.99\00:19:11.36
do we go by taste or
do we go by principle?
00:19:11.39\00:19:13.39
Well, the principle is
that the Bible is not talking
00:19:13.42\00:19:17.11
about every creature
is good for eating. Okay.
00:19:17.14\00:19:19.71
But every creature is
good for its own purpose.
00:19:19.74\00:19:23.19
Now the scavengers,
those list of animals
00:19:23.22\00:19:27.34
that are listed in Leviticus
11, were created for a purpose.
00:19:27.37\00:19:32.18
So that creature is
good for its own purpose.
00:19:32.21\00:19:34.84
I mean a pig will eat anything.
00:19:34.87\00:19:36.38
A pig is like a garbage can.
00:19:36.41\00:19:37.82
It would be
good if you had some,
00:19:37.85\00:19:39.22
you know, if we didn't
have the waste companies
00:19:39.25\00:19:41.56
that we have today.
00:19:41.59\00:19:43.48
And there are other
animals, scavengers.
00:19:43.51\00:19:46.86
Animals that will eat
anything and clean anything.
00:19:46.89\00:19:50.04
So you don't want to eat that.
00:19:50.07\00:19:52.14
And the Bible said, as
long as it is sanctified by God,
00:19:52.17\00:19:57.67
then you can pray over it.
00:19:57.70\00:19:59.07
That's what it's saying.
00:19:59.10\00:20:00.47
It's not in conflict with
the Levitical health laws.
00:20:00.50\00:20:03.32
Wasn't there
this big controversy
00:20:03.35\00:20:04.78
in the New Testament
church between those meats
00:20:04.81\00:20:09.39
that were offered to Diana
00:20:09.42\00:20:10.87
who was the popular
goddess at the time? Right.
00:20:10.90\00:20:13.73
And apparently they
would dedicate these meats
00:20:13.76\00:20:17.23
and then they would go into
the market place and sell them.
00:20:17.26\00:20:19.47
And there was a big
debate between believers
00:20:19.50\00:20:22.85
whether or not
they should actually buy
00:20:22.88\00:20:24.62
this meat and then serve it.
00:20:24.65\00:20:27.27
Yeah, but even this
passage is not in conflict
00:20:27.30\00:20:30.04
with Levitical health laws
00:20:30.07\00:20:32.02
and what Paul
is simply saying is
00:20:32.05\00:20:34.52
as long as the
food is good for food,
00:20:34.55\00:20:38.78
even if it has been sold
00:20:38.81\00:20:41.31
that if it does not
violate your conscience,
00:20:41.34\00:20:43.15
if it doesn't bother you
00:20:43.18\00:20:44.55
because you know
where it comes from.
00:20:44.58\00:20:45.95
You know, that food is food.
00:20:45.98\00:20:47.35
They he says that, you know,
be persuaded by your own mind.
00:20:47.38\00:20:50.09
But by the same
token, if you're eating foods
00:20:50.12\00:20:53.32
that others may be aware,
00:20:53.35\00:20:55.61
foods that have might have been
offered to idols as he said,
00:20:55.64\00:20:57.95
if that causes a
brother to stumble
00:20:57.98\00:20:59.76
then it's
better to refrain from,
00:20:59.79\00:21:02.55
you know, buying foods
that are offered to idols
00:21:02.58\00:21:06.60
or even eating
in front of someone.
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.83
That's a brother who
doesn't have as much faith.
00:21:08.86\00:21:12.30
Yes, that reminds me when you
said eating in front of someone.
00:21:12.33\00:21:15.26
If you know someone in
your-- a friend or a guest,
00:21:15.29\00:21:18.19
a dinner guest for
example, is diabetic.
00:21:18.22\00:21:21.76
I'm wondering if that
would be a good idea to come
00:21:21.79\00:21:24.34
and serve cake and all these
sugar pies and other things,
00:21:24.37\00:21:27.53
when you know, your
guest is a diabetic.
00:21:27.56\00:21:30.21
That would be
offensive I would think.
00:21:30.24\00:21:31.74
If I was a diabetic
going to someone else's house,
00:21:31.77\00:21:33.92
I would feel very left out.
00:21:33.95\00:21:35.32
Yeah, absolutely.
00:21:35.35\00:21:36.72
And I think what
Christ calls us to do
00:21:36.75\00:21:39.33
is to be sensitive
to where people are.
00:21:39.36\00:21:42.15
And health ought not be a
kind of a point of conflict,
00:21:42.18\00:21:47.45
but it's an opportunity,
00:21:47.48\00:21:49.11
you know,
through the grace of God
00:21:49.14\00:21:50.51
to exhibit
these kinds of graces.
00:21:50.54\00:21:51.91
I know that in our churches,
the churches where I've been,
00:21:51.94\00:21:54.97
we eat differently, you know.
00:21:55.00\00:21:58.03
I'm a total vegan,
don't eat any animal products
00:21:58.06\00:22:01.61
and that's been our way of life
because the Lord has showed us
00:22:01.64\00:22:04.39
and we have strong convictions.
00:22:04.42\00:22:06.67
And so my church tries to,
00:22:06.70\00:22:09.54
you know, if
they invite us over,
00:22:09.57\00:22:11.15
we don't make a
big fuss over it.
00:22:11.18\00:22:12.55
Of course we will
eat around anything.
00:22:12.58\00:22:14.11
We don't make
any special demands.
00:22:14.14\00:22:16.17
But over a period
of time just educating
00:22:16.20\00:22:19.32
I've watched people even
change themselves, you know.
00:22:19.35\00:22:23.71
So it's very
important how you handle,
00:22:23.74\00:22:26.23
you know, these
subjects and teach,
00:22:26.26\00:22:28.14
you know, these health laws
00:22:28.17\00:22:29.54
because habits that
have been formed for years
00:22:29.57\00:22:33.23
are very difficult to break.
00:22:33.26\00:22:35.27
Now tell me-- I see
that you're slim and trim.
00:22:35.30\00:22:38.10
Do you exercise? I exercise.
00:22:38.13\00:22:40.92
Yes, I try to and
I-- and at this point
00:22:40.95\00:22:43.43
I think I should
give a testimony. Okay.
00:22:43.46\00:22:47.81
When I first became
aware of that God had foods
00:22:47.84\00:22:53.06
that are good for
life, you know, and first--
00:22:53.09\00:22:56.30
in fact God said
in the Old Testament,
00:22:56.33\00:22:58.24
"Don't eat the fat.
Don't eat the blood."
00:22:58.27\00:23:01.14
And much of the
degenerative diseases
00:23:01.17\00:23:03.36
have resulted
from blood and fat.
00:23:03.39\00:23:07.20
And that's why even
the government today
00:23:07.23\00:23:08.79
has changed its
stance by saying,
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.10
you know, it's
safer and it's recommended
00:23:11.13\00:23:12.95
that you lower your fat
and lower meats and so forth.
00:23:12.98\00:23:17.04
Because in Bible
they really didn't--
00:23:17.07\00:23:18.88
they trimmed the fat and
they didn't drink the blood.
00:23:18.91\00:23:21.85
And good reason.
00:23:21.88\00:23:23.25
Scientifically it's proven now
00:23:23.28\00:23:25.42
that when we
partake of fat and blood,
00:23:25.45\00:23:28.95
you know, blood is a
way to transmit diseases.
00:23:28.98\00:23:31.66
That's why people with
AIDS can transmit that disease,
00:23:31.69\00:23:36.25
you know, through the
use of hypodermic needle
00:23:36.28\00:23:38.56
or thorough sexual contact.
00:23:38.59\00:23:40.24
Because disease is transferred
or carried through blood.
00:23:40.27\00:23:43.62
And God knew all of
this, you know, years ago.
00:23:43.65\00:23:45.58
And so when I got
to Oakwood college,
00:23:45.61\00:23:47.05
when I first became a Christian,
00:23:47.08\00:23:49.15
came out of the night
life and the comedy world,
00:23:49.18\00:23:52.09
the first thing that
happens, I changed my diet.
00:23:52.12\00:23:54.30
And I went to Oakwood College
00:23:54.33\00:23:57.33
and, man, it's like
everything got worse
00:23:57.36\00:24:00.76
because of the allergies.
00:24:00.79\00:24:02.16
And I had asthma.
00:24:02.19\00:24:03.56
It was like, you
know, going outside
00:24:03.59\00:24:05.64
seemed like walking around
with a closed pin on your nose.
00:24:05.67\00:24:07.82
I couldn't breathe.
00:24:07.85\00:24:09.29
I had allergies, asthma
and all of these things.
00:24:09.32\00:24:13.05
And so later on I learned
about the dairy products.
00:24:13.08\00:24:18.27
And actually at Oakwood
College it even got better
00:24:18.30\00:24:20.30
after a period of time because,
00:24:20.33\00:24:21.76
you know, I used to
eat meats like steak
00:24:21.79\00:24:24.90
and, you know, three times a day
00:24:24.93\00:24:26.30
and so I was a
very strong meat eater.
00:24:26.33\00:24:29.15
But after a while
00:24:29.18\00:24:31.06
and progressing in
my knowledge of health,
00:24:31.09\00:24:34.64
I began to see
these things disappear.
00:24:34.67\00:24:36.12
My wife had
allergies and asthma, you know.
00:24:36.15\00:24:39.16
But she cut out milk and
her asthma disappeared. Wow.
00:24:39.19\00:24:42.84
She threw away the inhaler
00:24:42.87\00:24:44.28
and saved me a
lot of medical bills.
00:24:44.31\00:24:46.77
Let me tell you.
00:24:46.80\00:24:48.25
And so the Lord is good
00:24:48.28\00:24:52.17
and if we're open to
His leading He will lead us.
00:24:52.20\00:24:56.03
And the Bible talks
about the evil diseases.
00:24:56.06\00:24:58.99
It said if you eat
none of these things
00:24:59.02\00:25:00.39
according to Exodus 15 and 26,
00:25:00.42\00:25:02.47
"I will place
none of these diseases
00:25:02.50\00:25:04.21
that I placed on the Egyptians."
00:25:04.24\00:25:06.32
Well, what were the
diseases of the Egyptians?
00:25:06.35\00:25:08.44
They did an autopsy on
the Egyptian mummies recently
00:25:08.47\00:25:11.75
and it was found that
these Egyptians had died
00:25:11.78\00:25:17.19
of the same diseases
we're dying of today.
00:25:17.22\00:25:19.97
The four leading killers.
00:25:20.00\00:25:22.04
Heart disease, cancer and
stroke and high blood pressure.
00:25:22.07\00:25:29.40
And God says if
you follow My laws,
00:25:29.43\00:25:31.69
My health principles, I'll put
none of these diseases on you.
00:25:31.72\00:25:36.05
And, you know, God's
original diet was a vegan diet.
00:25:36.08\00:25:39.93
Actually in Genesis 1:29, it
talks about eating the fruits
00:25:39.96\00:25:43.83
and the grains and the nuts
00:25:43.86\00:25:46.96
and of course vegetables
were added after the fall.
00:25:46.99\00:25:50.11
But the reason why
vegetables were permitted was
00:25:50.14\00:25:52.42
because, you know, there
weren't many--I mean, animals
00:25:52.45\00:25:57.65
were permitted at least,
00:25:57.68\00:25:59.05
because the vegetation the
very scarce after the flood.
00:25:59.08\00:26:02.08
Well, I tell you, Pastor Dixon,
you have certainly given us
00:26:02.11\00:26:04.57
a lot to think about
in terms of our health.
00:26:04.60\00:26:08.00
You've definitely let us know
00:26:08.03\00:26:09.40
that God is very, very
concerned about our health.
00:26:09.43\00:26:12.14
But if we're gonna make
changes we really do need
00:26:12.17\00:26:14.10
the power of the
Lord to help us do that.
00:26:14.13\00:26:16.18
And I know at home,
some of these concepts
00:26:16.21\00:26:18.43
that you may have heard have
really been earth shattering.
00:26:18.46\00:26:21.43
And I know everyday I'm tempted,
00:26:21.46\00:26:23.84
maybe to eat something that
I know is not helpful for me.
00:26:23.87\00:26:27.32
But we must pray
and ask God to help us
00:26:27.35\00:26:30.25
to be able to make
those type of choices.
00:26:30.28\00:26:32.30
Don't we, Pastor Dixon?
00:26:32.33\00:26:33.70
Yes. Can I say one thing? Sure.
00:26:33.73\00:26:35.10
Yeah, I'm 44 now
and I can do 44 pushups.
00:26:35.13\00:26:39.68
If I had time, I
would demonstrate it.
00:26:39.71\00:26:41.82
But when I was
18, I could only do 25
00:26:41.85\00:26:44.75
and this is
fresh out of boot camp.
00:26:44.78\00:26:47.18
So they've been, you
know, it does away with the myth
00:26:47.21\00:26:50.77
that if you become a vegetarian,
00:26:50.80\00:26:52.17
if you eat the way they
ate in the Garden of Eden
00:26:52.20\00:26:54.73
that you're gonna be weak.
00:26:54.76\00:26:56.13
It's absolutely
false. I feel better.
00:26:56.16\00:26:57.93
I'm more healthier.
00:26:57.96\00:26:59.60
And I could just go
on and on, but--yes.
00:26:59.63\00:27:01.10
Well, praise the Lord for
that. Pray for those of us.
00:27:01.13\00:27:04.50
And we all need to constantly--
00:27:04.53\00:27:06.35
I mean, I'm sure
that's how-- Me too.
00:27:06.38\00:27:07.75
You were able to
make that commitment.
00:27:07.78\00:27:09.15
It was your spiritual connection
with the Lord Jesus. Yes. Yes.
00:27:09.18\00:27:11.08
Let's pray for those at home
00:27:11.11\00:27:12.48
who'd like to make
those changes in their lives.
00:27:12.51\00:27:15.20
Heavenly Father,
Lord, you've given us
00:27:15.23\00:27:19.28
many blessings in Scripture.
00:27:19.31\00:27:20.71
And I pray oh, God, that
you would help us to progress.
00:27:20.74\00:27:24.64
As we progress spiritually,
to also progress physically.
00:27:24.67\00:27:31.01
We pray, oh, God, that you
would bless each viewer today
00:27:31.04\00:27:35.05
that they will incorporate
the light that You've given them
00:27:35.08\00:27:39.51
and also aid to accept the fact
00:27:39.54\00:27:42.68
that not only are
You trying to save us,
00:27:42.71\00:27:44.55
but You're trying to make
life better for us down here.
00:27:44.58\00:27:47.92
And You love us so much.
00:27:47.95\00:27:49.32
I thank you, oh, God,
for hearing our prayers.
00:27:49.35\00:27:51.27
In Jesus' name, amen. Amen.
00:27:51.30\00:27:54.30
Pastor Dixon,
thank you for coming
00:27:54.33\00:27:55.91
and thank you for watching
00:27:55.94\00:27:57.31
another edition of
"Issues and Answers."
00:27:57.34\00:27:58.85