The Spiritual Roots of Health
Many years ago a friend remarked to me, 'Most things
in life are more spiritual than physical.' When I first heard
these words, I thought them surprising, but on closer
examination, I realized that they were true. Life is indeed
more than meets the eye. Little do we understand much
less experience that rare and sometimes elusive commodity
called 'LIFE,' our lives being ruled by those things physical:
what we see, hear, smell, taste, feel, and most of all-
what we want. Thus our personal world, shaped by the
senses, becomes an individual reality that is governed by
the will, a will that can either make or break us, especially
in relation to our personal health.Given that YHVH Almighty formed man as a two-fold being,
having spirit (breath) within a physical body, life has two
aspects: physical and spiritual. Both of these aspects are
integrally bound together to comprise man's 'wholeness' or
health. Since these elements work together as one to
determine the quality of our health, we must ask ourselves,
'Are we sick because of physical causes or is the source
of our ills spiritual?' While the answer to this question is
debatable, evidence proves that if a man's spirit is ill so
will be his body. Thus when it comes to the issue of
wellness, it is imperative that we activate or energize
our spirits so that our physical body temple can be
strong and healthy.And the Almighty formed man of the dust
of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man became a living
soul. (Genesis 2:7)Know ye not that ye are a temple of YHVH,
and [that] the Spirit of YHVH dwelleth in you?
(1 Corinthians 3:16)As a health minister of thirteen years I have met people
from all walks of life. I did not choose to be a health minister,
but willingly accepted this position as a mandate from my
Heavenly Father to serve others by helping them better their
quality of life in this world. It has been my distinct
observation throughout my service, however, that the
cause of most health problems is spiritual and not physical.
I diagnose the root cause(s) of sickness and dis-ease
as being
1. Lack of knowledge
2. Lack of faith
3. Lack of obedience
4. Lack of personal responsibilityThe above deficiencies represent what I consider to be the
underlying stumblingblocks to ultimate health. I believe these
deficits are not physical but spiritual as I will now point out.
1. Lack of knowledge concerning the proper care and
nourishment of the body is prevalent, if not the norm, in
today's world. Organized institutions such as schools,
colleges, churches, and goverment 'health' agencies do
not teach (much less practice) the basic fundamentals of
nutrition. They have failed to educate the pubic concerning
what constitutes proper diet and exercise. Sadly this failure
is supported by the medical establishment and promoted
by food merchants, insurance companies, politicians, goverment bureaucracies, and undertakers. Thus the
average American is devoid of the knowledge he or she
needs in order to develop a healthy lifestyle. This lack of
knowledge is known as ignorance, and it is plague of epidemic proportion in America. It is destroying
individuals, families, our nation, and the world. This
fact is evidenced by YHVH Himself when He says:My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
because thou hast rejected knowledge I will
also reject thee that thou shalt be no priest
to me seeing thou hast forgotten the law of
thy YHVH I will also forget thy children.
(Hosea 4:6)We see this truth in action today. The basics of true health
care are virtually unknown by the public. The original,
plant-based diet given to man in the beginning is largely
unheard of, ignored, refused, and/or replaced by a diet
that is contrived by man of synthetic, corrupted, unnatural
food. Thus the Almighty's ultimate health care plan in the
form of a living food diet has succumbed to near extinction
over the course of time.And YHVH said, Behold, I have given you
every herb yielding seed, which is upon
the face of all the earth, and every tree,
in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;
to you it shall be for food: (Genesis 1:29)
2. Lack of faith is a common deficit in both the secular
and non-secular world. Many people have no understanding
about issues involving health nor do they believe in healing.
Ironically, those who profess to be believers and followers
of Messiah often exhibit the greatest lack of faith. Many
people are taught and therefore believe that healing is
unscriptural, i.e. that it does not happen in today's world,
that YHVH cannot and no longer heals, or that He does not
want to heal. These are false teachings. Scripture evidences
YHVH's love and compassion for His people as well as His
plan, purposes, and power to deliver and heal them. He
shows Himself to be ever-ready and able to restore life to
the body, since He is the Giver of life, not the author of
sickness and death:If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice
of YHVH thy Almighty, and wilt do that which
is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his
commandments, and keep all his statutes,
I will put none of the diseases upon thee,
which I have put upon the Egyptians: for
I am YHVH that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)
Cast away from you all your transgressions,
wherein ye have transgressed; and make you
a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye
die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure
in the death of him that dieth, saith YHVH
Almighty: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.'
(Ezekiel 18:31-32)The predominant theme of scripture is LIFE and not death.
The message that Yahshua brought to the earth was a
LIFE message, taught to His disciples (disciplined ones)
as the glad tidings of the kingdom wherein they were
commanded to go forth to bind up the broken hearted, heal
the sick, and raise the dead. It is no secret that the main
ministry of Yahshua was that of healing. He taught faith in
YHVH by example, proving that YHVH is indeed interested
in the life of the physical body. His desire is to restore
man to his former estate, wherein he would once again
be whole (healthy):Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest
prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth. 3 John 1:2And Yahshua said unto him, Go thy way; thy
faith hath made thee whole. And straightway
he received his sight, and followed him in the
way. (Mark 10:52)But Yahshua turning and seeing her said,
Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath
made thee whole. And the woman was made
whole from that hour. Matthew 9:22And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith
hath made thee whole; go in peace. Luke 8:46
And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way:
thy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 17:19
And Yahshua said unto him, Receive thy sight;
hy faith hath made thee whole. Luke 18:42
Many people, including believers, have little interest in
issues concerning health nor do they believe that personal
healing is possible. For the most part, the body's wellbeing
is often overlooked, passed off, ignored, or rejected in favor
of the pursuit of a willful, errant lifestyle. Furthermore, many
churches teach a 'death message,' promoting the 'hereafter'
more than the 'here and now.' This doctrine of mysticism that
denies the existence of a physical body in a physical world
has crept into the church and has taken many people
captive. It is a false doctrine that is contrary to scripture.
It is tantamount to blasphemy in that it denies the plan
and purpose of YHVH to restore and redeem the
physical body:
And the God of peace himself sanctify you
wholly; and may your spirit and soul and
body be preserved entire, without blame
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(I Thessalonians 5:23)
And not only so, but ourselves also, who
have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we
ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption
of our body. (Romans 8:23)Scripture is exceeding clear that YHVH cares about the
physical body. He gave man a physical body, and likewise
He gave Yahshua a physical body in the earth. Even after
His resurrection, Yahshua still had a body but without blood
(Luke 24:39). Those who doubt otherwise and fail in faith
will never realize the quality of ultimate health that YHVH
intends for them. Yahshua spoke it well when He said:
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,
ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove
hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(Matthew 17:20)
Then touched he their eyes, saying,
According to your faith be it done unto
you. (Matthew 9:29)
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who
healeth all thy diseases; (Psalm 103:3)
He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth
up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
That thy way may be known upon earth,
thy saving health among all nations.
(Psalm 67:2)
For they are life unto those that find them,
And health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:22)
Heal me, O YHVH, and I shall be healed;
ave me, and I shall be saved: for thou art
my praise. (Jeremiah 17:4)
Sadly, most people, including believers, have faith in
doctors, pharmaceutical drugs, surgery, and barbaric
therapies rather than in YHVH's ability to heal. Many
people do not believe that sickness, pain, disease, and
even death can be reversed as well as prevented by
simply adopting a living foods diet. Thus lack of faith
causes much needless human suffering and even
death in the world.
3. Lack of obedience to YHVH has proved to be the
downfall of man from the beginning. Disregard for His
law has resulted in multiplied curses upon mankind, two
of which are sickness and death. Man's rejection of
YHVH's original, plant-based diet has brought untold
grief upon generations.For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Romans 7:14)
As long as man disobeys YHVH's natural dietary law and
refuses to change his diet to fresh raw fruit, vegetables,
seeds, nuts, and whole grains, he will live under the curse
of sickness and death. Thus we see that violation of YHVH's
law (which is spiritual), brings serious consequences.But Peter and the apostles answered and
said, We must obey YHH rather than men.
(Acts 5:29)Ye were running well; who hindered you
that ye should not obey the truth?
(Galatians 5:7)Sadly more people obey man than YHVH. They follow
after man's ill-conceived notions about proper nutrition
and are content to accept eating habits promoted by
the world. Furthermore, when it comes to addressing
issues of personal health, they are quick to consult worldly
doctors rather than YHVH the Great Healer.They are
equally quick, if not eager, to accept pharmaceutical
drugs rather than improve their diets and lifestyles.
Yahshua spoke it well when He said,No man can serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to one, and despise
the other. Ye cannot serve YHVH and
mammon. (Matthew 6:24)
And Samuel said, Hath YHVH as great
delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of YHVH? Behold,
to obey is better than sacrifice, and to
hearken than the fat of rams.'
(1 Samuel 15:22)4. Lack of responsibilty for properly taking care of our
bodies, i.e. improving our diet and lifestyle, is one of the
most widespread problems facing mankind. We live in a
world of wrecklessness wherein there is little to no discipline
of spirit or body. Whereas America was founded by YAH-
fearing people who believed in self-discipline, self-
preservation, self-sufficiency, and perpetuity of moral
principles and spiritual values, we have become a nation
that is morally bankrupt, lazy, money-hungry, materialistic,
and gluttonous. Freedom of religion has turned into freedom
from religion, spawning a lawless society that demands to
be kept, entertained, pampered, and indulged by others.
The honest work ethic has been replaced by demand for
hand-outs, especially from organized government. So it is
that the concept of taking personal responsibility for one's
actions, to include making healthier dietary and lifestyle
choices, has been all but lost in America. Dependency
upon family, friends, medical professionals, government
agencies, etc., to solve one's own moral obligation has
become a modern plague. This shift, shurking, and blatant
avoidance of responsibility has become a way of life for
many Americans, causing undue stress, financial drain,
sickness, and pain in an already overburdened, unhealthy
world.It goes without saying that we should not and cannot
expect others to live life for us. We should not and cannot
expect others to perform what is our own moral duty. We
should not and cannot live like spoiled children who refuse
to grow up.When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt
as a child, I thought as a child: now that I
am become a man, I have put away childish
things. (I Corinthians 13:11)
So then, my beloved, even as ye have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling;
(Philippians 2:12)
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead? James 2:20
We can have money, possessions, family, friends,
good looks, talent, and even faith, but if we do not
take the initiative to take charge of our lives, turn away
from harmful influences, and make something of ourselves,
we become spiritual derelicts, social misfits, and useless
in establishing YHVH's Kingdom on earth.
To be continued next month..
Part 2 will address another aspect of 'The Spiritual Roots
of Health'- Excesses that hinder us on the pathway to
ultimate health