Biblical Insights into Dietary Modalities

 

From How to Access Healing From God and Keep It

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be reminded that to have a proper understanding of our emotional, mental, and physical health needs, as well as the successful, happy, healthy fulfillment of such, we’ve got to briefly review the beginning:

When Adam and Eve are created, the Kingdom of God is universal – God is the Supreme Moral Governor of the universe, and everything is in harmony with Him (love) and “very good.” (Genesis 1; Job 38; Daniel 4; 1 John 4:8).

A kingdom is a system of government.

Then Adam and Eve are made the rulers of the earth realm and all things therein (Gen. 1:26-2:15; Psalm 8:4-8; Hebrews 2:7-8). They participate with God, and all that they need is provided, in abundance. No worries. None.

When Adam and Eve “fell,” they fell from their dominion of the earth realm—Satan gained the rulership through deceiving Adam and Eve. This world changed kingdoms — from God’s government to Satan’s government (Gen. 3; Luke 4; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12; 1 John 5:19).

God therefore delivered to Adam the catastrophic news:

Cursed is the earth because of you…”  (Gen. 3:17‑19).

Corruption, evil, suffering, dis-ease, and death now reigned in the earth realm (Rom. 5:12). Adam and Eve were now under a sin-cursed, fraudulent world government system. Satan’s kingdom could not provide what the human race needed, including emotional, mental, and physical health & wellness.

Stress (fear) came (Gen. 3:10).

This sin-cursed world system is still in effect today (Eph. 2:2; 6:12; 2 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 5:19). Our emotional, mental, and physical health is opposed because of this corrupt kingdom. Death obviously reigns and usually it’s the result of progressive issues, problems, or dis-ease. Most times it is a slow, miserable, expensive progression unto death. Health & wellness also now require labor—time, energy and money. For some, health & wellness don’t even exist at birth.

This twisted system is what we have been raised in—it is “normal” for us. This mindset is deeply ingrained in each of us. It even operates beyond the conscious level. And because of this cursed world system, fear (stress) is now “normal.”

The U.S. National Institutes of Health states that “75 — 90% of visits to the doctor are now related to stress.”

Most of us live with hurts, hang-ups, habits, and health problems. Sadly, we Christians bear the same “issues” as non-Christians, and at the same rate of occurrence.

Surgical, prescription, and over-the-counter remedies are gazillion dollar global businesses as their use is commonplace. The “alternative” and natural remedies markets are utterly exploding. And in the name of health & wellness, many are applying one or more of these modalities: Nutrition/foods/diets, herbs, elixirs, energy manipulation, aromatherapy, eastern mysticism or meditation, psychoanalysis, yoga, etc., etc.

The Bible’s New Testament gives us a snapshot of our condition:

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood [a health issue] for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians [remedy practitioners]. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse…”  (Mark 5:26).

And then the Bible gives us another picture—the good news:

“…When she had heard of Jesus … she touched His garment believing and saying that she shall be whole [healed]. And immediately … she was healed. …And Jesus said unto her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you whole; go in peace, and be healed of your affliction’” (Mark 5:27-34).

How did this person receive health & wellness—wholeness—in the midst of this impotent, sin-cursed world system? This happened because of the sacred contract (covenant) God had made with Abraham and his descendants. Jesus called this woman, “Daughter,” an indication that she was a descendant of Abraham, a citizen of another kingdom—the Kingdom of God. And her active faith granted her legal access to the health & wellness promised her as a descendant of Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:4-6; 17:1-21; 26:3-4; 28:13-15; Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:6-9; Ps. 23:1; Rom. 4:16 - 5:2; 2 Cor. 1:20; Gal. 3:28 - 4:7; 2 Peter 1:3-4). 

Abraham’s active faith had given God legal access into this fraudulent sin-cursed jurisdiction to make a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. And like Abraham’s active faith, the above healed woman’s faith was also the legal conduit for the Kingdom of God to manifest in this sin-cursed kingdom (Mark 11:24; 1 Peter 1:5; Eph. 2:8; Rom. 1:17; 10:10; Gal. 3:11; James 1:6-7; 2:17-26). 

“…Your faith has made you whole…”

Jesus walked in faith—full agreement with God’s heavenly Kingdom—and her healing was loosed from heaven into this cursed world by her faith. This was a legal transaction because of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. It was aside of Jesus’ compassion (He didn’t even know who touched Him); it was a legal execution of God’s spiritual law. By faith, the Kingdom of God’s ‘rule-of-law’ manifested in this sin-cursed world system.

Isaiah 9:6 promised this about Jesus: “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. And the government shall rest upon his shoulder… an ever-expanding, peaceful, never-ending, fair, and just…kingdom.  

From the moment Adam & Eve fell, the ultimate purpose of God in all His dealings with man is to bring him back to the place where he was before The Fall and free him of all possibility of failing in the future (Gen. 3:15; Ex. 34:6-7; Ezekiel 18:21-23; Matt. 13:37-43; Jn. 3:16-17; 10:10; Rom. 11:22; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; 2 Cor. 7:1; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 Thess. 5:23-24; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Pet. 2:9; Rev. 21-22; see also God’s Purpose for Humankind).

God has definitely made many promises concerning every known need for the human life in the here and now as well as for the life that is to come. And that all His children can be happy and healthy. To accomplish this, He has given us all the resources we need—His Word, His Spirit, the precious spilled blood and beaten body of His Son, Jesus the Christ, as well as His church body. God has restored a legal, just, and practical way of successful happy living in this cursed world system. That is good news!

GOOD NEWS! Healing, Health, Wellness, Peace, and Wholeness—Already Paid-for in Full

In the midst of this sin-cursed, fraudulent world system, the Bible teaches that we can live cured, healed, repaired, delivered from emotional, mental, physical, financial, and relationship issues and their power, and made whole, sound, well, and healthy; this is always the will of God for His children. And Jesus already paid for it in full.

“Beloved, I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”  –3 John 1:2 KJV  

God has made us a sacred pledge to reverse our emotional, mental, and physical issues. That is good news!

(James 5:14-16; see also Ex. 15:26; 23:25; Ps. 91; 103:3; 105:37; 107:20; Isaiah 53:4-5; 58:8; 61; Matt. 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24 or this comprehensive study.)

An Old Testament Passage About Food and Drink (Nutrition)

 

Exodus 23:25:And you shall serve the LORD your God, and He shall bless your food and drink…” 
Note two things: 1) the connection between serving God and Him blessing His children’s nutrition. And 2) that the new covenant is based on better promises and is more glorious in power and provision than the old covenant (2 Cor. 3:6-15; Heb. 8:6). Please see the following new covenant’s Good News:

What Does the New Testament Teach About Dietary or Herbal Health Modalities?

 

Mark 7:18-23: “Jesus asked, ‘Don't you understand either? Can't you see that what you eat won't defile you? Food doesn't come in contact with your heart [spirit/soul], but only passes through the stomach and then comes out again.’ (By saying this, He showed that every kind of food is acceptable.) And then He added, ‘It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.’” (Mark 7:18-23; Matt. 15:11-18; see also Proverbs 18:20, 21)  

Luke 10:8:If a town welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you and heal the sick. As you heal them, say, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'” 

Luke 10:19: “Behold, I [Jesus] give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” 

John 6:27:Don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that I, the Son of Man, can give you. For God the Father has sent me for that very purpose."

1 Timothy 4:1, 3-5: It is the doctrines of demons …that instruct people to abstain from the eating of foods which God has created to be received with thanksgiving by people who believe and know the truth. Every kind of food is good if it is eaten with thanksgiving because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

The keys are praying – giving God thanks when we eat our food, and faith. (See Eating from Faith below.)

What it means to be sanctified (v. 5): Sanctification: (the Bible’s New Testament original language was Greek and the Greek word is hagiasmos) consecration; setting apart; a separation unto God from a profane, secular, and carnal use to a sacred, and spiritual use.  If filth or ‘uncleanness’ is involved in a material thing to be set apart unto God (i.e. food), then such must be dealt with to make it presentable to God. Food, even ‘corrupt’ food is set apart “sanctified, by the word of God and prayer” by faith (See also God’s command in Gen. 1:29 and 9:3).

Romans 14:1-6  Romans Chapter 14 is about practical Christian faith in the context of food and drink (nutrition): 

“Any believer who is weak in the faith, welcome them, but not to contend. For one’s faith permits them to believe that they may eat all things, while another one’s weaker faith limits their eating to vegetables. Those who eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not judge those who do, for God has accepted them both. Recognize that each one is God's servant and personally responsible to God for what they allow themselves to do, aside from what is forbidden to all. Also recognize that no one will fall who conscientiously follows God and the light they have received. Consider that one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. Each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.* What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you don’t keep a holy day, don’t keep it for God’s sake. If you eat all things, eat to the glory of God and thank God for it; if your eating does not include all things, eat what you do eat to the glory of God and thank God for it.   *See also Galatians 4:9-11; Colossians 2:14-17

Romans 14:14-17  Romans Chapter 14 is about practical Christian faith in the context of food and drink (nutrition): 

“I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is now wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be condemned for doing something you know is good. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink [nutrition], but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 14:23: One who doubts is condemned if they eat without faith. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Repeating, Romans Chapter 14 is about Christian faith in the context of food and drink (nutrition). The author states that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." The key to victory is faith in God when we eat our food – eating from faith. (Fear, worry, stress, guilt, or any other form of doubt is not faith.)

Eating From Faith

“First of all, we must acknowledge our dependence on God for our food. We receive it as a gift from Him. If He did not supply it, we would go hungry.

Second, as a logical consequence, we thank God for our food. In turn, thanking God for our food produces a third consequence, explained in 1 Timothy 4:4-5 [see above]: As we receive our food from God with prayers of thanksgiving it is sanctified; it actually becomes something holy, designed by God to do us good. Even if there were originally impure or harmful ingredients in our food, grown in our modern soil, the effect is nullified by our faith, expressed in our prayers of thanksgiving.

Fourth, what about the consequences of failing to eat in this way? ...For a vivid picture of the person who does not eat from faith, we may turn to the book of Ecclesiastes. Few Christians spend much time in the book of Ecclesiastes, but – when interpreted in the light of other, more familiar passages – it contains some real treasures. Throughout most of the book, Solomon described what the Bible elsewhere calls the "natural man” – that is, the man who, through unbelief, lives his life without the grace and the knowledge of God. In Ecclesiastes 5:17, Solomon pictured such a man at the supper table: ‘Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.’

What striking language! ‘The person ... eats in darkness.’ What does it mean? It means just the opposite of ‘eating from faith.’ Such a person does not acknowledge that his or her food is a gift from God. S/he does not thank God for it. Therefore, it is not blessed and sanctified. What is the result? ‘Great vexation, sickness and anger.’ To eat without faith is to invite vexation [grief, indignation, sorrow, spite], sickness [health issues], and anger.”  Derek Prince in his book Faith to Live By

(The person who doubts is condemned if s/he eats not from faith [faith in God’s faithfulness], for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.   – Romans 14:23)

Simple Acts of Faith

“The prophet Elisha grasped this principle. He faced a situation similar to what the Israelites had faced at Marah. The waters in Jericho were bad, and they didn't produce a fruitful soil. When the inhabitants asked him to intervene, Elisha took a bowl of salt and cast the salt into the source of the water, and the waters became sweet. (See 2 Kings 2:19‑22.) It wasn't the salt that made the waters sweet—it was God's miraculous power.

Likewise, when there were poisonous gourds in a pot of stew, Elisha took some flour and put it into the pot, and the stew was made healthy. (See 2 Kings 4:38‑41.) It wasn't the flour that made the stew healthy—it was God's miraculous power.

When Elisha wanted to raise a boy from the dead, he ordered that his staff be put on the child's face. (See 2 Kings 4:8‑37.) It wasn't the staff that held back the power of death. But it was God's miraculous power!

Let's look at two ordinances for healing found in the New Testament that require simple acts of faith. The first is found in Mark 16:17‑18: "These signs will follow those who believe: In My name ... they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." The Scriptures don't say that our hands will heal the sick. They say that when we lay our hands on the sick, they will get better.

I report this very humbly: God has healed literally many hundreds of people through my laying on of hands. Laying on hands is a simple act in obedience to God the Father that unlocks His miracle‑working power. It’s a demonstration of what happens when we believe and act on God's Word.

Another ordinance, this one within the New Testament’s  Covenant of Healing, is described in James 5:14‑16:

Is anyone sick among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up…”

Applying the oil does not heal the person, and the oil itself doesn’t heal. It is the miraculous power of God that heals. But applying the oil is the simple act that unlocks the miracle‑working power of God. The oil is a ‘type’ of the Holy Spirit. It is an outward act by which we testify to our faith that the same Spirit who raised up Jesus from the dead can quicken and heal the sick body of a child of God.

[The oil also correlates to Leviticus 8:10-12 where the oil symbolized the dedication and consecration of the tabernacle, the alter, its utensils, the laver & its base, and Aaron to God alone for His service. In the same way, the oil emblematically consecrates the individual seeking healing to God alone for His service.]

One of the great revelations in the Word of God, then, is that a simple act of faith is often required to unlock God's miracle‑working power. The acts we have just looked at were very simple. Sometimes, the acts that God asks us to perform are almost childish‑even silly to the natural mind. In John 9, we read about an occasion when Jesus put clay on a blind man's eyes and said, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (verse 7). Neither the clay nor the pool of Siloam changed that man's eyes. It was the miracle‑working power of God that healed him. But these two simple acts were required to unlock God's miracle‑working power: first, the application of clay by Jesus; second, the washing in the pool by the man.

The next time you have a problem that you can't resolve, remember that a simple act of faith can re­lease the miracle‑working power of God. Faith with­out works [action] is dead. (See James 2:20.) If you don't do anything, you don't have faith. Many times, people will not move out in faith because they think, I might look like a fool. Nothing inhibits our faith more than the fear of looking foolish, isn't that true? But Moses was willing to look like a fool at the bitter waters of Marah. He took that piece of wood and threw it into the water with a splash. Everybody could see it, and everybody could hear it. Yet the result was that every body could drink the water.”  Derek Prince in his book God’s Word Heals

1 Corinthians 8:8-13: “Now what we eat will not improve our relationship with God. We don't miss out on anything by what we don't eat, and we don't gain anything by what we eat. …And you must be careful with this freedom—don’t cause another Christian with a weak conscience to stumble. …It would be a sin, even against Christ.”

1 Corinthians 10:27:If someone who is not a Christian asks you home for dinner, go ahead; accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you and don't ask any questions about it. Your conscience should not be bothered by this.”

Colossians 2:16: There is no condemnation for what you or someone eats or drinks…”

Hebrews 9:10: “That old system [covenant] deals only with food and drink and ritual washing—external regulations that were in effect only until a better system [the new covenant] could be established.”

Hebrews 13:9-15:  Do not be distracted by strange doctrines. Your strength comes from the Spirit of God's influence on your heart [grace], not from rules about food or nutrition, which don't [authentically] help those who follow them. Jesus Christ was sacrificed for His people to be made holy [forgiven, healed, in health, and fully delivered from curses] by shedding His own blood [not by us ‘eating right’]. With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God by proclaiming the glory of His name.”

Acts 10:9-16: “…Peter went up to the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’ ‘Never, Lord,’ Peter declared. ‘I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our laws.

 The voice spoke again, ‘If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.’ The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven.” (See also Gen. 9:3)

John 4:31-34: We can get sustenance from doing the will of God the Father.

Proverbs 18:21: “A person’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of their mouth; from the produce of the lips s/he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”

The Greatest Single Factor in Healing, Health, and Wellness

The greatest single contributor to our health & wellness is the Holy Spirit:

“…If the Spirit of Him [God] who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give [healing] life to your mortal body through His Spirit who dwells in you.”    —Romans 8:11

To Summarize What the New Covenant Teaches About Food and Drink—Nutrition—as a Remedy or Health Modality

Jesus the Christ explains that, compared to our inside (spirit/soul) condition, other factors—including what we might eat or drink—are irrelevant:

“You are not defiled by the food you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do … because it [food] does not enter the heart [spirit] but passes through the stomach and then comes out again, thus every kind of food is acceptable … For from the inside, out of a person’s heart,” proceed the toxic factors... (Mark 7:18-23; Matt. 15:11-18; see also Proverbs 18:20).  

“That old system [covenant] deals only with food and drink and ritual washing—external regulations that were in effect only until a better system [the new covenant] could be established.

“…Do not be distracted by strange doctrines. Your strength comes from the Spirit of God's influence on your heart [grace], not from rules about food or nutrition, which don't [authentically] help those who follow them. (Hebrews 9:10; 13:9-15)

…Eat whatever is set before you... (Luke 10:8) …Don’t ask any questions about the food. Your conscience should not be bothered...” (1 Cor. 10:27)

Understand more in The Origin of Human Remedies below.

All edible things are acceptable and lawful (Gen. 9:3; Rom. 14; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; 10:23-31; Col. 2:8,16-23; 1 Tim. 4:1-6). All strife over nonessential things including foods, drinks, and Sabbaths must be stopped and that which builds others up in Christian knowledge must be taught. “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink [nutrition], but righteousness [doing what is right], and peace [not contention], and joy in [unity with] the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

We hope that it’s now evident that applying dietary, nutritional, herbal, or etc. modalities does not fulfill our part of God’s covenant of healing and health (James 5:14-16; Ex. 15:26; 23:25; Lev. 26:3, 14-14; Deut. 7:15; 28:1-65; Prov. 3:7; 4:20-22; Isaiah 53; Matt. 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24):

“Are any among you sick [have an emotional, mental, or physical issue]? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. [So] confess your sins [shortcomings continued] to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. (James 5:14-16)

Jesus graciously explained to us, “…People are not defiled by what goes into the mouth, but what comes out of the mouth—what people say and do. For from the inside, out of a person’s heart, proceeds evil [sinful] thoughts…”

For the very same reason, dietary, nutritional, herbal, or etc. modalities are not God’s legitimate sources of healing or health. As shown above in James 5:14-16, God has obligated Himself to heal us when we meet these conditions: confession of relevant sin, prayer of faith, and being consecrated to His service alone (anointed with oil in the name of the Lord; Lev. 8:10-12).  

Applying dietary, nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic modalities, etc., etc., etc. does not meet any of God’s healing conditions.

Applying dietary, nutritional, herbal, or homeopathic modalities, etc., etc., etc. cannot deal with the root cause: sin. We’re unable to deal effectively with our life-problems until we have faced the reality of that root problem of life. God's method is to get rid of the cause of issues, sin, while humankind's method is to cover up sin and deal with the outgrowth of it. If we would submit to God and correct the source, there would be no outgrowth of sin.

The Bible teaches that God sent Jesus into the world to save people from all sin (Matt. 1:21; Eph.1:7; 1 Jn. 1:7-9; Rev. 1:5), heal of all dis-eases (Ps. 103:3; 107:20; Is. 53:4-5, Matt. 8:16-17; Acts 10:38; 28:9; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Jn. 3-8), and to answer all prayers for anything that one desires that are covered by the promises of God (Matt. 7:7-11; 18:19-20; 17:20; 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15: 7; 16: 23-26).

A Portion of My Personal Story

After being an evangelistic health freak for 15-years, the owner of this site was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. That was in November 1997. Three-and-a-half-years into that course I was diagnosed with Scleroderma—a disease considered incurable and lethal. In December 2003, I was taught God’s healing & health principles that now appear on these web pages. After participating with God and accessing His healing, I received a clean bill of health from my Emory University doctors in April 2004.

From 1986 to 2005, I was involved in the thriving business of providing nutrition & herbal remedies (that “worked”). One of my clients had been diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. She was a born again, Spirit-filled follower of Jesus and in her heart earnestly desired God’s healing (by spiritual means). I met her in 2002. In 2003 she began a nutrition & herbal remedy that I provided. The remedy gave her great relief from her severe health issue. Very soon after that, God spoke to my client informing her that He “was going to heal” her condition. My client continued the use of the nutrition & herbal remedy only until God completed His promise approximately one-year later. Today, she continues to enjoy the healing and health that God provided, as well as the freedom from the expense, bother, and shortcoming of the nutrition & herbal remedy.

I began an earnest quest for the truth regarding dietary health modalities and God’s covenant of healing & health in 2004. It took me approximately 11-months to be convinced of the truths that appear on this page. I renounced the practice of nutrition & herbal remedies, along with fear, worry, shame, guilt, and the other forms of doubt around food, food rules, and associated burdens. And I’ve been enjoying the health benefits that Jesus the Christ promises, paid for, and provides!

I used to agree with the old saying, “You are what you eat.” Now I completely agree with Proverbs 23:7 NKJV, “As man thinks in his heart so is he.”

Please notice that the above examples of nutritional ‘therapy’ for both my client’s diagnosis and my own only managed our health issues. They only managed our issues until we each believed more of God enabling our God-given faith to become active. And active faith unlocks God’s healing. (Mark 11:22‑24; 1 John 5:14–15; Rom. 1:17; 10:10; Gal. 3:11; Eph. 2:8; 1 Peter 1:5; 2:24.)

Understand more in The Origin of Human Remedies below.

A Solemn Warning

For many good reasons, counterfeiting a government’s money is a crime that includes stern consequences. Counterfeiting in God’s Kingdom (government system) also includes stern consequences, for many good reasons.

Please bear with me here. As you may know, the author of Galatians 5:19-21 lists seventeen “works of the flesh” and concludes with this solemn warning: “Those who [repeatedly] do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The sixth “work of the flesh” listed is sorcery; witchcraft (original Greek word: pharmakeia) or pharmaceuticals or remedies. “Those who [repeatedly] do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The author of Galatians 5:19-21 was not yet addressing pharmaceutical chemicals, as pharmaceutical chemicals did not exist until the 1900’s. The author of Galatians was addressing all-natural remedies.

The counterfeit—or cult (the unseen trap)—of remedies is sorcery. “Those who [continue to] do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:21).  See also 1 Sam. 15:23; Rev. 21:8.

Understand more in The Origin of Human Remedies below.

The Origin of Human Remedies

So where did the concept of herbal or nutritional remedies come from? The origin of the thought of herbal or nutritional remedies dates back to approximately 2,000 B.C. in India when fifty-two Shaman and Hindi “priests” congregated and meditated. Their meditation had a common purpose: to obtain the knowledge to eradicate all forms of disease. Shamanism is the ancient way of divination (consulting the demonic spirit world) and out of it comes all forms of the occult, mythology, philosophies, and etc., which includes Hinduism.

During this meditation of the fifty-two Shaman and Hindi men, a so-called “god” appeared to one of them and gave the oldest recorded “healing system” named Ayerveda.  The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit words—“ayur,” which means “life,” and “veda,” which means “divine knowledge from the gods.” This Ayerveda healing system founded the beliefs that the environment – “elements of air, space, fire, water, and earth and their relationships” form the basis of healing. This Ayerveda healing system had eleven original components:

1.   Aromatherapy

2.   Astrology

3.   Detoxification

4.   Energy [balancing] Therapy

5.   Gemstones (now known as Crystal Work)

6.   Herbs

7.   Karma Therapy (includes meditation and worship)

8.   Nutrition/Foods/Diets

9.   Planet Worship

10.     Sweat Therapy

11.     Yoga

From India 4,000 years ago, Ayerveda or its modalities spread to every part of the world, including Egypt.

“Destruction is certain for my rebellious children," says the LORD. "You make plans that are contrary to my will. You weave a web of plans that are not from my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection. But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and disgraced…”  –Isaiah 30:1-3

"Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. …It was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. But no, my people wouldn't listen. Israel did not want me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.  But oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my ways! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!” –Psalm 81:8-14

Ayerveda or its modalities spread to every part of the world, including the Roman Empire and the Greeks. Hypocrites (460 – 370 B.C.) an ancient Greek physician, was credited by the disciples of Pythagoras (founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism) of allying philosophy and medicine. He “separated the discipline of medicine from religion,” believing and arguing that disease was not a punishment inflicted by the gods but rather the product of environmental factors, diet and living habits (Ayerveda modalities).

The “Hippocratic Oath,” a seminal document on the ethics of medical practice, was attributed to Hippocrates in antiquity. While the Oath is rarely used in its original form today, its derivatives are regularly taken today by medical graduates about to enter western medical-style practice. Hippocrates is often referred to as “The Father of Medicine.”

As you know, the Bible’s New Testament original language was Greek. Perhaps now the above scripture passages become even more clear—including the “strange doctrines” of Hebrews 13 and the “doctrines of demons” recorded in 1 Timothy 4.

Modern “western medicine” or “allopathic medicine” is an offshoot from the Greek’s and “The Father of Medicine (Hippocrates). Today, western medicine includes double-blind studies and pharmaceutical remedies. The author of 1 Timothy 6:20 instructs, “…guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called ‘science.’”

Today, modalities of Ayerveda make up what’s called “Alternative,” “Holistic,” “Complimentary” Health Care, and “Naturopathy.” Another all-natural modality, “Homeopathy,” was founded by the spiritist, medium, and Freemason, (occultist) Samuel Hahnemann (1755 – 1843).  Samuel Hahnemann was a translator of (Ayervedic) medical text.

“And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness…” (2 Cor. 11:14-15)

The devil, who causes sicknesses by demon oppression, can take off what he puts on without opposing himself or casting himself out. When he can damn a soul by getting a person to deny the essentials of the Bible that will save the soul, then it is to his advantage to deceive by taking away the sickness. Many accept false religions or philosophies that promise healing and other benefits. The devil cooperates with these beliefs, which he himself has founded to deceive people. He heals people without their faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Such people naturally think that they are in the true agency. They reject Christ and see no need of getting saved from sin or following Christianity. They will be damned for doing so, the devil having won their souls. Demons can go out and come back into a person of their own accord (Matthew 12:26; 43-45). The devil in the last days will thus deceive people by giving them power (Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:2; 16:13-16; 19:20).

Toxic External Environmental Factors

“The Good News tells us how God protects us under the covering. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith in God’s faithfulness. As the Scriptures say, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:17). (See also 2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Tim. 4:4-5 above.)

Jesus the Christ Himself also states that those believers exercising their faith in Him even have provision around toxic external environmental factors: “...Those who believe ... if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them...” (Mark 16:17-18)  He’s assuring that believers are protected against all opposing forces. (See also Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3-6; 2 Kings 4:38-41; Ps. 91:1-16.)

“There is Nothing New Under the Sun”  (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood [a health issue] for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians [remedy practitioners]. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” (Mark. 5:26-34)

Missing Our Inheritance?

Recall the solemn warning above by the author of Galatians 5:19 stating that the ‘works of the flesh’ include sorcery (original Greek: pharmakeia) or pharmaceuticals or remedies, was not yet addressing pharmaceutical chemicals. Pharmaceutical chemicals did not exist until the 1900’s. The author of Galatians was addressing all-natural remedies. The cult (the unseen trap) of remedies is sorcery. Those who [continue to] do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:21).

What About the ‘Scientific Evidence’?

The author of 1 Timothy 6:20 instructs, “…Guard what God has entrusted to you. Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called ‘science.’”

“…I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, ‘I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas’ [Isa. 29:14]. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never find Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe.

God's way seems foolish …because they believe only what agrees with their own ‘wisdom.’ So when we preach that Christ was crucified, some are offended and others say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation …Christ is the mighty power of God and the wonderful wisdom of God. This ‘foolish’ plan of God is far wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's ‘weakness’ is far stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters … God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important…”  (1 Cor. 1:18-28)

“…So don't let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink… for those regulations were only shadows of the real thing, Christ himself. …We get our nourishment and strength from God. You have died with Christ, and He has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, ‘Don't touch, don't eat, don't handle.’ Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires (review Matt.15:11; Mark 7:18-13 above). …Since you have been raised to new life with Christ … let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col. 2:17 – 3:3)

Authors of the Bible knew that “science” is the study of the cursed world, and disregards the invisible spirit realm in its investigation. At last, in November of 2008, scientist and neurosurgeon, Dr. Eben Alexander discovered that: In my past view, spiritual wasn't a word that I would have employed during a scientific conversation. Now I believe it is a word that we cannot afford to leave out. Far from being an unimportant by‑product of physical processes (as I had thought before my discovery), our spirit component is not only very real—it’s actually more real than the physical component, and most likely the basis of it all. The physical side … is as a speck of dust compared to the invisible and spiritual part.”

Jesus Himself is the Answer

We can clearly see how God's covering works. Please refer to this inspired diagram. God loves us so much that He offers us everything in heaven and earth, even making us joint‑heirs with Jesus. However, some of us still walk out from under the atonement (the blood-covering of Jesus) through sin — shortcoming continued. God is not looking for reasons to condemn us, and that's the reason He has posted warning signs (Prov. 14:14; Rom. 6:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 10:1-24; 2 Cor. 6:1; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5-7; Heb. 3:12; 10:26; Rev. 3:15-16).

Only those who defy Him and walk in their own way find themselves ‘on thin ice’ because they have ignored His warning signs. He instructs us to turn to Jesus. He Himself is the answer. Look away from creation, the counterfeit, or within ourselves (Matt. 8:17; Acts 4:12; 1 Peter 2:24). His heart cry is, "I want to save you [from emotional, mental, and physical health issues too]; I want you to have life and have it more abundantly!"

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; [reverently] fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your navel [center of strength], and marrow [vital moisture essence] to your bones.”  (Prov. 3:7)

“Attend to my words, incline your ears unto my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes, keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life unto those who find them, and health to all their flesh [entire physical body].”  (Prov. 4:20-22; see also Ps. 107:20)

The greatest single contributor to our health & wellness is the Holy Spirit

“…If the Spirit of Him [God] who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Jesus from the dead will also give [healing] life to your mortal body through His Spirit who dwells in you.”    —Rom. 8:11

 

 

Affliction: A Warning Sign? 

God wants us to enjoy skating on His lake of joy while we are on this earth, but He also wants us to keep away from the area marked Thin Ice! This is simple to do, for He has clearly marked the warning signs in the Bible (see scripture passages above).

Psalm 119:67,72,75 contains a lesson about affliction and the purpose of affliction and why affliction comes in our lives and how we Christians should respond to affliction. After all, there’s nobody who won’t encounter affliction at some time or another in his or her life. Be encouraged to listen to what the psalmist says about affliction and what he learned from it:

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Note that the psalmist didn’t view affliction as a disaster. He saw it as a kind of corrective medicine. It was something that he needed to adjust his life. He says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray and I paid for it, but now,” he said, “I obey Your word. I’ve learned my lesson. It pays to obey.”

And then he says at the end, “O LORD... in faithfulness you have afflicted me.” You didn’t do it because You were cruel or because You were angry with me. You did it to straighten me out, to bring me back from my own evil way into Your way, to find the way of peace.

The New Testament tells Christians, “All things are for your sakes” (2 Cor. 4:15; see also Gen. 50:20; Judges 3:1-2; Ps. 51:1-12; 119:67,72,75; Jer. 29:11; John 15:1-2; Rom. 5:3; 8:28; 1 Cor. 11:32; Eph. 5:20; 1 Thess. 5:18; Heb. 12:5-7; James 1:2-5, 12; 1 Pet. 1:6-7).

It is necessary for us to grasp that. God’s laws and purposes — they are all for us. They’re all working out that which is good for us and they control the universe. Many other factors may seem to enter in, but ultimately it’s God’s laws and our associated choices that settle our destiny.

When we are in the midst of affliction, we needn’t fight. We needn’t argue with God. We need to ask Him the reason. God permits our affliction in His faithfulness.  He has a reason. He’s trying to turn us back from something, to bring us out of the dark (wrong) and bring us back under the covering (right) — a life of continual yielding to His instruction (John 14:15; 8:31; 1 John 5:2-3). (Review this diagram.)

His guarantee is unlimited. And, there are still warning signs to make it work for us. A red-light flashes at a railroad crossing when the train is coming, to prevent us from getting killed. A fire engine sounds a siren to warn us of its approach. An ambulance and a police car flash lights when there is danger, and the wail of their siren warns us to pull over and get out of the way. A fever warns us of sickness and infection.

All of these signals are good, and so are God's warning signs. They are just as effective to keep us from getting killed (spiritually) as the flashing lights at a railroad crossing are to keep us from getting killed physically. God loves us so much He has posted warning signs all along the lake of joy, just for our protection!  Derek Prince, and Pastor Buck Roland

A Purpose to End Evil and Suffering Forever

God has definite purposes, all working toward the ultimate purpose of bringing mankind back to the place where he was before the fall (beloved personal fellowship) and free him of all possibility of failing in the future. The Kingdom of God (Love) is the plan of God to end evil and suffering forever (Ex. 34:6-7; Mt. 13:37-43; 1 Cor. 15:24-28; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 Tim. 1:5; Rev. 21-22)

“What Should I Eat and Drink?”

The owner of this site is not anti-nutrition. Consider drinking plenty of water and satisfying hunger with portions of real food – if at all possible. Moreover:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him or her ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him or her.” (James 1:5)

Be encouraged to take the time and effort to pray and seek the help of the Holy Spirit in making and practicing wise food choices. Then cooperate with Him. 

Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance against such there is no law [opposition].” The fruit of the Spirit includes temperance. Temperance also means self-control or moderation (this includes eating). “...If you are a big eater, [figuratively] put a knife to your throat...”  – Prov. 23:2

If something is not definitely condemned by some specific passage(s) in Scripture, let each of us answer to God and our conscience as to what we allow (Rom. 14:1-23; 15:1-3; 1Cor. 8). The sins continued that damn the soul are listed in Mk. 7:19-21; Rom. 1:29-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5-10; etc. If we live victorious over these things through Christ, if we discontinue to defile our body which is God's temple, then we are qualified for heaven (2 Cor. 3:16-17). If anything is sin—shortcoming continued—and condemned by some specific passage(s) in Scripture, be reminded that a problem cannot occur in your life without a promise and a provision also being present at the same moment. Yield to God’s empowering grace to follow His plan of escape (Prov. 3:7; 2 Tim 2:24-26; 1 John 1:6-9; Jas. 5:14-16).

 

 

The owner of this site is not a “Christian Scientist.” And not anti-medical doctor. Medical Doctors, for example, and their diagnosing skills are many times a gift from God.

 

 

 

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.” – 3 John 1:2

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free!” – John 8:32

What Divine Healing and Health is Not

It is not healing and health by natural remedies, imagination, will power, personal magnetism, metaphysics, spiritualism, immunity from death, presumption, insubordination to God's will, mind over matter, denial of the plain facts of sin, health issues, and disease, or natural healing by inherent laws and creative powers in humankind's body (i.e. our God-given immune systems, endocrine systems, lymph systems, limbic systems, etc.)

“I AM Jehovah-Raphah – your ‘Physician.’”  —God at Exodus 15:26

 

Concluding the Summary

It’s imperative in this new covenant that whatever we eat or drink we are to do it from faith and to the glory of God (Rom. 1:17; 14:5-6, 23; 1 Cor. 10:31). “One who doubts is condemned if they eat without faith [faith in God’s faithfulness]. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Certain foods are forbidden in disregard of 1 Timothy 4:3-4. Such unscriptural instruction under the new covenant is prompted by demons arrayed against the gospel and the liberty it provides regarding food and drink (1 Tim. 4:3-4; Gen. 9:1-7; Rom. 14:1-6).

Throughout all of time, God has demonstrated His profound mercy. Recall the aforementioned personal examples regarding nutritional ‘therapy’ for both my client’s diagnosis and my own, managed our issues until we each believed more of God enabling our God-given faith to become active. And, all God’s longsuffering, love, and mercy will not permit Him to bless people while they continue in sin. God is perfectly just; God will not clear the guilty as long as s/he remains guilty—refusing to repent and accept God's means of mercy, healing, and health (salvation). The greatest Christian can stand only as long as s/he relationally depends upon God and continues in Sprit-empowered obedience to the gospel. Anyone who rejects these conditions of living right, dependent, will sooner or later see that s/he cannot escape the consequences in their mental, emotional, physical health. And ultimately death and eternal separation (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-19; Dt. 8:11-18; Prov. 1:10-17; 2:10-16; 4:14-15; 5:6-21; 6:27-28; 7:7-23; 9:15-17; 12:26; 14:27; 16:29; 19:27; 26:2; 28:10; Isa. 33:15-16; Mt. 13:22; Lk. 8:13; Rom. 6:12-23; 8:12-13; 12:21; 14:13-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 7:5; 8:9-13; 10:1-12; 2 Cor. 2:11; 11:3; Gal. 5:16-26; Eph. 4:27; 5:5-7; 6:10-18; 1 Tim. 5:15; 6:9-17; Heb. 3:6, 12-14; 6:4-11; 10:26-38; Jas. 1:2-16; 4:7; 2 Pet. 2:9, 20-22; 3:17; 1 Jn. 2:15-17; Rev. 22:3).

“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink [nutrition], but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).

“One who doubts is condemned if they eat without faith [faith in God’s faithfulness]. For whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23).

As man thinks in his heart so is he.”

What does the Bible say about "The Temple?"

 

 

What does the Bible say about exercise?

 

 

 

Repeating, Jesus graciously explained to us “…People are … defiled by what comes out of the mouth—what people say and do. For from the inside, out of a person’s heart, proceeds evil thoughts…” Understand what the 2,000-year-old New Testament teaches about what the latest neuroscience is calling “the mind-body connection.”

 

 

 

The (false) suspicion that we can somehow be separated from God’s love is the root of every form of fear, stress, or anxiety, and the cure for it is knowing that nothing can tear us from God’s love, ever.

 

 

 

Back to How To Access Healing From God and Keep It

 

 

 

 

The plan of God is to end evil and suffering forever (Ex. 20:5-6; 34:6-7; Num. 14:18-20; Deut. 5:9-10; Jer. 32:18; Ps. 34:15-16; Prov. 1:24-33; Ez. 18:21-23; Matt. 5:44; John 3:16, 17; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:12-13; 11:11-29; 12:14; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; 15:24-28; 2 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:9-11; Gal. 5:16-24; 6:7-8; Heb. 6:4-9; 10:26-29; 2 Peter 2:9, 20-21; Rev. 21-22).

The ultimate purpose of God in all His present dealings with man is to bring him back to the place where he was before the fall (beloved fellowship) and free him of all possibility of failing in the future. “The object and purpose of our instruction and charge is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, and a clear conscience, and genuine faith.”  —1 Timothy 1:5

 

 

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