Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 26

HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE

In order to render to God perfect service, you must have clear conceptions of His requirements. You should use the most simple food, prepared in the most simple manner, that the fine nerves of the brain be not weakened, benumbed, or paralysed, making it impossible for you to discern sacred things, and to value the atonement, the cleansing blood of Christ, as of priceless worth. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

If men, for no higher object than a wreath or perishable crown as a reward of their ambition, subjected themselves to temperance in all things, how much more should those be willing to practice self-denial who profess to be seeking, not only a crown of immortal glory, but a life which is to endure as long as the throne of Jehovah, and riches that are eternal, honours which are imperishable, an eternal weight of glory. Will not the inducements presented before those who are running in the Christian race lead them to practice self-denial and temperance in all things, that they may keep their animal propensities in subjection, keep under the body, and control the appetite and lustful passions? Then can they be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. What did the Apostle John wish concerning Gaius? 3 John 2.

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 2.

2. What did God promise His people anciently? Exodus 23:25.

"And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." Exodus 23:25.

3. Upon what conditions was freedom from disease promised? Exodus 15:26.

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." Exodus 15:26.

4. What does the Lord do for His people? Psalms 103:3.

"Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;" Psalms 103:3.

5. What constituted a large part of Christ's ministry? Acts 10:38; Matthew 4:23.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38.

"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Matthew 4:23.

6. Why should the health of the body be preserved? 1 Corinthians 6:20.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20.

7. What is the body of the believer said to be? 1 Corinthians 6:19.

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19.

8. What will God do to those who defile this temple? 1 Corinthians 3:17.

"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:17.

9. What example did Daniel set in this matter? Daniel 1:8.

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." Daniel 1:8.

10. With what food did he ask to be provided? Daniel 1:12.

"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink." Daniel 1:12.

11. What was the original diet prescribed for man? Genesis 1:29.

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 1:29.

12. When was man first told by God that they could eat meat? Genesis 8:15, 16; 9:3.

"And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee." Genesis 8:15, 16.

"Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things." Genesis 9:3.

Note: When the animals went into the ark, there were only two of each unclean animal, but the clean went in by sevens (Genesis 7:2, 3). The reason Noah took all the animals on the ark was to preserve them. If he and his family then ate the unclean animals there would only be one left, therefore that species would become extinct. Therefore it is only logical that, knowing what was clean and unclean, Noah and his family would only have eaten the clean animals.

13. How do you tell if a beast is clean? Leviticus 11:3.

"Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat." Leviticus 11:3.

14. How do you tell if something living in water if clean? Leviticus 11:9.

"These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat." Leviticus 11:9.

15. What type of birds are unclean? Leviticus 11:13-20.

"And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you." Leviticus 11:13-20.

Note: The birds listed as unclean are all scavengers.

16. Are there any insects that are considered clean? Leviticus 11:21-23.

"Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you." Leviticus 11:21-23.

17. Of what is temperance a fruit of? 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." Galatians 5:22, 23.

18. What is said of those who strive for the mastery? 1 Corinthians 9:25.

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." 1 Corinthians 9:25.

19. What does the Bible say about wine? Proverbs 20:1.

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Proverbs 20:1.

20. What would happen to a priest if he drank wine or strong drink? Leviticus 10:8, 9.

"And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:" Leviticus 10:8, 9.

21. Who did Peter say God's people were? 1 Peter 2:9.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" 1 Peter 2:9.

Note: As God's people are considered a priesthood the same restrictions about strong drink and wine apply.

22. What is one of the evil results of intemperance? Proverbs 23:20, 21.

"Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags." Proverbs 23:20, 21.

23. With what sins is drunkenness classed? Galatians 5:19-21.

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21.

24. What are common accompaniments of intemperance? Proverbs 23:29, 30.

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Proverbs 23:29, 30.

25. How do intoxicants serve one in the end? Proverbs 23:31, 32.

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." Proverbs 23:31, 32.

26. How are we exhorted to present our bodies to God? Romans 12:1.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1.

27. What high purpose should control every single thing we do? 1 Corinthians 10:31.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.

Note: Before we eat, drink, dress, speak, start or add to our family/ies, go anywhere or do anything we should ask if this will bring glory to God.

Commitment:- I believe that my body is the temple of God, therefore I should only do with it what will bring glory and honour to God.