Thanks and God bless!

Wendy

------------------
Chose you this day whom you will serve,
as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15

What is popular is not always right.
What is right is not always popular.

[This message has been edited by Gerry Buck (edited February 07, 2001).]

1. What model did God use when He made man? Genesis 1:26

The word image means a resemblance, a representative figure. Likeness means resemblance, model, shape. Man was made to resemble God in all his physical, mental, and spiritual faculties.

2. Of what do we consist? Hebrews 2:14

This verse also points out that just as humans are flesh and blood, Jesus, in becoming like us also became flesh and blood that He might understand our infirmities and weaknesses, and show us how we can live the Christian life.

3. What does the flesh war against? Galatians 5:17

4. What happens if we sow to the flesh? Galatians 6:8

5. If we sow to the Spirit, what will we reap? Galatians 6:8

6. Our bodies are the temple of what? 1 Corinthians 3:16

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

8. What kind of living sacrifice are we to make of our bodies? Romans 12:1

9. What does it mean to be holy unto God? Deuteronomy 7:6

10. How can we be holy and acceptable to God? Deuteronomy 28:9

11. Who dwells in us? 1 Corinthians 6:19

12. In our bodies we are to what? 1 Corinthians 6:20

13. Why are we to glorify God in our bodies? 1 Corinthians 6:20

14. How do we present our bodies a living sacrifice? 2 Corinthians 7:1

15. Our sacrifice represents that we have made what with God? Psalm 50:5

16. What is the covenant that we have with God? Hebrews 10:16

17. If the Holy Spirit is living in our body temple, what will we not do? Galatians 5:16

18. What are the works (or lusts) of the flesh? Galatians 5:19-21

As you go through these lessons, you will find that all of these things affect the health of the body, but especially adultery and fornication, uncleanness, hatred, wrath, drunkenness and revellings.

In Israel, a lamb was sacrificed as a representative of the Saviour who would become man's substitute for God said that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Only the death of the one who gave the law could make an atonement for the transgression of the law (Hebrews 9:26). When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him at the Jordan river, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Jesus was that sacrificial lamb who would shed His blood for our sins for "without shedding of blood is no remission" of sins. The animals that were used for sacrifices were to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5). When we present our bodies as living sacrifices, "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing... it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). Much of the disease suffered by humankind today is brought on by wrong habits of eating, drinking, dressing, and living.

19. God promises what to those who disobey Him? Deuteronomy 28:59

20. What will God not bring upon those who do right in His sight? Exodus 15:26

21. What is God not going to permit in heaven? Revelation 21:27 (first half)

Defileth means to make or consider profane. Our body temples can be defiled or profaned by the things we eat, drink, wear, and do. God asks us to present our bodies to Him without flaws brought on by our own unlawful actions. He knows that some of us are born with blemishes that we are not responsible for having. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children" (Psalm 103:13-17). God requires us to obey the laws of our being and maintain our health in as perfect a condition as possible.

22. What will God do to those who defile the temple of God? 1 Corinthians 3:17

23. What has God promised those who obey Him? Exodus 23:25

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 2:27

Next Lesson: What Shall We Eat? Part 1: God's Diet Plan

[This message has been edited by Linda Sutton (edited February 13, 2001).]

1. When God made Adam and Eve and placed them in Eden, what food did He give them to eat? Genesis 1:29

2. After they ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree and Adam and Eve were evicted from Eden, what was added to their diet? Genesis 3:17,18

3. To whom was the herb of the field originally given for food? Genesis 1:30

God did not make the animals carnivores (meat-eaters) at creation. It came about later as a result of sin.

4. What had God forbidden Adam and Eve to do? Genesis 2:16-17

5. When they were tempted, what did they do? Genesis 3:6

Adam and Eve fell on the point of appetite. The fruit looked so good, and they decided that God had been keeping it from them unfairly. They doubted what God said, and they allowed their appetites to overrule their minds.

6. On what point did Satan first tempt Jesus? Luke 4:3

Jesus had been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days communing with His Father. By the time Satan came to tempt Him, He was very hungry. He picked the time when Jesus would be most susceptible to his suggestions.

7. How did Jesus reply to the devil? Luke 4:4

Jesus was quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3. Remember that Jesus was famished, literally starving for food. It would have been easy for Jesus to change a stone into bread and feed Himself, but He resisted the temptation. Where Adam fell, Jesus triumphed. Adam brought sin into the world by giving into appetite, and Jesus showed that appetite can be overcome, even in the most trying of circumstances. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:19.

8. Why was flesh food permitted in man's diet and when? Genesis 7:21-22

The flood had destroyed the entire world and every living thing on it. When Noah and his family left the ark there were no gardens from which to gather produce. They would have to be planted, grow to maturity, then harvested. In the meantime, they must eat.

God permitted flesh for food for yet another reason. "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." The longer men lived, the more evil they could think of to get into.

9. With the permission to kill animals for food, God also said that He would require what from man for the animals he killed? Genesis 9:5

10. How was man's life span affected after meat-eating was introduced?
Before the flood:
Adam (Genesis 5:5)
Seth (Genesis 5:8)
Jared (Genesis 5:20)
Methuselah (Gen. 5:27)
Noah (Genesis 9:29)
After the flood:
Shem (Genesis 11:10-11)
Arphaxid (Gen. 11:12,13)
Peleg (Gen. 11:18-19)
Terah (Gen. 11:32)
Abraham (Gen. 25:7)
David (Psalm 90:10)

11. What was the size of the people who lived before the flood? Genesis 6:4, first part

Men were of great stature, or height, before the flood.

12. What people did the children of Israel find in the land of Canaan? Deuteronomy 2:10-11

13. About how tall was one of them judging by the length of his bed? Deuteronomy 3:11

A cubit is 18 inches which makes King Og's bed 13 feet long. That is more than twice the average height of man today, several feet taller than the tallest basketball player. The Anakims were destroyed by the Children of Israel until only a few were left in the region of the Philistines who lived along the Mediterranean coast.

14. Who did David kill in battle and how tall was he? 1 Samuel 17:4

A span is half a cubit or 9 inches. Goliath was 9 feet 9 inches tall. His brother, also a giant, was later killed in a battle with Israel (2 Samuel 21:19).

As man partook of a flesh diet, he shrank both in age and in size. Even the Anakims, who were still giants 1000 years after the flood, were getting shorter. King Og was about 13 feet tall, but a few hundred years later one of the last of the Anakims was barely in the 10 foot range.

15. What directions did God give regarding what animals could be used for food and those that were not to be eaten?
Mammals: Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:6:
Fish and seafood: Leviticus 11:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:9-10:
Fowl (birds): Deuteronomy 14:11, 12-20; Leviticus 11:13-21:

The unclean animals listed in these verses are the scavengers of the earth. They feed on decaying and rotting matter, garbage, and refuse including the carcasses of other dead animals. They are primarily carnivores. The clean animals which God permitted for food are primarily herbivores or plant eating animals.

16. When was man aware of the difference between clean and unclean animals? Genesis 7:1-2

Seven of each of the clean animals were taken into the ark, while only two of each unclean animal were taken into the ark. Had Noah and his family commenced eating the unclean animals when they came off the ark, those animals would have become extinct for there was only one breeding pair (one male and one female) with which to reproduce themselves.

17. What parts of the animal did God forbid man to eat? Genesis 9:4; Deuteronomy 12:23-25

Noah lived several generations before Abraham who was the beginning of the Jewish race. Yet Noah knew and observed the difference between clean and unclean animals for food.

18. What other parts of the animal were not to be used for food but were burned? Leviticus 1:8-9; 3:3-4

The priests were permitted to use the meat of the sacrifices for food for themselves and their families (see Leviticus 7:22-38) except for the parts that God specified were to be burned. Some parts of the sacrificial animals were to be burned on the altar and some by being carried out of the camp and burned with fire (Leviticus 3:14-15; 4:11). Notice that all the fat was to be burned.

19. What does the New Testament say about the eating of blood? Acts 15:28-29

20. Why was blood forbidden to be eaten? Leviticus 17:11

"Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people." Leviticus 7:26-27.

The animals used in the tabernacle sacrifices represented that Jesus would come and die for sinners and shed His blood when He died for us on the cross. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. The blood of the animal sacrifices was sprinkled before the veil to represent the blood of Jesus washing away our sins. Because Jesus has come and died, we no longer need to kill animals for sacrifice, for those sacrifices only pointed forward to His death. He has now shed His blood for us, and is pleading that blood for us in heaven.

21. What methods of death prevented an animal being used for food? Leviticus 22:8; Acts 15:20.

An animal killed by another animal or strangled or dead on its own could not have the blood properly drained from its body. The only way to butcher an animal was to cut it's throat and hang it up and allow the blood to drain out.

22. What particular animal did God expressly forbid man to eat? Deuteronomy 14:8

23. How much of the animal is unclean? Leviticus 11:7-8

24. How does God feel about those who use swine's flesh for food? Isaiah 65:4-5

Next Lesson: What Shall We Eat? Part 2: Food From the King's Table

Before you begin this lesson, take a few minutes to read the first chapter of the book of Daniel. This will familiarize you with the story from which this lesson comes.

1. Who was Daniel? Daniel 1:3

2. What outstanding qualities did Daniel possess that caused him to be chosen for special training in the schools of Babylon? Daniel 1:5

3. What kind of diet did King Nebuchadnezzar order for the students? Daniel 1:4

4. What decision did Daniel make about the diet provided by the king? Daniel 1:8, first part

Daniel and his friends would not defile their bodies with the rich food and drink from the king's table. While the king believed that this was the best diet for his prize pupils, Daniel understood that such food would defile his body. The margin reading for "king's meat" reads "king's delicacies." Nebuchadnezzar did not know the difference between the clean and unclean foods, that "wine is a mocker" (Proverbs 20:1), or that "the life is in the blood."

5. What did Daniel ask for from the prince of eunuchs? Daniel 1:8, last part

6. How did the prince of the eunuchs answer? Daniel 1:10

7. Daniel then turned to Melzar, the eunuch placed over him and his friends and ask for what? Daniel 1:12-13

Pulse is an old word for vegetables.

8. Melzar consented and at the end of 10 days what differences could be seen between the four young men and the rest of the students? Daniel 1:15

9. At the end of the three years' training, when the king called the students before him, what difference did the king see between Daniel and his friends and the other students? Daniel 1:19

10. How much better were they than the others? Daniel 1:20

Daniel and his friends ate a vegetarian diet, and they were ten times better than all the students who ate the king's food by eating the food provided by God in the beginning.

11. What did Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, say about the eating habits of princes? Ecclesiastes 10:17

12. What advice did he give to those who are faced with the same choice that Daniel had to make? Proverbs 23:1-3

13. What did the Children of Israel begin complaining for? Numbers 11:4-6

14. What had they been eating? Numbers 11:7-9

15. What did the manna taste like? Exodus 16:31

16. What kind of food was the manna? Psalm 78:25

17. How badly did they want meat to eat? Psalm 78:18

"And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp" Numbers 11:32.

It was not hunger that made the people stay up grabbing birds for 36 hours, but a craving for flesh food. They had begun murmuring about and desiring the food they had eaten in Egypt, but forgetting that they had been slaves to the Egyptians.

18. What did God do because of their lust and why? Psalm 78:27-31

The Children of Israel had demanded flesh food for they were tired of the manna God was providing (Numbers 11:10-35). The Lord caused a wind to blow, bringing flocks of quail flying into the camp at a low height, allowing them to be easily caught. The people were so gluttonous for the meat that they were heaping the birds up and gorging themselves. As a result a plague went through the camp killing many.

"And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" Psalm 106:15.

19. What kind of men were the sons of Eli, the high priest of Israel? 1 Samuel 2:12

Belial is another name for Satan and means worthless.

20. What were they in the habit of sending their servant to do? 1 Samuel 2:13,14

21. What else would they send their servant to get? 1 Samuel 2:15

22. What would happen if anyone objected? 2 Samuel 2:16

The priests wanted the meat before the fat had been removed and burned and the remaining blood had been seethed, or boiled, out. They were disobedient of a direct command of God to not eat the blood or the fat.

23. What other kind of sin were Eli's sons guilty of? 1 Samuel 2:22

24. What did God say would happen to them as a result of their disobedience? 1 Samuel 2:34, 36

It happened as God had said. The priesthood was removed from Eli's family and given to another. Eli and his sons all died the same day (see 1 Samuel 4:10-18).

25. What other bad habit is associated with gluttony and the use of flesh food? Proverbs 23:20

26. Where does the lust of the flesh come from? 1 John 2:16

Lust means to covet, crave, be greedy, or to passionately desire something. People can lust for things that in themselves are not harmful or wrong. It is the desire to have it to the exclusion of anything else that constitutes lust.

27. What will finally happen to lust? 1 John 2:17

Next Lesson: What Shall We Eat? Part 3: Eat That Which Is Good

1. To what city were Daniel and his fellow captives taken? Daniel 1:1

2. Revelation speaks of a Babylon and gives us what warning about it? Revelation 14:8

The Babylon of Revelation is symbolic of a group of people who are opposed to God's government and law. They have wine, "the wine of the wrath of her fornication" and "abundance of delicacies" (Revelation 18:3) such as ancient Babylon had. To have clear minds and healthy bodies we must, like Daniel, not defile the body temple with the wine and delicacies, whether real or spiritual, of Babylon.

The prophet Elijah has been used in the Bible as a symbol of the godly people who will be living on earth just before Jesus comes the second time (Malachi 4:5-6). Elijah went before King Ahab of Israel and pronounced there would be no rain because of the sinfulness of the people. He then hid out as God directed by a brook where ravens fed him.

3. What food was brought to Elijah to eat? 1 Kings 17:6

4. How often did the ravens bring food? 1 Kings 17:6

Elijah ate 2 meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.

5. When the brook dried up, where was he sent? 1 Kings 17:9

6. What his diet there? 1 Kings 17:12,13

7. Those who are ready for heaven when Jesus comes the second time will have been eating what kind of food? Isaiah 33:14-17

Just as Elijah, a symbol of those who will be taken to heaven at the Second Coming without seeing death, was eating bread and water, so will those who are translated. They will be eating a simple diet of the foods that God originally gave mankind to eat — fruits, nuts and seeds, grains, and vegetables.

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind" Isaiah 66:17.

8. What will the animals eat in the new earth? Isaiah 65:25

9. What food will the redeemed be eating in the new earth? Isaiah 65:21

10. What will have happened to those who were eating all kinds of forbidden things and telling themselves that they were holy and pure? Isaiah 66:17

"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one" (Job 14:4). "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

11. What advice did Solomon give to those who have a problem with appetite? Proverbs 23:2

Jesus said if your right eye offends you to pluck it out (Matthew 5:29). Neither Solomon or Jesus were saying that we should mutilate or destroy our bodies if we are beset by bad habits. Though gluttony is a slow form of suicide, for the body is getting more than it needs and can beneficially use, through the strength that Christ offers, overeating can be overcome.

12. What is associated with gluttony? Deuteronomy 21:20

13. What was the prescribed punishment? Deuteronomy 21:21

14. What sign relating to food did Jesus say would be evidence of His soon return? Luke 17:28; Matthew 24:37-38

15. What warning did He give us? Luke 21:34

Gluttony is a sign that mankind is living in the time just before Jesus will return to earth to save His faithful children. All the world will be eating and drinking to excess, so He has left a warning on record that His followers are to be careful how they eat and drink, lest they be caught unprepared for His coming.

16. What did an uncontrolled appetite cause Esau to do? Genesis 25:29-34

17. How does the Bible describe Esau? Hebrews 12:16

Daniel and Esau had to make the choice to deny appetite for the sake of physical and spiritual health or to indulge and suffer the consequences of the wrong choice. Esau willingly sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils. Millions today sell their health and shorten their life span needlessly just to gratify the taste buds. Heart attacks kill more Americans than any other disease, yet it can be largely prevented by a diet that is free of cholesterol, low in rich foods, and exercising regularly.

18. What one thing should regulate our appetites? 1 Corinthians 10:31

19. What will happen to the glutton? Proverbs 23:21

20. What sweet does the Bible tell us to eat? Proverbs 24:13

21. How much should we eat? Proverbs 25:27

22. Why shouldn't we eat a lot of it? Proverbs 25:16

This advice applies to all good things to eat, especially those foods which are rich. For example, nuts are high in fat in the form of oil and should be eaten moderately, not in large quantity.

23. What is considered a greater accomplishment than taking a city? Proverbs 16:32

A person who does not control his spirit is controlled by his appetites, passions, and lusts. "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" Proverbs 25:28.

24. How was Adam to obtain his food? Genesis 3:17-19

25. What did Paul say about useful employment and obtaining food? 2 Thessalonians 3:10

Note: The poor are always to be helped. See Isaiah 58:6-7; Deuteronomy 24:18-22.

26. What should we avoid buying and what should we eat? Isaiah 55:2

The fatness spoken of here is abundance. It does not mean an abundance of what we clearly know is bad for health, or even things we want to think are good for us. It means those things which God has declared are good for food — namely, fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and legumes (beans and lentils). These can be eaten without fear of cholesterol (the main cause of heart disease), low fiber (responsible for colon cancer), and high sucrose (white sugar that leads to diabetes). Of these you may freely eat, but within moderate guidelines. It is no better to eat too much of what is good than to eat that which is bad.

Next Lesson: What Shall We Eat? Part 4: A Loaf of Bread