Participants:
Series Code: THI
Program Code: THI000024S
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00:23 Heavenly Father, we thank you
00:24 so much 00:25 that you are 00:26 the God of the impossible. 00:28 And sometimes it seems like 00:30 when we deal with health 00:31 needs, they're impossible. 00:32 But you want to 00:33 step into our world 00:34 and help us. 00:35 Please help us 00:36 catch that vision again 00:37 as we study from your Word. 00:39 We ask In Jesus name, Amen. 00:43 If you've been with us 00:44 for the first presentation 00:46 in this series, we talked about 00:49 how God is trying to help us, 00:51 I believe, 00:52 as a Christian community 00:53 worldwide, 00:54 to harness Bible principles 00:57 that relate to fasting 00:59 and utilize them 01:00 to help people with a very, 01:02 very compelling health need. 01:05 And that is a need to trim down 01:07 to lose some pounds 01:08 to become more fit. 01:11 We're talking about a program 01:12 that we call the Fast 01:14 8 program. 01:15 And if you're just 01:16 learning about it 01:17 for the first time, 01:18 you can get your free 01:19 handout today. 01:20 That'll give you an overview 01:21 of the whole program, 01:22 the Fast 8 program. 01:24 You'll find it at our website. 01:26 www.TimelessHealingInsights.org 01:30 TimelessHealingInsights.org. 01:35 When you go there, 01:36 there'll be an opportunity 01:37 for you to sign up. 01:38 We'll get you 01:39 not only a free 01:40 copy of the handout 01:41 that gives you the game plan 01:42 for the whole 01:42 eight week program. 01:43 You can just take that 01:44 and run with it. 01:45 You don't need anything else. 01:46 It gives you the guidelines. 01:47 But we're going to 01:48 be supporting that 01:49 with video resources. 01:51 So if you sign up, 01:52 we will be keeping 01:53 you abreast 01:54 of any of the programs 01:55 that we release on video. 01:57 We're planning a live program 01:59 the day before the launch date. 02:01 So in other words, 02:01 Saturday night, 02:02 February 4th, 2023, 02:05 we're planning a live 02:06 interactive program 02:07 that you can join us for. 02:09 If you've signed up, 02:09 we'll make sure you have 02:11 the program link 02:12 and program information. 02:14 With that background, though, 02:15 you may still be scratching 02:16 your heads 02:16 and maybe you're 02:17 just joining us 02:17 for the first time, 02:18 you're saying, 02:18 but fasting in the Bible. 02:20 What does all this have to do? 02:21 Does the Bible really 02:22 give a framework for fasting 02:25 as the foundation for a program 02:26 for any kind of 02:27 health benefits. 02:29 In a previous episode, 02:30 we actually talked 02:31 about this first point, 02:32 and that is that 02:33 fasting transcends 02:34 what we eat and drink. 02:35 We looked at Isaiah 58 02:38 and we saw how God was saying, 02:39 You're all focused 02:40 on what you're 02:41 not eating or not drinking, 02:42 but you need to be focused 02:44 on helping other people. 02:46 It's fasting, 02:47 true fasting is about more 02:49 than just what we eat 02:50 or don't eat. 02:51 But fasting can also be viewed 02:53 as an application of a Bible 02:55 principle known as temperance. 02:57 And why I'm 02:57 so excited about this 02:59 is because God promises 03:01 to give us the gift 03:03 of temperance. 03:04 I'm reading from Galatians 5, 03:06 the Word of God, Galatians 5:22 03:10 and onward. 03:11 Many of you know 03:13 that in Galatians 03:14 we read that wonderful passage 03:16 about the fruit of the Spirit. 03:19 So when we accept Jesus 03:20 as our Savior 03:21 and the Holy Spirit 03:22 comes into our hearts, 03:23 we receive 03:24 the fruit of the Spirit. 03:25 And what is the fruit 03:26 of the Spirit include? 03:27 It includes love, joy, peace, 03:31 long suffering, gentleness, 03:34 goodness, faith, meekness. 03:37 And then what? 03:38 Temperance or self-control. 03:42 Why is this so exciting to me? 03:44 Temperance is really 03:46 at the foundation 03:47 of any kind of fast. 03:49 And God is telling you 03:50 that the Holy Spirit gives you 03:52 temperance, gives you 03:53 self-control, gives you 03:54 the ability, 03:55 in essence, to say no 03:58 to things that are harmful 03:59 and to say yes 04:01 to things 04:02 that are good in moderation. 04:04 That is a promise. 04:06 Now, don't miss this. 04:09 If you haven't heard me 04:10 say it already, 04:11 and some of you have 04:12 been with us 04:13 from the first presentation, 04:15 Isaiah 58 tells us 04:18 that the true spirit of fasting 04:20 is one 04:20 that seeks a fast 04:22 from doing our own pleasure. 04:24 It's the whole idea 04:25 of living for God 04:26 and ministering to others. 04:27 And this is for everyone. 04:29 It doesn't matter 04:29 what our weight is. 04:30 So I'm telling you, 04:31 there's an opportunity 04:32 to go on this journey with us, 04:34 even though the program 04:35 is especially crafted 04:36 for those who need to 04:37 to lose some pounds. 04:38 We are going to be 04:39 including in the program, 04:41 special help 04:42 for those who need, 04:43 listen carefully, 04:44 to gain weight 04:45 because it's a weight 04:46 optimization program. 04:48 You say, 04:48 wait a minute, 04:49 now, wait a minute, 04:50 I want to lose weight. 04:51 Why would I? 04:52 How can a program 04:53 help me lose weight 04:54 and someone else gain weight? 04:56 Well, we're going to tell you 04:57 specific things that you can do 04:58 to tailor the program 04:59 to meet your own needs. 05:00 So it's not a 05:01 one size fits all. 05:02 And this is really 05:03 exciting to me 05:04 about the program 05:04 because I think that's 05:05 what frustrates a lot of people 05:07 with any kind of 05:08 a health program. 05:09 And so this is an 05:09 individualizable program 05:11 that we're going to help you 05:13 with no matter what 05:15 your weight is. 05:16 Let me share 05:17 something with you. 05:18 Many of you know 05:19 that Seventh-day 05:20 Adventist for decades, 05:22 for well over a century, 05:23 in fact, 05:24 have been very active 05:25 helping communities. 05:27 Helping the health 05:28 of their communities. 05:29 And I know some of you 05:30 say, well, 05:31 I wish we were doing more. 05:32 Well, 05:32 we're trying to do that here 05:33 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 05:34 And I know 05:35 others are doing that 05:36 many places 05:37 throughout the world. 05:38 As we think about that, 05:40 one of the books 05:41 that has guided Seventh-day 05:42 Adventist for many years 05:43 is a book called 05:44 Councils on Diet and Foods. 05:46 Some amazing insights 05:48 into a variety 05:49 of health principles, 05:50 especially relating 05:51 to dietary principles. 05:52 But I want you to notice 05:53 the balanced council 05:55 about fasting that 05:56 we find in this book 05:57 on page 189. 05:58 The spirit of true 06:00 fasting and prayer 06:02 is the spirit 06:02 which yields mind, heart 06:04 and will to God. 06:06 Who do you think would benefit 06:07 from this type of fast? 06:09 Everybody, right? 06:11 True fasting and prayer. 06:12 We should all have that 06:13 spirit of yielding. 06:14 Our minds, 06:15 our hearts are wills to God. 06:18 That book also has another 06:20 bit of counsel 06:21 that applies to all of us. 06:23 And it's this. 06:24 The true fasting, 06:25 which should be recommended 06:27 to all, is abstinence 06:29 from every stimulating 06:31 kind of food 06:32 and the proper 06:32 use of wholesome, simple food 06:35 which God has provided 06:36 in abundance. 06:37 Now, think about this 06:38 for a minute. 06:39 It's talking about fasting. 06:41 But what you see clearly in 06:43 this reference is not fasting 06:46 in the sense of you 06:47 only drinking water 06:49 for the next 40 days. 06:50 It's talking about eating 06:52 wholesome, simple food. 06:55 But it's talking 06:55 about avoiding those things 06:57 that would undermine 06:58 our health. 06:58 Here in this context, 07:00 stimulants, okay? 07:01 Stimulating foods 07:02 or stimulating things 07:03 that we ingest. 07:05 So, my invitation. 07:06 Join the weight 07:08 and health 07:08 optimization program. 07:09 We need as many people 07:10 as possible to participate, 07:12 and it should not be viewed 07:14 as a stigma to join. 07:15 You see, you might say, well, 07:17 you know, 07:18 if I tell anyone that 07:18 I'm joining this program, 07:19 if someone asks me 07:20 and I say I'm joined, 07:20 it's like me saying that, 07:22 then I think 07:22 I need to lose weight. 07:23 No, I'm. 07:24 Do you see how 07:25 I'm casting this? Okay. 07:26 Anyone can join this. 07:28 We want to encourage you, 07:29 as many of you as possible, 07:30 to join the program. 07:31 And it is really desirable 07:33 for those of you, 07:34 even if you feel you're thin 07:35 to be in the program, 07:36 you'll find things 07:36 that will help you 07:37 and help your health. 07:39 Well, what about this one? 07:40 And I've heard this before 07:41 in many settings, 07:42 you know, 07:43 people don't want to come 07:44 to some health event 07:45 because they say, I'm ashamed 07:46 when I'm around thin people. 07:48 How many of you caught 07:49 caught it? 07:49 This program 07:50 launching in February of 2023, 07:52 it is virtual. 07:54 Nobody needs to see you 07:55 at all, okay? 07:56 So join us for the program. 07:59 Fast 8 08:00 at TimelessHealingInsights.org. 08:04 Let me just give you 08:04 a little bit more background 08:05 because some of you 08:06 are still scratching your head. 08:07 You say, okay, I'm 08:07 going to get the free handout, 08:09 but I really want to know 08:10 about the Bible background 08:11 for some of these fast. 08:12 So that's where we want to go 08:13 right now. 08:14 We want to look 08:14 at some of the Bible principles 08:15 that undergird 08:16 different aspects 08:17 of the program. 08:18 I'm not going to go 08:18 through the whole program. 08:19 The handout is about 13 08:20 pages long, 08:21 and we are going to keep this 08:23 fairly succinct. 08:24 But I look at several 08:25 different examples, 08:26 several of the different fasts 08:28 that will be featuring 08:28 in the program 08:29 and why there's a biblical 08:31 basis for it. So week one, 08:34 we're going to introduce 08:35 folks to this fast. 08:36 We call it the leaf 08:37 stem and flower fast. 08:40 And you'll see the 08:41 the first point that we make 08:43 is that some people, 08:44 even on this fast, 08:45 they may end up eating more 08:47 while on this fast. 08:49 Now, I can see some of you 08:50 looking really perplexed. 08:51 Others of you are smiling. 08:52 Other of you are wondering, 08:53 I mean, what's this guy 08:54 talking about? 08:55 How can we go on a fast 08:56 and eat more? 08:57 Because most of the people 08:59 I think, who do this 09:00 first principle 09:01 that we're going to introduce, 09:02 they are going to 09:03 take this counsel. 09:05 The first part of one meal 09:08 a day. 09:10 By the way, 09:10 we give them one break. 09:12 So six days out of the week. 09:14 The first thing you do 09:15 with just one meal 09:16 out of the day 09:17 is you eat only from leaf 09:19 stem and flower vegetables. 09:22 Okay. 09:23 Now, some of you are kind 09:24 of scratching your head. 09:24 A leaf stem 09:25 or flower vegetable. 09:26 What is that? 09:27 Well, it's 09:28 actually botanically. 09:29 If you look at the plant, 09:30 it's either the leaf, 09:31 the stem, or the flower. 09:33 Well, give me help me out. 09:35 What are some leaf vegetables? 09:37 Okay. 09:38 I hear kale, spinach, collards, 09:43 Swiss chard, cabbage. 09:45 Okay, you get the idea, right? 09:47 These are leaves 09:48 so you can eat. 09:49 So you're going to sit down? 09:50 One meal on the program 09:52 launches on a Sunday. 09:54 Monday, February 6th, 09:56 if I've got the calendar 09:58 right in my mind. 09:59 You're going to be saying 09:59 I need to plan one meal. 10:01 Maybe it's 10:02 going to be my lunch, 10:03 maybe it'll be my dinner meal 10:05 and I'm going to have 10:06 the first thing 10:07 I'm going to eat 10:08 and I'm just going to have 10:08 a serving of leaf 10:09 stem and flower vegetables. 10:11 And we'll get to 10:12 what a serving is in a minute. 10:13 Okay. 10:14 So you say, well, 10:15 I've got these leaf vegetables, 10:16 but what are stem 10:17 or flower vegetables? 10:19 Can anyone help us there? 10:21 Okay. 10:21 Broccoli. 10:22 That is exactly on point. 10:23 So broccoli is the stem 10:25 and the flowers 10:25 are the florets. 10:26 What else do we have? 10:28 Cauliflower. Yes, cauliflower. 10:30 That should be no surprise, 10:31 right? 10:32 Well, asparagus. 10:34 Okay. Celery. 10:37 Artichokes. 10:37 Okay. 10:38 So, so 10:40 you start your meal 10:41 with one serving. 10:41 Now, that's 10:42 where it really gets intense. 10:43 I can remember some years ago, 10:45 my 10:47 wife and I were 10:48 visiting in a home 10:49 and we learned 10:50 that their daughter 10:53 did not eat fruits 10:54 and vegetables 10:55 and we started 10:55 going down the list. 10:57 I think we finally identified 10:59 only one vegetable 11:00 that she would eat. 11:01 And those were potato chips. 11:04 Okay? 11:05 By the way, 11:05 first of all, 11:06 a potato is not a leaf 11:08 stem or flower vegetable, okay? 11:10 So potato chips do not count. 11:13 But here was the deal. 11:14 If we try 11:14 to get that young lady 11:16 to eat a serving of vegetables, 11:19 I don't think it was 11:20 going to happen. 11:20 So here 11:21 we've, we've made the barriers 11:22 as low as possible. 11:23 And we say you decide 11:24 what a serving is. 11:26 If it is one bite of celery 11:29 that will qualify. 11:30 You say, what one bite? 11:31 How is that going 11:32 to help anyone? 11:33 What kind of a program is this? 11:35 Now it's true. 11:36 The more dramatic 11:39 you implement 11:41 the program, 11:42 the better the results will be. 11:44 But we want every, we, 11:45 we this is a program 11:46 where everyone is successful. 11:48 No one loses. 11:49 The only people 11:51 who lose are the people 11:51 who don't join the program. 11:53 So no one no one's going to, 11:54 everyone who finishes 11:55 the program is going to get 11:56 at least a virtual diploma. 11:58 It's a virtual program, okay? 11:59 So we'll come up with 12:00 some kind of virtual diploma, 12:02 whether it's the 12:02 commendation of the presenter 12:04 or whether it's something 12:05 that you can actually 12:06 print out. 12:06 Some of you creative folks 12:07 might want to help me 12:08 on that front. 12:09 Now you say, 12:11 what's the biblical basis 12:12 for this, though? 12:14 Well, 12:14 I think 12:15 one great biblical basis 12:16 is right 12:16 in the very 12:17 first chapter of the Bible. 12:18 If you look at Genesis 12:19 1 when you're looking 12:20 at the original diet, 12:23 Genesis 1:29, 12:25 it's an amazing description. 12:28 God says, 12:29 I've given you every herb 12:31 that yields seed, 12:32 which is on the face 12:33 of all the earth 12:33 and every tree 12:34 whose fruit yields seed; to you 12:36 it shall be for food. 12:38 What was the original diet? 12:40 It was entirely 12:41 plant based, right? 12:43 And there's 12:45 a lot of discussion, 12:46 Genesis 1 to 3, 12:47 if you're a 12:48 health professional 12:49 and a pastor like I am, 12:50 I've heard a lot of the dialog 12:52 over the years, 12:52 different Hebrew 12:53 scholars and pastors 12:55 discussing, well, 12:56 you know, 12:56 are vegetables 12:57 included in Genesis 1:29. 13:00 Well, I think 13:01 from I'm not a Hebrew expert 13:03 from listening to the experts. 13:05 I think the plainest 13:05 reading of Genesis 1:29, 13:08 vegetables were included 13:09 in the original diet. 13:11 Now, I know some of you 13:11 have studied this, 13:12 you go to Genesis 3 13:14 and you're 13:14 welcome to turn there with me 13:15 if you'd like, 13:16 I'm turning to Genesis 13:17 3, and 13:18 you read about the curse 13:19 after sin. 13:21 And when you read there 13:22 in verse 17 and onward, 13:24 you'll hear 13:25 this curse 13:26 spoken of by God Himself. 13:29 Cursed is the ground 13:30 for your sake, and toil 13:32 you shall eat of it all 13:33 the days of your life. 13:34 Both thorns and thistles 13:36 it shall bring forth for you. 13:38 And you shall eat 13:39 the herb of the field 13:41 and the sweat of your face 13:42 you shall eat bread 13:44 till you return to the ground. 13:46 Now, some people, 13:47 they read that. 13:48 They say you'll eat 13:49 the herb of the field. 13:50 God added vegetables after sin. 13:54 Most compelling 13:56 Hebrew scholars 13:57 that I've heard on 13:57 this are saying 13:58 that what this word 13:59 translated herb of the field 14:01 is referring to 14:02 is plants 14:03 that needed cultivation. 14:05 And it makes perfect sense 14:06 in the context of speaking 14:07 about how you're going 14:08 to have to toil 14:09 to get your food. 14:11 What could this be 14:12 referring to? 14:13 As I've listened to 14:14 the Hebrew experts 14:17 exegete this verse, 14:18 you know, expound on it, 14:19 they've said, well, 14:20 it includes 14:21 things like cultivated grains. 14:23 And as I was 14:24 speaking to another 14:25 group earlier, 14:26 I said, you know what, 14:27 I've hiked in a lot of places. 14:28 I've been out 14:29 in a lot of natural settings. 14:30 I've been out in back 14:31 country and stuff. 14:32 And I've seen 14:33 all kinds 14:33 of edible things growing. 14:34 I've seen wild grapes growing. 14:36 I've seen wild plums growing. 14:38 I've seen, you know, 14:39 different fruits, different 14:41 edible plants growing. 14:42 But I have never seen 14:44 a field of wheat 14:45 growing out in the wilderness. 14:47 I've never seen 14:48 a stand of corn growing. 14:50 And so 14:52 this is the the application 14:55 that some experts 14:57 in the Hebrew language make. 14:58 But here's my point. 14:59 It doesn't matter to me. Okay? 15:01 If you're convinced 15:02 that vegetables were added 15:03 after the fall, 15:04 and I'm okay with that. 15:06 Either way, God, 15:08 either at the beginning, 15:10 knowing our needs before 15:11 sin gave us vegetables 15:13 or knowing 15:14 our special needs after sin. 15:16 Added vegetables, 15:17 however you want to look at it. 15:18 These are important, 15:19 important nutritional elements. 15:21 And if you look scientifically, 15:23 the most nutrient 15:24 laden foods 15:26 are the vegetables, okay? 15:28 And especially the leaf 15:29 stem and flower vegetables. 15:30 If you want to get 15:30 the most nutrition 15:32 and the fewest calories, 15:33 what foods are you 15:34 going to eat more of? 15:36 Leaf stem 15:37 and flower vegetables. Okay. 15:39 So this is week one. 15:41 We're trying to help people 15:43 eat more of these 15:44 nutritional powerhouses 15:46 that can help us 15:46 optimize our health 15:48 and trim down 15:49 if we need to lose some pounds. 15:51 Week two. 15:52 One of the things we introduce 15:53 there is fasting from what? 15:57 Inactivity. 15:59 Now, some of you saying, 15:59 well, you're just playing 16:00 games, Dr. DeRose. 16:01 What kind of a fast is that? 16:03 You're just telling us 16:03 to exercise. 16:05 Well, 16:06 as you go through the program, 16:06 you're going to see 16:07 we're not going to force you 16:08 to exercise. 16:09 I know some people say, well, 16:11 I don't go on on 16:12 any kind of 16:13 weight loss programs 16:14 because they all want 16:15 us to exercise. 16:16 I can't exercise. 16:17 You don't even have 16:18 to exercise on this program. 16:19 Now, you'll do better 16:20 if you include that. But 16:23 you're going to see, as 16:24 you go through the handout, 16:25 the most updated version, 16:26 that there's a number of things 16:28 that are optional. 16:29 But if they're optional, 16:31 we've included them. Why? 16:33 Because it will benefit you. 16:36 So does the Bible speak 16:37 about fasting from inactivity? 16:39 Does the Bible speak 16:40 about the value of activity 16:42 and work? 16:43 Well, there's a lot of places 16:45 Proverbs 6, 16:45 you might remember this 16:47 famous passage 16:48 from the wise man. 16:49 Go to the ant, 16:51 consider her ways and be wise, 16:54 which having no 16:54 captain, overseer or ruler 16:56 provides her 16:57 supplies in the summer 16:58 and gathers 16:59 her food in the harvest. 17:00 Now, what I really like 17:01 about this passage 17:02 we speak about 17:03 health programs 17:04 is it's great 17:05 to have people 17:06 going alongside of you, 17:07 and we're going to be 17:07 doing that 17:08 for eight weeks 17:08 in this program. 17:09 But you know what? 17:11 What I see here 17:12 is what God is trying to get 17:14 people to 17:14 is to be more like ants. 17:16 You don't need the captain, 17:18 the overseer, the ruler. 17:20 In modern language, 17:21 what would we call that? 17:23 Maybe the personal 17:23 trainer, okay? 17:25 And by the way, 17:26 I have a great regard 17:27 for personal trainers. 17:29 But 17:30 what I'm just saying is 17:33 activity prioritized 17:34 in the Bible, 17:35 multiple places in Proverbs 17:37 speaks about diligence 17:39 and work and activity. 17:40 And some of you say 17:40 but listen, that's 17:41 just talking about people 17:43 earning a living. 17:43 I earn my living at a computer. 17:46 I fall under the blessing 17:48 of Proverbs. 17:48 Yes, to some extent you do. 17:50 But the Bible 17:51 specifically speaks 17:52 about physical activity. 17:55 And I just want to remind you 17:56 of something. 17:56 You already know this, 17:57 and that is a little with 17:59 the Lord is much. 18:00 Have you heard that before? 18:01 A little with the Lord is much. 18:03 So with that in mind, 18:05 listen to the words of Paul 18:06 to Timothy. 18:07 Bodily exercise profits what? 18:10 A little. 18:12 But godliness is profitable 18:14 for all things, 18:15 having promise of the life 18:16 that now is, 18:18 and of that which is to come. 18:19 What's going on 18:20 in this passage? 18:21 Paul is endorsing 18:22 the value of physical activity, 18:24 but his main point 18:26 is don't prioritize 18:27 that over 18:29 the spiritual dimension. 18:30 And so the point is, though, 18:32 the Bible says 18:33 physical activity, 18:35 fasting from inactivity 18:37 is of value. 18:38 What else are we looking at in 18:40 week two? 18:41 Well, 18:42 just like the Bible 18:43 speaks to us 18:44 about the blessing of activity, 18:46 it also speaks 18:47 about the blessing 18:48 of avoiding overwork. 18:51 And one of the things 18:52 that you may know 18:53 that Americans 18:54 are shorting themselves 18:56 on today as a nation is sleep. 19:00 The Bible promises rest. 19:02 And so one of the things 19:03 that we emphasize in 19:04 this program 19:05 is the blessing of rest 19:07 and getting adequate sleep. 19:08 One of the nice things 19:10 about a virtual program 19:12 is you can be tuning 19:13 in to the program. 19:14 We're going to 19:15 plan to release these things 19:16 in the evening 19:16 on Saturday evenings 19:18 starting February 4th, 19:20 and you can actually sleep 19:22 during the program. Okay. 19:24 Now, some of you laugh 19:25 and you say, well, 19:26 how is that going to help us? 19:27 You can always watch 19:28 the video again. 19:29 We're trying to help 19:30 you get your sleep. 19:31 And if I put you to sleep, 19:32 it's not all lost. 19:33 Okay. 19:34 Really, 19:34 that's one of the goals 19:35 for you. 19:36 The Bible has 19:36 multiple promises. 19:38 I like this one in Ecclesiastes 19:40 5, it's the third on the list. 19:41 We've got several 19:42 listed there, Psalms 4. 19:44 Maybe we should 19:44 look at all of them. Psalm 4:8. 19:47 I will both lie down in peace, 19:49 and sleep; 19:50 For you alone, O Lord, 19:52 make me dwell in safety. 19:54 The idea here is that 19:55 we can trust in God. 19:56 So as we're going through 19:57 this program, 19:58 it's not 19:58 that you're laying in 19:59 bed thinking, 20:00 Oh no, why 20:00 did I sign up for this? 20:01 I got to do this, 20:02 I got to do that. 20:03 We're going to try 20:04 to keep the barriers 20:05 as low as possible, 20:06 the hurdle 20:06 hurdles as low as possible 20:08 so you can clear them. 20:09 But we still want 20:10 to challenge you. 20:11 So you're going to 20:11 be working together 20:13 with us as 20:13 we go through the program. 20:14 And I say 20:15 working with us again, 20:16 there's not going 20:16 to be necessarily 20:17 anyone 20:18 directly involved with you 20:19 unless you choose 20:20 to have someone directly 20:21 involved with you. 20:22 But we are going to try 20:23 to help you say, 20:25 what is God asking me to do? 20:27 What is He calling me to do 20:28 as far as sleep 20:29 so you can lay down at night 20:30 and you will go to sleep. 20:32 Look at Proverbs 3:24. 20:33 When you lie down, 20:35 you will not be afraid; 20:36 Yes, you will lie down 20:38 and your sleep will be sweet. 20:40 And then in Ecclesiastes 20:41 5, Sweet 20:43 is the sleep of a laborer, 20:45 whether he eats little or much. 20:48 But the full 20:48 stomach of the rich 20:50 will not let him sleep. 20:51 I think this is 20:52 especially fitting verse 20:53 as we're talking 20:54 about the value of fasting 20:56 and we're putting these other 20:57 principles into play. 20:59 So one of the things 21:00 that may be interfering 21:01 with your sleep 21:02 are your poor dietary habits. 21:04 Are you aware of that? 21:05 We've seen many people 21:06 with this over the years. 21:08 So we're going to 21:08 actually try to help you 21:10 rest better, 21:11 have better health. 21:12 And there are thin people 21:13 who have 21:14 making bad dietary choices 21:16 and it's keeping them awake 21:17 at night. 21:18 It's contributing 21:19 to reflux, 21:20 heartburn, some of that, 21:21 some people with reflux, 21:22 the acid is actually going 21:24 into their their airways 21:25 and they're 21:26 they're getting 21:27 breathing problems from it. 21:29 Week two and week five. 21:30 We also look at 21:31 another principle 21:33 that has biblical undergirding 21:34 actually several 21:35 different applications to this. 21:37 We're going to talk 21:37 in the eight week program 21:39 about meal timing. 21:40 And one of the things that 21:42 will be optional, 21:43 but we'll encourage 21:43 it is no snacking. 21:46 Now, some of you are 21:47 just saying, hey, 21:47 I'm going to die 21:48 if I don't snack. 21:50 Again, no, 21:50 no one's going to 21:51 lose on this program. 21:52 We're not planning 21:54 of any fatalities, okay? 21:55 So we individualize things. 21:57 You individualize things. 22:00 Here's an interesting scripture 22:01 in Ecclesiastes. 22:02 Again, this is Solomon writing. 22:04 He says, 22:05 Happy are you, O land, 22:06 when you're king 22:07 is the son of the nobility, 22:09 and your princes feast 22:11 at the proper 22:12 time, for strength, 22:14 and not for drunkenness. 22:16 So is there a time 22:18 to have a good meal 22:19 and a feast? Yes. 22:20 So we're not telling you, 22:21 you know, 22:22 you sign up for this 22:22 eight week program 22:23 and the rest of your life, 22:24 you will be on the diet of 22:27 celery and brussel 22:28 sprouts, okay? 22:29 This is not 22:30 where we're going 22:31 with this, okay? 22:32 This is not to try 22:33 to lure you in 22:34 and get you on 22:35 some extreme diet. 22:36 We're trying to teach 22:37 you sound principles 22:38 that have 22:39 a biblical undergirding. 22:40 And one of them is 22:41 the Bible teaches 22:42 that there are 22:42 appropriate times to eat 22:44 and sometimes that are not. 22:46 So what should you do? 22:47 If these things 22:48 are resonating with you? 22:49 You should go to the Fast 22:52 8 website. 22:54 Just go to 22:54 TimelessHealingInsights.org 22:57 and click the banner, sign up. 23:01 When you sign up, 23:02 you'll get the free 23:03 hand out right away 23:05 and then we'll 23:05 keep you in the loop 23:06 when we come out 23:07 with new editions 23:08 of the handout. 23:09 When we release video content, 23:11 you will be notified. 23:12 It's that simple. 23:14 Some of you, though, 23:16 you're saying 23:16 there's got to be more to this. 23:17 This all sounded easy. 23:18 I know. Dr. DeRose. 23:20 I know him well enough. 23:21 And he's going to try to take 23:22 all my sugar away from me. 23:24 Well, 23:25 we are not going to do that, 23:25 okay? 23:26 We're not going to take 23:27 all your sugar away from you. 23:28 But we are. 23:29 One of the principles, 23:30 one of the fasts 23:31 is fasting from high sugar 23:33 and high salt items. 23:34 We're going to ask you 23:35 to walk away from those. 23:36 That's week four. 23:37 So you've got three weeks 23:38 to get up to that. 23:39 But this is where it's going. 23:40 Now, some people say 23:41 you shouldn't 23:42 put out this whole handout 23:43 because if I knew, 23:45 you know, 23:45 I'll read 23:46 all the way through it 23:46 and I could handle week 23:47 one, two, three. 23:48 But when I got to week four, 23:49 I said, forget it. 23:51 Hang with us, okay? 23:52 Join us 23:52 for the first three weeks. 23:54 Week four, 23:55 fasting from high sugar 23:56 and high salt items. 23:57 Does the Bible 23:58 really speak to this at all? 23:59 It's amazing. 24:00 Proverbs 23 24:02 when you sit down to eat 24:03 with a ruler, observe carefully 24:05 what is before you. 24:07 Now, this is pretty extreme, 24:09 but this is what Solomon said. 24:11 He said, 24:12 Put a knife to your throat. 24:14 If you give in to appetite, 24:16 do not desire his delicacies, 24:18 for they are deceptive food. 24:20 You say, Well, I'm 24:21 glad I don't like 24:21 whatever delicacies 24:22 the kings like. 24:23 I like my own delicacies, okay? 24:26 Well, 24:27 the Bible gives 24:27 some other instruction. 24:28 It's relevant 24:29 also in Proverbs, Proverbs 24:30 25, if you have found 24:32 honey, does 24:33 it say don't eat it? 24:36 No, it says eat only enough 24:38 for you 24:39 lest you have your fill of it 24:41 and vomit it. 24:42 So we're not telling people 24:43 they can't have any sugar, 24:44 but we're asking people 24:45 in this eight week 24:46 program to walk away 24:48 from some of those high 24:48 sugar options 24:50 that have been causing problems 24:51 for them. 24:52 Proverbs 25:27, 24:54 it is not good to eat 24:56 much honey, 24:57 nor is it 24:58 glorious to seek 24:59 one's own glory. 25:01 So it's interesting to me 25:02 how the Bible puts 25:03 physical principles 25:05 and spiritual 25:05 principles together 25:07 and we won't be doing that 25:09 in the February rollout. 25:10 But if you sign up, 25:12 we will be introducing, 25:13 by God's grace, 25:15 some overtly biblical content. 25:17 The tentative plan is in April. 25:19 But first we're trying 25:19 to put out something 25:20 that generally applies 25:21 to everyone, 25:22 whether they're Bible 25:23 believing or not. 25:24 We're using 25:24 these Bible principles 25:25 as we develop the program. 25:27 They undergird the program. 25:29 But what I'm 25:29 sharing with you right now, 25:31 you're not going to see on 25:32 the handout, 25:33 you're not going to hear that 25:34 in the eight week program 25:35 that starts February of 2023. 25:37 Are we all on the same page? 25:38 But we're looking 25:39 then in April of 2023 25:42 to roll out this program 25:43 with an overtly 25:44 Christian perspective. 25:45 And one of the things 25:46 that we'll be discussing 25:47 right here 25:47 in Fort Wayne 25:48 is would we like to offer this 25:50 for our community, 25:51 perhaps even at the venue 25:53 up on Bass Road 25:54 in our new facility there 25:55 starting in April. 25:56 So that's a discussion 25:57 that we'll be taking 25:59 as a church here. 25:59 And other churches 26:00 throughout the country 26:01 and throughout the world 26:02 might be asking it as well, 26:03 because we plan 26:03 to make these resources 26:05 widely available. 26:07 One other thing 26:07 that we're going to have 26:08 people fast from, 26:09 and hopefully this will 26:11 reassure you a little bit more 26:12 because again, 26:14 judgmentalism, people blaming, 26:15 it feel like, well, 26:16 if I go to this program, 26:17 especially if we 26:18 have it in person, 26:20 if we do something in person 26:21 here in Fort Wayne, then 26:23 then I'm sure 26:25 I don't want to be seen 26:26 at any program talking 26:27 anything about weight. 26:29 Well, 26:29 one of the things we're going 26:30 to encourage people to fast 26:31 from is negativity, negativity. 26:34 In Proverbs, the wise 26:35 man said, Anxiety 26:37 weighs down the heart. 26:38 We're talking about what? 26:40 Weight optimization. 26:41 Anxiety increases your weight. 26:45 Leads to 26:46 spiritual weight of heaviness 26:49 that can rest on you. 26:50 But a kind word cheers it up. 26:52 What are we going 26:53 to be talking about? 26:54 We're going to be talking 26:54 about reasons to rejoice. 26:56 Rejoice always. 26:58 Pray without ceasing. 27:00 In everything give 27:01 thanks for 27:02 this is the will of God 27:03 in Christ Jesus for you. 27:05 There's going to 27:05 be plenty of reason 27:06 for rejoicing. 27:07 If you go with us 27:08 on this journey, 27:09 we encourage you to do that. 27:12 Join us Fast 27:14 8 is the name of the program. 27:16 The website 27:17 TimelessHealingInsights.org. 27:19 Let's pray on that note. 27:21 Father in heaven, 27:22 we want to thank you so much 27:23 that you allow light to shine 27:25 on our path, 27:26 that you care 27:27 about each individual 27:29 in this congregation, each one 27:31 joining us by radio, 27:33 by television, 27:34 hearing this message 27:35 however it's being heard. 27:36 And Father 27:36 we pray that people will 27:37 be making decisions 27:38 to improve their health, 27:40 to maybe trim down 27:41 a few pounds, 27:41 maybe gain some weight 27:42 if they need to. 27:43 But to join us on this amazing 27:45 health giving journey. 27:46 Thank you 27:47 that we can trust you 27:47 to guide and to bless. 27:49 In Jesus name, Amen. 27:52 May God bless you 27:54 as we embark together on this 27:55 exciting eight week journey. |
Revised 2023-02-01