In this teaching on Physical Health from a Kingdom Perspective Prophet Russ Walden explores the connection between the Glory of God and God’s Presence and longevity. Moses experienced prolonged exposure to God’s glory and lived 3 times longer than the average person of his era. You and I are not just VISITED by the glory but INDWELT according the apostle Paul. God’s glory in you heals, extends life and changes you even at a physical level – a powerful teaching. Note: This teaching is available in download format in PDF at http://ift.tt/1eIOhAv

Longevity in the Glory:

Biblical direction on achieving and maintaining excellent physical health to better serve our Father and fully enjoy the gift of life He has given us.

Note: The Audio Version of this Teaching is Available HERE

Introduction:

We live in a culture that celebrates youth and beauty and worships at the altar of celebrity. In the Western World our population is aging at an unprecedented pace. The US Census bureau reports:
Between 2012 and 2050, the United States will experience considerable growth in its older population. In 2050, the population aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million, almost double its estimated population of 43.1 million in 2012. The baby boomers are largely responsible for this increase in the older population, as they began turning 65 in 2011. By 2050, the surviving baby boomers will be over the age of 85. This will be over 1/5 of the overall population up from an estimated 13% today.

What does the bible teach about health and aging?

During the time of the Patriarchs men and women lived for centuries according to the biblical record. In Gen. 6:3 we see that because of the sin condition that God limits man’s lifespan to 120 years. After the time of Abraham very few are recorded to have lived past that time frame. A few examples we will look at:

1. Abraham: According to Gen. 25:7 Abraham lived 175 years.
2. Moses: Moses lived 120 years and it is said that his natural vitality was undiminished and his eyesight was not dimmed by age. (De. 34:7).
3. David: According to 1 Kings 1:1 King David was 70 years old when he died but there is some ambiguity because he ended his reign at 70 but seems to have lived for some time after that.

Let’s focus on Moses thereby throwing out the oldest and earliest death rates in our examples in order to come up with an average. Moses lived 120 years. That is not unheard of today. However let’s put this in context. In the day that Moses walked the earth the average life expectancy in the Greco-Roman world was 38 years old. That means that Moses lived 3 times longer than the average person in Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent. By today’s statistic Moses would live to be 210 years old. The average lifespan worldwide is 70 years. The longest live people are from Japan at 85 on average and the life expectancy in Sierra Leone is only 46.

Why did Moses live so long?

You can’t account for it by his environment or diet because he outlived those who shared his environment and lifestyle. Not to discount the need to be conscious of our diet and other factors that affect our health but quite simply that isn’t why Moses lived so long.
What was different about Moses life that we can identify and perhaps emulate? Moses spent much time in the presence of God through his later life. When in God’s presence there was a residual effect that he was not aware of but was apparent to others:
[Exo 34:29 KJV] 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.
This phrase referring to the fact that his “face shone” is expressed in a Hebrew word that the translators felt the need to comment on:
As the original word karan, signifies to shine out, or dart forth, as horns on the head of an animal, or rays of light reflected from a polished surface, we may suppose that the heavenly glory which filled the soul of this holy man, darted out from his face in coruscations, in the manner in which light is generally represented. The Vulgate renders it, et ignorabat quod cornuta esset facies sua, ‘and he did not know that his face was horned;’ which version, misunderstood, has induced painters to represent Moses with two very large horns, one proceeding from each temple!

What does this have to do with us?

 
Isn’t Moses special and what he experienced unique only to him or to the Old Testament economy or dispensation of God? This was the consensus in the days of the early church and Paul addressed the subject by way of correction:
[2Co 3:7-8 KJV] 7 But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
In other words Paul points out that what Moses experienced was the fading glory of an imperfect covenant based on the law of sin and death. He goes on to say there is a greater glory available in the New Covenant based on the law of the spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:2).
Do we have examples of this? There are three that come to mind:
On the Day of Pentecost:
[Act 2:1-3 KJV] 1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Stephen: when Stephen was put on trial there was a manifestation on his face similar to that of Moses.
[Act 6:15 KJV] 15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.
Jesus: when Jesus was transfigured his face and body fluoresced in a manner that was visible to those with him.
[Mat 17:2 KJV] 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
In 2 Cor. 3:18 Paul implies in his discussion of the glory of God on Moses face that we might all expect to experience IN GOD’S PRESENCE the same effect.
[2Co 3:18 KJV] 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Does God care about any of this?

Why should we think that God for one moment puts any of His cosmic attention on our health?
Physical Healing is a part of the atonement:
[1Pe 2:24 KJV] 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Psa. 41:11 pronounces God as the “health of our countenance”:
[Psa 42:11 KJV] 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psa. 67:2 speaks of God as making available “saving health” to the believer.
Solomon declares in Pro. 3:8 that to fear God and to depart from evil affects our health in a positive way:
[Pro 3:8 KJV] 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
The word of God itself is proposed by Solomon writing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to be LIFE and HEALTH to us.
[Pro 4:22 KJV] 22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
In Proverbs 12:18 we see that the wisdom of God in our words or conversation brings health.
[Pro 12:18 KJV] 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.
Focusing on the positive affects our health according to Solomon.
[Pro 16:24 KJV] 24 Pleasant words [are as] an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Isaiah declared that showing mercy to the poor results in restoration of health:
[Isa 58:8 KJV] 8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Jeremiah declared that when we identify and turn from idolatry (outward dependencies) God will restore our health.
[Jer 30:17 KJV] 17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
In Jeremiah 33 the prophet says when we CALL UPON THE LORD He will bring health, cure (from disease and disability), abundance of peace and truth to us.
[Jer 33:6 KJV] 6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

God’s Highest Priority:

Finally John the beloved speaking by the Spirit says that your health and prosperity is God’s HIGHEST PRIORITY.
[3Jo 1:2 KJV] 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Now what if you conclude you are too old to see change come? Remember that Moses was 40 years old before he ever got serious about his relationship with God. He was 80 years old before he yielded to God’s will for his life. It’s never too late. The ravages of time on Moses health were turned back. God will turn back the clock on your physical condition if you will put your attention on Him and begin to make the adjustments that place you more consistently in His presence (environment) and in so doing aligning your lifestyle with His heart.

What about diet and exercise?

Jesus warned about overeating and alcohol abuse:
[Luk 21:34 KJV] 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.
We need to discern between appetite and hunger. Hunger meets a legitimate need. Appetite is an outward dependency, hence the term “comfort food”. If the Holy Spirit is your comforter and you turn to something else that is idolatry which according to Jeremiah 30:17 will result in God’s promise of health being lifted or diluted in our lives.
What about exercise? Paul spoke directly on this subject:
[1Ti 4:8 KJV] 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
We are not discouraged in regard to being active but the clear promise of scripture is that GODLINESS (whatever that is – it can be known) produces the same effect on our lives than hitting the gym every day.

Conclusion:

There is a tremendous legalism and condemnation in the area of health, diet and fitness. Most “Christian” sources of information are simply the world’s solutions dressed up in the verbiage of religion. If you put yourself under this kind of pressure you only cause failure and condemnation and an endless cycle of attempts to reform with devastation and soul-destroying seasons of failure that only foster deeper and darker captivity. As Einstein said “you can solve the problem and the level of the problem…” You must look deeper and address the deeper needs and issues. Obesity is the problem, intimacy – greater intimacy with God is the need. All recovery – lasting recover with flow out of this.
Suggestions?

1. Daily, verbal and structure Prayer and worship.
2. Daily immersion in the word of God
3. Consistent and measurable effort to substantially bless the poor and those less fortunate in your life in a PERSONAL WAY.
4. Reject outward dependencies. Ask yourself “is this appetite or hunger?” If you are feeding yourself for comfort (to the point that your health is negatively affected) – that is idolatry and there are consequences. If you are sitting on the couch pampering yourself when you should be finding your rest in Him – that is idolatry and there are consequences.
5. Things are the way they are because of what you are doing. If you want something different you must do something different.