In tonight’s spiritual healing segment, we will begin learning how our bodies are identical to the structure of the ancient temple that Solomon built. We will learn how to leave the distractions of our external world, go from the outer court (which is the part of our bodies that are visible to another person) and enter into the Holy Place (which is our soul) and the Holy of Holies (where God is within us). It is within our temple that we go to communicate with God through prayer.
We will cover the homework and discuss Chapter Two from the Book of Proverbs. We will continue to search Bible verses to teach us to pray. Last week we began learning what real prayer meant by looking at verses in the Bible that referenced the word pray or prayer. I hope you took time to study a few more of those verses.
For our mental segment we will continue our discussion on “Letting Go of the Past and Pressing On”. We will continue to discuss the hazards of looking back and how to continue to look forward.
For our physical segment, we will be adding two more foods that heal our physical bodies and delete two more foods that harm our bodies.
Let’s Go! (LIGHTLY of course)
Our theme verse is: 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24
May the God of peace sanctify you through and through and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who has called you is faithful, and he will do it.
Before we pray, let us first try to clear our heads of the mental clutter that bombards our minds. This is a discipline and very difficult to do…but with practice…I believe God will honor our desire to focus on Him alone and will allow our minds to be clutter- free when we enter the temple. What does it mean to enter the temple?
First off, Jesus described his own body as a temple in: John 2:18
So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
Likewise, our body is also called the temple. 1 Cor 5:19
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
What is the parallel here?
I believe that in order for us to truly transform into a new creation spiritually, mentally and physically we have to understand the parallels between the physical temple of the Lord that Solomon built and our own body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
If we do not truly understand our bodies according to what Scripture teaches, then our efforts to change will never be permanent. We have to believe what Scripture is telling us and then apply Scripture to everything we do in life especially healing.
On your handout you see two pictures. Let’s look at the picture that shows what the outside of the temple that Solomon built would look like.
Right beside the temple, you see a drawing of what the inside would look like. There are basically three parts: The courts, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Highlight those three areas.
There are three main sections of this temple but together those three sections make up the whole temple. Each section is vital for the temple to exist. Each section has its own purpose. Could the temple exist without the Holy Place… or the Holy of Holies or the Courts? No, each is vital to the completeness of the temple.
Our body has three sections: the physical body (that which can be seen), the soul (which includes the mind, emotions, and will), and the spirit, but together they complete who we are; our whole being. Each section having it own purpose. We can not do without any of those three sections.
Tonight, we are going to focus only on the courts of our temple. The outer and inner courts (the outside of our body and the inside of our body which include all our organs, blood, bones) are the part of us that makes contact with the rest of the world.
When a person looked at the tabernacle from the outside, they could only see the outer court. When someone looks at you, they can only see your outer court.
Think about this: If you are looking at the temple from the outside, is there anything that tells you what is going on in the inside of the temple? No, as long as you are standing on the outside of the temple, you have no knowledge of what is going on inside.
When people look at you, they see your physical attributes; the outside of you. A lot of the time we do not allow anyone past our outer courts, but keep our relationships on the surface. Fear, hurts, selfishness are just a few of the reasons why we only allow people to know only about our outer courts.
Not only do we keep relationships from entering past our outer court, we also refuse to take responsibility for the condition of our inner court mainly because we don’t understand how much of an impact it has on our outer court, our Holy Place and our Holy of Holies. The condition of the outer court is always going to be a reflection of the condition of the inner court?
This is crucial to understand for we will see that this has a domino effect. Because the condition of your spiritual life (Holy of Holies) reflects the condition of your (Holy Place) and the condition of your Inner Court and your Outer Court also are a reflection of your Holy Place. That is why we must learn to heal all three segments of our body.
Now when a Jew came to the temple, he would always bring a sacrifice or an offering for the forgiveness of sin. What is it that we should bring when we come to the temple (our body) asking God (who resides in our Holy of Holies) through prayer for forgiveness of sin?
Romans 12:1, 2 says: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We are to bring our body. Our body according to Romans 12:1 is a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
As we begin to learn to pray, I want us to recreate in our minds being Jewish and entering into the temple except instead of grain or an animal, we are the sacrifice…just like Abraham was to bring Isaac, his human son, to be sacrificed. Close your eyes and visualize your body coming to Solomon’s temple and picture yourself standing in the outer courts. Now look at your body. You are taking your body and presenting it as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God. And how often must we do this? Once? Twice?
1Co 15:31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
We must die daily. That means it doesn’t work just to die of yourself once or twice but every single day.
As you begin to pray, this is where your mind needs to take you first: into the outer courts. It is here that you present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).
Each week we will continue to learn the parallels between Solomon’s temple and our bodies. It is an absolutely amazing parallel and I truly know your prayer time will be totally changed once you understand your personal temple. With understanding brings knowledge and with knowledge we will understand why it is so important not to destroy your temple (body) in anyway.
I asked you to look up the verses I gave you from searching in the Bible for prayer or pray.
I took the verses we looked up last week and combined them with our theme verse and composed a prayer.
Take a minute to refer back to your notes for a more thorough definition of the word sanctification because I think we need more clarification:
Sanctification means: The process by which we learn how to “set aside” our own thoughts, emotions, and desires so that God’s Life can come forth from our hearts. It is then that we are “set apart” from the world.
The Way...the Process
Take a few minutes to read through this prayer thoroughly adding your own heart’s desires.
Father, your servant (your name) has come to your temple of one accord, single mindedly seeking you as I present my body as a holy and living sacrifice unto you. My heart’s desire is to forgive those who have harmed me in anyway recently or in the past and I am asking you to forgive me for anything I have done that harmed my personal relationship with you. I ask for forgiveness for my disobedience whether it was sin against my physical body, my soul, or my spirit.
My mind is pinging in all directions: with the today’s activities, today’s disappointments, today’s sadness, today’s emotions, today’s worries, today’s responsibilities. I want to learn to become totally dependent on your promises and ask you to forgive me of all the varied sin that I have not repented of. I do not deserve your mercy and continual patience with my disobedience nor do I deserve to enter your temple.
I am asking that all three sections of my body; my physical, my mental and my spiritual body be recreated to reflect your image. Give me your strength to endure whatever it takes to break me from the past mistakes I have made and get me on the path toward brokenness.
Thank you Father for choosing me to be a part of the few for I am so unworthy to enter your temple gate. I come knowing I can find peace from my confusion, rest from the many weights of sadness and burdens that lay on my shoulders. I desire to become blameless in your sight and that I will make honorable decisions regarding my spirit, soul and body. Remove the barriers from my past as my desire is to become a woman of wisdom and understanding reflecting the image of your Son.
Thank you Lord for being a God whom carries me through the difficulties of life.
I believe in the Holy Spirit power within me to change me from the inside out.
In the name of Jesus I pray.
Chapter Two of Proverbs
As we learned last week, the Book of Proverbs is a detailed instruction book that will teach us how to deal successfully with everyday life. I discovered this week that once you begin to implement changes to your physical body, your mind/soul or your spirit, resistance immediately occurs.
What we are agreeing to do together during the next nine month is not at all easy. In fact it will be down right hard. But I believe it will make a huge difference in whether or not we experience the life that Jesus came to give us through his death.
Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Define abundant: having plenty.
What does it mean when Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly? I don’t believe that the definition of abundant life is lot of stuff. Things we acquire according to King Solomon are meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 1:2) I am looking forward to implementing what God’s Word instructs us to do, because honestly I desire to have that abundant life that He came to give me through his death. It is obvious that what I have been doing on my own has been futile and meaningless. I believe we will learn…if we are listening to God’s instructions, what exactly is meant by abundant life.
What we are learning is that wisdom is not going to come just by wishing for it. Wisdom comes through understanding. Understanding will come from seeking God in every decision that you must make.
Vs 2 incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding.
Learn from reading and studying. But you also must apply the wisdom to concrete it into who you are becoming. Do not revert back to the old emotional way of responding to everything.
Verse 20 is such a beautiful verse and notice here “the way” and the word “blameless”. Nothing is random with God. – vs 20 So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness. 21 For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless (whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless) will remain in it; But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
Does walking on the path towards blameless living really matter to God? Is it just to be good? Reread verse 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
This is talking about two different deaths. Physical death and eternal death. I choose physical life and eternal life!
Any thoughts or insights?
Prayer
Let’s take a look at a few more verses to see what God’s word says about prayer. Refer to list.
Students are asked to work on this at home.
Mental Healing: Do not look back. We are pressing!
This is our second week of talking about the hazards of looking back, blaming the past for our current condition, blaming someone in your past for your personality, not forgiving yourself for something you did in your past and allowing it and Satan to control you because you haven’t let it go, not forgiving someone in your past for something awful they did to you.
Last week we said that no matter what, we cannot go back and relive the past. It is impossible. That is why it is crucial that we forgive ourselves, forgive others, and press on for the goal for which we were created for. EASY?
In Acts 5:23, we found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.
Vs 25 says: Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!
This verse is telling us to break free! Break out of prison. The chains of slavery have been broken. You are free to Go (Lightly). Make the commitment right now to not look back and allow the chains of the past to hold you back from standing in the temple.
Do you remember from last week that we were once in a prison cell with a lifetime sentence of eternity in hell, but then (Romans 4:16) Jesus set us free!
So that’s why faith is the key! God’s promise is given to us as a free gift.
Isaiah 43:18 says: Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past.
This is so good. Forgive those who trespassed against you. Forgive yourself.
Ecclesiastes 3:15
Things that happened in the past have happened, (and we can’t change them).
Stop living as a slave wanting to go back to bondage.
Song: Kim Hill: I am ready to stop running...let myself be caught.
We stay in bondage because of FEAR. Fear stops us from moving forward and keeps us stuck either in the past (regret) or in the future (what will happen). The word fear is listed in 354 verses in the Bible. Almost one for every day of the year.
Most of the verses say:
Fear God, the fear of God, fear not, do not fear, I fear God alone.
Deuteronomy 1:21 Look the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.
Today, you too can possess the promised land that God has promised to you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
1 Chronicles 28:20 Be strong and of good courage…. Do not fear nor be dismayed for the Lord God, My God, will be with you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
Isn’t that great? You are chosen to daily walk the path of eternal life and we walk with our heads held high and with no fear. How long must we do this? Until we have finished all the work we have been called to do here on earth and that is when we die.
I think of death that way now. They finished the work God had for them to do on earth.
I am asking you to begin listing your fears. List them all! Make sure you write them down. Perhaps my fears will get your mind working:
- not spiritual enough
- am not confident enough
- am a terrible wife
- talking of front of large groups
- rejection
- being alone
- what will they think of me
- what will they think if I say what I feel
I love Galatians 5:7 You are running a good race. Who stopped you from following the true way? This halt did not come from the one who called you.
Where does it come from? FEAR!
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast (stay where you are…live in the moment) therefore in the liberty by not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Hand out - PUSH
Next week we are going to talk about the things that have happened to us in the past that causes us to fear. Be thinking about them.
Questions?
Physical Healing:
Exodus 15:26 says: If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.
The Egyptians parallel an to today’s unbeliever? Do you believe that if you are obedient to the decrees God has given us, and listen carefully to His voice, that He will not bring any disease upon you or that He can heal you from those that you do have? You see the unbeliever does not know God’s decrees therefore has an excuse to treat their body however they choose with total disregard to their Creator. But we don’t. This is a command from God.
And Leviticus 10:10 tells us that we must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean.
God wanted to teach His people (which we are also) to separate themselves from idolatry and anything impure. Clean meant separated for God; unclean meant separated from God.
Clean is associated with purity, holiness and being set apart (sanctify) for God.Unclean is associated with death.
We are going to learn what foods are unclean and which are clean. As science catches up with God, you will see clearly that God wrote these scientific laws way before any scientist did. God created the scientist and her mind.
The unclean foods are the ones I am asking you to eliminate. The clean foods that are acceptable to God are the ones I am asking you to add to your diet.
Last week we learned three principles or three important rules that we believe God has given us so that we can live healthier lives.
Principle #1 - Eat Only Substances God created for food. Avoid what is not designed for food.
In the very first chapter of the Bible, God said to humans: Gen 1:29 I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
He gave it to us therefore food is a gift and he expects us to eat these foods. He provided us with the whole foods that we must eat as close to the way God created them and eat them in their entirely.
Eating the whole orange instead of taking Vitamin C. Vitamin C is only one healing property of the orange, but when you eat the entire orange, you eat vitamins that man hasn’t even discovered that work synergistically with the “C” to make it perfect for nourishing our body.
Let me ask you a very personal question. If you had eaten only God given foods since you were born, what would you look and feel like?
So this week add Ezekiel 4:9 bread as a replacement for the bread you are currently eating.
Ezekiel 4:9 says:
Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt; put them into one vessel and make bread of them for yourself.
I brought each of you a loaf of Ezekial 4:9 low sodium bread because no where in that verse does it say salt. We eat entirely too much such causing high blood pressure and other problems.
And what you must remove this week is nitrates, nitrites and sulfites to include BHT, BHA. Start reading the ingredients in the products you buy and choose the product that does not contains these preservatives.
That’s the Way to GO LIGHTLY!
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