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QUESTIONS OF HEALTH: Internal Medicine and Eternal Medicine Perspectives

QUESTIONS OF HEALTH: Internal Medicine and Eternal Medicine Perspectives. Dale A. Matthews, MD Teammates February 26, 2012. GOD’S PROVISION FOR US : Abundant Life. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10. QUESTIONS OF HEALTH. WHY are we sick?

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QUESTIONS OF HEALTH: Internal Medicine and Eternal Medicine Perspectives

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  1. QUESTIONS OF HEALTH:Internal Medicine and Eternal Medicine Perspectives Dale A. Matthews, MD Teammates February 26, 2012

  2. GOD’S PROVISION FOR US: Abundant Life • I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

  3. QUESTIONS OF HEALTH • WHY are we sick? • HOW can we get better? • WHY don’t we get better? • WHAT can we do to stay healthy?

  4. WHY ARE WE SICK?Internal Medicine Perspective • Genetic predisposition • Environmental factors (e.g., pollutants, toxins, inadequate sanitation, infection) • Impaired immunity • Behavioral factors (e.g., diet, exercise, rest, sleep, sex) • Degeneration (e.g., aging, injury) • Social/psychological factors (e.g. access to health care, compliance with treatment)

  5. WHY ARE WE SICK?Eternal Medicine Perspective • We live in a broken world • Tower of Siloam (Luke 13:1-5) • We may be sinning and rebelling against God • Miriam (Numbers 12:1-15) • We may be subject to demonic influence • Epileptic boy (Mark 9:14-29) • We may need to learn to rely on God’s grace • Paul in Asia (2 Cor 1: 3-10)

  6. We may need to share in the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:12-13) God may need to be glorifed through healing Man born blind (John 9:1-38) Lazarus (John 11:1-44) We may need to learn humility Paul (2 Cor 12:7-10) We may need to serve as an example for others Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) WHY ARE WE SICK?:Eternal Medicine Perspective

  7. HOW CAN WE GET BETTER?Internal Medicine Perspective • Solicit appropriate medical diagnosis and advice regarding treatment • Follow appropriate medical treatment (e.g., medications, surgery, physical therapy) • Build up immunity (e.g., diet, exercise, rest, sleep) • Make environmental changes (e.g., reduce toxins or allergy-producing substances)

  8. HOW CAN WE GET BETTER?Eternal Medicine Perspective • Turn away from sin and disobedience, the root cause of disease and death (Genesis 3:1-19) • Turn to God, who intended us to be eternally healthy, and whose very nature is healing • Jehovah-Rapha (Exodus 15:26) • Jesus, as Healer, is the exact image of God (Hebrews 1:1-4;Colossians 1:15, 2:9)

  9. GOD IS A HEALER • Despite our sin and weakness, God loves us and seeks to restore the perfect health and intimacy of his original creation (Revelation 21:3-4) • As our Father, He chooses to give us good gifts (Matthew 7:11), including the gift of healing • Yahweh-Rapha: God as healer (Ex 15:26) • Sozo: healing and salvation

  10. HEALING LESSIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT • God wants to heal us and our desire for healing is important to God • Hezekiah (2Kings 20:1-11) • You don’t have to be perfect to receive God’s healing touch: sinners can still apply • Jeroboam (1 Kings 13:4-6) • Nebuchnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37)

  11. HEALING LESSIONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT • Illness can have redemptive purposes: the factors causing illness may contain the seeds of healing and growth • Plague of snakes (Numbers 21:4-9) • To be healed, obedience is necessary • Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1-14)

  12. Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory & the exact representation of his being” (Heb 1:3) He is “the image of the invisible God” (Col 1:15) “All the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Col 2:9) HEALING LESSONS FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

  13. God wants to heal us (Matthew 8:2-3) The heart of God is compassion (Matthew 9:36) LESSONS FROM THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS

  14. All illnesses can be healed (Matthew 4:24) Illness itself carries no stigma (John 9:1-3) LESSONS FROM THE HEALING MINISTRY OF JESUS

  15. All types of persons can be healed Holiness is not a prerequisite Malchus (Luke 22:49-51) LESSONS FROM THE HEALINGMINISTRY OF JESUS

  16. WHY DON’T WE GET BETTER?Internal Medicine Perspective • Lack of effective treatments • Improper type or dose of medication • Side effects • Lack of response to medication • Natural history of disease • Aging and deterioration

  17. WHY DON’T WE GET BETTER?Eternal Medicine Perspective • We may not have asked God for healing (“yes or no”; (James 4:2b-3) • God’s timing is not our timing (e.g., “not • yet”; (Isaiah 55:8)) • We may draw closer to Christ through our suffering (1 Peter 4)

  18. ADOPT A CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SUFFERING • Adopt the same attitude that Christ displays towards unjust suffering (1 Peter 4:1)

  19. LIVE FOR GOD’S WILL • Live not for evil or worldly purposes, but instead live for the will of God, which includes suffering for Him (1 Peter 4:2-6)

  20. DON’T BE SURPRISED BY SUFFERING • Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 1 Peter 4:12

  21. DON’T BE ASHAMED OF SUFFERING • If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. I Peter 4:16

  22. THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF SUFFERING • Justifies the sinner • Purifies the saint • Unifies the church • Glorifies the Savior -- (DH Wilmington)

  23. Man born blind (John 9:1-38) Lazarus (John 11:1-44) Paul (2 Cor 12:7-10) Jesus (Heb 12:2) GLORIFYING GOD THROUGH SUFFERING AND HEALING

  24. THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT • The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Cor1:3-4

  25. LIGHT AND MOMENTARY TROUBLES • Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Cor4:16-17

  26. THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING • I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection… Phil 3:10

  27. WHAT CAN WE DO TO STAY HEALTHY?:Internal Medicine Perspectives • Get regular check-ups • Don’t smoke or use illegal drugs • If you drink, drink in moderation • Follow screening guidelines for colonoscopy, mammography, Pap smears • Maintain optimal weight • Wear your seatbelts and drive carefully • Exercise regularly (>30 minutes 5 days per week)

  28. HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GET A CHECK-UP? • Ages 21-29: every three years; every year for Pap/pelvic for women • Ages 30-49: at least every two years • Ages 50 and older: every year

  29. WHAT SHOULD A CHECK-UP INCLUDE? • Complete history of past and current medical problems, symptoms and risk factors for illness • Complete physical examination • Laboratory and x-ray tests • Immunizations and treatment as needed

  30. 12 MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUES FOR 2012 • Alcohol: use in moderation (<14 drinks per week and <=3 per occasion for men; <7 drinks per week and <=2 for women) • Aspirin: for those with a high risk of developing heart disease (81-650 mg daily) • Cancer: obtain breast, cervix, prostate (?), colorectal, skin cancer screening • Diabetes: keep fasting blood sugar <100 • Diet: weight loss (e.g., low-carbohydrate, Weight Watchers) vs. weight maintenance (e.g., Mediterranean)

  31. 12 MOST IMPORTANT HEALTH ISSUES FOR 2012 • Exercise: moderate, frequent (>30 min, 5 days/wk) • Hypertension: Keep BP <140/90 • Lipids:Keep total cholesterol <200; HDL>40 for men; HDL >50 for women • Obesity: Keep body mass index (BMI) <=25 • Sex: Avoid STDs; Treat ED, low T for men and menopause, sexual dysfunction for women • Tobacco and drug abstinence • Visit your doctor regularly

  32. “EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS” • His divine power has given useverything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

  33. ETERNAL MEDICINE: SOUL FOOD • I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. John 6:53-55

  34. SOUL FOOD • Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. (Is 55:2) • Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Mt 4:4)

  35. SOUL FOOD •  "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 • I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

  36. EXERCISETHE BODY AND SPIRIT • Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Tim 4:7b-8

  37. ETERNAL MEDICINE: EXERCISE • Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 1 Cor 9:24-26

  38. (T)hose who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa 40:31 EXERCISE

  39. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 ETERNAL MEDICINE: REST IN THE LORD

  40. ETERNAL MEDICINE: LOVE • The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 1 Cor 7:4

  41. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God…as instruments of righteousness. Rom 6:13 ETERNAL MEDICINE: LOVE

  42. ETERNAL MEDICINE: SLEEP • I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Ps 4:8

  43. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor12:9 GOD’S PRESCRIPTION FOR DISEASE:Grace

  44. Neither death nor life…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:38-39 GOD’S ULTIMATE PRESCRIPTION Eternal Life

  45. SUMMARY • God the Healer loves us and gives us all the gifts we need, including the gift of healing • Healing may come in many forms, including both “internal medicine” and “eternal medicine” • “God’s ways are not our ways” (Is 55) and His timing is not always our timing: be patient! • Many obstacles can block the healing process, but having faith and heeding God’s Biblical “prescriptions” facilitates healing

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