Back to EdenA Biblical View of Nutrition

August 26, 2015

AFCC

Why is proper nutrition so important for the

body of Christ?

The Importance of Proper Nutrition

Energy to do God’s workLongevity to continue God’s

workAcknowledging God by

exercising self-control

Energy to do God’s work

Acts 27:33-34 ESV As day was about to dawn, Paul

urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. Therefore, I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.”

Longevity to continue kingdom work

People during the pre-flood era lived considerably longer. This may have been partly due to the vegetarian diet that God assigned to Adam and Eve. We also know today that nutrition has a major impact on quality life years.

Acknowledging God by exercising self-control

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESVSo, whether you eat or drink,

or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

In the Beginning

Genesis 1:29 ESV And God said, “Behold, I have

given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”

After the Flood

Genesis 9:3 ESV “Every moving thing that lives

shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”

Additional Instructions to the People of Israel

The Book of Leviticus Chapter 11:1-2 ESV

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth…”

Daniel’s Diet

Daniel 1:8 ESV But Daniel resolved that he would not defile

himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank

Daniel 1:12-13 ESV “Test your servants for ten days; let us be

given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see…”

The New Law of Grace

Romans 14:1-3 ESV As for the one who is weak in faith,

welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him…

Spiritual Food Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV Your words were found, and I ate them, and

your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Spiritual Food (cont.)

John 4:32-34 ESV But he said to them, “I have food

to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today Aim for a diet that consists of at least

50% real or fresh foods, including fresh vegetables, nuts, fish, meat, and fruits

Aim to drink half your body weight in pounds of water in ounces every day E.g., 160 lb person should drink 80 oz (10

cups)

Drink more water when working out

Aim to start the day off right nutritionally

Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today (cont.) Limit consumption of sweet beverages

soda should be avoided all together

fruit drinks should be kept to a minimum

Limit consumption of processed carbs things like white bread, white rice, cereal, and

candy bars all contain a limited amount of fiber and therefore have a high glycemic index

Avoiding skipping meals tendency to overeat the wrong foods when

starving

Glycemic Index Spectrum

Sugar’s Impact on WeightIllustrated

Practical Considerations for Proper Nutrition Today (cont.) Limit consumption of fried or grilled

foods acrylamide, poly-aromatic hydrocarbons

Limit consumption of deli meats nitrites, nitrates

Limit access to indulgent foods as well as packaged foods at home and work e.g., ice cream, chips, frozen meals, hearty

meals consisting of starchy and fried foods, etc.

Eat to Live

Don’t Live to Eat Proverbs 23:20-21 ESV

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkards and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything.