Lessons From a Serious Health Problem Medford – 4-23-11 Bend – 4-30-11

Introduction – David wrote, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes (Psalm 119:71).

· That’s what this sermon is about, so I can say it is good for me and you that I have been afflicted · Although afflictions are painful and often hard to bear, the lessons that we learn from them are more than worth it, because what we learn will last for eternity, long after the affliction is over (Romans 8:18).

SPS – The purpose of this sermon is to share some of the lessons I learned during five months of a serious health problem that could have claimed my life. My Story At the Northwest Weekend in Vancouver, Washington, December 25, 2011, my wife and I were attending Sabbath services following my ABC seminar presentation, which I had been asked to give due to the cancellation of the scheduled speaker. I had been suffering from pain in my shoulders since November and more recently pain and stiffness in my legs that was so severe that I could hardly walk. Even getting out of bed or standing up after sitting was an ordeal. However, I dutifully accepted the invitation to speak and was able to make it through the presentation by sitting in a special chair. After lunch I stood up—slowly and painfully as usual—and my left leg began to quiver. My wife Karen asked if I wanted to stay for Sabbath services. Without hesitation, I said, “Sure.” About half an hour into services, I became very drowsy. Karen nudged me and I struggled to stay awake. That’s all I remember until I heard Randy Stiver saying, “I’m going to anoint you.”

The next thing I remember was an EMT asking me to grasp his hand and say something. A few minutes later he asked me a series of questions, which I was able to answer correctly (except when he asked me if I knew where I was, I said Portland instead of Vancouver—close enough). He also asked me to smile and stick out my tongue, which I was able to do, thus proving that I had not suffered a stroke. I later found out that I had passed out and was non responsive for more than ten minutes, and that at one point my blood pressure was only 83 over 53. While awaiting emergency personnel, a member behind me had loaned her oxygen tank, and the hoses were inserted in my nostrils. After they arrived, they also inserted an IV. The addition of fluids restored my consciousness to where I was alert and able to respond to the questions from the EMTs and reassure my wife, who was understandably very distraught, thinking that I wasn’t going to make it. I have to confess that as I was being wheeled down the hallway to the ambulance, I wondered if this was it for me, especially since I was 69 years old, the same age my father died. I spent the night in the hospital for observation, and of course was submitted to numerous tests.

One doctor told me something I will never forget, “We doctors run lots of tests, then we make an educated guess.” I was discharged the next afternoon with the diagnosis of extreme dehydration caused by a virus and aggravated by stress, and encouraged to report to my local doctor. My doctor was sent all the test results, which included some out of range as well as revealing the presence of bacteria in my urine as well as high and low iron counts. She assumed that the bacteria were caused by a kidney infection (rare in men) and the anemia (also rare in men) indicated interior bleeding. She ordered a colon test (which came out normal) and more blood tests, most of which showed some improvement. Since most of the results were within range or only slightly out of range, she decided to wait a few more weeks and then run more tests to see if the improvement continued. In the meantime my wife and I searched online and found that I had most of the characteristics of a very rare but temporary autoimmune disease known as reactive arthritis that follows a bacterial or virus infection, causing inflammation of the tissues (muscles and tendons) in major joints of the body. One source said that anemia was a telltale indication.

No known cure was listed, but the information indicated that it would go away on its own in anywhere from two weeks to a year. Convinced that I simply needed time, I put off going back for tests because by then I was homebound due to the level of pain and discomfort. Reasoning also that I didn’t need the tests because I already knew what was wrong with me, and that there was no cure, anyway, I put off the tests. When I finally went in, the results of most of which had improved, although the high iron count had increased—indicating the presence of either infection, acute phase inflammation or cancer. Of course by this time the inflammation in my body was indeed acute—in my shoulders, wrists, hands, fingers, hips, legs, knees and feet. Just prior to this time, the special ministerial conference had taken place. Of course I was unable to attend, but my wife did. While she was there, I asked her to submit a prayer request to be sent out on my behalf. Two days after returning home, she discovered and checked out an alternative health center that had just moved into the area two weeks before. After talking with the owner, we were convinced that this was an answer to prayer. He determined that I had bacteria in my liver and kidneys and wondered why all the other doctors who had seen my tests missed this serious and potentially fatal health problem.

I then began an intensive detoxification program to purify my blood and detoxify my liver and kidneys and eradicate the bacteria. My health has steadily improved to the point where I will be able to resume my ministerial responsibilities. Lessons: Here are some lessons that I have learned from this long ordeal.

1. We shouldn’t push ourselves beyond our limitations.

· I was in no condition to be doing anything when I volunteered to do the ABC seminar presentation. I nearly paid with my life! · So this was a giant wakeup call to me, one which I will never forget.

· God will not necessarily protect us from the consequences of such wrong decisions.

2. We need to take care of our health.

· It is wrong to think that “spiritual matters” are important enough to override our physical limitations.

· If we don’t have our health, we can’t do the spiritual.

· Furthermore, the “spiritual” vs. “physical” is a false dichotomy, because our body is not just a physical structure. NRS 1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple 1 of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? NKJ 1 Corinthians 3:16 ¶ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

· “defile” = to cause harm to in a physical manner or in outward circumstances (BDAG lexicon).

· to inflict punishment, destroy (BDAG lexicon).

· So the Bible commands us to “…glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” because we are “bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20)— “…not … with … silver or gold, … but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1:18-19 NRS). It’s easy to kid ourselves that we are “doing the best that we can,” while neglecting some of the simplest health practices such as flossing our teeth and drinking enough water (eight eight-ounce glasses a day is recommended).

· Minor details? I used to think so until I nearly died from dehydration. NLT Psalm 139:14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- how well I know it.

· Our bodies are amazingly resilient and able to regenerate and recover—a testimony to God’s grand design.

· But God expects us to take care of our bodies as part of our worship of Him.

3. Importance of prayer requests.

· It wasn’t until I had turned in the prayer request that God led me to the person who has helped me to get well. NLT James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

· One would think that our own prayer would be sufficient, but I know from firsthand experience that the prayers of a great multitude have greater power than just one person’s.

· Many times I was encouraged when thinking about the vast army of prayer warriors beseeching God on my behalf.

· It takes humility to share our needs with others and ask for their prayers.

· This also reminds us how much we need each other. NKJ 1 Corinthians 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

· So don’t hesitate to seek prayers from your brethren in times of trials or afflictions.

· With the technology we have, this is a very simple process but vitally important.

4. Don’t just pray for healing; ask God to help you to understand what He wants you to learn from the trial.

· One time before I began the treatment program, I was in pain and discouraged by the fact that the trial was continuing, seemingly without end. I realized that God allows trials for us to learn vital spiritual lessons.

· I felt that I had already learned a lot, but the trial remained. I cried out to God, “What do you want me to learn? I don’t know unless you show me!”

· Immediately, my wife (who wasn’t aware of my prayer) walked in and showed me a quote from a devotional book titled Jesus Lives by Sarah Young, “COME TO ME WITH THE DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE WEIGHING YOU DOWN. Even though there is no relief in sight, your troubles are actually light and momentary--from an eternal perspective. Your problems feel so heavy because you have given them too much power. Each time you focus on them and forget about Me, you empower them a bit more. Even small objects placed very close to your eyes can obscure most of the vista before you. I want you to put down your troubles long enough to view the vast expanse of Life that is spread out before you--all the way to eternity!  The best way to lay your problems down is: Bring them to Me. Unburden yourself by pouring out your heart to Me, for I am your Refuge. As you release your woes to Me (even temporarily), your vision improves and you can see Me more clearly. Linger with Me while My Light shines powerfully into your heart. This Light illuminates the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory revealed in My Face. This is the eternal Glory that outweighs all your troubles.”

· I immediately realized that I was allowing physical circumstances to be the center of my focus instead of God and His promise.

· That was a turning point for me spiritually.

· It was the dire circumstances of my trial and affliction that resulted in this breakthrough in my relationship with God.

· I have since purchased and read daily another book by the same author titled Jesus Calling.

· These books have reached my heart with the message of God’s love in a way that makes it more real than ever before and has vastly improved my relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

· Sadly, our past church culture has lacked and even denigrated the emotional value of devotional materials.

· I have found great personal value in helping me to open my heart to God more fully.

5. Trials test our faith.

· It’s easy to think we have faith at times when we don’t need it.

· Do we still have faith when we are at the Red Sea, so to speak? NKJ 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. NLT 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by believing and not by seeing.

· God’s promises are not negated by setbacks or circumstances that seem to indicate that what God promised is not happening.

· I was living by sight instead of by faith until I read that quote from Jesus Lives. NLT Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

6. Don’t try to figure everything out; just seek God’s will and trust Him to lead you. NKJ Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

· It takes faith and trust in God to lead us through and out of our trials. NLT 2 Peter 2:9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials…

· He has it all figured out, so we don’t need to.

7. Trials produce patience and endurance. NKJ James 1:2 ¶ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. NLT James 1:2 ¶ Dear brothers and sisters,1 when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

· The Greek word translated “endurance” is sometimes rendered as “patience.”

· Actually, both meanings are correct, so it means “patient endurance.”

· Endurance refers to remaining faithful during adversity without giving up; patience refers to being content to wait for the desired end result.

8. Take it one day at a time.

· We have probably all heard the advice to live and endure trials “one day at a time.”

· This is far more than a cliché.

· In fact it is a basic principle of Christian living found in Mathew 6:34. NLT Matthew 6:34 ¶ "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

· The first week of my detoxification program seemed to last forever.

· Beginning the second week, I began asking God to take me by the hand and lead me through each day.

· I also asked Him to help me through each night as well, as sleep was difficult for me for quite a while until the pain subsided.

· I acknowledged that He was in charge of my recovery, and all I had to do was follow the program and make it through today.

· After I began that approach, the days seemed to speed by.

9. Importance of a positive attitude

· One of the first things that my holistic consultant told me is that the my treatment regimen would get me well, but only if I had a positive attitude about recovery. NKJ Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. TNK Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart makes for good health; Despondency dries up the bones. NLT Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

· Heb "it causes good a healing." This means it promotes healing ” (NET notes).

· “A happy and healthy outlook on life brings healing” (NET notes).

· “The "crushed spirit" refers to one who is depressed (cf. NAB "a depressed spirit"). "Crushed" is figurative (an implied comparison) for the idea that one's psyche or will to go on is beaten down by circumstances” (NET notes).

· "Fat bones" in scripture means a healthy body (3:8; 15:30; 16:24), but "dried up" bones signify unhealthiness and lifelessness (cf. Ezek 37:1–4)” (NET notes). 10. Importance of being thankful and thanking God

· The Bible is filled with scriptures about being thankful—enough for a separate sermon. NKJ 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. NLT 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. · Human nature tends to drift into negativism by taking blessings for granted and focusing on what we don’t like or want and don’t have.

· Being thankful and expressing thanks keeps us positive and focused on God’s blessings. · You’ve probably heard the saying. “I felt bad because I didn’t have any shoes until I met a man who had no feet.”

· Dwelling on the details of our problems in our prayers just reinforces and empowers our problems. · As the saying goes, focus on the solution, not on the problem. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NRS) tells us that, “…Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”

· I found that my inner nature was also being built up while my body was being built back up, as I focused on God and His promise to heal. 11. God can work miracles · We all know this, but do we really believe it, or do we limit God. John 11:11-15 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up." 12 Then His disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." John 11:17-35 17 ¶ So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Then Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 "But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You." 23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24 Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" 27 She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." 28 ¶ And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, "The Teacher has come and is calling for you." 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, "She is going to the tomb to weep there." 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see." 35 Jesus wept.

· Jesus wept because everyone assumed that since Lazarus was dead, there was nothing Jesus could do for him. How can this apply to us?

· Ex. Diagnosis of cancer often deflates one's faith.

· A miracle is a miracle, whether it is a major illness or minor affliction.

· Putting a name on it often weakens our faith. · I don’t even know what all has been wrong with me and don’t want to know.

· “Whatever it is, we will fix it” (my treatment consultant)

· More accurately, God will fix it. 12. God will finish every good work that He begins NKJ Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; NLT Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

· Knowing that God finishes what He starts can help us to “hang in there” when circumstances seem to indicate otherwise.

· So we can thank God for answering our prayer and providing what He has promised, even if we haven’t received it yet.

· God made it easy for me to do this, because it was so obvious that he led me to the person who has been helping me to get well.

Conclusion – There is still be more to be done to become totally well, but I know that God will finish His good work of healing me.

· In the meantime I am excited about getting back into life as I continue to recover.

· The worst of my afflictions is now over, but the priceless lessons I have learned will last forever—lessons that have helped me and that will hopefully help you many others, not only in this life, but also in God’s coming Kingdom.