SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
KEY TEXT: 1COR. 9:24-27
"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. No, I beat
my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I
myself will not be disqualified for the prize."
INTRODUCTION
Usain Bolt, OJ, CD Jamaican sprinter is regarded as the fastest human ever
timed, he is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world
records since fully automatic time became mandatory. His accomplishments
have come from being gifted by God with athletic skills as well as much
training and practice. Keeping fit has made Usain Bolt a wealthy man. For
those who follow God’s word however, keeping fit is not just a matter for
amassing wealth but a key principle for maintaining good health. Exercise is
one of the most important ingredient for quality of life and longevity. In
acknowledgement of this fact the Jamaica Union Health Ministries
Department has launched a “Move to Live” campaign for 2017 and in keeping
with our strategic plan the Central Jamaica Conference we will be focussing
on the theme “Wholistic Health: Exercise Matters.” Our Topic for today is:
Move to Live. Let us Pray…
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
RUN TO WIN (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
Paul’s commitment to this course of ministry did not come easily. It required
personal discipline (strict training) like that of an athlete who strove for
supremacy in his field. To that end, Paul willingly gave up certain privileges
which might otherwise be his to enjoy so that he could win the prize. The
prize for Paul was not the temporary crown bestowed by men as in the
biennial games near Corinth where the “crown” was a pine wreath, but the
eternal crown bestowed by Christ.
Paul’s dictum of becoming “all things to all men” (v. 22) could have been
construed as the aimless capitulation of an unprincipled man. But it was just
the opposite! Every move made in the course of his race was calculated to
further his pursuit of the prize. Every blow struck was meant to land squarely
on his opponent and send him reeling from the contest. To achieve this, Paul
would not let his body master him; sometimes he denied even its demand
for rightful privileges and pleasures for a greater good (1 Cor. 10:33).
Paul was competing well himself and had called many to join him, but that
did not guarantee him a victorious finish. He held out the possibility that
even he could be disqualified for the prize. The single Greek word translated
by that phrase (adokimos) literally means “unapproved.” In other context, it
was applied to the unsaved (e.g., Rom. 1:28; Titus 1:16). Here Paul was not
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
addressing the issue of salvation, nor for that matter even the prize
specifically in mind. Rather, he seemed concerned with continuance in the
race. Like the brother who had indulged in immorality (1 Cor. 5:1–5), Paul’s
life could be cut short by the disciplinary disapproval of God. God had
disciplined in the past (10:6–10), was disciplining in the present (11:30–32),
and would discipline in the immediate future (5:5).
Like the Apostle Paul the Seventh-day Adventist church believes that none
should be unduly cut off from this life because of infidelity and rejecting the
directives of God. But how many have had their lives cut short because of
lack of exercise. Heart disease, cancer and so many other diseases have taken
over the human system because of inactivity overweight and a weak immune
system.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and
Health, physical exercise is the best single predictor of longevity. This means,
one can almost predict if a person is going to have a long life by asking if he
or she exercises regularly or not.
BENEFITS OF REGULAR PHYSICAL EXERCISE:
Regular exercise is not only a preventive measure; it also works to maintain
health at its best. Let’s consider the benefits of exercise:
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
 Exercise lowers high blood pressure, protecting the heart and blood
vessels.
 It improves circulation and thus promotes clearer minds, better sleep
and faster recovery from sickness or injury.
 Exercise lowers cholesterol levels, decreasing the risk of heart attacks
and strokes.
 Exercise lowers the heart rate at rest. Put more zest in your life.
 Exercise can greatly improve your sense of well-being. It makes you
feel good.
 It increases energy, efficiency, and endurance, and won’t let you down
later.
 Outdoor exercise is one of the most valuable weapons known to fight
off depression.
 Exercise enhances our ability to handle life’s stresses. Exercising after
work is especially helpful to unwind and leave you more relaxed.
 It improves quality of sleep.
Exercise has many other benefits to the body.
Moderate exercise improves appetite control. It helps us attain a desirable
weight.
Exercise not only burns excess calories, but also speeds up the body’s
metabolism for several hours.
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
ACTIVITY -THE LAW OF LIFE
Inactivity is “as deadly as smoking” reported the Daily Mail, describing how
a lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths as smoking across the world.
The headline is based on a study published in the Lancet that estimates the
burden of physical inactivity on global deaths and major diseases including
coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and breast and colon cancer. It
estimated that overall, physical inactivity caused more than 5.3 million of
the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008
(http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012, retrieved November 28, 2016).
Exercise is an important part of God’s original plan for mankind.
In Genesis 2:15 we read, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the
Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”(NIV)
The benefits of an active lifestyle are abundant. Greater vitality, better health,
and longer life can be ours through regular, brisk, physical activity. Activity is
the law of life. A man who would lie down and refuse to exercise his limbs,
would, in a short time, lose all power to use them. It is a law of nature that
every faculty left unused grows weaker and wastes away.
Yet, we find that today, men, women and even children are getting less and
less exercise.
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
“A walk, even in winter, would be more beneficial to the health than all the
medicine the doctors may prescribe. For those who can walk, walking is
preferable to riding. The muscles and veins are enabled better to perform
their work. There will be increased vitality, which is so necessary to health.
The lungs will have needful action; for it is impossible to go out in the bracing
air of a winter's morning without inflating the lungs” (Ellen G. White, Councils
on Diet pg. 52).
CONCLUSION
At age 91 Grace was still active playing tennis, lifting weights, and walking.
Fifty--‐one years before, however, at the age of 40, her condition had been
very different. Grace’s spine was badly injured during a ski accident that
occurred at the time, and as the years passed her back pain intensified.
Her physician told her that he couldn’t do much to help her because she was
“too old.” Grace later was diagnosed with emphysema and had difficulty
breathing. She tired easily and at one point feared that she would never be
able to climb stairs again. The doctor offered her no hope of improvement.
Grace, however, had a strong will to recover and decided to try an exercise
program offered at a local medical centre. For six weeks she worked out three
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
times a week, two to three hours a day. She lifted weights, walked on the
treadmill, rode the stationary bicycle, and did breathing exercises.
Even when she was in pain and didn’t feel like doing anything, she didn’t quit.
Eventually, her breathing improved and the back pain disappeared. She was
able to walk reasonable distances—and had energy to spare! Her doctor told
her that he had never seen such progress in anyone her age.
Grace attributes her health improvement to exercise (An Exercise Story,
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/stories/ca_grace.html. Accessed
online April 4,2012).
Every living thing must move. The spring that is alive moves and flows to the
stream. The stream that is alive moves and flows to the gullies. The gullies
that are alive moves and flows to the rivers. The rivers that are alive moves
and flows to the seas. The seas that are alive flows to the oceans. The only
sea that does not move to the ocean is the Dead Sea.
If you are alive and want to stay alive enjoying quality of life and longevity
one of your most trusted arsenal is exercise. Move to Live!
Athletes in Paul’s day and in today’s society are serious about their exercise
plan. They do this for a public earthly corruptible reward. As stewards of our
body temples, God expects us to do the best we can to maintain good health
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SERMON: MOVE TO LIVE
HEALTH MINISTRIES DAY – JAN. 14, 2017
Prepared by: Pastor Roy Dennis
Director of Health Ministries
Central Jamaica Conference of S.D.A
as we prepare for time and for eternity. I am recommitting myself to a
consistent exercise plan today. What about you? May God help us to place
this plan high on our agenda this year to enjoy quality of life and longevity.
God bless you.
Sources:
Abundant Living Seminar. Exercise (2006)
An Exercise Story, http://nihseniorhealth.gov/stories/ca_grace.html.
Ellen G. White, Councils on Health pg. 52
Health Ministries Department, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Exercise: It’s Relationship to
Disease (2006).
Health Ministries Department, Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventists (2016).
J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol.
2, p. 526). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
National Health Services. http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012
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