DREAM AGAIN: BECOMING SUPERNATURALLY NATURAL
We are products of our environment, and what we put into our bodies directly affects the way that we feel and the way that we act. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” Life is the most precious gift we have, and to honor God and be responsible caretakers of that life is our greatest duty. You can be a product of a toxic environment or a supernaturally natural one – it’s your choice.
I’ve had a chance to speak at Los Angeles Dream Center several times. Their mission is incredible: “To Allow People to Dream Again.” Experiencing their work changed my life.
My parents once left me with our very Catholic neighbors. As a result, I ended up going to church for my very first time… ever. The church was one of these huge campuses where the community is essentially built around this massive religious institution. As a 9-year-old boy, walking through those gigantic wooden doors for the very first time, I became instantly startled by colossally-sized statue of Jesus Christ.
Instantly, I was awe-struck by one sole feature of this statue…
Jesus was ripped!
He didn’t just have a 6-pack—He had a 14-pack made literally of granite!!
I immediately went home and informed my very non-Christian parents, “I want to be like Jesus!” You can imagine how that went over. I’m still not sure if the neighbors actually died, but they were never to be seen again.
Most people take religion and put it in one box, and then they place health and fitness in an entirely different one. Yet, we truly aren’t fragmented beings like that.
We are one—body, mind, and spirit. And as a result, each area impacts the others. It’s all interconnected. In the church, health isn’t being ripped like Jesus. Instead, it’s being good stewards with our bodies for many reasons. We are to honor the gift of health, find the energy to serve God’s purposes, and live for Christ, our family, and the people that are counting on us. Wellness is not just about abs like Jesus; but it is about the time and strength to fulfill our destiny.
As we know, Christ’s ministry is about God’s deep love and compassion for people. God profoundly considers all the details of your life in a way that exceeds your comprehension – including your health and vitality.
Your wellbeing is of great importance to Him! He explains in the Scriptures, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 1:2)
We know that Jesus is the primary purpose of the Bible and the Gospel, and… “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
And… the “main thing” is Jesus!
But, there’s also the compassion part of Christ’s ministry or what is known as the “Second Hand of the Gospel.” This encompasses God caring for the wellbeing of His children, including the food they eat, and yes, their physical and mental health. In fact, did you know that in Jesus’ narration of His ministry in Matthew, 83% of it has to do with keeping us alive and well?
When John the Baptist was imprisoned and aware of his impending death, he pleaded with his disciples to quickly go make sure that Jesus was “The One.”
When asked if He was in fact the Christ, Jesus answered, “Go, and show John those things which you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Matthew 11:4-5)
Five out of the six things He used to describe His work touched on your health and aliveness!
As our Father, God really cares—and He knows you’ll have a pretty tough time here on Earth serving Him or your family and enjoying life if you’re sick or dead. We’re called to spread the gospel, but as the old pirates saying goes, “Dead men tell no tales.” Clearly, the wellbeing of people was a major part of Christ’s ministry – and should still be a central theme today, so His people can live out a better testimony.
Thankfully, many pastors, ministry leaders, and CEOs around the world are dedicated to the same amazing cause that we are. Our doctors have passionately lead hundreds of health and wholeness ministries and corporate wellness programs reaching hundreds of thousands of people each year. Projects I’ve created such as Body by God, Rebuild the Temple, Winning My Race, and the Genesis Factor have been followed by many key Christian movements.
The inimitable LA Dream Center helps the downtrodden “Dream Again!” By living the right lifestyle, getting your adjustments, maintaining, or restoring someone’s health we make the dream more of a possibility and help keep the dream alive.
With God, all things are possible
Dr. Ben