Going Back to Eden
It’s been said that the right arm of the Gospel is the health message and how true is that in a time where many, a year on, are still being impacted by the global pandemic which is Coronavirus writes Darell J Philip. In build up to some soul stirring messages presented by Pastor Robert Williams during the joint Hackney and Wood Green SDA Church Campaign entitled, Lord, Empower Your People, a series of equally important health lectures were presented by Pastor Sam Davis.
Pastor Davis, a former SEC President and Pastor of Hackney Church, shared some practical health gems to a 100 plus weekly audience with close to 200 attendees during the two consecutive Sabbaths. Highly emphasised was the importance of maintaining good holistic health through the practical implementation of the NEW START model which includes the following 8 laws of health: Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust in God.
In a time where the use of online and digital platforms have become a crucial part of work, education and even church life, Pastor Davis was on hand to give some sound advice and pearls of wisdom regarding the necessity of adequate rest including 7-8 hours of sleep each night and a regular exercise routine outdoors in the fresh air where it is said that the impact of coronavirus can be slightly reduced due to exposure to open air. In Counsels on Health, Ellen G. White says, “Fresh air will prove far more beneficial to sick persons than medicine, and is far more essential to them than their food.”
On the point of food, Pastor Davis reminded attendees of the adage that we are what we eat and of the conclusion from Hippocrates, widely regarded as the father of modern medicine, that many, if not, all the diseases we experience begins in the gut. Therefore, replacement of foods high in fat and sugar content to those with a higher nutritional value such as the plant based diet recommended by God in the original diet given to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden could not be emphasised enough. Ironically, it was diet which came as the test to our first earthly parents in which the enemy had played a role in causing their downfall and we too, if not careful ourselves, are no exception to this. “God’s desire for us is that we prosper in all things and be in good health,” (3 John 2) said Pastor Davis, who then added: “Everything we need in order to live a healthy, well balanced life has been provided for and is free so why not make the necessary changes today to avoid the regrets of tomorrow for prevention is always better than cure and to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God is our reasonable service.”
And did our hearts burn
Firstly, I want to pause for a moment and thank God for Zoom writes Barbara Sommers. I strongly believe that we have touched more souls on the Zoom platform than if we were in our church buildings and more so during our recent 10 day campaign, “Lord, Empower Your People.” Campaigns in church buildings have the draw back that they are usually attended mainly by the host church members, topped up with members from other SDA churches alongside a few visitors squeezing in at the back for the last date of the campaign. In reality it’s the already fattened Adventist who is being fed again. Our campaign via Zoom attracted well over 100 regular attendees (both local and international) during the week with close to 200 on the Sabbaths, some of whom have now requested bible studies and baptism. Might this be the way forward for our Evangelistic campaigns? Food for thought!
Guest speaker, Pastor Robert Williams, is from a stock of evangelist preachers which Jamaica, despite its national issues, seems able to produce, his blend of “old time preaching” with “now time issues” of special note. All his sermons seemed to have a message for someone in the audience. Some nights it felt as though this Pastor had been listening to my day time chats and crafted a sermon to suit. Praise God for this man of God. We laughed and cried in equal measure as we ascended to our mountain tops. What an awesome man of God this was, there was hardly a sermon that did not resonate with me in some way. Many of his testimonies were so like my own that I just wanted to fall on my knees and pray right there and then, both to thank God for his goodness while also seeking forgiveness. I was stirred when I didn’t realise I needed to be stirred.
But it was not just I that was moved and stirred by his words as some of the comments below attest:
“Wood Green and Hackney were spiritually enriched and enthused by the powerful and timely messages of Pastor Robert Williams – the prince of preachers. The excellent revival meetings could not have come at a better time. To God be the Glory.” T Cuniah
“This campaign has led me to have a stronger determination of total dependence on God. Serving Him, come what may and asking him to write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life. To share Him with others in whatever way I can while also never forgetting His love for me. And last but not least to follow the laws of health more closely.”
“With refreshing clarity, this man of God (Robert Williams) delivered the bread of life to our hungry souls night after night. His final sermon which was a personal testimony of how he walked again after medical professionals deemed him crippled for the rest of his life touched my heart. I will carry this miracle with me as I share with others what phenomenal power there is in prayer. My family and I were thoroughly blessed by this campaign. God be praised.” P Grant
“The Health Lectures by Pastor Davis reminded us that we are obligated to take care of our bodies in the best way we can by being careful with what, when and how we eat. Although Pastor Williams' subjects contained some elements of the world-wide current situation, they were deeply spiritual and challenged those who had already committed their lives to Jesus to remain under His protective wings. It was truly inspirational.” E Prince
When things are desperate the best person to turn to is God as He is the only one who can find a way out of our desperation. Covid came to harm but God turned it to charm! What came out from these presentations was the need to share the blessing of God with others through our testimonies and prayers. Many of us, me included, are still smouldering from the rekindled fire that now burns within our hearts and cannot wait for Pastor Robert Williams and Sam Davis’ next visit.
