[Kelli]

Week 1 Day 4
Nourished in the Words of Faith
Day ___________________________ Date ___________________________

Now, we have learned that it does not profit us to be occupied by food. We understand the reason that we are overweight is that we have become too focused on the food and condemning ourselves when we can’t control how much we eat. We have also learned that dieting has contributed to the problem. We are infatuated with the latest diet fad, and this takes our heart off God who is the one who truly deserves our love and focus.


Read I Timothy 4:1-8 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.


Now let’s really work this passage.

According to verse 1, when will these things take place? _____________________________
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Circle the words, latter times in verse 1.


What kind of spirits does the Bible say you are listening to when you try to change the food and not your heart by abstaining from certain foods God gave you to enjoy? (Verse 1) ________________ _______________ and ________________ of __________________


According to verse 3 above, how are we to receive the gift of food God has provided? __________________________________________________ _________________________


Should we abstain from certain foods such as carbohydrates, meat, and fat? ______________



Pray about your next answer. Do you think in these latter times, we Christians have become too concerned about what we look like? ________________________________________________


This is not to say that we should just go “hog wild” and eat and eat until we die. It means you will now get God involved with your diet. God created all foods, and we can eat them with thanksgiving. God is the same yesterday, today, and always.

I have heard all the objections from Christians. Some say these Scriptures were for Jesus’ time. I say they should look at I Timothy 4:1, (Latter times) and remember the other Scripture we read that concerned being occupied with food, Hebrews 13:8-9 (Amplified Bible)

8Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). 9Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God's favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them.

Underline the words “the same” in verse 8 above.


When Is Jesus the same”? ____________________, ________________ and ___________________.



Why do you suppose God wrote Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever? _________
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I believe it was to show our generation that these Scriptures apply to us. I have also heard Christians say, “You should be a vegetarian, because Daniel abstained from the king’s food and only ate grains and veggies.” I have also heard that we should not eat pork or fat, because of the Old Testament dietary laws. We need to understand and get it fixed in our minds that we are under the New Covenant and this passage proves it. The Bible says ALL creatures, which means ALL creatures!

Look at the line that says “nourished in the words of faith.” The word “nourished” is defined as: to promote the growth and development of


Has the circumstance of your being overweight and frantic dieting, made you feel nourished?



List some of the reasons you turn to food when you’re not hungry.
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We run to food because it gives us a feeling of being nurtured and nourished. Sometimes it helps us to avoid an unpleasant task or feeling. We think it gives us comfort and love. How do you feel after going on an eating binge? ______________________________________________
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Does it feel you have promoted the growth and development of your life in any way? _______


It depresses you and makes you feel ashamed, heartbroken, and tired all the time. It makes you feel down on yourself and gives you a reason for self-abuse. You are going to learn that you’re not a slave to your sin. You have been listening to the greatest liar ever. Satan is the father of all lies. Once your body stops growing it is surprising how little food we need to sustain it. You’ve probably been eating at least twice as much as you need, maybe more.

As mentioned earlier, the dictionary defines nourished as: “to promote the growth and development of...” The dictionary leaves it blank so you can fill it in. I always thought nourished had something to do with food. I associated food with comfort. I think we all do.

Review I Timothy 4:1-8. The Bible says to promote and develop the growth of the spirit by the words of faith. Think about the previous diets you’ve been on. Was the focal point what you look like? We have been trying to fix the wrong problem while being preoccupied with how we look. We’ve put the solution to our weight problem on the back burner. The answer is to develop our spirit before anything else. Then, all else will correct itself.

Luke 11:9-13 says, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

Every time Jesus healed someone, He was always more concerned about their spiritual condition. Read the following passage:

Mark 2:1-12 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, "Arise, take up your bed and walk'? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic, 11 "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!”

Jesus took care of the paralyzed man’s spiritual need before healing the physical by saying “your sins are forgiven.” Physical healing is important to Jesus, but it was secondary to spiritual healing.

Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

When we think of the word peace, we think of peace of mind. The word Shalom is the Hebrew word for Peace, but it means much more. It means completeness; it means salvation. It means a restored relationship. Remember we can only nourish our spirit by things of the Spirit. Nourishing our spirit is critical. When our spirit is well nourished, we won’t need to try to fill it with food that doesn’t satisfy.

I Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things.

The dictionary defines “godliness” as being devoted to God. God will be taking the pounds off while the spirit is being filled. The weight will naturally decrease. If you don’t exercise you will still lose weight. You may come to a point where you choose to, because it will make you feel better. Remember, however, it only profits a little, so don’t put exercise over your daily devotion.



According to the Word of God what is more profitable physical exercise or spiritual exercise? __________________________________________________ _________________________


Write, I Timothy 4:8 __________________________________________________ _______
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In the second part of I Timothy 4:8, What does the verse say godliness is profitable for… _________ ___________


Circle the word “all”.


Is godliness profitable for your body? ______________



Read the following Scriptures, use your own Bible to fill in the blanks.

Mark 7: 14-20 when He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 “Are you thus without understanding also? 19&20 __________________________________________________ _________________________
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_______________ 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts. Adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”


The first day of this diet, we were reminded that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. In the same Scripture it says, “Do not be occupied with foods.” Today we found spiritual well-being is more important than our physical well-being. Do you have the confidence in God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, to know what your body needs? _______________________


If you believe that godliness is profitable for ALL THINGS, you need to stop doing weird diets that make you count calories or have only certain foods in certain combinations at certain times of the day. Trust Jesus. Think about Him rather than the latest diet. He declared all foods clean. Your need, or desire, is not generated from the food. We don’t need to overeat; it’s the desire from within. The problem with being so preoccupied with how we look and being obsessed with the physical is that it creates the obsession for dieting and food.



READ: Psalm 1 and 118:8-9



In light of today’s study, what was the Scripture or statement in today’s lesson that most spoke to your heart? __________________________________________________ ________
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What steps of faith does God want you to take towards Him today? ____________________
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Rephrase the Scripture or statement into an expression of faith_________________________
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Isaiah 55:9 For as the ____________________ are ____________________ than the ____________________, so ___________________ My ____________________ _______________ ____________________ _______________ ways, _______________ My _______________ than ______________ _______________