THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. Presenter

Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons Hotel

Greensboro, NC

“OH! THE BLOOD”

FAITH-SCIENCE &

YOUR HEALTH!

Beloved,  I  wish  above  all  things  that  thou  mayest  prosper  and  be  in  health,  even  as  thy  soul  prospereth.  (KJV)    Dear   friend,   I   pray   that   you  may   enjoy   good   health   and   that   all  may  go  well  with  you,  even  as  your  soul  is  geAng  along  well.  (NIV)    Dear   friend,   I   am  praying   that   all   is  well  with   you  and   that   your  body  is  as  healthy  as  I  know  your  soul  is.  (TLB)  

3 JOHN 1:2 Scriptural  Reference  

SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH CONNECTION

"….I  wish  above  all  things  that  you  prosper  and  be  in  health…."  3  John  1:2  

   Renewal  and  Empowerment    

Assessing  the  Health  of  the  Spiritual  Community  

© 2011 HORACE E. SMITH, M.D.

The  Church  And  The  Health  Care  Crisis  

MaR  9:35-­‐36    Jesus  was  going  through  all  the  ci=es  and  villages,  teaching  in  their  synagogues  and  proclaiming  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  every  kind  of  disease  and  every  kind  of  sickness.  

Seeing  the  people,  He  felt  compassion  for  them,  because  they  were  distressed  and  dispirited  like  sheep  without  a  shepherd.  (NAU)  

       

The  Church  And  The  Health  Care  Crisis  

The  Chris)an  Church  (as  is  other  faith  communi=es)  is  called  to  be  an  ac)ve  par)cipant  in  fashioning  a  just  and  effec)ve  health  care  system.    

Responding  to  those  who  were  sick  was  integral  to  the  life  and  ministry  of  Jesus  and  has  been  a  central  aspect  of  the  Church's  mission  throughout  its  history.    

Health  care  and  healing  are  concrete  manifesta)ons  of  God's  ongoing  care  for  and  redemp)on  of  all  crea)on.    

 God  calls  the  Church-­‐(and  other  spiritual  communi)es)-­‐to  work  in  society  for  individual  and  collec)ve  ac)ons  that  

promote  health  and  ensure  care  for  those  who  suffer.    

Understanding  health  care  as  a  shared  endeavor  compels  the  Church  and  all  people  of  good  will  to  join  in  efforts  for  

change.  

Biblical    and    

Theological  PerspecYves  of  Health  

and  Wholeness    

A   state   of   complete   physical,   mental   and   social   well  being,  and  not  merely  the  absence  of  disease  or  infirmity      Health  is  wholeness  and  balance,  an  inner  resilience  that  allows  you  to  meet  the  demands  of  living  without  being  overwhelmed.    OpYmal   health   should   also   bring   with   it   a   sense   of  strength  and  joy,  so  that  you  experience  it  as  more  than  just  the  absence  of  disease.      

HEALTH <<<

Health  God  creates  human  beings  as  whole  persons—each  one  a  dynamic  unity  of  body,  mind,  and  spirit.  

Health  concerns  the  proper  func)oning  and  well-­‐being  of  the  whole  person.  A  Chris)an  perspec)ve  on  health,  therefore,  shares  the  concern  of  the  apostle  Paul  that  “our  spirit  and  soul  and  body  be  kept  sound  and  blameless”  (1  Thessalonians  5:23).    

HUMANKIND: A TRICHOTOMY Division into three parts or elements And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV)

PROSPERITY To  prosper;    to  have  good  fortune;    to  thrive;  to  grow  progressively;    To  make  steady  progress;  to  

flourish;  

© 2011 HORACE E. SMITH, M.D.

WHAT IS THE 'HEALTH

STATUS' OF THE SPIRITUAL

COMMUNITY, AND THE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN

PARTICULAR?

© 2011 HORACE E. SMITH, M.D.

GOD  THE  MAJESTIC  CREATOR  

“Every moment of

every day, GOD IS

SPEAKING TO US!”

 

ARE YOU LISTENING?

OF  EVERY  DAY,  GOD  IS  DEMONSTRATING/DECLARING,  HIS  POWER  AND  GLORY!  

PSALMS 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (KJV) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV) The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship. (TLB)

GEN  1-­‐2  

A PART OF SPECIAL/INTIMATE CREATION (Vs FIAT) Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.   Heb: nephesh a breathing creature; (abstractly) vitality; Self; Life; Person; Heart; Refers to the essence of life.

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

—St. Augustine

We   are   God’s   masterpiece,   His   pinnacle   of   creaYve  design.    Our   human   frame,   both   in   structure   (anatomy)  and  in  funcYon  (physiology)  proclaims  with  boldness  the  majesty  and  supreme  wonder  of  our  God.    We,  more  than  any  other  creature  directly  reflect  the  image  and  likeness  of  our  Creator.      

THE  PINNACLE  OF  GOD’S  CREATION:  REFLECTING  THE  ‘MIND’  OF  GOD  

ANATOMIST  -­‐  GENETICIST    -­‐  PHYSIOLOGIST    (Psalm  139:13-­‐16)    

 PSALM  139:14  -­‐  I  will  praise  thee;  for  I  am  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made:  marvellous  are  thy  works;  and  that  my  soul  knoweth  right  well.  (KJV)      Thank  you  for  making  me  so  wonderfully  complex!  It  is  amazing  to  think  about.  Your  workmanship  is  marvelous-­‐-­‐  and  how  well  I  know  it.    (TLB)  

The   human   body   and   the   ‘Body   of  Christ’  are  used  by  the  Apostle  Paul  in  numerous   bibl ical   passages   as  analogous   examples   of   the   posiYon  and  mission  of  the  Church  as  it  is  called  by  God  to  funcYon  in  this  world.      

THE  PINNACLE  OF  GOD’S  CREATION:  REFLECTING  THE  ‘MIND’  OF  GOD  

The  study  of  how  God  has  designed  and  formed  us,  uYlizing  both  a   scienYfic   mind,   and   a   spiritual   perspecYve,   will   give   us   keen  insights   and   understandings   of   our   God-­‐Given   potenYal   and  purpose.      Using  such  a  vehicle  will  allow  us  to  beRer  understand  ourselves,  properly   appreciate   and   value   others   in   the   Body   of   Christ,   and  together  successfully  implement  His  Master  Plan.  

GOD’S  CREATIVE  DESIGN  DESIGN  REFLECTS  PURPOSE  AND  FUNCTION  

     

E pluribus unum. (Out of many, one.)

Motto for the Seal of the United States.    

 

 

The  complex  piece  of  crea)on  called  the  human  body  offers  insight  into  the  nature  and  func)oning  of  the  

Body  of  Christ        The  ChrisYan  community  is  likened  to  a  human  body  more  than  30x  in  the  New  Testament  

 

•  The   Body   of   Christ,   like   our   own   bodies,   is   composed   of   individual,  unique  cells  that  are  knit  together  to  form  one  body.  Christ  is  the  whole,  the  Head.    

•  The  joy  and  effec)veness  of  the  Body  increases  as  individual  cells  realize  they  are  not  isolated  outposts,  but  connected  parts.  

 Offers  Us  a  ‘Look  Inside’  Ourselves  

•  Cells  •  Tissues  •  Organs  •  Systems  Demonstrates  increasing  complex  and  progressive  func/ons  units.    They  are  mutually  dependent  and  suppor)ve  of  each  other.  

CAN SCIENCE AND FAITH..,WALK TOGETHER?!

  “To me, telescopes and microscopes are incredible instruments of worship!” - Horace E. Smith   The two are in fact complementary truths created by the same God. Science is a complement of faith. All too often, Christians see it as a rival or adversary to faith. In fact, correctly and objectively understood, science opens our minds and hearts to the wonder of God’s creative design and inspires and lifts our faith to new levels!

In the “old church” there

was a universal cry that was

our shield from all harm:

  The saints would cry:

“Lord, let your Blood cover!”

“The Blood shall prevail!”

“THE BLOOD OF JESUS!”

because the life of every creature is(in) its blood. (NIV)   Both the life of the flesh and the life of the soul is in the blood!   There are no cells in the human body that can live without continual contact with life-giving blood!

LEVITICUS  17:14  

How does the Body of Christ see the blood?

What does the Lord expect us to embrace about the blood?

What is our level of understanding and appreciation for

the blood?

•  Life  •  Death  •  Cross  •  Sacrifice  •  Redemp)on    •  Propi)a)on  •  Covenant    

“A good understanding of blood in the human body opens our eyes to spiritual insights that can transform our relationships with God and with each other! When we begin to grasp the true significance of Jesus’ blood that was shed to pay for our sins, our hearts are filled with the dual necessities of true spirituality—humility and thankfulness! Far from barbaric,…blood is truly beautiful!”

“When physicians examine patients, whether it’s for a routine physical or a life-threatening disease, perhaps the most common diagnostic tool is a blood test.   Testing a person’s blood uncovers previously hidden truths about the health or pathology of every part of the person’s physiology. Blood work can reveal the presence of disease or other abnormalities affecting an organ or system. These tests are indispensable to the doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient.

THE  ONLY  MOBILE  TISSUE  OF  THE  BODY!  

Showcase  of  God’s    Marvelous  CreaYon  &  RedempYon  

NURTURING CLEANSING

HEALING

IS A METAPHOR OF SPIRITUAL AND NATURAL LIFE.

THE CYCLE OF LIFE

NUTRIMENT SUPPLY

TOXIC REMOVAL

SIN:  LIFE’S  TOXINS  •  The   body   can't   funcYon   properly   without   the   eliminaYon   of  toxins   from   the   cells.   Lem   to   accumulate,   these   toxins   would  soon  poison  our  bodies  and  we  would  die.    

•  One   of   the   most   dramaYc   demonstraYons   of   the   necessity   to  eliminate   toxins   occurred   on   the   fabled   and   flawed   flight   of  Apollo  13.  Amer  the  oxygen  tank  exploded,  the  astronauts  on  the  way  to  the  moon  looked  at  their  monitors  and  realized  the  level  of  carbon  dioxide  was  rising  too  far  and  too  fast.  

RED  CELLS  AND  THE    BLOOD  OF  CHRIST  

Christ’s   sacrifice   for   us   gives   us   the   nourishment   of   love  and  eliminates  the  toxin  of  sin.  Like  oxygen  from  red  cells  replenishing   starved,   carbon   dioxide   laden   Yssues,   we  soak  up  his   love  and  power,  and   if  we   realize  how  much  we  desperately  need  him,  we  long  for  his  kindness,  grace,  and  strength  like  a  depleted  cell  waits  for  the  hemoglobin  to  release  oxygen  and  nutrients  to  keep  it  alive.    

PROTECTION

WHITE  CELLS:  PROTECTION    White  blood  cells  are   the  sentries  and  soldiers   in  our  bodies.  They  are  always  on  the   lookout   for  danger,  and  they  acYvely  fight   for  us  every   second  of  our   lives.   These   cells,   also   called  leucocytes,  consist  of  various  classes  of  specialized  cells,  each  with  specific  funcYons  essenYal  to  life  and  health.  White  cells  live   not   only   in   the   bloodstream,   but   also   throughout   our  bodies.   What   are   they   searching   for   and   fighYng   against   so  valiantly?   Our   bodies   contain   a   myriad   of   microorganisms:  bacteria,  viruses,  and  fungi  

SURVEILLANCE  AND  DEFENSE    •  White  cells  don’t   just   stand  by  and  watch   these  microbes  

float  past   them.   They   sacrifice   themselves   every  moment  of  our  lives  to  kill  any  threat.  

•  Our  skin  and  mucus  membranes  in  our  noses,  mouths,  and  digesYve  tracts  are  our  first  line  of  defense  against  aRacks.  When  these  are  breached,  white  cells  from  our  blood  and  other   Yssues   race   to   the   scene   in   seconds   to   engage   in  mortal  combat.    

•  These  sentries  and  soldiers  in  our  bodies  number  about  fimy  billion.    They  line  our  blood  vessels  and  circulate  vigilantly,  on  24  hour  alert,    ready  to  protect  us  from  any  invader.  

•  In  addiYon,  one  hundred  Ymes   this  number  are  waiYng   in  our   bone   marrows,   at   various   levels   of   maturity   and  development,  ready  to  be  called  up  for  duty  if  needed.    

SURVEILLANCE  AND  DEFENSE    

•  Each   category   of   specialized   white   cells   focus   on   parYcular  intruders:    

•  neutrophils  combat  bacteria,    •  T  and  B  cell  lymphocytes  fight  viruses  •  Both  neutrophils  and  lymphocytes  war  against  fungi.  •  Monocyte/Macrophages   are   ‘phagocytes’   which   idenYfy,  engulf,  and  destroy  micro  organisms,  cellular  debris,  old  cells,  and  any  foreign  maRer  in  the  body.      

SURVEILLANCE  AND  DEFENSE    

AUTO-­‐IMMNE  DISEASE    In   rare   cases,  white   cells   get   it  wrong.   Like   soldiers  who   are  

the   vic)ms   of   "friendly   fire,"   the   immune   system   in   some  people   aXacks   healthy   cells,   leading   to   debilita)ng   illnesses  and  some)mes  death.  When  the  body   iden)fies  healthy  cells  as   pathogens,   it   unleashes   all   the   destruc)ve   power   of   the  white   cells   against   itself.   Rheumatoid   arthri)s   and   mul)ple  sclerosis  are  two  of   the  most  common  forms  of  autoimmune  disease,  but  more  than  eighty  exist.  

HEALING THE HURTS

FIRST  AT  THE  SCENE  HEALING  THE  HURTS  

•  When  we  experience  any  kind  of  injury,  our  platelets  are  the  EMS  truck   that   rushes   to   the   scene.   Whether   the   injury   is   internal  where  we  can’t  see  it,  or  external,  breaking  the  skin,  the  delicate  capillaries   are   ruptured.   Blood   loss   is   a   serious   threat   to   our  bodies,  and  platelets  are  God’s  first  response  team  whose  role  is  to  stop  the  flow  and  begin  the  healing  process.    

•  Contrary   to   popular   belief,   hemophilia   isn’t   the   absence   of   the  platelets’  ability  to  form  a  clot,  but  the  inability  to  complete  the  long   sequence   of   clot   producing   steps—actually,   the   faulty  funcYon  of  a  criYcal   coagulaYon  Factor—from  surface   factors  or  any  of  the  Factors  from  I  to  XI.  

FORGIVENESS:    EXPERIENCED  AND  EXPRESSED  

•  If  we  allow  unhealed  hurts  to  mulYply,  we  experience  a  churning  morass   of   hurt,   anger,   fear,   and   resentment.  We’re   angry   with  the  people  who  have  hurt  us,  the  ones  who  failed  to  protect  us,  the  people  who  even  look  like  they  might  hurt  us  today,  and  God  because   we’re   sure   he   should   have   prevented   it.   Resentment  (and  it’s  first  cousin,  biRerness)   is  poisonous,  but   it  gives  us  two  things   we   desperately   want:   idenYty   and   energy.   We   think   of  ourselves   as   “the   one   who   was   wronged,”   and   we   delight   in  people   feeling   sorry   for   us   or   being   terrified   of   our   volcanic  explosions.   And   we   wake   up   each   day   with   a   fresh   shot   of  adrenaline  coursing  through  our  veins.  

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF

ONE MEMORY

PASSOVER COMMUNION

PORTRAIT  OF  CHRIST  IN  THE  LAST  BOOK  OF  THE  BIBLE

The redeemed people of God that great multitude that no-one could number, all stand before the throne of God and specifically attribute their salvation to God and the Lamb. They cry with a loud voice; Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and unto the lamb. Their robes have been washed and made white in the blood of the lamb. And their names are written in the Lambs book of life. Revelation 7

He is more than savior. He is the Lord of all history. He stands in the midst of the throne and is the only one who is worthy to open the book. His authority allows John to stop weeping and rejoice. He breaks open the book of history and is declared to be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

He is the object of heaven's worship in chapter 5 as well. The four beasts and the four and twenty elders all fall down and worship Him. They sing a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and open the seals because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for Good from every tribe and language.

The Lamb has center stage in Eternity when history ends. On the day of judgment when those who have rejected Him shall flee from Him and cry for the rocks to fall on them to escape the wrath of the Lamb.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (KJV)

We were bought by His Blood! As this changes our spiritual status and destiny, it should change our whole attitude and perspective of life. It changes our relationship with God, with all of our fellow human beings, and our relationship to others in the Body of Christ.  

The payment of His blood on Calvary c l e a r s a w a y b a r r i e r s i n o u r relationships with one another. We may look different on the outside---different skin colors, speak different languages, have different customs, and live in different parts of the globe------------------- BUT BLOOD IS THE SAME THE WORLD OVER!!

BREAKING DOWN

© 2011 BISHOP HORACE E. SMITH, M.D.

WHAT’S YOUR ROLE IN THE

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. Presenter

Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons Hotel

Greensboro, NC

“OH! THE BLOOD”