Month: January 2019

First of all, you preheat the oven to a specific degree.  What does this mean?  Well, even before we start on our journey with God, there is a certain amount of fire or heat that begins in our hearts to prepare us to be the vessels He has purposed us to be.  The fire (or heat) is specific for each person (cake), the degree of the fire determines the length it takes to produce the desired result. Sometimes the fire is so hot, and so long you begin to wonder if the cake will even turn out right, or will it be ruined?  But each recipe (person) has been created with the correct and essential ingredients to withstand all the methods it takes to create it.

Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Next,  you gather together and measure all the ingredients that will prepare the “recipe” you are following, or creating. 

Basic Ingredients for a cake recipe:

• Flour – Flour is the ingredient on which most baked products are based.  Flour provides structure, and holds the ingredients together.  Jesus is the structure of the Church.  By providing himself as the living sacrifice, he offered himself to be the way for redemption from sin and death; the way to repentance and life.  Without our confession of sin, and acceptance of Christ we have no structure, no stability, or existence in the Kingdom of God.  Just as in a recipe for a cake, without flour it has no substance.  Just as without Christ, there is no substance with God.
• Sugar – Sugar affects texture; it keeps baked goods soft and moist.  The bond between sugar and water(milk) allows sugar to lock in moisture so that items such as cakes don’t dry out too quickly.  Soft and moist implies to me a tender and contrite heart.  When we walk in love and compassion, with humbleness we appear appealing, and draw others to us.  The purpose of this is to draw others to Christ by living and walking in love and forgiveness, and not behaving proudly, or arrogantly.  In Ezekiel 11:19-20 “ I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them.  I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them.  And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
• Salt – The main function of salt in cake recipes is to enhance the flavor of the other ingredients.  Salt is usually added in very small amounts to baked products, but it has a noticeable effect on the flavor of other ingredients.  It strengthens gluten and improves the consistency of the dough. Its appearance perks up the depth and complexity of other flavors as the ingredients meld.  Salt also provides a balance of the sweetness of cake batters, but a salty flavor should not be discernible.  This illustrates that “salt” is an integral part, but does not assert itself to be noticed.(humbleness). To me this ingredient resembles the five- fold ministry, or the gifts of the Spirit in the life of the believer.  Everyone has gifts and abilities, everyone has a purpose in the body of Christ.  Each one of us should be used to enhance each other, build each other up in the Holy faith, admonishing, teaching, edifying each other, allowing the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the love, power and strength of God in us.  We should be careful not to ‘over salt’ ourselves, too much salt destroys the flavor of the cake, just as showing too much of “ME” destroys the message and flavor of the body of Christ.  We should walk humbly before God and man, but allowing ourselves to enhance each other without taking the credit for what God is doing.  Without salt, the cake tastes bland, but too much salt destroys the flavor, without you allowing God to use you will take from the body the purpose you were created for, but walking in pride will destroy not only yourself, but the work God longs to do.
• Baking Powder – Like baking soda and yeast is a leavening agent that causes batter to rise.  Baking powder lightens the texture of cakes by enlarging air bubbles within the batter.  The correct use of baking powder makes the difference between a light and fluffy cake, or brick.  These by products of yeast also contribute to the color, and aroma of the product. The Word of God is the leavening agent in our lives.  When we read the Word, study it, live it, our faith grows.  We live our lives according to the measure of faith in us.  To have greater faith we must add more hearing, studying the Word of God. Living the life of a Christian comes with a requirement, to spread the gospel, resulting in growth to the kingdom of God.  The spread of the kingdom is taking place wherever the Word of God is being sown.  Just like the measure of faith as a small mustard seed, will become a great tree, that which began in a small portion will eventually influence the whole body.  Growth and influence come when you are grounded in God’s Word, and obeying the direction He is calling you in. 
• Vanilla – The role of vanilla in sweet baked goods is like the role of salt on the savory side.  It enhances all the other flavors in the recipe.  Without it, cookies, cakes, etc., taste flat and bland.  Like salt (the five fold ministry) vanilla gives flavor.  However, vanilla has a fragrance; much  like when the Spiritual Gifts, and the Fruit of the Spirit working together.  Spiritual gifts are awesome, and to be desired, but the fruit of the Spirit, with the fruit of Love as the ultimate fruit, causes the body of Christ to be very flavorful, and outsiders are attracted to the scent.  As we grow spiritually and gain greater levels of maturity, we find that Scripture calls us to abound or excel in Christian character, especially in the various ways we can express love to one another.  Spiritual maturity is a quest for character for which there will be little progress without the pursuit of excellence.  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13  “And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound (excel) in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
• Oil – All oils function the same in baking, as they are 100% fat.  The main function of liquid fats (oils) is to add richness and tenderness, and because they do not solidify when cooled, they create baked goods that are more tender than baked goods made with solid fats. Oil is widely understood as a symbol of the Holy Spirit.  The function of the Oil Spirit is to lead and guide us in truth. The Holy Spirit, much like oil is to baking, provides a tenderness in our hearts, He enriches our lives with knowledge, and wisdom, a  liquid and fluid entity, poured out on the Lord’s people, covering them with holiness, and power.  With-out oil (the anointing of the Holy Spirit) we become dry, losing our flavor and appeal. We are robbed of the true power we have by not embracing what the Holy Spirit offers us.  We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, He resides in us when we accept Christ.  However; if we fail to recognize the significance and gift that this is, we become weakened, and stale.  By not utilizing this “ingredient” in our lives, we create a sub-standard existence, never reaching the potential that God has planned for us.
• Eggs – In addition to their nutritional value, eggs can provide structure, leavening, richness, color and flavor to baked products.  The height and texture of baked goods is determined by the balance between eggs and flour which provide strength, and sugar and fat which add tenderness.    Balance is crucial to the Christian in the personal sense,  and corporately as the Body of Christ.  The fruits of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit should be evident and working together to produce the desired result, a wholesome, powerful Church resulting in the salvation of the world.  Without the fruit of the spirit, and especially love , the gifts seem to  puff up the person  with pride, or arrogance, and they becomes more like a theatrical show than a movement of God.  For example, if a person is gifted with the gift of prophesy, and speaks marvelous things from the Lord, speaking prophecy after prophecy, but treat others with contempt, or are easilyprovoked, their spiritual giftedness is nullified.  However, in the same way, if one is merciful, always speaking kind words to others, gentle in spirit, etc., but doesn’t have the demonstration of the spirit of power, then their Godly character is weakened.  If a person doesn’t believe in the spiritual gifts, or reduce them to intellectual gifts, then how can the Holy Spirit be loosed in our lives?  How can there be healings?  How can miracles occur?  How can one see the resurrection power of Christ as He was raised from the dead?  Then those gifts, whatever they may be, become natural gifts,, and they become greatly reduced in effectiveness.  We must strive to be like Jesus.  He exhibited both great character and spiritual gifts in his ministry.  He was balanced in his life.   He spoke wisdom from the spirt, he prophesied of what was to come, he discerned the thoughts and intents of the human heart.  Yet, he had little children come to him, he offered forgiveness, he knew what to say at any given moment, and spoke in mercy when it was needed, and judgement when it was called for.  How we balance our lives crucially affects the ministry of the Church.  As the body of Christ ,we need to walk boldly demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit, but  also walk in love, peace, and humility demonstrating the love of the Father.
• Milk  – is used in baked products to improve texture and mouthfeel.  The protein in milk also gives a soft crumb structure in cakes, and contributes to moisture, color and flavor of baked products.  Cakes that contain milk also tend to have a longer shelf life.  Milk is like our spiritual growth. 

1 Peter 2:1  “Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”

  But before Peter gets there, he tells the reader to lay aside those things that hinder  us. We are to lay aside:

• All malice
• All deceit
• Hypocrisy
• Envy
• All evil speaking

All these sins aim at harming other people, whereas love seeks the good of others.

We are to hunger for God’s Word like a baby craves milk.  Just as milk provides physical nourishment, God’s Word provides spiritual nourishment.  As we grow spiritually, we become an asset to the body of Christ, we add to the texture, or feel how the world perceives us.  As we grow in Christ, we become flavorful, attractive, and able to stand against evil, and persevere in our faith, causing others to grow also.

Now all the ingredients are gathered for the “Cake”, measured precisely for the desired result.  Next, the ingredients are combined together, and mixed up or beaten together producing the “batter” which it will be baked in the oven for the cake to be produced. 

All of these ingredients are crucial for the cake to be perfect.  Even though some seem to be alike in their purpose, they each bring something extra to the recipe.  Just like each of us as believers all have the same purpose, we each bring something extra and necessary to the body. 

We are all “different” ingredients needed to work together in the body of Christ; to spread the good news of the gift of salvation to a lost and dying world.  As we become the perfect bride preparing herself for the Bridegroom, we become more and more appealing to others, just as the aroma of a cake baking in the oven, brings anticipation for others to partake of it.  Let us be willing to be measured, stirred up, and put in the fire to become that attractive “cake” so that others may eat of Him.

Romans 12:1-13

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.   Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.6In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.  Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.