Half-Baked || Properly-Baked?

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Memory Verse: "Ephraim has mixed itself like flour among the nations; Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side." (Hos.7:8, NET)

Scripture Reading: Eph.4:17-32.

A cake not turned is uncooked on one side; and so Ephraim was, in many respects, untouched by the divine fire of grace: though there was some partial obedience, there was very much rebellion left. 

Friends, I charge us this morning, see whether this be thy case. Are you properly baked in the things of the Spirit? Are you thorough in the things of God? Has the fire of grace gone through the very center of your being so as to be felt in its divine operations in all thy powers, thy actions, thy words, and thy thoughts? 

To be sanctified, spirit, soul, and body, should be our aim and prayer; and although sanctification may not be perfect in us anywhere in degree, yet it must be universal in its action; there must not be the appearance of holiness in one place and reigning sin in another, else we, too, will be a cake not turned, ruined and scorched on one side.

A cake not turned is soon burnt on the side nearest the fire, and yes, it is true that no man can have too much religion, there are some who seem burnt black with bigoted zeal for that part of truth which they have received, or are charred to a cinder with a vain-glorious 'Pharisaic' ostentation of those religious performances which suit their humour (simply put, hypocritical believers). 

The assumed appearance of superior sanctity frequently accompanies a total absence of all vital godliness. The saint in public is a devil in private. The minister on the pulpit is a living dread / nightmare at home. He deals with flour by day and in soot by night. The cake which is burned on one side, is dough on the other.

Let the words of our mouth this morning be, "If it be so with me, O Lord, turn me! Turn my unsanctified nature to the fire of Your love and let it feel the sacred glow, and let my burnt side cool a little while I learn my own weakness and want of heat when I am removed from Your heavenly flame. Let me not be a double minded man, but one entirely under the powerful influence of reigning grace; for well I know if I am left like a cake unturned, and am not on both sides the subject of Your grace, I must be consumed forever in hell. Turn me Lord and ensure that I am a believer properly baked to Your taste."

Ponder Point: Bread baked without love is a bitter bread that feeds but half a man's hunger.

Action Point: Be a properly baked believer having the right combination of fire and love.

Prayer Point: Lord, bake me to Your taste in Jesus name, Amen.