Are You Seasoned

Are You Seasoned

Leviticus 2:13-13

“Are You Seasoned?”

Seasoned: The Etymology of the word seasoned is from the French “assaisoner” meaning to ripen, to give food more flavor or zest by adding seasoning or savory ingredients, to give a distinctive quality to, to treat as wood or a skillet so as to prepare for use, to make fit by experience.

The Seasoning Process: When seasoning wood there are different types, there is what is known as:

Kiln dried: Heat and airflow is in an enclosed space is used to dry out all the water content in the wood very quickly.

Air-dried: As the name implies, this is wood that is dried by air alone. No artificial heat source is used in the process.

Seasoned Wood: Wood that has been dried while retaining various oils and resins. These oils and resins undergo a chemical transformation where they harden the wood fibers, producing a stronger piece of wood.

* After a chemical transformation within the wood it is still wood. It looks the same as it did before the process began; however, on the inside it has undergone a great change. The word transformation is: the operation of changing one configuration or expression into another: (I was sad, but now I am happy) a change of variables or coordinates in which a function of new variables or coordinates is substituted for each original variable or coordinate (I was on my way to hell, but I have had a transformation and I am on my way to HEAVEN): a genetic modification of a bacterium by incorporation of free DNA from another ruptured bacterial cell: genetic modification of a cell by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA (Because of His nail scared hands and feet, because of the crown of thorns on His head, because of the wound in His side He became ruptured and my soul has incorporated His DNA and I have undergone a genetic modification. In other words old things are passed away and behold all things have become new.). The bible says in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed (undergo a spiritually chemical transformation) by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” I am being seasoned.

Then there is what is called seasoning cast iron. I learned this from my wife. Cast Iron Cookware must be seasoned properly and it will last a lifetime. To season a new cast iron pan

1. Heat the oven to 250o - 300o

2. Coat the pan with lard or bacon grease. Don’t use a liquid vegetable oil because it will leave a sticky surface and the pan will not be properly seasoned.

3. Put the pan in the oven. In 15 minutes, remove the pan & pour out any excess grease. Place the pan back in the oven and bake for 2 hours.

Repeating this process several times is recommended, as it will help create a stronger "seasoning" bond.

If the pan was not seasoned properly or a portion of the seasoning wore off and food sticks to the surface or there is rust, then it should be properly cleaned and re-seasoned.

1. Remove any food residue by cleaning the pan thoroughly with hot water and a scouring pad. Understand that heating the pan first to a temperature that is still safe to touch helps open the pores of the metal and makes it easier to clean.

2. Dry the pan immediately with dishtowel or paper towel.

3. Season the pan as outlined above.

When I think about the seasoning process I think about Malachi 3:3 “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

A refiner of silver or gold is called a silversmith or goldsmith and the process of refining the gold or silver is a process that when looked at spiritually you see and understand the mighty hand-work of God.

To refine silver or gold is to hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. In refining silver or gold, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. God is holding us in the middle of the hot spots in life to season us. The whole time the silver or gold is in the fire the refiner has to sit in front of the fire the whole time the silver or gold is being refined. The refiner, he not only has to sit there holding the silver, but he has to keep his eyes on the silver or gold the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver or gold were left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. No matter how long it seems you have been in the fire, God knows and will not leave you in there to long. He is refining and seasoning you. The question is, "How do you know when the silver or gold is fully refined?" The answer is when I see my image in it." God will send us through the seasoning and refining fires until he is able to see His image in us. Repeating this process several times is recommended, as it will help create a stronger "seasoning" bond.