Boom goes the dynamite!
It was a unforgettable day to say the least! Around 565 people attended a memorable service that included the mesmerizing vocals of Kimber Rising, the conclusion of our Wonderment series (Finding God in Honey), RCBand’s rendition of Sugar, Sugar and a dancing bear who handed out bottles of honey. Yes, you read correctly…a dancing bear.
Most importantly, several people responded to the message and made new commitments to Jesus!
Wonderment Part 4 – Finding God in Honey
(Inspired by Margaret Feinberg’s book Scouting the Divine)
Click HERE to listen to the raw (no musical intro/outro) podcast.
Click HERE to listen to the edited (with musical intro/outro) podcast (to be uploaded this week).
Click HERE to watch the teaching video.
Synopsis: There around 70 references to honey listed throughout Scripture. In Wonderment Part 3 we will gather insight from the beehive, examine the faith of a beekeeper, and take a deep look at God’s supernatural provision.
Key Scripture: Psalm 34:8 (Taste and see that the Lord is good!)
What I Have Learned Recently About Bees:
- Estimates suggest that 1/3 of the human diet is derived from insect-pollinating plants.
- The honeybee contributes 80% of all pollination.
- A bee must consume 60 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of wax.
- A hive of bees can travel as far as 55,000 miles and tap more than 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey.
- The yield of honey for a beekeeper requires perfect conditions to align.
Read Exodus 3:1-8 (NLT)
- Land flowing with milk and honey implies the land was abounding with grass and flowers. (a new place that overflowed with provision).
- The Hebrew word used for honey (Exodus 3:8) appears more than 50 times in the OT, has been translated as “bee’s honey” or “syrup.”
3 Types of Bees:
(Watch this VIDEO for a detailed description.)
- Queen (rules the hive)
- Drones (fertilize the queen)
- Female Worker Bees (multi-taskers)
Bees and followers have something this in common: We both have specific roles to play in order to serve within the community.
Romans 12:3-13 (NLT)
3 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 (I’m never going to be on our worship team), measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function (what’s your function?), 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Will you be a worker?) 6 In 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. 7 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. 9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really LOVE them. Hate what (not WHO) is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good (keep your hand on the plow). 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically (bees aren’t lazy). 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
When we work together = sweet (pun intended).
- There are different kinds of spiritual gifts.
- There are different kinds of service.
- Apostle Paul ends chapter 12 by stating, “I will now show you a more excellent way.” Then he goes into Chapter 13 which is the love chapter. In other words, it doesn’t matter how many spiritual gifts you well and how polished you are at using them; if you don’t have LOVE, they’re useless.
- Your spiritual gift is NOT pointing out other people’s sin.
- The Spirit determines which gift(s) you have. We don’t choose. You can desire to have certain gifts but don’t be like a spoiled child on Christmas morning if you don’t get the gift you want.
- Use your gift.
- Use your gift well.
- Are you using your gifts, talents and abilities to build your personal empire or God’s kingdom?
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Sweet.
~PC
