Remove the Leaven by Brother Duke Hansen

        One of the commandments God gave to the church is to "watch and pray". If you are following the basics of your faith, you are pushing against the opposition spirit, the enemy as well as your own flesh nature. Applying yourself daily to your walk with God is key to being the light others are seeking.

        There is a common question man asks throughout the history of Christianity and that is about the specifics of God's commands. Man will ask of the scripture if God's commands are somewhat like basic or even a little vague to be interpreted. There is a belief today as then that God is somewhat disengaged from his people so he is not outlining specifics to his people today. In the 12th chapter of Exodus, there are directions given on the passover before the last plague in Egypt.  That plague was where the first born of all creatures had been slain. That's a hard thing to read about for our flesh man to understand. A loving God but a vengeful God. If you can't reconcile yourself to parts of the Bible which are painful for your flesh, and hold on to the parts which make your flesh feel good, you are deceived. The parts which you disagree with didn't quit being relevant in this day and age. 

        Let's look at verse 15 of Exodus chapter 12;

        15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever earth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, thou shall be cut off from Israel.

        Let's review that verse. You are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, tossing out the leaven. If you eat the leavened bread, you are cut off from the spiritual end of Israel. The scripture breaks down leaven even further in the New Testament. Jesus said that he is the bread of life in John chapter 6. Leaven is yeast for bread which causes the bread to rise. There are several carnal sins which are like leaven. Jesus tells the parable of the leaven which is recorded in the book of Luke.

        We are going to the book of Galatians now. Turn to chapter 5 and go to verse 7. Paul speaks to the church;

        7 Ye did run well, who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 

        8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

        9 A little leaven leaventh the whole lump.

       10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgement, whosoever he be.

        11 And I, brethren, if I preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.

        In this scripture Paul is asking the church who has hindered them to not obey the truth. A little leaven or darkness darkens the whole lump of bread. In verse 10 Paul is asking the church to separate themselves from the lie which is hindering them in verse 10. Look at verse 11. This verse speaks about more of pleasing man rather than God.

        Moving down to verse 19 in this chapter Paul writes a lengthy list to the church of spiritual sins that not only they, but also you and I, need to avoid and overcome.

        19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

        20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

        21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

        The list given are all spiritual bondages and strongholds in life. What you are able to remove from this one list then you can see the fruits of the spirit in the following verses.

        22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

        23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

        This portion of scripture is speaking truth to true faith. The perfection of love casts out fear. If I believe that God loves me, nothing will affect me. There is no fear in love. If there is fear in your life which you are letting rule over you, you need to address it.

        Think about the love of God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Pray for those who aren't covered by the blood. Intercede for them. The leaven is continuing to grow and expand. The leaven has to grow. There is a purification process, where in the Old Testament it took 7 days. You know how long that process is today, and you need to allow God to remove that leaven and prepare you for the trials, the frustrations, the growth.

        As Paul said, our bodies are made to be a living sacrifice. Holy and pleasing to God. Your sin man, the leaven, has to be destroyed. As gold is purified in the flames, that carnal man needs to be burned.