Purging the Leaven by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning. This morning we will be reading from the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 6. In this chapter, the apostle Paul is writing about the wickedness that was prevalent in the church there in Corinth. Early in life as children our minds build expectations for things that the reality never truly measures to. People as adults have unnecessary high expectations for things that the reality will never match. You have these ideas and expectations about a job you want, a person you may date, a home you want, or even a vehicle to drive. Those expectations lift moments up where you lie to yourself in your head that if you just can get that job, that person to see them, that house, or even that truck that your life will be set. You will have no more needs. Expectations always fall short to the reality of things.

        The same lofty and unreasonable goals also show up when you seek a relationship with Jesus. You want to be a believer who can move mountains, save dozens from hell's flames, heal the sick, raise the dead, feed the hungry, and you only repeated a sinner's prayer at the end of a church service. The reality of it is you need to take a couple of steps. The reality is you need to study the scriptures to show yourself the truth. The reality is you need to pray without ceasing not just for others but for yourself. The reality is you need to be baptized in Jesus name and you need to receive the holy ghost. 

        One reason that we walk about the world with such high and unattainable expectations is because we have so many creature comforts at the tip of our hand. From the comfort of air conditioning, to the amenities of our vehicles, to our investments in our entertainment, to the computer in our pocket disguised as a phone. Two generations ago, people had more realistic expectations because they didn't have all these tools we had. They had the sweat on their brow and the knowledge of financial calamity behind them. Each generation afterwards has obtained more things, more comforts and those comforts have softened us. Society has coerced us with lies, many lies, that comfort our flesh and dulls our spiritual senses. 

        Let's speak about correction. Many of you have a problem being told that you are wrong on something or anything for that matter. You swell up angry and walk away, mumble under your breath, or find another person equally bitter to run your mouth to about that correction. In the Bible, there's a lot of correction that your flesh doesn't like but that correction will improve your relationship with God if you let it. If a relationship with God does not challenge you or make you better in your life, you may not even have a relationship. Hearing what you want to hear to justify your actions isn't love. You never get that from God in the scripture. Stop thinking Jesus is some benevolent figure who loves you just the way you are. He has expectations and ideals for us to follow. Stop thinking he is a genie in a bottle to rub when you get in trouble.

        Turn to chapter 5 in 1 Corinthians. We are going to read verse 6.

        6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

        7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

        You are to purge your flesh and be sincere with God. You may be wondering what to purge. Take out all the garbage in your life that you have accumulated and collected. I'm not talking about smoking, or drinking, or cursing. I'm talking about the pain, the hurts, the slights, all the junk that has happened to us which we have accumulated and then cradle for our own comfort. We use that junk to be a victim in public. We conveniently forget the truth God has already given us and we chase down the world's affections and sympathy. Sin always is conceived in your mind before your flesh makes it manifest.

        8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

        Where have we gotten in trouble in our life? When we got puffed up in our flesh. You have to keep your mouths shut and move past your flesh nature. The problem is we are leavened. Our flesh is in charge too often.

        Let's not do things the old way or repeat ourselves with that old leaven or leaven composed of malice and wickedness. Use that truth and be sincere in your dealings.

        I'm going to speak about anger for a minute. Some people like to milk that anger. Some people's anger is quick, fast, and then it's done. 98% of people working in anger are trying to find a way out. 2% of people are wanting to get physical. All types of things stir our anger because we have leaven. We are prone to love ourselves quickly. Let's continue to read with verse 9.

        9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

      10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

      11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

      12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

      13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.   

        Who is more ungodly- The sinner in the world? Or the person who speaks God, sings about God in church and live wrong out in the world? Why don't you try and catch yourself in a lie about yourself or with others. Are you skirting issues in your life or are you facing them head on? Some of us are a pressure mine. We get talked to or we are moved and then we explode in anger.

        When God looks down at his people, the generations before us, after us, and right now, he sees where your life is from expectations of us. Are you meeting them? Falling short? Every week should be an opportunity to purge that leaven. Don't add more leaven in your lump. You either will feed your spirit man and he will grow or feed your shifty man and he will return you lies to comfort yourself. Your focus needs to be fixed on your faith than your failure.