A Little Leaven…

I’m been thinking about something for the last few days…and this morning the thought came to me…it’s a scripture that says, A little leaven, leaven’s the whole lump! Found in Galatians 5:9. (Paul was talking about circumcision. You can read about it in Galatians. I’m not going to discuss all that here. I’m going to talk to you about our hearts.)

I’d like to say this before I get started…I am only a woman, but I have been transformed by the renewing of my heart and mind by the blood of Jesus, the Messiah. I have been gloriously filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and have, had, the Pentecostal experience. I am not perfect. But Jesus has saved me from sin and death. I write because He has called me to do so and in obedience to Him that’s what I’m going to do.

I am redeemed…like Big Daddy Weave sings….So I’ll shake off these heavy chains, wipe away every stain…No, I’m, not, who, I, used, to, be…I am redeemed…

Now with that out of the way let me continue. (And please know I love you)

A little leaven, leavens the whole lump…

So, you may be scratching your head saying, “Marla what are you saying?” Well, for those of you who are asking that question let me see if I can explain.

Have you ever heard the expression, “She’s a little pregnant?” Well, women can’t be a little pregnant, you either are, or, you are not. That makes sense doesn’t it? Or if you take a can of white paint and you add just a drop of red, blue, black or whatever color you prefer into the white paint, it is no longer white. See where I’m going with that?

Ok so, when God told the Israelites to get ready to leave Egypt, they would need to leave in a hurry…he told them to make unleavened bread, that is bread without yeast, because they wouldn’t have time to wait for the bread to rise…Exodus 12:39 (leaven represents sin…Sin is separation from God, anything that comes between us and God.)

So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:29-30 New Living Translation (NLT)

In Bible days everything was external…The children of God, followed the Law of Moses. But when Jesus came, everything changed from being external to internal…God has always wanted our hearts. But sin caused death, and the only way to bring total relationship back to his creation was to send his Son the perfect blood sacrifice to purchase us back from death. 

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Galatians 5:9 New King James Version (NKJV) 

Be aware of false teachers…take the whole counsel of God, read and study God’s word for yourselves…and pray for understanding…go to those who have been proven true and who live what they teach and preach. If what they say does not line up with the word of God don’t listen to them and read your Bible.

If there is a little sin in the house, it makes the whole house unworthy. House being our heart. God no longer required circumcision to fulfill the covenant…there was a new covenant; it is the circumcision of our hearts, by the shed blood of Jesus. The veil was torn forever, we have total and complete access to the Holy of Holies…into the very presence of God, the place where God dwells because of Jesus’ provision as the perfect lamb.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 New King James Version (NKJV) 

If there is leaven in your heart even the tiniest amount please wash your heart right now by the water of the Word of God so that your heart is clean and pure and so that you can enter into the Holy Place and dwell in the presence of the living God. He loves you more than you can imagine. Open your heart and let Him come in and fellowship with you. There is no greater relationship than being with your Papa God, laughing with Jesus and letting the Holy Spirit show you more and more, who He is!!! Selah!! (Stop and meditate on that for a while) 

(Leaven such as envy, strife, hatred, bitterness, lies, covetousness, adultery, idol worship, love of money, lusts, pride; the list goes on…Christians, this ought not be…the blood of Jesus cleanses a multitude of sin. Get rid of the leaven.)

For bread they baked flat cakes from the dough without yeast they had brought from Egypt. It was made without yeast because the people were driven out of Egypt in such a hurry that they had no time to prepare the bread or other food. Exodus 12:39 New Living Translation (NLT)

When Jesus returns, there won’t be time to get rid of the sin in your heart so keep your heart clean. He will come as a thief in the night….Be ready!! For at a time when you least expect it…He will come! The thing is will you be going with Him? I sure hope so!

1 Thessalonians 5:2-17 New Living Translation (NLT) For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. ⁸ But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Paul’s Final Advice

Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

~Marla Shaw O’Neill June 20, 2017