Pastor Larry-Gatlin - "WHAT KIND OF LEAVEN ARE YOU?

WHAT KIND OF LEAVEN ARE YOU?!

Pastor Larry Gatlin, S Oregon

The Word of God describes five distinct types of leaven. Each one has an effect on others.

We all know that leaven is an essential part of baking bread, pastries, and other types of baking.

We all have a tendency when thinking of leaven to look at it in a negative light.

I would like to examine these five forms of leaven and see if we can distinguish the forms of leaven and what they may mean to us.

First let's look at the leaven of the Pharisees:

Mark 8:14-18 NKJ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

The leaven of the Pharisees is the leaven of Religion. It causes people to rely upon their religious experiences rather than having a vital and intimate relationship with Father. They seem to develop a know-it-all attitude and feel that they are superior to every one else. They never seem to reach the point where they have truly Spiritual eyes to see and Spiritual ears to hear. This form of religion leads to hypocrisy and as Paul wrote to Timothy they take on a form of godliness but deny the power.

LEAVEN OF HEROD:

The second leaven found here in this verse is the Leaven of Herod. It is the leaven of compromise. The Herodians would worship the Greek gods instead of following their Jewish roots of worship. They would compromise with the Romans in order to gain wealth and position in the Roman order of government. It also led them to become extremely materialistic. They would follow Roman law as well rather than following the Law of Moses in dealing with the people. This lead to a total lack of respect for Herods rule among the Jews.

There is a however. If it served their purpose the Herodians would side with the Sadducees. Their goal was to at least appease some of the religious folk. Compromise will always take farther and farther away from God and true faith.

In Joshua chapter seven we read the story of what happened when Achan compromised and allowed a little leaven to affect the whole camp. A little sin will always affect others. After a great triumph over Jericho Achan felt justified in taking lute from the victory. But the compromise lead to the defeat of Israel at Ai. When the compromise was discoverred the only way out was to execute Achan and his whole family.

In our lives if we fall into compromise the only way out is to put the compromise out of our lives and deal it a quick death blow. Being careful to never allow it back.

LEAVEN OF ARROGANCE:

The third leaven we come across is the leaven of Arrogance.

1 Cor 5:4-7 NKJ In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Feeling that they were above the authority of Paul and Gods Word the Corinthians allowed a man who had been and was still having sexual relations with his Fathers wife to remain in good standing the church and considered him to be spiritual. Any time some one sets themselves up as a higher or more enlightened one than God, they are moving in a Spirit of Arrogance. It will eventually lead them to a fall.

It doesn't matter if it is a single person, local fellowship, or a denomination, if they set themselves up as a higher authority than Gods Word they are headed for a big surprise. It won't be a pleasant one either.

No one has the corner on the truth market. Truth never changes and is never to be used as a stepping stone for self exaltation. Arrogance will always bring people down to their bases nature and will lead to destruction.

However if a man will humble himself he will find that God will exalt him. It may take a while but God will do the work.

Matt 23:12 NKJ And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

A little leaven will leaven the whole lump and will infect others. Arrogance will definitely affect the lives of others and bread rebellion.

LEAVEN OF FALSE TEACHERS:

The fourth type of leaven is the leaven of false teachers, prophets and doctrine.

Gal 5:4-13 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in The Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you Shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

There are all types of false prophets and teachers preaching every kind of doctrine and actions that you could ever want to find, right on the streets of our cities and towns.

Many of these doctrines are similar to the Gnostics that Paul was dealing with here in Galatians. The Gnostics taught that true enlightenment came from knowledge and experience. So to some any form of knowledge would lead to God. To others any form of physical pleasure could lead to God. So it was that many were being fooled and lead astray by false teaching and prophets.

This leaven appealed to the flesh and brought sexual sin into the church. Sound familiar. We actually see this type of thing happening in the Church today. Some teach that it is by knowledge that we gain a true picture of who God is. Others that it is by works that you gain entrance into the Kingdom. But the truth is unless you have a living relationship with Father in the Spirit your knowledge and works will only cause to become more religious.

The leaven of false teaching and doctrine is very personality oriented and causes people to be dependant on a man or woman instead of God and His Word.

Two modern examples of this would be Jim Jones incident and the David Korish situation. Both were man lead and filled with false teaching. Both had it's roots in truth but were filled with false teaching and doctrine. Jim Jones actually had his roots in the Assemblies of God. But got way off track.

They both exalted their words and teachings above the word of God and the result was destruction.

The fourth leaven was the leaven of the Kingdom of God. This is the leaven that we all need to be infected with and infect others with it.

Matt 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.

When we only see leaven in a negative light we will always be reluctant to step out and allow the leaven of the Kingdom to flow through us.

We are to be leaven to every one we come in contact with. At work, at school, on the job, out shopping or even during times of recreation. As leaven we are called to infect every one we come in contact with.

Also as leaven we are called to "Go into all the World and preach the Gospel."

Mark 16:15-20 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

We are called to do the Works of Christ. We all have areas of influence and we need to be "as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves." Use your influence in a proper way and you'll find yourself gain people for the Kingdom. Use your influence improperly and you'll find yourself being rejected.

It is true; a little leaven infects the whole lump. Are you being a positive form of leaven, or a negative form? Our lives are filled with many pursuits. It is important that we pursue being a positive form of leaven.

In closing then we are to be a people of…

1. CONVICTION --- TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIVES IN PREFERENCE RATHER THAN CONVICTION.

2. PASSION ---- ANYTHING THAT WE SEEK TO DO FOR THE LORD SHOULD BE DONE WITH GREAT PASSION.

3. PURPOSE ---- JESUS CAME INTO THEIS WORLD WITH ONE PURPOSE, TO "SEEK AND TO SAVE THE LOST". SHOULDN'T BE OUR PURPOSE TOO?

UNTIL NEXT TIME, GO OUT AND BE THE LEAVEN FOR THE KINGDOM!

Pastor Larry

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