Where do you get your leaven?

¹¹ The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. ¹² And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” ¹³ And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.   ¹⁴ Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”^[b] 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread.

When Jesus says “watch out”, it probably is very important.  We normally say these words when an accident is about to happen.  You look at the driver of the car you are in and think he is unaware of the impending danger that he is about to experience.  Jesus is saying beware, the leaven of the Pharisee can come at any moment.

What is this leaven and why is it bad? This type of leaven are thoughts of doubt about the power and kingdom of God released here on earth.  This leaven comes when we place ourselves in the position of a Judge.  The Pharisees saw the same miracles as the other disciples, yet they did not believe.  They felt as if one more type of miracle would then persuade them of Jesus claim to be God.  Jesus said that even if a person rose again from the dead, they still would not believe.  Why?  Because of the leaven of thought in their mind, that God would never become a man and walk among them.  They had a thought about the character of God that was different than this man, Jesus.  These thoughts were so ingrained in their thinking that Jesus said because they thought they could see, they would remain in their blindness. 

Can God raise a person from death today?  Can He use you to do it?  Can God multiply food to feed people?  Can He heal a person of cancer?  Can He save and transform your “messed up” relative?  The excuses that we give defending why these are not part of our normal Christian walk, reveal the little bits of leaven in our own thinking.  Jesus example to the disciples about the leaven was for them to remember the miracle of multiplication of bread and fish.  Remembering how God has worked in the past, helps face the dilemma in our present.  We are to draw strength from our past experiences of God’s grace.  This remembering chorales our mind to think right thoughts.  Say out loud.  “I know that God was with me during this ….. and I know that He will be with me now.”  Even if there is no feeling of His presence, you “right” thought will negate the leaven of “God doesn’t care.”

I was once part of a group of people that were experiencing laughter and joy.  There were many who expressed a renewed freshness in their walk with God.  Out of your bellies shall flow rivers of living water and by this he meant the Spirit.  I saw with my own eyes the joy.  I saw how many were nearly drunk with joy.  Although I was present, I did not have the same experience.  On one night there was about 15 people present.  I was worshiping, but also judging.  Was this really real? Were people just caught up in the hype of the moment?  Was this going to make a difference in their daily walk with Christ?  This prayer time went on for about an hour and a half.  I was going to pray out loud.  But I couldn’t!  I could move my lips, tongue and mouth.  I could think of the words that I wanted to say, but they were stopped in my throat.  No pain, I just could not speak.  Then I remembered Zachariah, John the Baptist father.  Because he doubted what God was going to do in giving him a son, he would be made mute for a season.  When he emerged from the temple, he could not speak.  For 3 hours after the prayer time that night, I could not speak.  I knew this was directly related to my doubting that night.  This was not about verifying everyone’s experience of joy and laughter, it was about the leaven of doubt that resided in me.

Some have no leaven and can’t comprehend why someone would second guess the miracles and movement of God.  Yes, we need to be careful to not be deceived.  Are the fruit of miracles leading to the glory of Jesus?  Jesus tells us to watch out, it only takes a little bit of leaven to ruin the whole batch.  Just a few incorrect thoughts about how God wants to work in and through your life can stifle His power from being realized through you.  Ask him to reveal any leaven in regards to the free exercise of His presence and  power in your sphere of influence.

Father, forgive us for sitting in judgment of your ways.  You ask us to believe.  Help us to understand how much influence incorrect thoughts about you have on our lives. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  Repentance includes changing the way we think…because we have been thinking wrongly.  Any thought that is against your character is wrong.  You are loving, you are good, you are holy, you are caring, you are in control, you are purposeful.  Help us Oh God.  In Jesus Name, Amen.