The Parable of Leaven

Intro:

If there is anything we have learned so far from the parables it is this. There is exponential potential when the seed of God’s word is planted in a receptive heart. The humble will produce great harvest when they put their hand to kingdom work. While we work for the kingdom the seed grows. Our faithfulness is to the work, God’s faithfulness grows the seed.

In today’s parable Jesus uses a simple illustration of leaven (yeast). Matthew 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.””

From a natural understanding yeast converts sugar and starch ( from the sugar and flour in the bread mix ) into carbon dioxide and ethanol. The carbon dioxide gas makes the dough rise. Jesus uses this natural process to illustrate the effect of the kingdom of God in the earth.

Leaven is mentioned seven times in the New Testament. Two times it references the parable Jesus shares in Matthew 13:33, and Luke 13:20-21. These two references are good in their context. The other five give reference to the effect of sin, immorality, wickedness, or the false doctrine of the Pharisee’s and Sadducees. I encourage you to further study the other references as they will not be the focus of this message.

Before we jump into the rest of the message lets pause to pray.

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Submit & Apply:

Last week in the parable of the mustard seed I made this point “little is much in the kingdom of God”. Jesus also uses the mustard seed in Matthew 17 to illustrate the effect and force of faith. In the story in Matthew 17 a young boy suffers from sever epilepsy. The father of the boy brings his son to the disciples and they could not heal the boy.

Jesus, along with Peter, James, and John have just come down off the mount of transfiguration where Jesus’s visible image was changed showing the glory of God. The father tells Jesus what happened and ultimately in the story Jesus makes the young man well by casting out a demon.

When the disciples asked Jesus privately why they couldn’t do it this was his response.

Matthew 17:20-21 “So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.””

Once again we see that little is much in the kingdom of God. Effectiveness for the kingdom of God has little to do with credentials or titles. It has everything to do with the measure of our faith. The potency of faith is not revealed by the worlds standards. Faith as small as mustard seed can have massive impact. The way it works is through the illustration of leaven.

First, the kingdom of God and its seed may have small beginnings, but it will increase. Yeast is microscopic in size, and only a little is kneaded into the dough. Yet, given time, the yeast will spread through all the dough. In the same way, Jesus’ domain started with twelve men in an obscure corner of Galilee, but it has spread throughout the world. The gospel makes progress. Zechariah 4:10.

Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

Dreams and visions from the Lord come in seed form. They develop in secret until the time of their unveiling. Once it sprouts avoid the temptation of comparison.

What is planted will take time to mature. Learn to enjoy the season and the process. The trap of comparison can kill whats planted.

Celebrate what God has done in others and what He is doing in you.

What he has placed in you is intended to help the world around you. What begins in obscurity can like leaven can ultimately spread throughout the whole world. The kingdom advances through the people of God’s faithful obedience to His call.

Second, the kingdom of God exerts its influence from within, not from without. Yeast makes dough rise from within. God first changes the heart of a person, and that internal change has external manifestations.

The gospel influence in a culture works the same way: Christians within a culture act as agents of change, slowly transforming that culture from within.

If we will seek the Lord He will give us visions and dreams for our lives, our families, our schools, our community, etc. The way the vision comes to pass is first by the transformation of our hearts.

The seed of the word gives us kingdom eyes to look through. When we seek the Lord in prayer he gives us strategy through the Holy Spirit. These internal changes coupled with the leading of the Holy Spirit leads us to righteous actions that are seen by others.

Examples of this is outreach. When the Lord changes our heart we begin to see others by their created value not simply their present actions. The addict on the street is no longer seen as a drag on society, but a lost son or daughter who is greatly loved by God. The Holy Spirit helps you see beyond addiction to their God given purpose. The process of change may be messy, but that doesn’t matter. They may fail 20 times but the man or woman of God is there to help them get up and realize their kingdom potential.

Believers live as agents of change bringing the dominion of God’s rule in the earth. Those who were bound are set free by the power of the name and blood of Jesus. Step by step we destroy the works of the enemy.

Something the Lord told me this week, wherever we choose to be silent darkness reigns. Let me show you how God chooses to work in the earth.

Ezekiel 22:23-30 “And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”

Third, the effect of the kingdom of God will be comprehensive. Just as yeast works until the dough has completely risen, the ultimate benefit of the kingdom of God will be worldwide. Psalm 72:19. Habakkuk 2:14.

Psalm 72:19 “And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.”

Habakkuk 2:14 “For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

God’s glory is the magnificence, worth, loveliness, and grandeur of his many perfections. God communicates his glory through his creation (Romans 1), image-bearers (Genesis 1), providence (Hebrews 1:3), and redemptive acts (Romans 5:8). God’s people respond by glorifying him (Psalm 34:1). God receives glory and, through uniting his people to Christ, shares his glory with them.

God’s glory is revealed in Christ. It is seen in miracles signs of wonders. It is reinforced in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is seen in the person of the Holy Spirit and His mighty acts upon the earth. Ultimately glory speaks of God’s special presence. The effect of the kingdom is the whole being filled with Glory, as the waters cover the sea. This happens through surrendered people who are made in the image of God.

We are couriers of His glory and presence. When we are transformed by the word we will walk with His nature. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit we will see the gifts of the spirit in operation. The lame will leap, the mute will speak, the sick will be healed, and the power of the gospel will penetrate and convict the heart of unbelievers bringing them to salvation.

Fourth, although the kingdom of God works invisibly, its effect is evident to all. Yeast does its job slowly, secretly and silently, but no one can deny its effect on bread. The same is true of the work of grace in our hearts. The nature of yeast is to grow and to change whatever it contacts. When we accept Christ, His grace grows in our hearts and changes us from the inside out. As the gospel transforms lives, it exerts a pervasive influence in the world at large. As we “reflect the Lord’s glory, [we] are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

I believe it is vital for us to get this point. The kingdom of God works invisibly, but its effect is evident to all. It is easy to be derailed by what we don’t see happening. Keep your eyes on the vision God has given you. Be faithful to it! It doesn’t matter what you see or don’t see. Live your life with a resounding yes to Jesus. Give him your best and your all. Seek His face, study the word, serve his people, and his purposes. Leave the results up to him. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”

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Closing:

The American gospel has focused on seeing the increase. The gospel of the kingdom is faithful partnership of believers who are on mission tilling the ground, sowing seed, and watering. We may not be the one to see the harvest from the seeds we have sown. That is ok sow the seed anyway. The advancement of the kingdom is not about what we can get from it, but what can we give to it.

The Lord will take care of our lives, and bless us. We do not need to be focused on our personal welfare. Instead like Jesus let’s learn to be about the fathers business! Sow the gospel seed like leaven until it leavens the whole lump. Though it has small beginnings it will pierce the conscience of the hearer, enlighten the understanding, bring salvation, and transform the one who will receive it.

Let’s Pray!

Courage and Conviction

Salvation