Midweek Message from the Archive
Understanding the Mysteries- Part Two
Jesus told parables to enlighten his followers on the Kingdom of God, some are mysterious and hard to understand, that’s for sure, but as believers we have the sole privilege of understanding His meaning … most of the time.
The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour till it was all leavened. Matt. 13:34
Leaven, also translated yeast, produces a chemical reaction with bubbles that causes dough to rise. The root of this Greek word means ‘to be stirred up like a boiling pot’: it’s fervency, passion, or even jealousy.
The woman in the parable perfectly represents the believer whose heart desires the passion and fervency of the Holy Spirit in their life. The majority of time leaven is used in Scripture has a negative connotation but this time there’s absolutely a positive spin. Jesus knew He created people to possess passion; the question is where do you place those passions?
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rom. 12:11 ESV
… never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord. Rom. 12:11 AMP
Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Rom. 12:11 NIV
This passionate woman who wanted to keep her spiritual fervor boiling hot realized that it had to permeate into three areas of her life, like yeast. I believe those areas are her spirit, her soul, and her body. Her entire being needed to be leavened, filled and bubbling over with the Holy Spirit.
When you’re filled with the Spirit your life changes; He penetrates into every area and transforms your thinking, your emotions, your perspectives, and your opinions. He infiltrates to such an extent that you advance in kingdom living like never before. When you allow the Holy Spirit to immerse you like a baptism (Acts 1:5) the rule of Christ infiltrates every aspect of living and you experience His reign in your life.
Zeal is contagious, it spreads like leaven and people will be influenced by it (Titus 2:14), therefore, Paul encourages us to passionately desire the higher gifts (1 Cor. 12:31) especially those that build up the Body of Christ in love. Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea about their lack of leaven, lukewarmness, and self-centeredness:
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Rev. 3:19
So I ask you today, do you identify with the woman who took leaven and hid it in her life? Are you walking in kingdom principles by following God’s instructions from His Word? Are you experiencing victory in your spirit, soul, and body? Let’s grow together in our understanding of these mysteries asking the Spirit to fill us every day.
For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2 Cor. 11:2-3
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