Category: Avoiding Sin

Galatians 5:9 (NKJV) 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

These 7 words are very powerful, and they can apply to so many aspects of our lives.

Today we’ll be looking at them through the lens of God’s word, as believers, followers of Christ.

What is leaven? Leaven in this verse refers to yeast, as used in the making of bread.

Yeast is used to make bread rise. In beverages, it is used to cause fermentation in that drink.

Leaven permeates whatever it is used in.

Such is the case with sin, which is what leaven represents in the verse above. Paul was writing to warn the Galatians that even a little sin would permeate their walk with God and destroy it if left unchecked.

The Galatians had responded to the gospel of Christ enthusiastically, receiving it in faith, propelling them to grow as believers, walking out God’s word in their lives.

But outsiders who claimed to know Christ in His fulness had begun to teach the Galatians a false doctrine.

And that doctrine was eating away at their faith walk, causing them to stumble and abandon the truth.

Sin does the very same thing. Most times it sneaks in a little, tiny piece at a time. It is subtle; seemingly harmless. But its bite is lethal, slowly leading us to death if we don’t acknowledge it and deal with it.

Let’s root out the leaven (sin, ungodly influences or false teachings), before it’s too late and the whole lump (our walk with God) is permeated by it, killing it slowly.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!

Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV) 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

I’ve read in some notes by well-known Bible scholars that this verse (which is loosely based on a quote from Isaiah) is being directed at unbelievers, urging them to put their faith in Christ.

Paul urges his readers to arise from the dead. In doing so, Christ will give them light.

And while what Paul says is surely true, if we read the verses leading up to this verse, and the rest of the chapter after this verse, everything Paul wrote was being aimed at believers.

In light of that, we need to assume that Paul was speaking to believers, not unbelievers.

If that’s the case, what is he saying to us? What does it mean?

Well, if we read verses 1-13, we will see that he is addressing sin in the lives of believers, admonishing the believers at Ephesus to abstain from the behaviors and practices that held them in bondage prior to putting their faith in Christ.

It’s safe to say, then, that we need to pay close attention to this and apply it to our own lives, making sure that we are not falling into things that pull us away from God. But, instead, shaking off these things and making every effort to be drawn to God.

Verses 15 and 16 go on to tell us that we should walk circumspectly.

Circumspectly is an interesting word. What does it mean?

It means being careful, cautious, guarded, wary, watchful, attentive, alert and vigilant!

Why? Because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV) 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-439-3780

If you know someone who will enjoy this or be encouraged by it, please feel free to share it with them!