We must not hide our sins; we must remove the old leaven

From: September 4 – 10, 2007

Pastor: Edith Cruz

Study: # 508

TOPIC: “We must not hide our sins; we must remove the old leaven” 1 Corinthians 5:7 God’s grace is marvelous. It’s the greatest thing that Christ has given us. He gave it to us. This is why we must take good care of the grace that is in us. The first opportunity given by the Lord to participate of His blessings is unique. Then, we must guard well what has been given to us. If we despise this given by God and we walk away, we don’t know if there will be a second opportunity for us; therefore, this is very risky for our lives. This is why we must take care and zeal this path more than anything. Prayer is what will keep us away from pride and will help us reach what Heaven is moving for this world. Prayer is extremely important for our lives. Also, to know the Word of God, search the Word for our knowledge to work in our lives so that we will grow each day, not for this world but for what is spiritual. If we know how we should walk in God’s will, we will be able to live a full life that we have ahead of us. Mercy comes from God to us, not from men. We must know God’s kindness and mercies and use justice because this comes from Jesus also. He is the only righteous, He justified us. That is why we practice justice, because we learn it from Him. The integrity that we are learning comes from God’s kindness and mercy. We will not find integrity in our daily living but only before His presence. Our soul has to be afflicted and that is not shameful. When Paul wrote these verses he was far from his brothers and sisters in Christ from Corinth. He was not present but he heard about the bad things that were happening in that church. When he heard about the sin that was taking place in that church, not even heard by the impious, this had caused him great astonishment. Even though some believe they’re sinning in the dark, their acts are heard and seen by all. The church has to be ready to be disciplined so that the Holy Spirit can work. We cannot let the Holy Spirit become sad by anyone in church. There was talk everywhere about the immorality of men who should be saints. The church must be taught to have integrity and purity. Only those who plot wickedness teach wickedness to those who cross their path. There were problems of immorality in the church. What is wrong should be accused, spoken, and brought to the light in order to be cleansed. If we bring to church corruption, this will cause degeneration, and then the Holy Spirit has to leave because The Holy Spirit does not know what degeneration is and will not be in the midst of what is impure. Paul said that the Corinthians did not recognize or see the sin that was moving in the church. When we are elected by God we get into trouble. The church of Corinth became vain, proud; they were not able to see sin. We should go crazy, desperate when we see sin so that we can experience God’s mercy. It seems to be easier to go along with sin and protect it before taking it out. It is better to sense the blessings than to receive discipline to remove what is wrong. The members are loved more than God’s sanctity. We can only please God with sanctity. What are we stumbling on? Doesn’t it shake us to

be in sin? Instead of crying out our sin we are hiding. What is wrong should cause us fear. Sin is not hilarious. If we are in sin our gifts are not useful. Why do we become vain instead of regretting our sin and crying out? If instead of feeling deeply sorrow because of our sin we keep it hidden, then we do not love sanctity. Spiritual purity allows a church to have members who walk in purity and integrity. Our acts will speak. The Holy Spirit must not be sad among us. Paul said that he had judged the matter as if he was present even though he was far, he judged what he had heard. We have the right to declare what is wrong. It is easy to live in comfort. The power belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ and it does not come from us. Indifference destroys. In the church there must be perfection. Out of the church we will find Satan’s domain, the whole world is under his evil influence. We must love God more than our personal interests. Otherwise, we will never surrender our lives completely. If the Holy Spirit dwells in us and we represent God we must feel what God feels. We must love what God loves. Men love to keep everything for themselves quietly so that no one will find out. For Saul and for Peter who denied Jesus everything was published. Cain received a mark on his body. For sin to be uncovered discipline is necessary in order to bring repentance and salvation of the spirit in the day of the Lord. Salvation is for eternity, forever; we will dwell eternally and will be with the Lord. Imprudence, boldness, conceit, vanity, ridiculous presumption, and boasting are not good at all. The church must understand what a small amount of leaven is. We sometimes say: I did this only once or I didn’t mean to do it. “For the glory of God to leave the church does not happen inadvertently”! A small amount of leaven harms all the dough, it is wasted, there will be no bread to nourish and one will die of hunger. The leaven will ferment all the dough. We must maintain the churches character with strength, clamor, prayer, humbleness and by facing whatever lies ahead of us. 2 Corinthians 13: 10 Paul said that it was necessary to have sharpness, for edification and that we must be firm, rigorous in judgment and strict. The church must be edified, not with foolishness or to feel comfortable. In church is where God’s presence is, for edification and not for destruction. For this reason there is discipline. The church is not to be destroyed with sin, and no one will take our church Mega Zoe out of foundation. 1 Timothy 1:19, 20 Those men were shipwrecked in their faith. They were supposed to arrive at the harbor loaded, rising the banner, but instead they were lost at sea, they threw away the gyro compass. Our life in faith moves the work of God. If we are detained in the middle of the sea, it is because we have not caught anything, then we will remain in a labyrinth, stumbling, and then we raise our fist against God and we speak against God’s will. Titus 3:11 Division is brought to the church with a point of view that “to sin is not bad.” No church should bear such stupidity. We have to avoid social contact with these persons. If the person is to be saved, there will be repentance. We have a responsible duty to watch out for the church. The church becomes a personal interest for many. Some try to satisfy their frustrations which they had previously in the world, but the church was lifted by Christ with His death and resurrection for His glory and His kingdom. Amen.