During the Days of the Unleavened Bread, God commands us to remove leaven, which symbolizes sin, from our lives and dwelling place. The central message of the Days of Unleavened Bread is to teach us the importance of removing sins from our lives so that we become spiritually unleavened.

In 1 Corinthians 5:7, we read:

Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.

So, you and I have become unleavened through the sacrifice of our Passover lamb, Jesus Christ (properly known as Yahshua the Messiah). However, we know that we are not perfect and thus, we are bound to find leaven in our lives.

That’s why, in this blog, let me share with you the 10 compelling ways to stay unleavened not just today, but for the rest of our lives. For us to easily remember these 10 points, I created an acronym. Each point corresponds to the letters of the word, “UNLEAVENED.”

So, let’s start with the letter U.

U – Understand Your Sin

Understanding your sin involves identifying your sin. Remember, you can’t overcome something if you don’t even know it in the first place. Staying unleavened means knowing the difference between leavened and unleavened.

You need to know which products come with leavening because if you don’t, then you might not be able to remove it. DUB is already ending and yet, you never knew that you have leavening products sitting in plain sight.

In the same manner, there are sins in our lives that we don’t know. We need to identify what sin is and this involves honesty and humility.

The Bible tells us in Psalms 139:23-24:

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;

24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

This prayer of David is filled with both honesty and humility. If there’s one Being who can reveal hidden fears, weaknesses, and worries, it would be our Father, Yahweh the Most High. Only Yahweh can reveal to you the real spiritual leaven hiding in your life.

Once you know your sin, you need to have a willing heart to acknowledge it. Sometimes, the one thing that prevents us from changing is that we refuse to acknowledge the problem. For example, alcoholics don’t see drinking as a problem. This prevents them from taking the first step to change. However, once you see, acknowledge, and accept the problem, you’ll have a higher chance of changing your life.

Understanding sin also includes what sin is and its consequences. Sin is the transgression of the law and it leads to broken relationships with God and other people. If you think about it, sin is very deceitful. It makes you think that sin is harmless and it is in fact pleasurable. Yet, once it has fully grown, it brings forth death. Most of the consequences of sin are permanent. You can choose to sin, but you can’t choose the consequences.

So, if you wish to live an unleavened life, identify the sins in your life before it grows uncontrollably. Acknowledge your sins and take further steps to overcome them.

N – Nourish yourself with the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ

In the Bible, we know that bread represents the food that we eat. However, bread is more than that. Bread represents not just food, but all that pertains to our physical life. It also represents our shelter and clothing. It also represents our work as work is the one that gives us bread. Not only that, but bread also represents our material wealth and possessions. In short, bread represents all our concerns in the world. 

The problem is that when we are too focused on the physical bread, we forget about the spiritual bread. The Days of Unleavened Bread highlights the primary food of human beings — bread. However, when we focus on the physical aspect of these days, we might miss the spiritual side.

Thus, let’s read the words of our Savior, Yahshua in John 6:22:

²² On the following day (this was the day after Yahshua fed thousands of people. The people are looking for Christ). In verse ²⁵ And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

I remember listening to this one pastor explaining how their church seem to grow fast. This pastor said, “we don’t introduce our church immediately. What we do is build a hospital first, then a school, then a church.”

Sadly, A good number of their members, as he observed, is simply there because of how the church can provide their needs. A lot of the members simply come and go. Only a few would really stay. So, what Christ experienced with the crowd in His day is simply what is happening today.

So many people are in the church simply because of the physical benefits they get from the church.

Thus, Jesus was saying, you’re just here because you ate the physical bread. You’re here because you are filled. You are here because of the physical benefits you’re getting. Thus, he said:

²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

The problem is we got it all reversed. We labor so hard for the physical bread, which we think are permanent. We push aside the spiritual food that is supposed to give us everlasting life. We look at our house, car, job, possessions, and all these things and we think, they are not going anywhere. They are here to stay. It feels so permanent.

That’s the deceptive nature of leaven, brethren. We are being seduced to live a life of emptiness and impermanence. When Yahshua explained what the crowd should be striving for, they said in verse 34:

³⁴ Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” ³⁵ And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:22-35

With this in mind, brethren, don’t simply strive for the physical bread, strive to take the Bread of Life because it will sustain you for life. It will satisfy your deepest spiritual hunger and will nourish you all throughout your Christian walk.

L – Live by the Scripture

Another key to living an unleavened life is to live by the Scripture — the word of God. The Bible is our manual on how to live this life to the fullest. Notice 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God — this confirms that the Bible is inspired by God. It is breathed by Yahweh Himself. While it is written by men, the authors were moved by the Holy Spirit to make sure that what we have in our Bible is truly the written word of God.

Since it is inspired by God, then it is useful to learn how to live an unleavened life. So, how is this possible? We can use the Bible for:

• Doctrine – establishing core beliefs.
• Reproof – It convicts and exposes sin, revealing where individuals have strayed from God’s standards.
• Correction: Scripture provides guidance on how to correct those errors and realign one’s life with God’s will.
• Instruction in righteousness: It offers guidance on how to live a life that pleases God, teaching principles of righteousness and moral conduct.
• that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work: This tells you that the purpose of God’s work is not to increase our knowledge or make us look smarter, but rather, God gave us His word so we can be ready to perform every good work. Now, performing good work is actually equivalent to living an unleavened life.

These verses underscore the authority, sufficiency, and transformative power of Scripture in the life of a believer. It serves as a comprehensive guide for doctrine, correction, and instruction, ultimately equipping individuals to live faithfully and serve God effectively.

E – Engage in Prayer

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” I agree with his statement. You can never call yourself a Christian without a strong prayer life. It’s just not possible.

What’s amazing about prayer is it is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines and tools that we can use to live an unleavened life. There are just so many ways prayer can help. Let me just give you three:

1. Seeking Forgiveness and Repentance: Prayer allows us to confess our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, helping us to maintain a pure and blameless state. Verse: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NKJV)
2. Requesting Strength to Overcome Temptation: Through prayer, we can ask God for strength and guidance to resist temptation and live in obedience to His Word. Verse: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41, NKJV)
3. Seeking Wisdom and Discernment: Prayer enables us to seek God’s wisdom and discernment to recognize and avoid sinful influences in our lives. Verse: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5, NKJV)

A – Avoid the causes of sin

Avoiding the triggers to sin is essential for living an unleavened life because it helps us maintain purity and righteousness before God. By identifying and avoiding situations, influences, or temptations that lead us to sin, we can better align our lives with God’s will and walk in obedience to Him. 

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

These verses are part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He delivers profound teachings on various aspects of righteousness and the kingdom of God. Here, Jesus uses hyperbolic language to convey the seriousness of dealing with sin. He urges His listeners to take radical measures to address sin in their lives, even if it means sacrificing something as essential as a body part.

The imagery of plucking out an eye or cutting off a hand underscores the idea that it is better to undergo extreme measures to eliminate sin than to allow it to lead us into spiritual destruction. Jesus emphasizes that the consequences of sin are so grave that it is worth sacrificing anything that leads us into it, even if it involves significant personal loss or discomfort.

23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

Proverbs 4:23 provides profound wisdom regarding the importance of guarding one’s heart, emphasizing that everything a person does flows from it. In the context of avoiding the causes of sin, this verse highlights the critical role of the heart in determining our actions, attitudes, and responses to external influences.

To guard your heart means to protect it vigilantly from anything that could lead to sin or spiritual compromise. Just as a fortress is fortified to repel attacks from enemies, believers are called to fortify their hearts against the influences of sin and temptation. This involves being mindful of the things we allow into our hearts and minds—such as what we see, hear, and dwell upon—because these influences shape our thoughts, emotions, and ultimately, our behavior.

Avoiding the causes of sin requires intentional effort and discernment. It involves making wise choices about the people we associate with, the media we consume, and the activities we engage in. By prioritizing what is pure, noble, and righteous, we create a protective barrier around our hearts, shielding them from the corrupting influences of the world.

V – Value God in Worship

Romans 12:1 tells us:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

If you simply read the English translation, it’s easy to miss a hidden message from this verse. Service here comes from the Greek word, “latreia.” It can also be translated as worship!

Worship is described as our “reasonable service” or spiritual act of worship. This highlights the inherent connection between worship and service to God. True worship extends beyond rituals or religious observances; it encompasses all aspects of our lives, including our attitudes, actions, and relationships. When we live in constant awareness of God’s presence and seek to honor Him in everything we do, sin loses its power over us, and our lives become a living testimony to His grace and goodness.

E – Embrace Fellowship with One Another

There are a lot of benefits when we stay close to the Body of Christ. One of these is the support and help we get in striving to live an unleavened life. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, I was amazed at how my wife was really serious about removing and avoiding leaven. That’s why, I told her, “Maybe, if it weren’t for you, I might have already eaten leaven without me knowing it.”

The same is true when it comes to our fellowship with one another. We get the support from each other. Staying close to fellow believers in the church is essential for living an unleavened life for several reasons:

• Encouragement and Support: Being part of a community of believers provides encouragement and support in times of spiritual struggle or temptation. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
• Accountability: Fellow believers can help hold us accountable in our walk with God, ensuring we remain faithful and committed to living according to His Word. James 5:16 tells us, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
• Spiritual Growth: Interacting with other believers fosters spiritual growth through sharing insights, studying the Word together, and engaging in meaningful discussions. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

N – Nurture the Fruit of the Holy Spirit

As we have studied, leavening is likened to sin. And how do we sin, brethren? We go to Romans 8:1, 5-6:

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

So, every time we sin, we add leaven to our lives. So, how can you overcome sin? It is by walking according to the Spirit. This allows us to overcome sin. So, to be unleavened, we must continually walk according to the Spirit and how do we do that? We strive to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Thus, if you want to remove leaven and live an unleavened life, then you need to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s take a deeper look at each of these values:

• Love: This is the first fruit mentioned because it is the foundation of all virtues. Love is the selfless act of taking care of others and putting their welfare above yours. It’s an outgoing concern toward others without waiting for anything in exchange.
• Joy: is not merely happiness based on favorable circumstances or temporary pleasures. True joy is rooted in knowing God intimately. This relationship brings assurance of salvation, forgiveness of sins, and the hope of eternal life, all of which serve as unshakeable sources of joy regardless of external circumstances. Joy is heightened by recognizing and appreciating God’s blessings in one’s life. 
• Peace: This involves a state of inner calmness and serenity, even in the midst of life’s storms and challenges. It is a sense of quiet assurance and confidence that comes from trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness.
• Longsuffering: Longsuffering, often referred to as patience, is a virtue that embodies endurance and perseverance in the face of challenging situations, especially those involving other people or adverse circumstances. It goes beyond simply waiting for something to happen; rather, it involves enduring with grace and steadfastness despite difficulties, setbacks, or delays.
• Kindness begins with compassion, which is the ability to empathize with others and understand their struggles, pain, and needs. When we are compassionate, we are moved to action by the suffering or difficulties of others, seeking to alleviate their burdens and offer support. Kindness often involves generosity, which is the willingness to give freely of our time, resources, and energy to help others. Kindness is rooted in goodwill, which is a positive attitude or disposition toward others, characterized by friendliness, benevolence, and a desire for their well-being. It involves treating others with respect, dignity, and consideration, regardless of their background or circumstances.
• Goodness: is a character trait that reflects moral excellence and integrity. It encompasses doing what is right and just in all situations, regardless of external circumstances or personal gain. Goodness involves adhering to high moral standards and principles. It means living a life that is characterized by honesty, integrity, and righteousness.
• Gentleness: or meekness, is a quality often misunderstood as weakness, but in reality, it reflects a strength of character under control. Gentleness involves humility, which is the opposite of pride. A gentle person does not assert their own importance or demand attention but is modest and unassuming. Gentleness also involves consideration for others. A gentle person is mindful of how their words and actions impact those around them.
• Self-control: Self-control entails resisting the temptation to indulge in immediate gratification and pleasure-seeking behaviors. Emotions can be powerful and sometimes overwhelming, but self-control enables individuals to regulate their emotional responses. Instead of reacting impulsively to emotional triggers, they can pause, assess the situation rationally, and choose a constructive response. It allows individuals to think before acting, considering the potential outcomes and making choices that align with their values and principles.

Now, notice that the fruit in the fruit of the Holy Spirit is singular. This means that you don’t get to decide which one of these virtues you want to develop. You can’t simply choose one and neglect the rest. You have to aim in developing all these virtues if you want to live an unleavened life.

E – Engage in Godly Counsel

Seeking godly counsel can profoundly impact our ability to live an unleavened life by providing wisdom, guidance, and accountability rooted in God’s Word.

Seeking counsel from those who are spiritually mature and grounded in God’s Word can offer valuable insights and perspectives on how to navigate life’s challenges and temptations. Proverbs 11:14 emphasizes the importance of seeking wise counsel: “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” This verse highlights the protective and stabilizing role that godly counsel can play in our lives, guarding us from spiritual pitfalls and helping us make wise decisions.

D – Detest Sin

Detesting or hating sin plays a crucial role in living an unleavened life because it cultivates a mindset of righteousness and holiness, leading to a deliberate avoidance of sinful behavior.

Now, this is just interesting for me. During the Days of Unleavened Bread, leaven suddenly becomes a metaphor for sin. So, we remove it from our lives. However, in those days, how do you see leaven? Do you hate it? Do you hate the sight of hot, fluffy, and soft pandesal? Do you have that strong urge to knock all the cookies and bread in the grocery store? Do you really hate yeast? 

If you are like me, the answer is probably no. The truth is, even if leavened bread is considered to be a sin during DUB, it doesn’t change the fact that leavened bread is delicious. In the same way, brethren, we might find it hard to really hate sin. In fact, what we see is that sin is enjoyable and pleasurable. Hebrews 11:25 confirms that sin is actually pleasurable, but what kind of pleasure, it says, passing pleasure. It doesn’t last forever. After that, you would suffer from the consequences of sin.

We read Psalm 97:10 – “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.”

If you truly love God, you must hate evil. You can’t love God and hate evil at the same time. That won’t work. 

Hatred for sin motivates us to turn away from it and seek righteousness instead. We read in Romans 12:9 – “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

Finally, let’s read 2 Corinthians 7:11:

¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence (you should not be lazy, but be active) it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves (they have this desire to clear themselves of guilt and wrongdoing), what indignation (they have this righteous hatred toward sin. They are greatly appalled in the presence of sin in their lives and in the church community as well), what fear (their fear of God allows them to recognize God’s holiness and how we are accountable to God), what vehement desire (they are passionate about doing what is right), what zeal (they become more fervent in living God’s way of life), what vindication (Because of their willingness to remove sin in their lives, they have proven themselves that their repentance is genuine and that they truly seek reconciliation)! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

As you can see, the Corinthian brethren were allowing sexual immorality to stay within their midst. Paul reprimanded them for their passive action. However, they would later realize their mistake and so, they demonstrated godly sorrow that led them to hate sin.

Live an Unleavened Life

Living an unleavened life is one of our ultimate goals not just during the Days of Unleavened Bread but for the rest of our lives. Yes, it would be difficult and it is even impossible to live a sinless life. However, that doesn’t mean that we should stop striving for perfection. Just like a small child. The child doesn’t stop learning to walk when he falls down. Thus, we must also continue. What’s amazing is that we don’t do this on our own. We have Yahweh our Father and Yahshua our High Priest who will help us. Yes, it would be difficult, but the reward is great.

My sincerest hope is that we don’t waste the Days of Unleavened Bread. I don’t want us to go through our lives without even improving and growing. The saddest part for us is that we’ve been in the church for so long and yet, we haven’t grown and if we have grown, it is just too small.

For our final scripture, let us read Ephesians 4:11-13

¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping (katartismos, perfecting) of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God (not just knowing about Christ, but rather, having a deep and intimate understanding of His teachings, character, and commands), to a perfect man (we reach a level of maturity and completeness), to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (this is the ultimate goal of the Christian growth. It is reaching a level of spiritual maturity that reflects the fullness of Yahshua, meaning, reflecting His character, attitude, love, wisdom, compassion, and holiness).

So, brethren, are you growing or dying? Are you seeing growth in your spiritual life or are you still harboring leaven in your life? With that, brethren, let’s do our best to grow and mature, because only then, we can live an unleavened life.

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