As I have mentioned in a recent sermon, the basic truth of the Christian life lies in the hearing and receiving of the Scripture. As new born babies desire milk, so we, too, need the basic truth of the Word. When a lady cried out after hearing Jesus speak saying, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you,” Jesus responded, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” The Word is more essential to life than necessary food. But, beyond the basic truths, where do we go for further spiritual growth? When Jesus and the disciples were hungry, the disciples left him and went to town to buy food. That’s when the Samaritan woman came to get water. We know the story. He shared the Gospel with her. She told the townspeople. They came to hear Jesus themselves. The disciples were amazed that He talked to the woman, interacted with the Samaritans, and really did not seem interested in eating the food they had just brought. He said, “I have meat to eat that you know not of.” There is something about sharing Jesus with others that feeds our souls. But how do we do that?
There is no better instruction than to just do it. But if we need encouragement, instructions abound in the Bible. The book of Acts tells us what the disciples and the growing church did. You can’t read it without seeing the centrality of the Word and reliance upon the Holy Spirit’s power. They were together in one accord continuing in the doctrine, fellowship, service and power with all things centering on the person of Jesus as the essential for life everlasting; the only one who gives us true hope. As I shared before, even to serve tables, one had to be filled with, endued with power from, the Spirit. This is what the Word tells us.
If we are to grow, we must get more from the Bible than just the basics. We must continue therein, digging even deeper. We will find “meat to eat” that we have not yet discovered. We will find spiritual growth as we see what those early Christian did by the same Spirit dwelling in us today. Are we ready for a different feast than what we have grown accustomed to? As you see something new take place, it may just be the old, old Gospel from the old, old Word doing some new, new thing to you! -- Ben