Springing Forth With Life

inside you.

That’s what we see in the early church. They individually, of their own constant readiness. Of their own steadfast attentiveness. Devoted themselves to the teaching of the Gospel message.

It all begins with a longing, a drive, a commitment to God’s Truth. If we want to see this seed grow in our lives. Whether it is the seed of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Or the seed of salvation. Or the seed of freedom from bondage. Or the seed of deliverance from demonic oppression. For the plant to break from the shell and radiate with beauty. For the seed of God’s Word to spring forth in us with life…

1. WE NEED A DRIVING ENTHUSIASM FOR GOD’S TRUTH.

As an adult, I have seen, and more than ever as a parent, that learning best happens when we are internally motivated. When we are internally motivated, we engage more thoughtfully. We have more joy. We are more consistent in our learning.

And there are all kinds of things that will keep us from having a driving enthusiasm for God’s truth and word. Maybe we have always used the same approach for Bible reading and study. And it has grown stale. Maybe we have gotten out of the habit. Often, a lack of enthusiasm for God’s word is a sign that we have allowed sin a foothold in our heart. Or maybe we feel some external pressure to live up to a certain standard.

Any or all of those things can keep us from that drive and inspiration and commitment to God’s Word, but if that seed is going to spring forth with life in our lives, we have to rekindle an enthusiasm for God’s truth.

Let me ask you to think back to earlier this morning. For some of us it may have been as early as 6:30 or 7 a.m. Whatever time it was that your alarm clock went off, or you opened your eyes and first gave thought to coming to church. What was your spirit like at that point? Was it enthusiastic? Was it anxious? Excited?

Were you thinking, “Ugh, time for church. I wish I had just one day that I could sleep in.” Or were you thinking, “Yes, time to dive into God’s Word. Time to pursue God’s truth. Time to devote myself to the teaching of the Gospel.”

We need to stir up a driving enthusiasm for God’s Truth.

Two observations from Haiti that stick in American pastors and Christians minds when they visit there, or just about any other third world country: First, there is no shortage of early arrivers. Second, they battle for the front row. They would not understand why we clamor for the courtside seat at a UK basketball game, and the back pew at a church service.

When you travel the world, you see an enthusiasm for God’s word that has them on the edge of their seats, devoted, and awaiting the teaching of God’s Truth.

Another piece of getting the seed of God’s Word to spring forth in us with life is to…

2. [WE] MAXIMIZE OUR EXPOSURE TO GOD’S TRUTH.

Regular exposure and absorption of God’s truth is a key to spiritual growth. We are told in Acts 18 that to solidify the faith of the believers at Corinth, “Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.” (v. 11)

The amount of time we invest in learning God’s truth does matter.

Listen to how the Psalms start, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord,