Perceive And Practice The Implanted Word Series

Chico Alliance Church

Pastor David Welch

“Perceive and Practice the Implanted Truth”

This is our twelfth outing in front of God’s faith-exposing mirror. James’ letter provides pointed instruction evaluating the true nature of our faith. It resembles a mirror that exposes the depths of our soul and any flaws in our faith. Anyone can claim faith. To truly live by faith is another matter. James issues over fifty instructions (commands) regarding faith accompanied by divine insights to motivate the implementation of that instruction into our life. One of the key factors that tests our faith is trials and temptations. Trials quickly reveal lapses of faith and expose unhealthy attitudes yet also serve to strengthen and develop our faith. James’ mirror exposes the reality of faith by showing us how true faith responds to trials.

I. Faith’s response to trials 1:2-18

TRUE FAITH…

A. Considers it all Joy knowing trials produce endurance.

B. Continues enduring knowing endurance produces maturity

C. Confidently asks God for wisdom knowing He will give it.

D. Focuses on your spiritual riches. (Instruction #4)

E. Considers how God rewards endurance 1:12

F. Doesn’t blame God but our self for temptations 1:13-18

TRUE FAITH…

G. Receives and practices the implanted word of truth. 1:18-27

1. God’s truth is the foundation of new birth. 1:18

God’s word is also the source of maturity and growth after birth. Seed sprouts and grows into a productive plant in properly prepared ground.

2. Prepare to receive the implanted truth 19-21a

Jesus taught His disciples the importance of sowing the truth in good soil.

The hard heart suppresses the truth

The shallow heart abandons the truth

The distracted sinful heart chokes the truth

The humble receptive heart embraces the truth

Scripture identifies numerous heart problems that hinder growth. Proud heart, selfish heart, foolish heart, rebellious heart, unbelieving heart, bitter heart, wandering heart. James called his readers to address those heart issues to effectively receive the life transforming implanted word of truth.

Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21

Let every person continually be…

1. Quick or ready to hear as opposed to a reluctance to hear. (hard heart)

2. Slow to speak. You are not hearing if you are talking.

3. Slow to anger

He urged them to cultivate a soft, receptive, honest, good heart.

He urged them to do the necessary weeding before planting.

He urged them to put away, lay aside, cast off, put off all “filthiness” or dirt.

He urged them to put away all wickedness.

Only when we humble ourselves before God and honestly address the condition of our heart will we eagerly allow God to implant the truth in our heart which is continually able to transform us.

3. Receive the implanted the truth 1:21b

receive with meekness the implanted word being able to save your souls.

God desires to implant the life-saving word in our heart. Too often we fight the truth; especially when it runs contrary to our unmanaged fleshly desires. James urges us to accept, receive, take to ourselves the implanted word in our well-prepared soil. God implants His transforming truth in our receptive heart as we open it to Him.

Implantation of God’s truth in the heart is essential but James goes beyond the implantation of the word in the heart to the practice of the word in the life. Don’t just HEAR the word, DO it. When God implants the word in a humble, honest, weeded receptive heart, it bears fruit.

God intends every truth revealed in His word to bear fruit. God implants His word to spiritually equip us.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Beyond these general results, specific truth yields particular fruit. What is the fruit of 1 Corinthians 13?

What is the fruit of John 3:16? Every Scripture serves to produce a specific result. Fruit comes as one hears, receives, embraces and implements the implanted truth.

4. Perceive and Practice the implanted truth 22-27

a. Instruction to hear and obey the word

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James called for a continuous action. Continually be doers of the word. Doers comes from a word meaning poet. Be poets of the word. One who performs or practices. We should consider obedience to God’s ways a way of life. James assumes the need to first hear the word of God.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? Romans 10:14