1st Test: This is the lifestyle of faith…in trials it remains stable and sure, when life is easy, and when it is hard.

2nd Test: This is the lifestyle of faith…genuine faith strives after and progressively achieves moral purity.

3rd Test: This is the lifestyle of faith…genuine faith is compelled to share the gospel deliberately, relationally, and immediately.

Let’s begin looking at the 4th test: Genuine faith receives the word of truth and lives out the word of truth.

If the word of God is not implanted in you, then you cannot pass the first, second and third test. You will crumb in the midst of trials and you will fall to temptation if the word of God is not implanted in you, and you will have no desire to share your faith with the Lost. If the Christian is to live out this faith, the word must have been accepted into his or her soul; he or she received the word of God. Let’s see what James has to say about our response to the word of God--The truth of God’s word must take root in the heart.

4th Test James 1:18-21, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” (NASB)

The word of God must be implanted in us…the result of this new life, receive the word of truth and live out the word of truth. When the word of God is implanted we accept the word, we act on word, and we abide by the word. How we listen to, react to, desire, and obey the word reveals the nature of our faith, is it truly genuine or not.

We have to remember God’s word is the originator of new birth, the seed is implanted and once it is, the word is now the agent of transformation. The word is presented at the beginning of our spiritual life and it becomes the focal point of our entire spiritual life.

Peter writes in I Peter 2:2, “…like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…” (NASB)

Our heart’s desire is to listen to it, learn from it, and respond to it – just as a baby desires milk. You don’t have to teach a baby to like milk or to want to eat. The sensation for hunger is there. And the same is true of a believer. He has an appetite toward the word of God. The 4th test, genuine faith has an appetite for the word.

This is how we receive the word implanted in us...“and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.” (AMP) James 1:21

Application:

Cultivate the discipline of spending time in the word daily with the goal of responding.

How do you respond when the word of God exposes sin in your life? Do you accept or reject its message? How do you feel about those who confront you with the word? Is there a sense of humble submission, or do you harbor resentment toward them? How’s your sharing life? When was the last time you shared the gospel? Remember, it is not enough to say you believe the gospel or trust in God’s word. The test of true faith is your response to the authority of the word.

Receive the Word of God each Day,

Pastor Alex Garcia