A Faith the Works Perseveres

HOOK

Are you tired of everything that’s happening around you?

One very early morning when I woke up, everything was very calm— made my coffee while listening to my daily briefing by Albert Mohler

I had to go to the garage where our bottled water are stored— as soon as I opened the door, the alarm went off!— crazy super loud noise!

From calmness to chaos!

We started this year very calmly— we’re so excited with our new church meeting place

We enjoyed a powerful series to open up our year— I had a great time with my wife and sons during or brief visit to South Korea— so everything was so calm and cool until...

Corona came all the way from China— We were ordered to shelter in place since March 19 and the rest was history

From calmness to chaos!

I’m reminded of the story of a man born in the late 1800s.

One of several children being the oldest, took care of the younger children and began to cook for them at a young age of seven yrs old.

His father died when he was young leaving him even more responsibility.

He worked many jobs in his life, as I read his story I counted maybe 20 or 30 different jobs and careers he pursued throughout his life.

He became a ferry boat captain, a railroad conductor, a lawyer, a tire salesman, a gas station operator, even became a restaurant owner for a while and served in the US Army.

Known for a man to have a temper and to have it flare up-quite often with those who did not agree with him, made chances for the success he longed for seem unattainable. Thus explains, all the different jobs he had.

After his failed attempt of having his own restaurant, he went into the business of instructing other people how to prepare and cook their food his way and that would make his name Colonel Harland Sanders and his brand Kentucky Fried Chicken, household names forever.

11 herbs and spices and after 73 years of perseverance later, he sold his company in 1964 for millions of dollars.

The perseverance is an amazing gift of the Spirit that God gave to us.

To be able to run our race and still have the optimism, hope and faith that no matter how things look or might turn out...With Gods help, they will turn out for the absolute best!

Just like Colonel Sanders, you may have had a lot of adversity and things happen in your life. God would have me tell you, your best is still yet to come.

Triumphs are within earshot and waiting ahead to amaze you!

Life may seem like a jigsaw puzzle right now with all the pieces in disarray. But God is putting them together and creating a beautiful picture and future for you that you cannot even imagine!

God will walk with you, run with you, have faith with you, even be there when you cry patiently collecting the tears and most importantly endure through the fire with you, all the way to the destiny He had prepared and waiting on you even before you were you!

The great Winston Churchill also had a similar story about perseverance— after loosing pretty much all his wealth in 1929, he was literally ran over by a cab in New York then followed by a big setback in his political career

Those setbacks and tragedies would be enough to send most any man into the dungeon of depression— but the opposite happened for Winston Churchill

As Prime Minister of the UK in 1940-1945, he led his country to victory from WW2

My personal story is also a miniature version of what these great men had achieved in their lives because of their perseverance

I lost my mother when I was 8

In 1986, I went to Japan and worked as Janitor, Recycling Agent and Bartender

In 1987, my father was assassinated, I was only 19

I took my inheritance— squandered it quickly

Came back home to start my own Dance Club business— worked as a DJ in my own joint

Business went bankrupt— I salvaged what I could from the sound system and rented it out as “Mobile Disco”

Until nothing was left of it— we sold even my collection of vinyl records for food money— but that too didn’t last

The turning point of our lives was when there was no more food on the table— living in my brother’s dirty kitchen— that was in 1993

Then Pastor Sam Talaver came to mind [a very diligent Pastor who used to walked from village to village to share the Gospel]— I accepted Jesus as my Lord & Savior

Got a job from my brother who was mayor of our town at that time— started as driver, bodyguard, personal secretary (aide-de-camp) then eventually appointed me as his chief of staff

I ran and won as City Councilor in 2001

I ran and miraculously won as one of the youngest congressman in 2004—

I fell away from the faith— lost my bid for reelection in 2007

Back in worldly life— lost everything

My family started to break apart— Joan and I almost got divorced

September 20, 2012 was another turning point in my life— Pastor Tun Bun Cham— that led me to start a church in my hometown

If Joan did not persevere— our family could have been part of the growing statistics of broken families

If I did not persevere— I will not be here in front of you preaching God’s Word today

Speaking of PERSEVERANCE— Let’s see what James has to say about it

Perseverance [Hypomone in Greek] meaning steadfast. In other words persistence, tenacity, determination, resolve, endurance.

Today we’re going to start a series from the book of James entitled: “A Faith that Works”— when nothing in life seems to work— we must have the kind of faith that works

When things suddenly turn from calmness to chaos, we need “A Faith that Works”— and…

A KIND OF FAITH THAT WORKS PERSEVERES

Open your Bible to JAMES 1:1-4

While you’re doing that, let me tell you what I know about James— His name appeared 38 times in the NT

He is one of the four [Joseph, Simon & Judas] half-brothers of Jesus— he did not believe Jesus until he was glorified

After Jesus ascended back to heaven, James became a much respected leader of the church in Jerusalem

James was martyred on the orders of Roman Procurator Albinus in AD 62

BOOK

James 1:1–4 NIV

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

LOOK

JAMES SERVANT OF GOD AND OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

James acknowledges his humble willingness to be at the Lord’s disposal and live according to his principles

Look how humble and discreet and brief his description of himself— with his status being the half-brother of our Lord, he could have boasted and demanded honor

Romans 12:3 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

TO THE TWELVE TRIBES SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS

Although the 12 tribal divisions ceased to function as geopolitical unit in 722 BC, biblical writers continued to use this designation for Israel

The prophets used this term to refer to the future restored people of God

James’s letter was intended to all the twelve tribes scattered among the nations— Diaspora [dispersion of the Jewish people from Israel to foreign lands]

They were scattered for various reasons, some of them fled because of persecution, some because of trade and business, and others are by conquest and deportation

CONSIDER IT PURE JOY WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS

James knows that his Christian brothers and sisters have many troubles

They are tempted and persecuted

But James urges them to welcome their trials joyfully

James refers to an extended state of well-being rather than and immediate feeling of happiness or pleasure

TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE

Tests which will strengthen them

At school, kids learn the lessons before taking the test, in real life, you have to take the test before you know the lessons

LET PERSEVERANCE FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE

If they treat these attacks as spiritual exercise, they will grow strong and become fully fit in their faith

Because trials serve as a path to Christian maturity

Complete and mature individuals show integrity and single-minded devotion to God

THREE PRINCIPLES OF FAITH THAT PERSEVERES

TOOK

BE HAPPY EVEN IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY

1 Peter 4:13 NIV

13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

TESTING OF MY FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE

Romans 5:3 NIV

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Expresses a growing determination in the face of adversity, based on hope

MY PERSEVERANCE LEADS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

When Paul requested for prayers from the church in Thessalonica he said..

“pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly”

pray the we may be delivered from wicked and evil people

And then Paul told them— the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one

And then he blessed them by saying…

2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV

5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Because trials serve as a path to Christian maturity

Are you tired of everything that’s happening around you?

CHALLENGE

We are like tea bags

We are like toothpaste

Our strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord

He is our everlasting God— He do not faint— He won't grow weary

He is the defender of the weak— He comfort those in need

James 1:12 NIV

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.