One Act Of Betrayal | Ed Young

#betrayal #sermon

In this message, Ed Young explores the profound impact of betrayal and the destructive nature of revenge, while emphasizing the importance of trusting God's plan for restoration and purpose (0:02).

Key Takeaways:

Fellowship Church's Founding and Betrayal: Young recounts the early days of Fellowship Church, starting from humble beginnings in 1990 (0:15). After a period of growth, the church aimed to acquire land and build a larger facility. A seemingly devoted volunteer, hired by the church, falsely claimed to have secured a $5 million donation, leading the church to expand its building plans (9:20). Young discovered the lie, revealing a devastating betrayal that left the church with significant debt and led to the temporary use of tents for children's ministry (17:10). Despite the setback, the church continued to grow and eventually paid off its debt (18:14).

Betrayal as Destructive and Deceptive: Young emphasizes that betrayal is destructive and that seeking revenge is a natural but ultimately harmful human inclination (19:06). He likens it to "glass in your lasagna," something you don't want but inevitably encounter (18:36).

The Story of Joseph: He draws parallels to the biblical story of Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery (19:56). Despite numerous betrayals and hardships, Joseph chose not to seek revenge, instead striking up a "conversation with God" (25:11). Joseph's journey from a pit to power in Egypt, where he eventually helped save his family and nation from famine, serves as a powerful example of God using betrayal for good (40:36).

Personal Betrayal Experience: Young shares a personal story of being betrayed by his high school basketball coach, who benched him without reason (32:59). This betrayal, while devastating at the time, ultimately led him to Florida State University and helped him discover his true priorities and God's vision for Fellowship Church (34:55).

Response to Betrayal: Young offers three key responses to betrayal:

Serve grace, not glass: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (36:05).

Save your fork for the feast: Do not repay evil with evil; instead, act honorably (36:33).

Hire a lawyer: Trust God to be your advocate and avenge you, as He will always do a better job than you (38:00).

God's Purpose in Betrayal: Young concludes by reiterating that God can use acts of betrayal for good. Just as Joseph's betrayal led to the salvation of the Hebrew nation, and Judas's betrayal led to the salvation of the world, the betrayal faced by Fellowship Church ultimately led to tens of thousands of lives being saved (40:36).

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Pastor Ed Young is the senior pastor of Fellowship Church based in the DFW Metroplex, he is also an author, and conference speaker noted for his creative communication style.

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