Faithful - w2 - Adding Insult to Injury

Big Idea

God is faithful even when it doesn’t look like it to us.

Introduction

Good evening on the internet!

My name is Charlie Kae and I’m the lead pastor at Grace Empire in Wesley Chapel, Florida and I would like to welcome everyone to week 43 of Grace Empire online.

Our vision is to restore, revitalize, and refresh the community of Tampa Bay through an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Everyone is welcome at Grace Empire, but if you were to ask us what our focus is, we started Grace Empire to reach the non-affiliated, gnostics, and non-believers. If you or someone you know has been hurt by religion or has been burned out by doing church, Grace Empire fits a unique role for those that are looking to reengage their faith or find an accepting community.

As a church, we try to keep Jesus at the center of everything we do, so we are praying that you encounter and experience our living God tonight.

We love interaction. So feel free to comment, ask questions, and ask for prayer while you’re watching and the admins will address them ASAP.

But before we continue, our online disclaimer.

Grace Empire Online focus on giving you sermons - so without a doubt - this is an incomplete version of church.

As we move forward with this online church thing, I wanted to urge you and remind you that online church should never replace the community you get from your local church.

We love and are so very honored that you tuned in with us today and by no means am I saying this to guilt trip you, hurt you or make you feel inadequate in anyway. We know everyone is on a different journey with God and the fact that some of you are watching is a huge step and I applaud you for that.

At Grace Empire, our goal is to keep Jesus at the center of everything we do and a big part of that is understanding our place within the church. It’s not just that you need people (which you do); but it’s that people need you.

But as I said, the online church is an incomplete version of what God intended the church to be. The local church also gives you a place to

Worship / Praise / Sing

Met with other believers in Fellowship and discipleship

To serve our community through social action

Fulfill the Sacraments of the church

Which for us is baptism and communion

We plan to continue to do online communion, at the start of every month.

And lastly, gives our tithes and offering

At GXE we teach that we give to give, not give to get. We give our tithes and offerings because we are thankful to God for providing for our needs. It is also to acknowledge that we live, work, and are sustained because He allows us to be. And because of the advancements in technology giving is an easy one.

You can give online through our website www.graceempire.com, or via text by texting the words GraceEmpire to the number 77977 and then follow the link texted to you.

You can either do that now, or at the end of the message.

Alright with all that out the way…lets get to Jesus shall we?

Pray

Adding Insult to Injury

Well this is week 2 of our series titled Faithful, where we tackle the very real question, is God faithful 100% of the time? And if He is, what do we do when we don’t feel like He is. In week 1, we began answering this question by creating a foundation for our premise to stand on. Yes God is faithful 100% of the time and in order for God to be faithful all of the time, He needs to be five things. God has to be all knowing, all powerful, all present, always truthful, and never changing. These five things, amongst others, make up God’s character; it is his DNA. It is not something God chooses, it is who He is. To deny faithfulness would be to deny is own nature and that is not who our God is.

Today we are going to continue discussing this topic but in a more nuanced way because even though we have learned that the character of God guarantees his faithfulness to us in theory, in practice it feels much more complicated than that, doesn’t it? Cause when you try to live out your faith in complete trust and things seem to go wrong over and over again, it’s hard for your faith to not get rattled. Theres a reason they say that when it rains, it pours. When the problems come it seems to come all at once.

Or maybe you heard this idiom before: too add insult to injury. For the uninitiated, too add insult to injury means to make a bad situation worse, or to worsen an already unfavorable or uncomfortable situation.

Like when your wife makes you go pick blueberries in the middle of the summer, and to add insult to injury, parks two and a half miles away.

Or when you get quarantined for COVID 19 and to add insult to injury, you power goes out.

Or when you accidentally butt dial someone while you are getting biblical with your wife, and to add insult to injury, it turns out to be your father in law.

Two lies and one truth…lol. Awkward.

It’s hard to see God in this midst of your own insult to injury story, especially when it involves doing God’s work or it involves God’s promises in some way.

Before we continue with the message, I want to preface it with a couple of caveats. First, I do not believe this message is going to cover the breath of ALL the problems of humanity, obviously. There are things that happen, that are so horrific, ghastly, and unspeakable that it’s hard for me even to comment. I’m currently reading a book called ZeroZeroZero, turned on to me by the legendary Ben Goodman, that have descriptions of human depravity at a level I haven’t even considered before. Where is God in the midst of all that? I have very little to say about that, although I will make some commentary toward the end of the message. Some of you that are watching have been in tragic and horrific situations of abuse and hardships that be insulting to you if I just made some blanket and callous statement “that God was in the midst of it.” Whether that is true or not is not the point; to say that so simply would diminish your pain and experience into a single, solitary statement and that would be wrong. I would never be so insensitive to say that.

What I will attempt to do however, is give you some biblical examples of REAL people that went through hard situations. While in it, they struggled but still felt God’s presence and even lived long enough to see God turn evil into good. Then I will share some stories outside of the bible including a story of my own.

So lets dive into scripture and see what we can learn. If you have your bibles turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13, if not you can look at the screen below. This is our umbrella verse and a great verse to memorize.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

We are going to be looking at one section of the life of the Apostle Paul.

Overview of the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was one of the most influential leaders of the early Christian church. He played a crucial role in spreading the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews) during the first century, and his missionary journeys took him all throughout the Roman empire.

Paul started more than a dozen churches, and he’s traditionally considered the author of 13 books of the Bible—more than any other biblical writer. For this reason, the Apostle Paul is often considered one of the most influential people in history. It can be argued, that Paul had a greater impact on the world’s religious landscape than any other person besides Jesus, and perhaps Muhammad.

But before he was known as a tireless champion of Christianity, Paul was actually known for persecuting Christians. The Book of Acts tells us that Paul was even present at the death of the first Christian martyr—where he “approved the stoning of Stephen” (Acts 8:1).

We are going to be reading from Acts 28:1-10 today but our story really starts in Acts 21. Paul was on his third missionary tour, which was nearing his end. His final destination was Rome. Paul’s ministry strategy was simple; go into the biggest cities and proclaim the good news, thereby maximizing the possible spread of the gospel. And as a missionary called to preach to the Romans, there was no city bigger, nor more dangerous, than Rome. But before Rome, Paul had to go to Jerusalem. So in AD. 57 Paul arrives in Jerusalem.

Paul went to Jerusalem for three reasons, to continue his ministry (Acts 19.21; Acts 20.22-24), to deliver an offering given by the Gentile churches (1 Corinthians 16.3-4; Acts 24.17-18; Acts 20.4, with some who were carrying the gifts), and to celebrate Pentecost (Acts 20.16). When Paul arrives, he is eventually captured and beaten on a trumped up charge of blasphemy by non-Christian Jews from the province of Asia. This caused an uproar and rioters began to riot. This commotion will get the notice of the Roman army, and the commanders will send a troop of soldiers to find out what is going on. When they see Paul being beaten, thus being the source of the riot, the cuff him and take him away from questioning. This unexpected turn of events, sends Paul down a winding path of trouble.

Remember, Paul wants to go to Rome. He wants to go to Rome, but not for leisure. He isn’t going there because he heard of the killer locale, the amazing food, or the hot babes. He’s not going there to create more Tiktok content. He wants to go to Rome to preach about Jesus. He wants to plant a church. He wants to go to Rome to let - Jews and Gentiles alike - know that God has a plan of salvation for them. He wants all men to know that there is freedom from false piety and suffocating religion. He wants all men to know that there is a God, that doesn’t sit absently and ambivalently in the cosmos, but that God had come down to earth, to empathize with our struggles, be tested in every way, but still remain sinless and now sits at the right hand of God in all power and majesty. He wants all men to know that Jesus is more than a deity, he is our friend, father, and rescuer. He came to be THE atonement for our sins. There would be no need to offer up sacrifices to the gods anymore, because Jesus, as fully god and fully man, became the only sacrifice needed, the only sacrifice enough, the only sacrifice worthy to forgive their sins, not once, but for all time. He died on a cross for all men for when he didn’t have too. But to prove he was stronger than death, he rose again from the grave and proved once and for all that his claim to be Christ was right and true. And the claim that whoever believes in Jesus and calls on the name of the Lord, will be saved (Romans 10:11-13). This is the good news, and Paul wants to be the harbinger of that news. Paul writes, ironically to the Romans here,

Romans 10:15 NIV

And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

What Paul wants to do here is God’s work…but that work gets stopped. That work gets halted. I want to take a minute here and encourage Lexy and the mission team. I know you are eagerly anticipating the trip to New York for missions. You were supposed to leave over a year ago, and there is a real possibility that that trip could be delayed a 3rd time. I know it seems stupid and wrong. Why would God call you to something and then not let you go? But let me tell you, I’m sure Paul thought the same thing. Paul wanted to go to Rome to do mission work, but was delayed for more than 2 years. Matter of fact, after his arrest, he goes through all kinds of religious and political red tape. He is in jail for more than 2 years before there is even any movement on his case. 2 years…seems so quick when you say it like that, but stop and think. These are 2 real years people. 24 months. Can you imagine 24 months in quarantine? GXE online as been online for 43 weeks; feels like an eternity right? Paul is in jail for something like 104 weeks before he is even moved from his jail cell. And all that time, what is Paul doing? You think in that time, Paul never asks the question why? Why is this happening? I’m sure he does.

But Paul holds on to one truth. He knows his mission. He know he is called by God to go to Rome. In Acts 23:11 it says,

Acts 23:11 NIV

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Paul knows he will go to Rome to do God’s work…its not a question of if, it’s a question of when.

Mission team, you will go to New York City. It is not a question of if, it is a question of when. Don’t lose hope and hold on to the faithfulness of God.

Back to our story...

Paul is sent and tried in from of Felix to no avail. Felix will die and will be succeeded by Porcius Festus and that also leads no where. Eventually after 2 years of waiting, Paul being born a Roman citizen, envokes his priviledge as a Roman citizen and wants to be tried by Caesar, who is in Rome, and to Rome Paul will go.

But if you think 2 years in prison was bad hold up…in the voyage to Rome, the ship that Paul is on begins to get battered by hurricane winds called the “northeaster.” It becomes so bad that the Acts 27:20, it says

Acts 27:20 NIV

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

Fourteen days they are in this storm, which eventually leads to the ship to hit a sandbar causing the boat to be broken up, and all 276 passengers (both sailors and prisoners) jump overboard somehow making it to the shores of Malta.

Paul, weathered (no pun intended), beat up, and I’m sure exhausted at this point, pulls himself on the beach, and is met by the kindness of the islanders. Finally, some reprieve, you say?

Oh on…this sermon isn’t called Adding insult to injury for nothing. And that is where we will pick up on our story.

Acts 28:1–4 NIV

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.”

So Paul gets beaten, imprisioned for two years, is torn apart by hurricane winds, is shipwrecked and nearly drowns, and after all that…after finally getting to an island, all to do God’s good work…Paul gets bit my a snake while gathering firewood?! What?! At this point, I would look down at that snake and just be like…why snek? Or hold it up to the sky like? Really God?

Sometimes life throws so many things your way you dont know what to do with it. I’ve had a couple of friends adopt children and it doesn’t seem like an easy task. You work so hard, jump through so many hoops, pay a boatload of money, just to rescue someone you don’t know, but love. So many times I have seen these friends hit speed bump after speed bump. Hurdle after hurdle. It’s like…why is it so hard to do the right thing? Obviously, I’m being facetious here, but you get what I’m trying to say. When Amy and I started church planting, we had to go through church planting assessments and one of the things they look into is your marriage. Why would someone do something so private and personal? Because they know that church planting is hard and can very well desolve your otherwise happy marriage. Oh yes…I love fighting with my wife. So you promise financial hardship, social tension, AND marital problems, all to start something that may or may not work? Fantastic! Sign me up!

Paul is trying to preach the gospel in Rome. And he gets imprisoned, shipwrecked, and bit by a frickin snake? Wouldn’t you want to quit? Wouldn’t you question God’s faithfulness at this point?

But God has a way of turning the added insult to injuries into something good.

Acts 28:5–10 NIV

But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.

Now, I did some research here, and it is possible that this snake was the Leopard Rat Snake aka European Ratsnake, but it is also noted, that there currently are no venomous snakes on Malta, but that doesn’t mean that natives didn't believe that the snake was venomous. Whatever the reason, Paul was saved and that snake bite became an answer to the rest of their journey.

In this particular story, it takes Paul over 2.5 years to get to Rome to do God’s work and through all that I’m not sure what is accomplished. Why did Paul have to wait so long? What was the point of the waiting? Snake bite…cool? But was that even necessary all together? Couldn’t Paul just have bypassed all that trauma and just WENT straight to Rome. Look, I don’t know the answer to that but…Paul felt encouraged and Paul continued to trust in God. And THAT fact is important.

The one IN the trial SENSES and SEES God’s faithfulness in it.

This is important. Cause even if I don’t see it, the victim does. Even if I don’t get it, the victim does.

There is another story that I want to share, but not me, someone better. Check this video out.

Corrie Ten Boom story

This story boggles my mind…how? How can Betsy and Corrie praise God for the fleas? Her dad has been killed. Their friends have been killed. They have been driven from their homes. They are brought to concentration camps where they are starved and forced to make socks for their captures…and on top of that, they have to sleep with fleas? Have you been in a flea infestation before? It’s disgusting. And now Betsy wants to thank them for the fleas?

When I think of the pain and horrors that some people have had to endure it makes me question if God is really all good and all powerful. How can a good God allow things like this to happen? That’s a fair question and I think it’s one that I will always wrestle with. But when I feel myself sliding too far away from god I am often reminded of this truth. I must be careful of hijacking somebody else’s pain and using it to build my case against God.

I’ve seen many people do this. Caring people. Loving people. People that hurt when other people hurt. And when they see a child dying of cancer, and mothers and fathers, holding the hand of their child as they pray for healing, it’s hard not to get angry with God. I get that. I understand that. And if you are the one holding your child’s hand and you are angry with God, I think that’s fair. If you are the one in the hospital sick and wondering where God is in all of this, that’s fair too. But if you are the watcher, the outside observer and you can’t possibly understand why God would do this? How God could be called faithful when all this is going on…consider this.

If the person going through that pain decides god isn’t real, then fine...that’s fair because that is their experience. But it is unfair and arrogant and unethical of me to pier into someone else’s pain and experience and pretend I have any understanding of what that person is going through and then try and build a case against God through it. I am reminded that there are people that go through difficult pain and horrors and somehow feel closer to God through it. It seems crazy, but true at times, certainly that is true of my life and I can only ever speak THROUGH my experience because those experiences rightly belong to me.

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And in the case of Betsy, Corrie ten Boom, Paul the apostle, the Apostle John, and so many others that have been tortured and/or martyred for their faith, they chose to respond to their horrors and somehow say, even though I go through this...God is faithful. Why? I don’t know why, nor do I understand, but just because I do not understand doesn’t make it so. In the case of Paul, Corrie, and in my silly robbery story, in those moments that I choose not to repeat, I felt God speak and felt close to him. In those moments, I can attest that God was faithful. I hope this encourages you.

*Don’t forget to talk about God doesn’t make people sin.