Rejecting Rejection

SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM August 14, 2022 REJECTING REJECTION REJECTING REJECTION The World’s Rules • Unconditional love is for babies … after that you are on your own • Plan on Being Quoted. Actually, Plan on Being Misquoted • Rule #1: Life is not fair • It Is Possible To: Reject Rejection • Stay On Track With God • Be An Overcomer ! REJECTING REJECTION • Matthew 13:53–58 (NIV) — 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. REJECTING REJECTION • After Teaching The Parables -- Jesus Kept Moving • He Came Home & Taught In Their Synagogue • The Hometown People Were Amazed (Puzzled – Stunned) • They Were Amazed w/o Being Changed REJECTING REJECTION •They Questioned The Source Of His Wisdom & Miracle Power •Isn’t This? The Carpenters Son -- Mary’s Son -- James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas’ Brother -- The Man With The Sisters That We Know • They Took Offense At Him • John 1:10–11 (NIV) — 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. REJECTING REJECTION Jesus Responded: “Only In His Hometown And In His Own House Is A Prophet Without Honor.” • Jesus Was Rejected By Nazareth -- The People Couldn’t Conceive How Someone From Among Them Could Be Messiah • He Did Not Do Many Miracles There – Because Of Their Lack Of Faith REJECTING REJECTION • Do Not Let The Kingdom Pass You By Because You Lack Faith! • Don’t Miss The Message Because You Don’t Like The Messenger •“When we meet together to listen to the word of God, we must come with eager expectancy, and must think, not of the man who speaks, but of the Spirit who speaks through him.” •Barclay, W., The Gospel of Matthew REJECTING REJECTION Rejection •Rejection Is about Not Being Accepted, Approved, Or Wanted •It is To Be Put Aside, Thrown Away, Abandoned, Worthless • Those Rejected Are Despised, Shunned, And Refused •Rejection Is Painful And Devastating REJECTING REJECTION The Components Of Rejection Are Many •(i.e.) Favoritism & Jealousy – Joseph and His Brothers One Way To Deal With Rejection Is To Reject It – • You Don’t Let It Grip You, Grab You or Change You. • How is this done? Only By God’s Grace REJECTING REJECTION Rejection Is A Seed Bed For Anger  Anger Has Four Sources:  Hurt  Fear  Frustration  Injustice  Rejection Brings All Four Of Those To The Surface REJECTING REJECTION We Must Choose To Forgive And Release Those Who Reject Us Unto God •We do this so that anger does not produce bitterness in our heart. •Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) — 15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. A Remedy For Rejection Is To Know You Are Accepted By The Lord •Psalm 34:18 (NIV) — 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. REJECTING REJECTION Paul: Rejected Rejection -- READ: 2 Cor 12:7-10 • His Acceptance By The Lord Allowed Him To Continue On And Overcome • Romans 8:28–31 (NIV) — 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? REJECTING REJECTION When We Know Christ--We Know His Character, Heart, & Plan:  We Can Reject Rejection What Do You Need To Know About God? •Know God’s character: • God is love. • God loves us. REJECTING REJECTION We Need To Know God's Heart •To Know God's Heart For Us Even As Some People Reject Us •God Doesn't Just Love Us •He Lavishes His Love On Us & Calls Us His Children REJECTING REJECTION We Must Also Know God's Plan  While Everyone Else Rejects Us  God Saves Us  God Loves Us  God Offers Salvation To Us REJECTING REJECTION This Is How We Can Break The Cycle Of Rejection •We Break It With Christ And With Biblical Truth And Principles That We Can Build On REJECTING REJECTION  Just Because Someone Rejects Me Doesn't Mean That Everyone Rejects Me -- Jesus Loves Me No Matter What Others Choose To Do  Just Because Someone Doesn't Value Me Doesn't Mean That No One Values Me -- God Values Me Enough To Send Jesus To Die For Me So That I Can Spend Eternity With Him REJECTING REJECTION  Just Because Someone Has Rejected Me Doesn't Mean I Should Hate Myself -- God Always Has Loved Me -- I Can Rely On His Love  Just Because Someone Has Rejected Me Doesn't Give Me License To Do What Is Wrong. God Has Given Me The Power To Do What Is Right. Sin Will Not Be My Master --Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Rejection: Healing a Wounded Heart (p. 31). Hope For The Heart.  We Will Reject And Overcome Rejection! REJECTING REJECTION Jesus Suffered Very Real Rejection •He Was Rejected Even By Those In His Own Family •Yet He Teaches Us Don't Let Rejection Get Us Off Our Mission If We Are Cancelled For Our Stand • We Must Reject The Rejection. • Continue To Be, To Go, To Do What God Has Called Us To. REJECTING REJECTION Jesus Gave Us A Model Of What To Do 1) He Prayed 2) He Forgave Them 3) He Understood The Reality Of That Rejection --They Were Rejecting The One Who Sent Him REJECTING REJECTION We Must Learn How To Reject Rejection • We Don't Give In, Give Up ,Go Back, or Grovel •Rejection May Keep Us From The Very People That Would •Infect Us -- Crush Us -- or Don't Deserve Us •We Continue On Even When Rejected REJECTING REJECTION • Rejection -- Persecution -- Injustice -- God Can Use  To Move Us  To Align Us  To Test Us  To Train Us  To Show Us That We Are Tracking Well With God REJECTING REJECTION •Jesus Was Rejected For Us -- We Can Be Delivered From Rejection • ISA 53:3 He Was Despised And Rejected Of Men • His Going Through This Rejection -- Has Made A Way For Us To Be Delivered From Rejection --- John Eckhart REJECTING REJECTION • Thank God For What We Have Learned Through Rejection • We Encourage Others As An Expression Of Christ’s Love • We Draw On The Power Of Christ’s Life Within Us