The Promise of Rejection

Introduction

In December of 2001, I was desperate for a job so I answered an advertisement for a managerial job overseeing vacuum sales for Electrolux. I had to start out learning to sell them in order to build my own sales team. Can I just say, I do not make a very good salesman? I was assured that if I just did everything they told me they would pay me. I honestly didn’t have the gas money to keep making the trip to training, but I managed somehow. I started out ok. It wasn’t bad. I started with friends and family, and they, wanting to support me, were very kind. It was a slick system. Every person I visited, I would hit up for ten names and numbers of people I could contact for a sales call. That’s where I hit a wall. I found out quickly, as I moved into the next circle of acquaintance (friends of family, friends of friends), people quickly said, “No, Thank you.” That first wave of rejection did me in. I quit with very little pay. I’m a really confident sales person until I face rejection.

When it comes to the Gospel, we are not called to sell. We are called to proclaim.

The salesman is responsible for the sale.

The preacher is responsible to proclaim.

I don’t sell for a living because if I did, I wouldn’t be living. I would starve!

One of the reasons we don’t share the gospel is because we fear rejection.

We don’t give people the opportunity to escape the flames of hell and enjoy eternity with God, because it will feel awkward and they may say no.

The truth is, if we are not faithful to proclaim the gospel, if we are scared to acknowledge Jesus before man, we will spend eternity with them rather than Him!

Let’s take another look at Jesus’ instructions to the 12 as He sends them out in Matthew 10:5-40

Matthew 10:5–6 ESV

5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Jesus told them where to go.

Jesus told them who to go to.

We must be consistently intentional to ask Him where to go.

As we are going, we must be consistently intentional to ask who to go to, who to speak to.

Jesus was telling them to go “NOW.” We have the message, we must go “NOW.”

Matthew 10:7 ESV

7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Jesus told them what to say

The message hasn’t changed.

Matthew 10:8 ESV

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.

Jesus told them what to do.

Heal: Repair (bodies, minds, hearts)

Raise the dead: Revive (bring life to dead things)

Cleanse lepers: Renew (cleanse, make like new)

Cast out demons: Restore (restore rightful occupation, remove/dethrone false gods)

God’s word (leading/command/direction) should be responded to in faith.

Faith will bring obedience.

Obedience will unleash God’s power and spread His word.

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

We don’t need to fear or worry about what God hasn’t told us to do or will happen. We just need to fear Him and obey His words.

He tells us when to go, where to go, who to go to, what to say, and what to do.

Our obedience yields His power.

Matthew 10:9–10 ESV

9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.

Jesus told them what to bring: What they had on them (and a few less things).

This tells me 2 things:

1. The mission was not for their comfort or benefit. It was for a much greater purpose!

2. It was not about what they could do or bring in their own power. God is the sole supply. All our efforts fall short.

Matthew 10:11–13 (ESV)

Matthew 10:11–13 ESV

11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Jesus instructed them how to respond when they are received.

Jesus promised reception.

There are those who will receive the gospel.

If they went into a town with a predisposition of rejection, they would not have reception.

Recognize that people will receive you. No matter how many people reject you or the gospel, someone needs YOU to tell THEM!

Matthew 10:14–15 ESV

14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Jesus instructed them how to respond when they are rejected.

Jesus promised rejection.

Rejection will become persecution.

What to do with rejection:

Accept that it will happen.

Expect that it will happen.

Shake it off.

Move on. Go to the NEXT ONE.

Expect to be tested and tried.

Don’t worry about what to say.

Matthew 10:16–19 ESV

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

Luke 21:14 ESV

14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

Luke 21:15 ESV

15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

Matthew 10:20 ESV

20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Mark 13:11 ESV

11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

God made sure to let us know that He will let us know!

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together (as they always do) to put words in our mouths!

It’s HIS message. It’s HIS reputation. We are just vessels!

Matthew 10:21–33

We will not receive acceptance by God if we are not willing to be rejected by man.

Matthew 10:34-39

You will be rejected. You will be hated. You will be put on trial. You will be persecuted. You will suffer for doing good. Your family will be divided. You may be put to death.

Matthew 10:40-42

STANDING FIRM:

You will be received by some. You will be received by Jesus. You will be rewarded. You will be rejoicing.

We will not receive acceptance by God if we are not willing to be rejected by man.