Rejection

Rejection - <Terry>

Another area of the soul where the enemy attacks us and tries to keep us in bondage is in the area of rejection. All of us have been affected by rejection… Because all of us have been rejected at some point in our lives.  Rejection is a painful tool that the enemy uses to steal the best of who we are and it reinforces the worst that has been said and done to us.

The reason we all deal with rejection is because we were all born separated from a holy God. It does not mean God wanted to reject us, it means we were all born sinners, we have a sense of separation, thus rejection.

Rejection can block us from experiencing true relationship with God and with others.  Rejection builds a stronghold of insecurity and self-sufficiency.

BUT the problem is: People were never meant to be rejected. And God never meant for us to be rejected.

Romans 1:7 CSB

7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen to what God says about Israel and If His promises are true for Israel than they are true for us also:

Isaiah 41:9 CSB

9 I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.

Romans 8:38–39 CSB

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

God made us to need love and acceptance through relationship with Him and others.

Satan’s strategy is for us to be isolated, independent, self-reliant, and guarded so he can reiterate the narratives of lies and hurtful words we have hear which results in bitterness, anger, often times depression, feelings of suicide, full of hatred and rejection with the inability to love and receive acceptance.   

There are ways we are wounded by rejection:

1. Generational influences: things that are passed down from generation to generation.

2. Life events: Rejected by parents through neglect or abuse, kids at school (kids playing ball – picked last), teachers, coaches, bosses, girlfriends or boyfriends, husbands/wives, pastors or other leaders in church.

3. Demographic: Maybe you were rejected because of the color of your skin, your socio-economic status, cultural expression, gender, race, abilities and disabilities

Most of us can remember hurtful words.

We may have heard words of rejection such as:

❖ I wish you’d never been born.

❖ You are not wanted

❖ I want a divorce

❖ I hate you.

❖ I don’t understand “you people”

❖ You’re a waste.

❖ You were a mistake.

❖ I wish I never met you.

❖ I wish I never had you.

❖ I never loved you.

❖ You’ll never amount to anything.

Critical words cut us deeply and Curses were being placed on us by such words! But tonight,

Let’s Hear God’s word:

Psalm 27:10 CSB

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord cares for me.

Psalm 139:14 CSB

14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.

No matter what people have said to us, let’s believe what God has said about us.

Isaiah 54:17 CSB

17 No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their vindication is from me.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

We have no control over our past, but we do have control over what we believe in our future.

We have a choice!

❖ We can choose to overcome this spirit of rejection, or

❖ We can choose and be overcome by rejection.

Ephesians 2:6 CSB

6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,

Romans 8:31 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Can you believe with me the Truth that God is always working on our behalf – can we all agree that the enemy wants us to think otherwise. Because words have such power and influence the enemy is constantly reminding us of the negative and the Lord is wanting us to believe Him!

Now, let’s expose 4 common ways that maybe we have dealt with the spirit of rejection that have ineffective and ultimately have lead us into more pain.

1. Pride and Control – We tell ourselves that we are better than others, so that we won’t care if they hurt us and reject us. We try to controlour lives and the lives of others – and we often hurt others before they can hurt us.  We sometimes make a vow that we will never be hurt again, so we harden our hearts to keep others out.

2. Another way the spirit of rejection lies to us is through Sexual Lust– We may seek a sexual partner for affirmation. We think the next relationship will heal the wound that rejection has caused. “If only I could have her” or “I know if I had him, my life would be better.” This brings more hurt in our lives, and sets us up for the more rejection. Sexual lust can lead us to look outside the covenant of marriage for affirmation which leads to adultery. The spirit of rejection says “we will never be enough for our spouse” or “our spouse will never be enough for us”.  As a single person, the spirit of rejection says “we will never be accepted” or “no one will ever want us and we will always be alone” Some of us became sexually active in hopes of acceptance.

3.  Then there is Material Lust – People think, “If I just have more stuff, I’ll be happy.  If I just had a bigger house, or some new clothes, or jewelry, or car or boat, – I’ll feel better.”

4. And lastly, exclusivity which surrounding yourself ONLY with people who think and act like you do.  This creates a sense of an “in-group” but insulates you from growing your circle and developing rich and diverse relationships. We develop prejudices that more deeply divide relationships with others.

The truth is, rejection leaves us with a God size hole in our heart that we only try filling by someone or something other than God. 

Ephesians 1:6 CSB

6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

Lots of us struggle with trusting the truth that we are acceptable to and accepted by God. Here’s the truth, we are accepted not because of what we do or don’t do - or how we succeed or if we’re good.

We are accepted - not because of who we are or where we come from, but because of who God is. Today, we’re going to believe the truth that we are accepted and valued. Let this truth sink in - we are accepted by God, admired by Him and have His full and unconditional love.

Some of us in this room may have unforgiveness in our hearts from the pain we have experienced from rejection. When coming forward for prayer, take the step of healing and forgive. 

Some of us need healing from word curses and lies spoken over us that we have believed and have lived out. Some of us need healing because we never heard the words we needed to hear. When coming forward, receive the Truth of God’s Word. Some of us have been rejected because of our background or demographic. Perhaps it’s our race, gender, status, or mental or physical ability.

Some of us have been rejected by our spouse, our parents, family, friends, we may have even been rejecting ourselves. Today is the day to choose forgiveness, to walk in love and receive God’s healing.

The key to forgiveness is having a revelation of the incredible love God has shown us through His Son. God has forgiven us a debt we could never pay.

How do we overcome rejection?

❖ By exposing it

❖ By rejecting the lie

❖ By believing the truth and agreeing with God.

So let’s deal with rejection in all its forms by turning away from it and declaring God’s truth about ourselves!

Everybody stand with me at every location. Let’s declare God’s truth over our lives and receive His healing over rejection.

Repentance Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Remove the walls of rejection

In the name of Jesus,

I turn from every lie,

known and unknown

that I have believed,

that has given rejection

any power in my life.

I release to God

the memories of the moments

I’ve been rejected.

Every curse of rejection

is broken off me

and off my family.

In obedience to Your Word,

I choose to forgive

everyone who has hurt me in the past.

Let forgiveness mark my life

I declare to you rejection,

your time is done in our lives!

in the mighty name of Jesus,

AMEN!

Prayer Team and Flow teams please take your places.

When coming forward to a member of the prayer team – let them know of any rejection or unforgiveness you are overcoming and they will join in agreement with you.

(Ministry Time)

Declaration

I am blessed

with all spiritual blessings.

If God is for me,

who can be against me?

I am chosen by God.

He has not rejected me!

God loves me so much,

that He gave His only Son for me.

He chose me and appointed me

to bear good fruit.

I have the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Lord,

EVERYTHING You say about me is true!

I AM holy and blameless.

I AM redeemed through the blood of Jesus.

I AM an heir of heaven.

I AM seated in heavenly places.

I AM God’s workmanship.

I AM fearfully and wonderfully made.

I AM valuable

I AM accepted

I AM a new creation.

I AM a citizen of heaven.

I AM rooted and grounded in love.

I AM more than a conqueror.

I AM an overcomer.

I AM healed.

I AM FREE!

In Jesus name, Amen!