The Power of Rejection

Introduction

The pain of Rejection

As we get around the Holidays, it seems to bring out the best and the worst of our relationships.

It’s great spending time with family and friends eating, laughing and just handing out together.

I really hope you had some of those moments over the last week.

We also have moments where our insecurities shine.

You are hit with the relationship drama head on because the holidays force you to all be together. Someone’s not coming to Thanksgiving dinner because your going to be there.

You didn’t get invited to the party you think you should have. Your husband looks at you and says “Would you have gone if they had invited you. You say, “Well, no but at least they could have invited me.”

We feel rejected.

I need to pause here for a moment and clarify the difference in feeling rejected and being rejected.

Feeling rejected is an emotion brought on by apparent circumstances, your own insecurities, and prejudgements of other peoples actions.

Feelings of rejection are usually resolved by get all the facts and communication with those that have made you feel rejected.

Feelings of rejection can be brought on completely of your own making. I have had people say about me. Well I don’t feel like Bill likes me so I’m not going back to that church.

Listen, If I don’t like you, you won’t have to guess because I’ll just tell you.

I have learned that people can have feeling of rejection not from me but for what I stand for. As pastor I represent our Lord Jesus Christ. So, a persons sin might cause them to feel rejection because their not living right with the Lord.

People treat God the same way. God is loving, kind, merciful, and forgiving, but his is also righteous.

When a person tries to fellowship with God in their sin they run into the righteousness of God. You have these feelings that God has rejected you. But that’s not true. God has the ability to love you through your sin.

“Even while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Therefore you can be accepted by God while He rejects your acts of sin.

True rejection happens when a person disassociates themselves from others not desiring to restore the relationship.

Many times the person with feelings of rejection becomes the rejector blaming their rejection on others because of their feelings.

Everyone has a need for acceptance. We seek out groups that will not reject us but accept us for who we are.

And so it is between many people and God right now. God has not rejected them. They have rejected him because He is not OK with their lifestyle.

is a beautiful love story between God and his people. Even through all their rebellion and rejection God has never changed is feelings of love or his plans for them. God’s heart is revealed as he loves them unconditionally and keeps his promises to them.

Romans 11:1–2 ESV

1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

Rom 11:

When you’re confident of God’s plan, rejection just moves you closer to success.

God has not Rejected His People. (v. 1-

Let the rejection of people drive you to presence of the Lord.

Elijah was rejected for his righteous stand against the evil of his day. He had just won great victories for the Lord.

Romans 11:3–4 ESV

3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Rom 11:

Rejection by people does not mean you have been rejected by God.

Spiritual rejection is sometimes necessary to produce salvation.

God understands rejection.

Jesus was Rejected for our salvation.

Isaiah 53:3–4 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Is 53:

God used the rejection of Israel to bring salvation to the world.

God has lived in Israel’s rejection for a long time.

God’s care for his vineyard in

Isaiah 5:1–2 ESV

1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.

Even though God is good to his people they still rebel against him.

God used their rejections to bring salvation to the world.

Romans 11:11–12 ESV

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Romans 11:11 ESV

11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

Romans 11:

Romans 11:15 ESV

15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Jesus was rejected for our salvation.

Isaiah 53:3–4 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Romans 11:15 ESV

15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

Rom 11

God’s redeeming power in your life is not hindered by the rejection of people.

Let God do his work in you no matter what people say or think.

God is not in the business of rejection of restoration

Their rejection has no bearing on God’s plan and purpose for your life.

All through the scriptures you have this symmetry of the vine and the branches.

Romans 11:16–17 ESV

16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

of the vine and the branches.

Romans 11:16–18 ESV

16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.

Christ is the root of Jesse, the olive tree

Is 11:1

Isaiah 11:1–2 ESV

1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:10–11 ESV

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

Rom

Is 11:10

Christ is the Vine and source of all life.

John 15:5 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John

We are the branches

The natural branches are Israel

Cutoff because of there rejection of Christ (v. 15)

Their rejection brought reconciliation to the world.

Romans 11:19–20 ESV

19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

Rom

The wild branches are the Gentiles (or us).

God has shown us kindness through acceptance.

Romans 11:21–22 ESV

21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Rom 11:21-

God has extended grace to all the nations as long has they receive it.

God has the power to restore the brokenness even through our rejection.

God doesn’t leave his people broken. He mends, repairs, and grafts them in again.

Romans 11:23–24 ESV

23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

Rom 11:

Israel will be grafted in again.

The most natural thing in the world is for Israel to follow God.

In all your brokenness and rejection, God is still willing and able to restore you again.

Israel will receive King Jesus at his return.

The only thing that keeps you from recovery is your rejection of God’s desire for your life.

Closing Thought:

Don’t mask your rejection of God as His rejection of you.

Embrace the pruning knife of God as he grafts you into the true root of Christ.

Be willing to suffer rejection for the plan of God in your life and in the lives of those around you.

Next Steps:

If you have been in rejection of God’s plan for your life, let God restore you today.

Receive your life nourishment from the true root and vine which is Christ.

Open your soul and let him refresh you with his spirit.

Be washed and watered by God’s Word. (designate a time of watering and refreshment with God in his word.)

Bear the fruit of righteousness and not rebellion. (Live a life pleasing to and and thus in the power of God.)

The Rejection of some is the Salvation of Others. (v.2