When we Experience Rejection
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
How should we face rejection? I know many of us have had some form of rejection in our life. Some of us have been the recipient of some fierce rejection, that tore at the very fabric of our soul. How should we respond? What does God expect of us when we have been rejected?
Intro
Intro
Illus: Facing Rejection!
G. Campbell Morgan
60 years of ministry of a minister who:
preached over 23,390 times.
Wrote over 70 books.
He was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London from 1904-1919; 1933-1943.
He mentored Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones
Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon. In a cavernous auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. When Morgan stepped into the pulpit, the vast room and the searching, critical eyes caught him up short. Two weeks later Morgan's name appeared among the l05 REJECTED for the ministry that year.
Jill Morgan, his daughter-in-law, wrote in her book, A Man of the Word, "He wired to his father the one word, 'Rejected,' and sat down to write in his diary: 'Very dark everything seems. Still, He knoweth best.' Quickly came the reply: 'Rejected on earth. Accepted in heaven. Dad.'"
In later years, Morgan said: "God said to me, in the weeks of loneliness and darkness that followed, 'I want you to cease making plans for yourself, and let Me plan your life.'" Rejection is rarely permanent, as Morgan went on to prove. Even in this life, circumstances change, and ultimately, there is no rejection of those accepted by Christ.
It is clear that in God’s Kingdom Jesus is not physically here and often that seems hard for us. Our faith is in him, yet at times we are discouraged as we await his glorious return. Especially, in a world filled with rejection.
Drama
Drama
Paul was rejected by the Jews and the city
In light of our life situations we are given faith to persevere.
Paul experiences the ultimate rejection - stoning and attempted murder on his life.
Illus: St. Patrick -
Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools.
In light of our circumstances God gives us faith to persevere.
Now, Paul and Patrick responded to rejection in a way that almost seems extraordinary. Paul, went to the disciples and encouraged them. Here is a man who was just stoned and left for dead, who set everything aside to go and minister to others. Patrick went back to a place where he was enslaved to minister.
How? The answer is not something they do, but rather something that Jesus does. It is their union with Christ. It is his Spirit within them that makes these things happen.
In the face of Rejection, there are two ways we may respond. 1) out of the flesh and heart or 2) out of the Spirit of Christ.
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition The Larger Catechism
Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfections, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken with, fall away from the state of grace?
A. True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love of God, and his decree and covenant to give them perseverance,g their inseparable union with Christ, his continual intercession for them,i and the Spirit and seed of God abiding in them, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace,l but are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
The same Spirit within us that brings us to faith also sustains us in this faith. Im the face of rejection, our flesh will desire self- preservation. We will respond with aggression, lies, deflection, etc . . . Out of our pain and hurt we will lash out and seek to make others feel what we feel.
But, out of the Spirit of Christ, we can respond differently. We can respond in a way that encourages others. In a way that keeps relationships intact and seeks to love rather than hate.
Illus: Mosque shootings in New Zealand. How is it that such hate for another person even exists? It does because without the Spirit of Christ within us, then our hearts, which are evil, will act without conviction.
Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
So, how do we experience rejection in this life and remain faithful? Satan seeks to attack our faith, driving us away from God. Yet, God gives us very practical ways to build our faith to sustain us.
How do we see in this life specific ways that God gives faith to the saints?
How do we keep from falling away?
Doctrine
Doctrine
He uses other disciples to encourage us (22)
including rejection
including tribulations
We are pilgrims in this life and our circumstances are for God’s glory
Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools.
Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools.
In light of our circumstances God gives us faith to persevere.
He uses other disciples to encourage us (22)
“Strengthening the souls of the disciples”
Shows that our circumstances can cause us to feel weak in our spirit
Perfect picture of the sanctifying work of God in the believers life
by preaching the gospel
This is a constant need for our sanctification
A reminder that we are sinners saved by Grace
we have been united to Christ and can overcome sin of despair
“encouraging them to continue in the faith”
we are called to be encouragers
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Loving our neighbor as ourselves
Commanded by Christ
continue in the faith
if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
col
Through example
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
By way of a reminder
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
Examples of encouragement
He uses his church (23)
Government
They appointed elders
to govern and shepherd
to establish a system of encouragement
Means of Grace
prayer and fasting
applied the means of grace
Word, Sacrament and prayer
very ordinary ways to be encouraged in your faith
App: God’s church is more than somewhere you go on Sunday morning. It is more than a membership in a social club. It is a unified body of believers placed together to encourage one another to remain in your faith and persevere.
Doxology
Doxology
When we are discouraged we need to turn to the means God has given us - His church - people and marks
When we are not discouraged we need to seek to be encourages of those who are
In this we know that we have love for one another
1 John 4:11-21
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Illus:
English Standard Version Chapter 4
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Illus: I remember a lady lying in the hospital bed with no way to communicate her misery. She lie dying and awaiting cancer to overcome her. I knew her before she succumb to this state. I believe she was a Christian. I knew she believed that when this was all done she would be in the glorious presence of her Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet, her she lie, staring out the window without the brain capacity left to speak, or communicate in any way. I visited her daily toward the end of her life. I don’t know what she was thinking but I had only one goal. I hoped to help this lady persevere to the end without losing faith and hope that she had trusted in and held fast to in these last days.
One day right before she died, she reached up and grabbed my hand. She smiled without a word. I sat there for at least 30 minutes with her grasping my hand. Shortly after I departed she died.
God sends us as fellow workers but more importantly as fellow imaged of Jesus Christ. We are more than members of a church, we are members of a body that God uses to encourage and love one another.
The World rejects, but Jesus never rejects. And, we know it and experience it a very real way through his church, his people and the ordinary means of grace.
Look around and know that while in this world you will face rejection. Yet, with Jesus there will be no rejection and he has provided his church, his people, so that you may know it and remain strong in your faith.