A Real source of healing - REJECTION IV

"One of the first steps to being healed from the ravages of rejection is by extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us....

Jesus modeled true forgiveness when, at His crucifixion, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Luke 23:34)...

Jesus didn't merely forgive them. He took it to the next step. He said, "Father, not only do I forgive them, but I'm asking You to forgive them as well."

It is possible to forgive without taking it to the next step. It's possible to forgive someone, but at the same time be thinking, "Just wait. Your turn is coming. There's a day of judgement coming. One day you're going to stand before the throne of Almighty God. The secrets will come into the light, and you will get yours! Oh, I forgive you; but one day you'll pay!"

Jesus was saying, "Father I'm asking You to blot out of Your records in heaven this sin that they have committed against Me. When they stand before you, may this sin not appear against them." This was also the prayer of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, when he prayed while being stoned to death for his faith, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." (Acts 7:60)..

When you release your offenders from the judgement of their sin, you break the power of unforgiveness and find a new release to relate in freedom to others who sin against you."

"Thank you for the cross Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came

And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love Lord

Thank you for your nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know

Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb

Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus Son of God

Darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb"

Christian lyrics - WORTHY IS THE LAMB LYRICS - HILLSONG UNITED

Check out all the excerpts I posted from DEALING WITH THE REJECTION AND PRAISE OF MAN by Bob Sorge This from p. 21-22

Seek Forgiveness & from appreciation for His mercy and Grace, Grant Forgiveness

REMEMBER PETER? 'FALSH-THE-SWORD-AND-DENY-THE-LORD' PETER? THE APOSTLE WHO BOASTED ONE MINUTE AND BOLTED THE NEXT? HE SNOOZED WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE PRAYED. DENIED WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE DEFENDED. CURSED WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE COMFORTED. RAN WHEN SHOULD HAVE STAYED. WE REMEMBER PETER AS THE ONE WHO RAN, BUT DO WE REMEMBER PETER AS THE ONE WHO TURNED HIMSELF IN?...

"Confession does for the soul what working the acreage does for the soil. Before the farmer sows the seed he works the land, removing rocks and pulling stumps. Why? Seed grows better in prepared soil. God's seed grows better in a pure soul. Confession invites God to walk the acreage of our hearts. 'There's a rock of greed over here, Father. I can't budge it. And that tree of pride near the fence? It's roots are long and deep. And may I show you some dry soil, too crusty for seed.?'

Confession seeks pardon from God, not amnesty. Pardon accepts guilt, amnesty (derived from the same Greek word, amnesia) forgets the alleged offense without imputing guilt. Confession admits wrong and seeks forgiveness; amnesty denies wrong and claims innocence....

Peter models confession... How did the New Testament writers know of his sin? Who told them of his betrayal? And, more important, how did they know the details? Who told them of the girl at the gate, and the soldiers starting a fire? How did Matthew know Peter's accent made him a suspect? How did Luke learn of the glance of Jesus? Who told all four Gospel writers about the crowing rooster and flowing tears?...

Likely, each learned of the confession by an honest confession. Peter turned himself in.

HE STOPPED HIS RUNNING, FELL TO HIS KNEES, BURIED HIS FACE IN HIS FISHERMAN'S HANDS, AND GAVE UP.

PETER TURNED. PETER RETURNED.

There he is, every burly bit of him filling the door frame of the upper room. 'Fellows... I've got something to get off my chest.' He describes that terrible morning, the fire, the girl, and the look from Jesus. they hear of the cursing mouth and the crowing rooster. He turned himself in.

How can I be so sure of this??

Peter just couldn't stay away from Christ! Who was the first to run to the empty tomb? Who was the first to jump from the boat and swim to Jesus who stood on the shore?

THOSE WHO KEEP SECRETS FROM GOD, KEEP THEIR DISTANCE FROM GOD.THOSE WHO ARE HONEST WITH GOD, HOWEVER, DRAW NEAR TO GOD."

~from TURN by Max Lucado

REJECTION part III

from DEALING WITH THE PRAISE AND REJECTION OF MAN by Bob Sorge from p. 23

"Rejection hurts, but it need not wound. It's painful, but it doesn't have to penetrate the heart.

Rejection will always sting, but there is a healing balm. It is the unparalleled affection that the Father lavishes upon His children! No matter what the source of the rejection, nor the nature of the rejection, I have an internal wellspring of acceptance that flows from the heart of my heavenly Father to me."

In Christ...

"He accepts me when others reject me. He accepts me warts and all. He accepts me even when I blow it. Hre accepts me even while I sin. He accepts me regardless of my spiritual performance. He accepts me based upon the finished work of Christ's cross and His shed blood. I am as accepted by heaven as the only begotten Son of God Himself! When that acceptance is washing my soul on the inside, no amount of external rejection can wound me. I am constantly being healed by the everlasting affections of the Creator of the universe - who also happens to by my Father!..."

Who Am I? song by Casting Crowns;

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading Here today & gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling, Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You told me who I am

I am Yours,

I am Yours

Who am I, that the Eyes that see our sin Would look on me with love And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the Voice that calmed the sea Would call out through the rain And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am But because what of You've done

Not because of what I've done But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling, Lord, You catch me when I'm falling And You told me who I am

I am Yours

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours

" When we have been stung by rejection, we need to learn to retreat to the secret place, and be renewed and cleansed in the affections of our loving heavenly Father, the source of healing.

REJECTION IS A TRIAL - BUT THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE FATHER IS THE HEALING OINTMENT."