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."

REJECTION PART II

"Earthly rejection, properly embraced is an opportunity to gain heavenly treasure."

"Jesus intends we turn our pain into Pearls"

"At the Master's workbench, where He forms His servants into the image of Christ, there are many tools at His disposal for fashioning character development. There is one tool which He uses in a singularly powerful way, however, to accelerate the maturity of His chosen vessels, and yes, that tool is called 'Rejection'."

"When God destines a saint for extraordinary influence in the body of Christ, He prepares him through the rejection of people... if that one is to become a compassionate servant leader..."

"How did David handle all this rejection? The evidence indicates that in the midst of these and many other rejections, David continually withdrew into the secret place and renewed his hope and confidence in God. He was able to keep perspective on all the rejections of men because he was receiving from the inside the explosive acceptance of his God. I can suppose David saying, "I can handle all this when I have God's loving acceptance."

" A substantial step toward freedom of soul is made when we are able to see God as the author of life's rejections and not men. Although [it seems that]men are dispensing the rejection, God is actually allowing it in his sovereign plan for a divine purpose. The rejection is accomplishing something very profound in our soul and spirit. If we respond properly to it, the rejection will be used of God to shape and conform us into the image of Christ. Properly embraced, ... rejection becomes a gift.

"When we feel the sting of men's rejection, as long as we perceive men as the source of rejection, we will struggle in our attitudes toward them. FREEDOM begins to unfold when we realize that God designed their rejection for our personal benefit. So instead of struggling in our heart toward those who reject us, we can give thanks to God Who allows it for a higher purpose."

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified Bible)

3For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.

4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,

5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ,

"When you view rejection as a gift from God to keep your heart pliable, [humble] and dependent on Him, you gain a new freedom in relating to people in love [and mercy]. Even though you know people are not dependable [knowing you yourself will let others down at times] you are able give yourself to them in unqualified love, knowing that any rejection you receive from them is an opportunity for character development [if you run to your heavenly Father]

"When people reject you, but you are fueled on the inside with profound affections of you Father for you, then you're able to give yourself to your fellow man in love regardless of how he treats you... having profound faith in the grace of God at work in him or her [and yourself]."

"If we allow it, rejections can drive us into the place of finding God."

1 Timothy 1:15-16

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

1 Cor. 13:14 Love (GOD's love for us and in us) endures long and is patient and kind..."

commentary... "Love is long suffering...'It makes the mind firm, gives it power over angry passions, and furnishes it with a persevering patience, that shall rather wait and wish for the reformation of a brother than fly out in resentment of his conduct. It will put up with many slights and neglects for the person it loves, and waiting long to see the kindly effects of such patience on him."

STINKIN' THINKIN'

STINKIN' THINKIN' is not what I think about myself that gets to me & it's not what you think of me that gets to me. It's what I THINK that you are thinking about me that gets to me. its all fiction. Lies! Yet we are hurt by what we think others are thinking. Where is that coming from? Let's take a Sabbath rest from staying in our own thoughts & focus on the One whose thoughts are higher than ours, Jesus, my Redeemer!

"REJECTION: The Universal Malady

I am not writing about rejection from a position of objective aloofness. I have had to wrestle personally with processing rejection from other Christians, and have also had to face the pain of realizing that many others have felt rejected by me. When God began to teach me about rejection, He did it through both means -- through allowing me to feel rejected, and through allowing me to cause others to feel rejected through my imperfect attempts to relate to them.

When I consider those from who I have felt rejection, I can't think of a single one who purposefully intended to hurt me. And when I think of those who have felt rejected by me, I can't think of a single person what I meant to hurt. I was not malicious toward them, they were not malicious toward me. We weren't trying to hurt each other, in fact our intentions were to love one another. But rejection just seemed to happen anyways.

Sometimes we are rejected by others. And sometimes we feel rejected when in fact we were being accepted. Either way, the feelings of rejection are the result of our broken humanity, our falleness, our ineptitude at relating to one another in the perfection of Christ. Furthermore, it's possible to relate to someone absolutely perfectly - as Jesus related to the Pharisees - and have them feel rejected by you.

I began to awaken to the reality that a growing number of people in my sphere of influence have felt rejected by me. When I began to count them, I became alarmed at how large the list was! I can't think of a single instance when I meant to reject any of them; in some cases I knew I would be interpreted as rejecting them; in other cases I was taken by surprise at their responses. In fact, I've known the frustrating syndrome of sincerely thinking that I was expressing particular acceptance and affirmation toward someone, only to discover later that they received my words as rejection.

I have also tasted a little bit of what the apostle Paul wrote about when He told the believers at Corinth, "And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved." (2 Cor. 12:15) Paul loved the Corinthians so much that he was willing to hazard their affection in order to minister loving correction and rebuke. He extended genuine love to them, but they interpreted his love as rejection...

In our better moments, with the best of intentions, we can still cause others to feel rejected by us. As long as we're on this earth, rejection will always be one of the foremost issues involved in the dynamics of out interpersonal relationships.

We've all know rejection in the past... It's inevitable; we are guaranteed to feel rejection again. Thus, how we deal with rejection becomes an ever-present issue which we must face honestly...

Rejection affects us more profoundly than we care to admit. We can convince ourselves that we have not been wounded by someone's rejection, but then we begin to realize we have constructed self-projecting mechanisms to insulate ourselves from reoccurrence of that kind of injury. The protective walls we build around our souls are the evidence that the rejection has wounded us more than we thought. Consequently, our relationships with others suffer. We have distanced ourselves from others because of our past pains, and now struggle to find full satisfaction in the relationships God has given us. Rejection has left its scar.

It's tempting to respond to rejection with an inner vow, "That's the last time I'll let anyone else hurt me like that." We think we are protecting ourselves from further rejection, but instead we're trapping ourselves in a pattern of behavior that only binds us to the bitterness of the past. When we serve that need to stay protected, we relate to others in a way that only serves to escalate the volume of rejection we continue to encounter from them.

Once we've been really wounded by rejection, relationships become a great risk. We calculate, "Are the potential benefits of this relationship worth risking the potential hurts of this relationship?" so we decide how much of our soul we will open to this person. New relationships can be seen as a gamble.

"The heart knows its own bitterness" Prov. 14:10 No one but you knows the depths of your heartache. You have known the bitterness of rejection, the depths of which no other human being fully understands. You have carried the wounds of private pain, suffering in a way know to God alone....

[but] No one understands rejection better than Jesus.

~excerpts from DEALING WITH THE PRAISE AND REJECTION OF MAN from pp. 3-7 by Bob Sorge

I've just started the book, so there will be more to come, if you're interested...

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