Eight years and counting...
I can truly say that there have been many unforeseen and unexpected turns and twists in the road as we have traveled together, but I suppose that is what its like when you set out on an adventure together into uncharted territory -- following Jesus wherever He leads. I am truly amazed at the love and patience and endurance and faithfulness of this congregation, in spite of seemingly overwhelming odds. You have truly blessed me and Denise and John and Hope and our whole extended family by allowing us to pastor your congregation, and we consider ourselves tremendously blessed. Thank you for the privilege of serving you.
Pastor Philip
The Spirit of Rejection
Isaiah 53:2-3
v. 3 -- He was despised and rejected by men
Mark 8:31
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
Luke 17:24-25
For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 20:17 (Psalm 118:22)
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.
Although Jesus was despised and rejected by men, he refused to allow his spirit to be defined by that rejection. He never adopted a "spirit of rejection," where the word "rejection" would identify him and his outlook and his actions. He refused to allow "rejection" to define who he was or to stop him from fulfilling his Father's mission.
He could have adopted a martyr's complex. "Woe is me! Nobody loves me. Everybody hates me. I guess I'll just eat worms." But he did not.
JESUS REFUSED TO WALK IN A SPIRIT OF REJECTION!
In essence, Jesus said, "I refuse to be identified by who rejects me. I will only be identified by who accepts me -- My Father in heaven."
Many of us have been rejected:
1) Rejected by an earthly father
BUT Accepted by our Heavenly Father through faith in Christ -- "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6)
2) Rejected by an earthly mother
BUT "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" (John 14:16)
3) Rejected by an earthly brother or sister
BUT "there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24)
4) Rejected by a spouse
BUT Christ loved you and gave himself up for you (Ephesians 5:25)
5) Rejected by children
BUT you can say with Jesus "Here am I, and the children God has given me" (Hebrews 2:13; Isaiah 8:18)
6) Rejected by friends
BUT Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants . . . Instead, I have called you friends" (John 15:15)
7) Perhaps you have been rejected in other ways
BUT Jesus said, "Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20)
CAST OFF THE SPIRIT OF REJECTION!
1) Matthew 5:43-45
v. 44 -- Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
2) Matthew 6:9-15
v. 14 -- For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
3) Romans 12:14-21
v. 21 -- Overcome evil with good
MAKE THIS CONFESSION!
1) Through faith in Christ, I am not rejected by God!
2) No matter who on earth has rejected me, my Father in heaven will not reject me!
3) I am not a reject -- I AM PART OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF GOD!
All on the Altar
ALL ON THE ALTAR
All on the altar
Let nothing remain
Outside of the boundary
Of Christ’s crimson stain
All on the altar
“YAHWEH will provide”
On top of the wood
In the fire I will hide
Bind me and place me
On top of the wood
Let me be consumed
Like a sacrifice should
“YAHWEH giveth
And taketh away”
Whatever You keep, Lord,
In Your hands will stay
Whatever You give back
Will still be all Yours
A sacrifice living
Your eagle now soars
In praise and devotion
Surrendered to You
A body presented
The least I can do
“Not my will
But Thy will be done”
My life is lost
In the life of the Son
For it is with Christ
I am crucified
It is for me
That He gladly died
A cross fitly carried
Each day it comes due
Following Jesus
Denial of you
Now, for the joy
That is set before you
Endure the cross
And to Him be true
Despise the shame
And die every day
All on the altar
Next to Him lay
And, though, now alive
You find yourself dead
You’ll find that it’s Christ
Who is living instead
Philip C. Morris, Jr.
January 20, 2010
Scripture references:
Genesis 22:1-14
Job 1:20-22
Isaiah 40:28-31
Matthew 26:39
Luke 9:23-24
Luke 14:26-33
John 3:16
Romans 12:1-2
1 Corinthians 15:31
Galatians 2:20
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 John 2:2
Revelation 5:6
