Summary: This first of three messages deals with the pain of rejection. Jesus can heal your broken heart.

Psalms 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

I. HELP… I FEEL SO REJECTED!

A. Rejection is very real and many times the effects of it can be felt for a life time.

1. REJECTION HURTS - BAD!!!!!

B. You are not alone. Jacob & Rachel’s story (Genesis 29)

1. Genesis 29:11 - Jacob fell in love with Rachel at first sight.

2. Genesis 29:18-20 - Jacob offers to serve 7 years for Rachel and Laban agrees

3. Genesis 29:23-30 - Laban swindles Jacob but Jacob’s love for Rachel is greater than the betrayal.

C. Digging Deeper

1. Definition: REJEC’TION, n. [L. rejectio.] The act of throwing away; the act of casting off or forsaking; refusal to accept or grant.

2. Common attitudes that can indicate a spirit of rejection.

a) Trying to be someone that you aren’t in order to be accepted

b) Rejecting others easily

c) Always wondering if you are being accepted (consciously and subconsciously)

d) Trying to be the life of the party

e) Self-pity

f) Inability to receive correction

g) Blaming others (Victim Mentality)

h) Pride

i) Highly Opinionated (vocally and/or privately)

j) Negative feelings of insecurity masked by a boisterous projection

k) Envious, Jealous, Hate for successful people

l) Fear of confrontation (because your identity is based upon what they think of you)

m) Feelings of “I don’t need anybody.”

3. Vulnerabilities

a) We are most vulnerable with those we are closest to. (In other words they can hurt us the deepest and the most frequently)

b) During life-altering decision times

c) Right after a major loss (Job, health, marriage, friendship, etc)

II. THERE IS HOPE - THE ROOTS OF REJECTION LIE IN A PERSONS IDENTITY. SOLVE THE IDENTITY CRISIS AND YOU CAN HEAL FROM REJECTION!

A. Our identity should be found in Christ. GOD IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF REJECTION!

Hebrews 13:5 - AMP Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

B. So what exactly does God's Word tell us about who we are in Christ?

1. God adopted us! - 1 John 3:1

2. God made sons like Jesus with sonship rights! - Romans 8:17

3. God gave us a position of authority in heaven with Jesus at God’s right hand. - Ephesians 2:6

4. God blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in Christ - Ephesians 1:3

5. God made us righteous. - Romans 3:22

6. God removed our sins as far as the east is from the west - Psalms 103:12

7. God has chosen not to remember our failures - Hebrews 8:12

8. God loves us as much as He loves Jesus! - John 17:23

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE REJECTION TO YOU?

IDENTITY CRISIS SOLVED!!!

III. JESUS WAS REJECTED!

A. Who rejected Jesus?

1. Isaiah 53:3 is the famous OT verse that says, “…He was despised and rejected of men…”

2. Jesus was rejected by the builders (the very Church that He died to establish was trying to reject Him) - Matthew 21:42

a) Many try to reject Him even today! (It’s the spirit of the Anti-Christ)

b) God made Him the “Head of the Corner”. - Mark 12:10

(1) When others overlook you God can still raise you up!

3. Jesus was rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes - Mark 8:31

4. Jesus was rejected by His generation - Luke 17:25

B. How did this affect Jesus?

1. He still fulfilled the plan of God for His life.

2. Jesus stayed the course. (He was faithful)

3. Because of His obedience and willingness to stay the course we are saved today!

4. He was not swayed by what was going on around Him, He paid attention to the voice of God in Him.

CLOSING:

Psalms 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.