‘REJECTION –
THE SYMPTOMS, CAUSE, & CURE’
INTRODUCTION
Isa 53v3-5 (700 years BC) – He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and as one from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him
Surely He has borne our grief – sickness, weakness, and distress – and carried our sorrows and pain. Yet we ignorantly considered Him stricken, smitten and afflicted by God
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole
Math 21v42 - …The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was all the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our eyes
Luke 17v25 – But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation
1 Pet 2v4 – Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious
Math 27v46 – My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
X Ref Psalm 22v1 (1,000 years BC)
‘Rejection’ – To refuse to accept, to refuse to receive, to put aside, to discard, to forsake, to spit out
‘Forsake’ – To reject and completely abandon
Rejection has been with mankind since God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden after the Fall (Gen 3v23).
Rejection is one of the enemy’s strongest weapons, and is also the result of our basic human needs not being met (i.e. not knowing we are loved, accepted, and valued by Father God)
Most of us have experienced rejection at times in our lives. For example, when for no apparent reason someone turns against us, or someone issues a thoughtless comment, or a relationship breaks down
Some of life’s most painful rejection comes from childhood experiences. Rejection suffered in the early years can set the tone for a person’s entire life. This means someone can go through life feeling unloved, unworthy, useless, insecure, or insignificant
Hell is total separation from God, and a state of being forsaken. Jesus went through this ‘hell experience’ of being rejected and forsaken on the cross for us, so we could know Father God’s love and acceptance.
Father God never intended for us to struggle with feelings of rejection or low self-worth. Instead He wants us to understand that we are loved, accepted, and valued by Him as His child.
Healing from rejection is now possible because of what Jesus has done!
SYMPTONS OF REJECTION
The following is a list of common symptoms of a person struggling with feelings of rejection:
• Fear of opinion of others
• Insecurity
• Suspicious of anything nice done for you
• Difficulty in trusting God
• Difficulty in trusting people
• Always seeking proof of your value and self-worth
• Over emphasis on material things
• Over emphasis on dress and appearance
• Domineering spirit
• Critical spirit
• Frustration and anger
• Self-imposed isolation
• Feelings of inferiority (Doctor - inferiority complex?)
• Projecting a false sense of superiority
• An inability to form lasting relationships
• An inability to receive correction
• Perfectionism
• Rejecting others before they reject you
• Negative about everything including yourself
• Self-pity, depression, and thoughts of suicide
THE CAUSE OF REJECTION
The causes of rejection are diverse:
• A thoughtless, seemingly harmless word, spoken to a child by a parent or other person they hold in high esteem
• Childhood experiences – rejection at school/from friends/others
• Traumatic events
• Betrayal/feeling stabbed in the back
• Various hurts
• All forms of abuse – spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, sexual
• Divorce – feelings of failure, low self-esteem, and rejection
• A death or abandonment by a parent (Testimony)
• Knowing you're an orphan, even if adopted
• Guilt from past sins (1 John 1v9 - plus forgive yourself)
• Negative words and criticism from others (5 positives to replace 1 negative)
• Believing the enemy’s lies about yourself
• Not knowing your identity in Christ
THE CURE FOR REJECTION
Deal with the enemy
If rejection isn’t dealt with in our lives it can become an entry point for demons. When dealing with demonic activity in this area the following spirits often work together: Rejection; Self-rejection; Fear of rejection.
Derek Prince used to teach that if it’s not dealt with, rejection eventually takes either a ‘hard route’ or a ‘soft route’ in our lives:
Hard route: Rejection > Rebellion > Witchcraft (1 Sam 15v23)
Soft route: Rejection > Self-pity > Depression > Suicide
Where there is demonic activity the person in bondage needs to forgive, and repent and renounce the enemy and his lies specifically where necessary. Demons can then be cast out in Jesus name (Mark 3v14-15; Luke 4v18; Luke 10v17-20).
Deal with the roots
To deal completely and successfully with rejection it also requires honesty, and a willingness, to get to the root of the problem, which is not knowing we are unconditionally loved, accepted, and valued as a person, by Father God.
We can never base our value as a person on the opinion of others. If we do, we are sure to suffer disappointment and rejection. Only God can meet all our basic needs through His grace and love.
We can deal with the roots of rejection through doing the following:
• Identify the source of the rejection and the accompanying feelings
(Gen 4v6; Psalm 139v23-24)
• Forgive the people you need to forgive. This frees you to receive God’s forgiveness, healing, and restoration in your own life (Math 18v21-22; Mark 11v25-26).
• Reaffirm your identity and position as God’s child. Remember that your heavenly Father loves you unconditionally and eternally, and nothing can ever separate you from His love. Your sense of value and worth comes from Him (Math 3v17; Rom 8v15-17; Rom 8v35-39; 2 Cor 5v17; Eph 1v3-14; Eph 2v4).
• Continue to renounce the lies you are believing and apply the truths of God’s word to your life. You don’t need the approval of this world, or its favour. All you will ever need has been provided for you through Jesus Christ (Math 24v35; John 8v31-32; Phil 4v19; James 1v22-25).
• Remember, Father God may not approve of all your behaviour, but He will never reject you as a person, and He will always help you to change where necessary, through his grace and love (Luke 15v11-32; Heb 4v14-16; Heb 13v5).
