Biblical Examples Of Overcomers: Abuse And Rejection In The Christian Church Part Nine

In earlier teachings on rejection the five keys to healing from abuse and rejection. The Five Keys to healing from rejection are:

1. Focus on God’s character and identity
2. Focus on God’s intentions
3. Focus on who we are in Him
4. Focus on the solution and not the problem
5. Focus on our response and our responsibilities in Him

The Bible is filled with examples of those who overcame abuse and rejection. In the lives of each one, we can see why those who applied five keys succeeded in the end.

Leah experienced rejection from her father Laban, her sister Rachel, and her husband Jacob. She felt great pain but we can see her transformation as she moved her focus from not being loved by people, towards God. She began focusing on God’s faithfulness and His intentions to her. She moved her eyes from the pain and daily struggles of rejection from her family to knowing who she was in God. She found the solution in her relationship to God who showed her the value He placed on her, blessing her with many sons and one daughter. She overcame the struggle of rejection and lack of love to focus on what she did have and God was her provision and sustained her through it all. (See Genesis chapters 29-30)

Joseph experienced rejection from his brothers who threw him in a well, and he ended up in slavery, and then the dungeon. We see no evidence that he ever wavered in knowing God’s character, intentions, plans, promises, and provision. He ended up second in command as the ruler in the land of Egypt by operating in the five keys to overcoming rejection. His focus enabled Him to see God’s plan through his affliction. It enabled him to walk in mercy and forgiveness for his brothers. He saw the big picture in how the affliction brought increase.

“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Genesis 45:5 NKJV

Samson experienced massive rejection through Delilah’s betrayal. Samson experienced many successes and failures. In the end his focus on the five keys to overcoming transformed his failure which didn’t define him. He ended up killing more Philistines through his death than he did in his life. He overcame his weakness for women and ended up focused back on the keys so that he succeeded in the end. (See Judges 16: 23-31)

Noah was mocked by the whole world, yet did not waver in focusing on each of those five keys. He stood firmly in God’s plan, and it was worth the struggles that he and his family endured. He and his family were saved through their focus, and he made a way for a pure generational line to be present on the earth so that the Messiah could be born from it to save us from our sins. (See Genesis chapters 6-9)

Another example of rejection from the church is Stephen, the first martyr in the New Testament church. He faced rejection to the point of death and was not swayed from his testimony or his confronting of what the leaders were doing in rebellion to God. He spoke an entire church history of the leader’s behaviors. He stood for the truth, spoke for God, and called out the leaders on their rejection of God and their irresponsibility with what God gave them.

“And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. “Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 6:8, 10-15, 59-60 NKJV

Stephen experienced rejection to the point of death and handled it with peace, grace, and mercy; God was with Him when He caused him to fall asleep. There are so many others in the Bible that give us an example to follow.

The prophet Jeremiah also kept his focus through his entire ministry. Probably one of my favorite prophets was Jeremiah, a man who stood firm, speaking God’s Word regardless of the people’s response and rejection. Although he had little to no signs of success in the natural or change in those he prophesied to his focus made him obedient and persevering. He was an incredible success to God. This defines his ministry.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, ‘You will surely die!’ And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, ‘This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.’” Jeremiah 26:2-3, 8-9 11 NKJV

God told Jeremiah speak and “do not diminish a word.” When we experience rejection, many of us see ourselves as unworthy. We see ourselves with too many flaws to speak; that is contrary to God using cracked vessels. We must get up through rejection and keep going. Even when we are rejected, betrayed, and slandered to others just as Jeremiah experienced, God still has our plans and purposes laid out if we will choose to fulfill them. No man can stop God’s plans, so fear not.

The prophet Jeremiah teaches us a very important message about rejection. Is rejection a sign to be silent? Through everything that we speak, our actions, flaws, and even our failures there is a message to teach Christians something. We need to respond like those who have come before us, and Jesus Christ who we seek to emulate. We are to have patience, mercy, grace, and operate in our own godly life skills. The messages or gifts we have may challenge others to overcome their own insecurities. Through it all we must make decisions to please God and not men.

Dr. Michele

Copyright © 2014 by Dr. Michele Fleming, Ph.D.