This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”. The more I pray about this, the more I am convinced that keeping your focus is absolutely critical to becoming the man/woman God called you to be. Once you are Born-Again the devil knows he cannot strip you of your salvation, but he will do everything he can to derail you from your destiny. He will attempt to get you both distracted and frustrated. One of the key ways he attempts to bring frustration is by causing others to reject you. Rejection can be very disappointing and it can cause even the best of us to feel “down”. Many Christians have not learned to handle rejection and as a result, they feel dejected, dismissed and depressed. These feelings have even caused good believers to commit suicide. Needless to say, this is a serious issue.
We have already looked at how David handled rejection. He was able to overcome it, which is why he endured long enough to walk in his divine purpose. This morning I feel led to briefly discuss four other Biblical characters who had to over rejection on the road to their divine purpose.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s see.
- Joseph had to overcome rejection. Joseph did nothing to earn his God-given dream. God gave him a dream completely by grace. Joseph believed the dream, but he made the mistake of sharing the dream with his brothers. He was rejected by his brothers and their betrayal sent Jospeh down a vicious path of testing and pain. But through it all, Joseph remained focused. He never lost sight of his dream. He endured the PIT-phase, POTIPHAR-phase and PRISON-phase of his life, all so he could get to the PALACE-phase. If your story were like Joseph’s, would you ever make it to the PALACE or would you quit along the way? Would you lose focus?
- Moses had to overcome rejection. Moses was born with divine purpose inside of him. Although he was raised amongst the Egyptians, although he dressed like an Egyptian, and although he studied in the best Egyptian schools, Moses had Israeli blood flowing through his veins. He was born to deliver his people from the people he was raised with. He made a major mistake. He was rejected by everyone he knew. He went off into the wilderness for 40 years. And after his time of testing, God met him at a burning bush and called him back into his destiny. Can you endure your “wilderness phase” and still be ready when God calls? Can you remain focused in spite of the mistakes you have made?
- Paul had to overcome rejection. Paul was groomed to become a Jewish leader of the highest order. He and his Jewish mentors thought the Christian movement was not of God. He fought Christians will all his might. He had Christians imprisoned, burned and eaten alive. He terrorized the church until he came in contact with Jesus. In one moment Paul was called, convicted and converted. And just as fast, he was ready to serve the God and the Christians he had been persecuting. But it would not be that easy. No one believed his testimony. No one accepted his witness. He was rejected time and time again. When he tried to connect with Jesus’ disciples — the leaders of the Christian movement at the time — they rejected him as well. Things got so bad with them that he had to be let down the wall of the city in a basket so he would not be killed. What did Paul do? He went home and isolated himself in Tarsus. He spent three years dying to his old man in order to become the man God called him to be. He gave up all his friends, all his connections and everything he had invested his entire life into. In the end, God validated him and called him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. But first Paul had to learn to handle rejection.
- Jesus had to overcome rejection. Jesus left heaven just to get us there. He stripped Himself of His divinity to walk as a mere man, in order to redeem man from sin and death. He came to get us out of everything Adam got us into. He came to His own, the Bible says, and His own received Him not. He was despised and rejected of men. He was rejected by the very men He came to save. He was betrayed by one of His own men. He was denied by one of His closest disciples. He was tried in a mock-trial, in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness, and he was convicted without ever committing a crime. The only innocent man to ever live was convicted and sentenced to death. He could have had every one of His enemies killed. With one word a legion of angels would have wiped out his oppressors, but Jesus refused to fight those who were fighting against Him. Jesus handled rejection. Jesus remained focused on His purpose. And for the joy that was set before Him — that joy was YOU — He endured the cross. Learn from Jesus. Don’t focus on the problem, focus on your purpose. Look past the pain and lay hold of the promises of God. Endure rejection and ridicule, overcome opposition and strife. This is the only way you will become the man/woman God called you to be!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by Your grace, using my faith. Even when I don’t feel like it, I recalibrate my focus. Even when I am facing opposition, I keep my eyes stayed on You. Every human You ever used to change the world was a human who had to face rejection, ridicule, opposition and oppression; and every one of them, to a person, KEPT GOING! They remained focused on You in spite of challenges. So, like those who have gone before me, I remain focused. I keep my eyes on the promise. I keep my heart set on my divine purpose. I shall not be moved. I shall not be shaken. I shall not lose, because I will not quit. I keep going, not by my power, but only by your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
