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| God's Love: The Answer for the Rejection Syndrome |
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After coming out of bondage of alcoholism 18 years ago, one of the hardest concepts I had to grasp after I got saved was the idea of the love of God. I knew that God loved me and that I had accepted Him as Lord and Savior, but there was still a need for the Holy Spirit, along with God’s Word, to reprogram my cerebral hard drive. My idea of God was that He was mean and wrathful, and didn’t really like me. I saw Him as someone who was waiting for me to mess up so He could take delight in judging and condemning me.
However, as I began to search the Scriptures, I discovered that my concept was a much distorted one. I found that the Bible tells us that “God is love.” An essential characteristic of His love is that he takes pleasure in loving and enjoying His creation. Sometimes we view God as some uncaring distant relative who takes no concern for us. However the Bible speaks to the contrary. John 3:16 makes it clear that God loves the whole world, including you and me, so much so that he willingly gave His own Son to die for our sins. Such love is hard to grasp, but through the Word of God, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, you and I can begin to grasp the reality of that love. This is precisely what Paul desires for the Ephesians church. He writes,
Ephesians 3:17b-19 - And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Charles Solomon states in his book Handbook to Happiness that rejection “is the absence of meaningful love.” The reason for this is because the residue that rejection leaves behind is “the impaired ability to give and receive love.” Moreover, Paul indirectly deals with this issue by telling the Ephesians church to first pray. Prayer is essential because in order to be free from rejection the Holy Spirit has to illumine the truth of God’s love to our hearts. In doing so, we begin to be able to ascertain a firm grasp of God’s love and free ourselves from the rejection syndrome. |
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Gene |
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October 16, 2007 at 10:20pm |
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There are a lot of people who call themselves Christian who do not attend church. There are others who leave the church and become atheists. Yet in listening to most of these people I have come to believe that they haven't really rejected God. Instead, they have rejected what they have been taught about God.
And even for many who haven't left, they are in deep pain, most often because they have never experienced love in its most pure form. When you grow up believing that God is an angry God, you don't turn to God for love. And when we do turn to God carrying this view, our notion of forgiveness is grossly distorted. And so since we don't ever experience real forgiveness, we can never truly forgive.
I heard once that the main reason people seek therapy is because of their inability to forgive, or their inability to accept forgiveness.
Is it any wonder we have so many Christians with so many problems? Yes, Satan does attack the true believer. But when we use that line inappropriately we end up hidding the real problem - the real Gospel message isn't getting out.
The focus of too many sermons is to "bring people to God" by making them afraid of hell or of the wrath of God. That's a horrible basis for starting a relationship with God through Christ.
The message that each and every person needs to hear, saved or not, is that God took the time to carefully make each person. That's the real message of Gen 2. He gave each person a unique set of gifts for a purpose.
We talk so much about "having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ " that we forget that He desperately wants a personal relationship with us, and He goes out of His way to make that happen. Yes, the Bible is critical to the life of the Christian, but we must not be closed to the concept that God reaches out to touch us through all of His creation. Sometimes it's through nature, sometimes it's through another person, sometimes it's through prayer, sometimes it's through communion, sometimes it's through our service to those in need.
Please, please know that God loves you as an individual, for who you really are, defects, warts, and all. And please, be sure that everyone you meet hears this message as well, and encourage them to become aware of His Presence around them.
Gene |
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Good Word Gene!
AW Tozer states, “What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” It determines both our actions and outlook on life |
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| ...we love Him because He first loved us...so hard to understand in our heart since we are so undeserving... |
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| That is is trueVoice. Well said! |
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| What a blessed word thank you for sharing. |
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"in order to be free from rejection the Holy Spirit has to illumine the truth of God’s love to our hearts"
Whole lotta truth in that statement! Yep, I'd say it takes the Holy Spirit to overcome the determination of those who've suffered rejection to hang onto their bitterness. Bitterness can become "comfortable" to such a person over time, interfering with their ability to have meaningful relationships with others, including God. Good word, Pastor Tim! (as usual!!) |
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| Powerful Word Pastor Tim, Powerful Word! I'm looking for your Book in a store soon!( Smile) you are a blessing Brother! |
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Marie, IGod's Chosen, and Carrie - I am delighted that it ministered to you!
Mike, I am definitely in agree with you when you said, "Holy Spirit to overcome the determination of those who've suffered rejection to hang onto their bitterness." You are so right!When we hang on to bitterness we only hurt ourselves.
"I've had a few arguments with people," comedian Buddy Hackett once confessed, "but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you're carrying a grudge, they're out dancing." Buddy Hackett.
Keith, thanks for the complement. As a matter of fact, I am working on a book right now. However, because of my busy schedule, it will take several months to complete. |
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Glenn |
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October 17, 2007 at 8:01am |
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Thanks Pastor Tim,
something I needed to hear today. God's love for us in Christ is complete.
peace |
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Deb |
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October 17, 2007 at 10:08am |
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| It was only after I accepted Christ and forgave myself for my sins, that I realized the true love of God. It was there all along, but my "self" was standing in the way and I couldn't see it. Only when I got my selfish desires under control, was I finally able to see the love that was there all along. |
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Glen, It was something that I needed to be reminded of as well.
Dave, to my feloow Terre Hautian, God bless you brother!
Deb, you are exactly right. Thanks for ministering to me:-) |
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Eric |
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October 17, 2007 at 10:47am |
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Tim wrote, "I saw Him as someone who was waiting for me to mess up so He could take delight in judging and condemning me."
Very odd thing for a saved individual to think! You understood God as the Perfect Judge (nevermind God doesn't "delight" in this judgment) and realized your need for a savior. Yet you didn't realize you are now judged by Christ's righteousness, not your merits, and are spared condemnation. God is Love. But God is also Just. Thank God for Jesus! I guess this highlights the importance of discipleship post salvation! |
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Eric, actually it is very common for a saved indivual to fight this battle. The one thing that Satan wants to do is to prevent believers from embracing fully what Christ has done. This is why Paul exhorted the Ephesians to put on the full armor of God daily.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim |
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"that rejection “is the absence of meaningful love.” Pastor Tim this is so true, I would like to add to this statement....that rejection “is the absence of meaningful love.... as long as one continues to reject oneself it negates God's meaningful love and one is left in a continous loop of rejection.
Pastor Aminata |
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Ben |
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October 17, 2007 at 12:21pm |
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| Pastor Tim, thank you for this message. So many have been deceived into believing that God doesn't love them because they aren't good enough, including Christians. Thank you. |
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MaKelly |
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October 17, 2007 at 12:22pm |
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Pastor Tim
You are so right, I spoke on this in one of my blogs, I had a thing with rejection, but when I found out that My God love me unconditionally, truly nothing else matter. |
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JessIAm |
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October 17, 2007 at 12:46pm |
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| I'm so grateful for God and His love for us all. |
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Ben, your are so right. This is a battle that many Christians face.
MaKelly, Amen. When we know that He accepts, that's all that counts.
Jess, Amen. Thank goodness for His love. |
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| Charles solomon ? The guys a hack ! Okay just kidding but we spent so much time today beating up Joel Osteen ,I thought only fair to givehim a hard time too. Great Blog Bud. |
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King, Thanks brother. I really enjoyed the discussion.
God bless you Arlene! |
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Gene |
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October 17, 2007 at 3:57pm |
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PT,
I fully understand. I grew up in church and considered the Bible a rule book to follow. that's one reason why I left the church long ago. Years later, after reading it and having the Holy Spirit open the words, I too began to realize that the God of all creation cares for me. ME! Wow! What a concept to try to grasp. Thanks for a great topic.
God Bless you. |
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Tim,
Very comforting words for the wounded! |
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Denise |
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October 17, 2007 at 6:42pm |
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| Thanks for the blog. Sometime our minds cannot fathom how deep God's love is for us, He gave His only Son that should be enough but sometimes we just miss it, His love is so deep. I I love Him, because He first loved me. And when I wouldn't listen to Him He didn't give up on me, He loved me anyway. Praise be to God forever more!!!!!! |
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Amen Denise,!
Ephesians 3:17-19 (New International Version)17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. |
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Restore, I am glad it ministered to you.
Be blessed! |
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