Who are they Rejecting?

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Acts 14:1-7

 

Act 14:1-7

When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, ⁶ they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, ⁷ and there they continued to preach the gospel.

(ESV)

 

During a period of downtime on the New Year weekend, I had a chance to watch the Sugar Bowl game between Clemson and Ohio State.  Since I was born in Ohio, I was going for the underdog, Ohio State, and was glad to see them win and have a chance to play for the national championship.  As the game wound down and it became obvious that Ohio State would win the game, the camera showed the quarterback of Clemson.  This was only the second game he had lost during his career in college football and as I looked into his eyes, I could see that he was not taking the fact of losing very well.  While none of us likes to lose or suffer rejection, they are a part of life and something we all need to learn to deal with.  Should the quarterback of Clemson read this post I would tell him he is an extremely talented quarterback with a promising career in the NFL and hope he bounces back from this defeat to become even stronger. 

 

The text of Acts 14:1-7 has a pattern similar to what we observed in Acts 13:13-52 with Paul and Barnabas entering the city and going to the synagogue to declare who Jesus was based on Scripture.  Like what happened in Antioch, many Jews and Greeks initially believed followed by non-believing Jews stirring up trouble by poisoning the minds of the Gentiles against the brothers (Acts 14:1-2).  However, Paul and Barnabas did let this rejection stop them and continued speaking boldly for the Lord, with the Lord bearing witness of their bold declaration for the Lord through signs done through the hands of Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:3).  Unfortunately, the animosity between the believers and non-believers caused division in the city leading to a plot to mistreat and stone Paul and Barnabas (Acts 14:4-5).  Thankfully for Paul and Barnabas, they learned of the plot against them and fled to Lystra and Derbe where they continued to preach the Gospel (Acts 14:6-7).   

 

Even though the people at Iconium rejected Paul and Barnabas and even contrived a plot to mistreat and kill them, they did not let this rejection stop them from carrying out their mission of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).  To deal with rejection we must understand that,

 

1)      We are accepted by Christ (1 John 3:1) – Choosing to believe in Jesus as our savior has the benefit of adoption into the family of God.  For those experiencing rejection from family or close friends, this brings comfort.  This acceptance into the family of God comes not because we deserve it for it happened while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).  We have no reason to doubt our acceptance into the family of God for it is due to the grace of God and not our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2)      Rejection of the Gospel is a rejection of Christ, not us (2 Corinthians 5:20) – As children of God living in a fallen world, we are ambassadors for Christ.  This makes believers in Christ foreigners with an obligation to represent their home country in a foreign land.  When an ambassador speaks of his home country in a foreign land, he is either accepted or rejected like Paul and Barnabas speaking of Christ in Iconium.  When rejection occurs, it is not due to the rejection of the ambassador but his or her home country.  Believers must not take rejection due to their faith personally but instead pray for those rejecting them so the Holy Spirit can do His work of convicting them of their sin.

3)      When sharing the Gospel, we are planting seed (Matthew 13:1-9) – Jesus did not command the Church to save the world for that is what Jesus did by his death on the cross but told us to share the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  Not all the seeds of the Gospel that believers share will have acceptance and instead rejection.  Like Paul and Barnabas, we must not allow this rejection to stop us and instead move on.    

 

The Church must remain focused on the mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples in 2021 and not slow down due to rejection by the world.  The Church must remember that the world is not rejecting the Church but Jesus due to conviction of the sins.  May the Church not back down on preaching against sin due to rejection by the world but lift up Christ so the world is drawn to Christ to receive forgiveness of sin (John 12:32).  Since Jesus came to die for and forgive people of the sins (Romans 5:8, 6:23), the Church cannot carry out its mission of sharing the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) without preaching on sin.  The Church must not take rejection by the world personally but instead follow the example of Paul and Barnabas and shake the rejection off and move on (Acts 13:50-52, 14:6-7). 

 

As part of fulfilling the mission of sharing the Gospel, I want to invite those reading this who have not accepted Jesus as Savior to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

Congratulations to those that just prayed for you are now accepted into the family of God and will never experience rejection from God (John 3:17).  May God bless everyone reading this post and may revival come in 2021 as we share and live for Christ.