The Rose That Grew From Concrete! Series

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE!

Judges 11:1-6.

"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. 2 Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.

4 It came to pass after a time that the people of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.”

Luke 1:37.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible."

The Despised Who Became a Ruler!

The first information the Bible give us concerning Jephthah is that he is “a mighty man of valor”, the same thing God said about Gideon. But mighty men of valour rarely come from a life of comfort and ease. Jephthah had a rough beginning. The circumstances surrounding his birth was unpleasant. His mother was a prostitute and he was the product of a "one night stand." He had a scandalous birth.

Jephthah was not to blame for his birth, he had no say over who his mother or father was. He was just a victim of circumstances. But he suffered greatly for the sins of his parents.

Jephthah may not have been planned by his parents, but he was not an accident—and neither are you! Your birth was no mistake. You are not a bastard! Your parents my not have expected you, but God, the Creator, did. He was not caught unaware or surprised by your conception or birth. In fact, God expected it. “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:16-17).

Beloved, regardless of your past, you are going to be successful. It doesn't matter the circumstances concerning your birth, your parentage or your position in the family, you are going to be great. All those who have despised you or the events leading to your birth, will soon gather to celebrate you, in the mighty name of Jesus!

Unlike many men today who walk away from children born under such circumstances, Gilead, to his credit, takes full responsibility for his act. When Jephthah was born, he takes him into his home and effectively raises him as one of his own. Gilead may have been an adulterer, but he was a responsible father. The other children from his legal marriage, however, weren’t quite as open and accepting. Jephthah's presence in the home was a constant reminder of his parents’ sin.

When these half brothers grew up and conscious of their father's properties and not wanting to share any of it with the illegitimate one, they chased Jephthah out of the home, “You shall have no inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.”

The Pain of Rejection!

Rejection is a killer of enthusiasm, hope and potential. It is a cruel and degrading experience. It hurts. It shatters. Occasionally it kills. These are moments when, instead of getting the support or confirmation needed to boost you forward, you get disapproval. And this creates a wound in the soul that is difficult to heal. In the loneliness and the hurt, we imagine that we are the only ones who have been hurt, but we're not. Rejection is a common experience. And that includes Jesus Christ, "And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46.

Symptoms of Rejection?

1. Sorrowful.

2. Feeling of sadness.

3. Bitterness.

4. Unnecessary Suspicion.

5. Discouragement.

6. Always moody.

7. Not trusting anyone.

8. Self condemnation.

9. Self Pity.

10. Rebellion.

11. Misbehaviour.

12. Inferiority Complex.

13. Over Sensitivity.

14. Seeking for attention always.

15. Always wanting to draw sympathy.

16. Frustration.

17. Failure.

18. Stagnancy, and

19. Suicidal Tendencies.

Dealing with Rejection?

1. Accept rejection as a part of your journey, a momentary bump in the road to your destiny.

Hence, you have a choice to either allow that bump to derail you and walk around wounded, or you can choose to move forward. Cry if you must, but allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you.