Failure And Rejection Series

Part 5- Fearless (adapted from a series by Pastor Larry Osborne/Chris Brown from North Coast Church).

Review

How do we master our fears/respond properly to life?

I want us as a church to understand …

who we are and the high calling on our lives.

Jn 15:15-16

Many times we look at the giants in our life, think little of ourselves, and settle for- less than.

Jn 10:10 … I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. NASU

That is why God said to Joshua …

Josh 1:9 Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." NASU

Some- wondering why I am wearing Sun Glasses.

These glasses are a filter- UV, glare, brightness, etc.

They are a picture of how we allow- earthly/natural mindset to affect how we view life, rather than

seeing life through the truth of God’s Word.

God wants me to change- glasses so I see as He sees.

Failure and Rejection

Look at two- top fears that plague people and affect how they view themselves/world around them.

First- fear of failure-

paralyzes us from moving forward.

Second- fear of rejection-

concerned w/how others feel about us.

Fear of rejection- gives us- false sense of self-worth.

Non-acceptance of a rejection letter …

Chris Jensen applied for a professorship at Whitson University and was turned down. He writes a letter back, after they sent him a rejection letter, to the chair of the search committee, Professor Millington-

Read Letter.

Chris was unwilling to receive more rejection.

Fictitious- but it illustrates another way to view life.

What about your life right now-

perhaps you are afraid of failure or rejection, or

you are dealing with a recent failure/rejection.

How do you stand in this type of situation and say-

I will not accept that I am a failure/unlovable.

In the Bible- people who have failed or rejected …

Joseph- Gen 37- brothers saw him as a dreamer, jealous of him, sold him into slavery.

Moses- Ex 2- killed an Egyptian to help out his fellows Jews and they rejected him.

Leah- was not attractive compared to her sister Rachel- Jacob loved Rachel.Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah and he was upset because he wanted Rachel.

Imagine Leah’s feelings of rejection/failure.

Survey- asking women if they would prefer being beautiful or smart- most chose being beautiful.

A husband was mad at his wife and in his anger he lashed out and asked her, “How can you be so pretty, and yet so dumb?” His wife quickly replied, “I am pretty so that you will love me. I am dumb so that I can love you.

I post my sermons with thousands of other pastors on a web site called Sermon Central.

Others can rate your sermons- was it helpful or not- they can rate it with one to five stars.

Sometimes I look at those reviews, look at a sermon with two or three stars and think-

people did not like it, why?

I sometimes feel rejected or a failure.

So much of who I am is wrapped up in what I do and comparing myself with others (2 Cor 10:12).

Look at a story in- Bible- open Bibles to Lk 10:38-42

(NOTES): A Bad Day in a Great Life

Acronym-FEAR-False Evidence Appearing Real

Many times we look at life and believe the messages life sends us.

Regardless of the reality of your …

financial situation, job, physical appearance,

relationships, or non-relationships, we must

realize- those things are false evidence.

They do not define who we are or what we are.

Look at Martha’s life- she had a gift of hospitality, she was a real servant, but she had a bad afternoon.

Jesus would frequently stop at Martha’s house.

In Jn 11:5 Jesus says that He loves Martha/ Mary.

Martha had an incredible relationship with Jesus.

Jn 11- her brother died- she ran out to meet Jesus-

perhaps they embraced and wept together.

Lk 10:38-39

A bit of history of 1st century Jewish culture …

A woman’s value or self-worth was first and foremost in her husband and who he was in the community. Secondly a woman’s value and worth came from the children she was able to bring her husband, especially male children.

Martha/Mary- living together- no husbands/children.

Immediately Martha has two strikes against her.

It seems- Martha found value in what she did.

She opens her house to Jesus and his 12 disciples.

Martha is not just putting on a dinner party- this is Jesus and His disciples coming to her house.

Do you think Martha might have felt- pressure/stress?

Martha was running around making last minute preparations- cleaning the house, picking things up

Jesus/disciples come in- sit down in the Living Room.