Week 49: December 3, 2017
Topic: The Rejected Stone – Part 1
Bible Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
Introduction
Many people in the world today refer to themselves as the “rejected stone”, this perception is wrong because Jesus Christ is the true “rejected Stone”. Humans can only share this title if they obey the statutes of the Lord and do things that please God.
When people rejects you for doing what is right and acceptable in the presence of God, then you have become a “rejected stone”, but if the Lord rejects you because of your misconduct and disobedience, then you have become a “condemned stone”. We pray that Almighty God will not reject you and you will not be abandoned by the heaven.
In the world today, people have rejected the Lord their God despite His grace and mercy upon them. They prefer the things of the Devil to that of the Lord. Many people have rejected the Lord because of money, wealth, post/position and fame. Such people are seeking the assistance of the darkness to achieve their aim, forgetting that whatever that is accomplish through Satanic means will not last.
Jesus Christ The Rejected Stone
The Bible testified that believers must come to Jesus Christ who is the Living Stone and Cornerstone of God’s Temple which many people rejected, but He was precious and chosen by God for great honour. You the believers are the living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple for a holy and dedicated priesthood; to offer spiritual sacrifices that pleases and are acceptable to God: through the mediation of Jesus Christ. As the scripture says, “Behold I lay in Zion A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious and anyone who believes/trust in Him will never be put to shame 1 Peter 2: 4-6. From the passages, it is evident that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone rejected by people.
Upliftment for believers and downfall for unbelievers: Jesus Christ is precious to the people who believe and trust Him, such people recognize the honour that God has given Him. In a nutshell “The Stone is of great worth to those who put/have their trust in Him” and “He is the Stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them to fall”. They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, so they meet the fate that was planned for them 1 Peter 2: 7-8. If you want Jesus Christ to be your sanctuary and strong tower, follow His instructions. If you don’t want to stumble and fall, do not disobey Him. If you don’t want to be snared and spend your life in bondage, do not reject Him Isaiah 8: 14.
Confirmation by Christ: Jesus Christ our Lord confirmed the statement in the Bible when He said “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder” Luke 20: 17-18. Whoever comes against the Lord shall be condemned and whomever the Lord is against shall spend their eternity in hell.
Do not reject the Lord and His saints
Anyone who rejects the Lord is doing himself/herself a great disservice and such people can never inherit the kingdom of heaven. They have no portion in the Lord and the Lord has no portion in them, so do not reject the Lord if you want eternal salvation and not eternal condemnation.
Do not reject the Lord: You must never reject the Lord your God, His Word/Laws and the Saints. Anyone who does otherwise shall face the consequences and punishments. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is the will of God, than to suffer for doing wrong 1 Peter 3: 17. Endure your suffering to become a rejected stone. It is for this reason the scripture says, “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?” Numbers 14: 11. Do not reject the Lord your God if you want Him to make you a “rejected stone”, but reject Satan and his works. Never turn your back on the Lord or be among the populace of the world that rejects God.
Do not reject the Saints: It is your duty to know the truth and reject falsehood. So do not reject the Saints of the Lord because if you reject them, you have rejected your Creator who sent them as it is written “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and He who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” Luke 10: 16. Therefore, do not be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord and depart from evil Proverbs 3: 7.
Do not fear the rejection of Humans: If you are in good standing before the Lord, and people rejects you, those who rejected you will still come back to bow before you and seek your favour. Endure whatever you are passing through knowing that no temptation can overtake you except what is common to mankind and God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it 1 Corinthians 10: 13. There will be a way out of your situation unless God had rejected you and He is very angry with you Lamentations 5: 22. Therefore “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults” Isaiah 51: 7. Be confident, you must neither fear the rejection of humans nor be afraid of their mockery.
Reasons for rejecting the Lord, His Word and the Saints
There are various reasons that make people to reject the Lord, His words and the Saints, but we shall discuss the most common ones that were written in the Bible. The most common reasons are the following:
1. Pleasing human rather than God 2. Stubbornness
3. Lack of wisdom and knowledge 4. Rebellion
5. Desire to be the like the gentiles 6. Impatience
Pleasing human rather than God: Brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to follow the instructions that you received from the Saints; learn from the Saints and the teachings of the Bible about how you ought to walk in order to please and gratify God just as you were taught. We encourage you to excel and do more pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your Salvation 1 Thessalonians 4: 1. Make sure that whatever you are doing will never provoke God, but pleases Him. Always be in spirit; do not cater for the appetites and impulses of your carnal nature. Since those who are in the flesh can neither please God nor satisfy Him; therefore, resist the control of your sinful nature Romans 8: 8. Emulate Enoch who by faith was taken up to heaven without dying; before he was taken, he was commended as somebody who pleased God and he had the testimony that he pleased God Hebrews 11: 5. Do not deviate from the righteous path if you want to be referred to as a “rejected stone”, but do things that pleases God.
Learn from the mistake of King Saul who disobeyed the instructions of the Lord in order to please people when he was commanded by the Lord to utterly destroy the Amalekites. King Saul spared Agag the King of Amalek plus the best possessions of the Amalekites. Though he later confessed that he conducted himself in such manner because he feared the people and obeyed their voice rather than harken to the voice of God who made him King. God rejected him as King, his descendants lost the throne forever and he was condemned eternally 1 Samuel 15: 20-24. Under no circumstance must you please humans and displease God. It is better when you please God and displeases people. Do not allow the threat of rejection by friends, relatives, parents, neighbours, colleagues, spouse and your children make you to displease God.
Week 50: December 10, 2017
Topic: The Rejected Stone – Part 2
Bible Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
We shall continue the study with the reasons why people usually reject the Lord, His words and the Saints. We will proceed from where we stopped.
Reasons for rejecting the Lord, His words and the Saints
We shall discuss how people who think they are smart in this world are rejecting the Lord, His words and The Saints.
Lack of wisdom and knowledge: Many people in the world today who think they are wise are foolish. These people always based their actions and judgement on their intelligence, thereby indirectly rejecting the Lord and His words or His Saints. One thing they have forgotten is that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the presence of God. Unless they apply the wisdom and the knowledge of God to their journey in this world they are fools 1 Corinthians 3: 19. Do not allow Satan to deceive you that you are wise in rejecting the Lord and His words or the Saints because the divine wisdom of God will neither reject nor go against the Lord and His Saints. It is for this reason that the Bible stated that “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” Hosea 4: 6. Do not reject the divine knowledge and the law of God, but embrace them so that God will not reject you as His priest or ignore your children. Therefore, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.” James 1: 5. If anyone lacks wisdom, ask from God who can give you wisdom instead of rejecting Him and His Saints.
Rebellion: Rebellion is one of the conducts of human beings and it always has adverse effect in most cases on the lives of the rebels. Any rebellious person seeks only evil, and evildoers’ foster rebellion against God every time. It is for this reason that the scripture says “An evil man seeks only rebellion: Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him” Proverbs 17: 11. So you must neither rebel against the Lord nor reject His Saints. Do not be like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram who rebelled against the Lord and rejected Moses as their leader Numbers 16: 1-3. Also learn from the mistake of King Saul which made Samuel to say these words to the king, “for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king” 1 Samuel 15: 22-23. Never reject the word of the Lord even if it makes no sense to you as human being because “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways”, says the Lord Isaiah 55: 8-9.
Stubbornness: Stubbornness is a behaviour that is rampant among the people of this world. It is an improper behaviour that is unacceptable in the presence of God. All stubborn people are far from righteousness; they are far from uprightness and right standing with God. It is written that “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness” Isaiah 46: 12. Since the stubborn people are far from righteouness, God always let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts so that they might walk in their own counsels Psalm 81: 12. You must neither be stubborn nor reject the Lord if you don’t want to walk according to your own counsels or ideas, but always obey His words. Never emulate King Pharaoh who remain adamant and said “who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go” Exodus 5: 2. Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let Israel go, so the Lord performed signs and wonders that affected both humans and animals in the land of Biblical Egypt.
Desire to be like the gentiles: Nowadays, many Christians have the urge to be like the gentiles forgetting that they are the pace-setters who must lay good examples for the gentiles to follow. Numerous Christians do not remember that they are a chose generation, a royal priesthood and holy nation, God’s own special people 1 Peter 2: 9. Why do you desire to speak, dress, act and live like the gentiles? When the Bible testified that the gentiles will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising Isaiah 60: 3. Therefore, suppress the desire to be like the gentiles and do not learn the way of the gentiles. Do not act or behave like the gentiles who always misbehave and to read their future in the stars or any other elements created by God Jeremiah 10: 2. For this reason do not be like the Biblical Israelites that mingled with the gentiles and learned their works in manners that made them to reject the Lord, His words and the Saints Psalm 106: 35. Separate yourself from the world and do not act like the gentiles for people to notice that you did not have the desire to defile yourself, but to keep yourself holy according to the instruction of God Leviticus 19: 2.
You need to suffer to become a “rejected stone”
Anyone who wants to become a “rejected stone” must be prepared to suffer to achieve their aim. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ our Lord said “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” Matthews 5: 11-12. You have to make sacrifice in order to become a rejected stone, so that you will be blessed in this world and be rewarded in heaven.
Prophecy about Jesus Christ The Rejected Stone: The Book of Isaiah stated that “Jesus Christ was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him, He was despised and we did not esteem Him” Isaiah 53: 3. If people can despise and rejected Jesus Christ, there is no one that cannot be rejected. If Jesus Christ suffered and He was familiar with pain then you cannot be exempted from suffering and pain in order to become a rejected stone. If people turn their backs on Jesus Christ and they did not appreciate His worth or esteem; do not expect people to lock your way or care for you because you are doing the right thing.
The rejected stone lack basic necessities of life: Jesus Christ lacks the basic necessities of life during His physical existence in this world. On one occasion Jesus lodged at Bethany, and as He was returning to Jerusalem, He was hungry. He found a fig tree but the tree had no fruit but leaves Matthew 21: 18-19; Mark 11: 11-13. On another occasion Jesus was going to Galilee and He passed through a city called Sychar. He was tired and hungry; He stopped at Jacob’s well. He asked a Samarian woman who came to draw water for a drink saying “Give Me a drink” because His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food John 4: 3-8. Despite the fact that Jesus Christ had the power and the authority which He used to feed four thousand people with seven loaves of bread and little fish. He did not use this power to fill His tummy whenever He is hungry because He knew He has to sacrifice something Matthew 15: 32-38. You too must sacrifice something to become a rejected stone.
When a scribe said to Jesus that “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go”. He answered “foxes have holes and bird of the air have nests, but Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” Matthew 8: 18-20. As wealthy as Jesus is in His kingdom, He neither possess a house nor build a house for Himself. Therefore, do not allow the Devil to use the glittering of this world to obstruct or debar you from becoming a rejected stone.
Fulfillment of prophecy and prediction of Jesus Christ: The prophecy about Jesus Christ was fulfilled; then He predicted His suffering, rejection, death and resurrection. He began to teach people that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed and after three days rise again” Mark 8: 31. Do not be afraid because your suffering might not be of this magnitude, but you still have to suffer to become a rejected stone so that you will be blessed in this world and be rewarded in heaven.
One thing you must realize is that, if you suffer because of Jesus Christ and His words, you will be gloried and reign eternally with Him in His heavenly Kingdom Roman 8: 17.
Week 51: December 17, 2017
Topic: The Rejected Stone – Part 3
Bible Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
This study shall continue when we will be discussing the conditionality of becoming a rejected stone. Since one of the best thing that can happen to anyone is to become the “stone rejected by the builders which has become the chief corner stone.” Therefore believers must strive to become “a rejected stone”.
Conditions required to become a rejected stone
There are many conditions required to become a rejected stone, but prominent among them is that you must be ready/prepare for affliction, persecution and tribulation. Therefore, do not be surprised at whatever ordeal which is taking place to test your faith as something strange. You must not be amazed at the fiery trials that you are going through as if something unusual is happening to you, but rejoice because your are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you will have great joy when His glory is revealed 1 Peter 4: 12-13.
Affliction, persecution and tribulation: We must realize that all the people who delight in pursing righteousness and are determined to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be afflicted and persecuted. They will be made to suffer because of their faith and religious stand 2 Timothy 3: 12. Be ready for persecution if you want to live holy and devoted life in Christ Jesus in order to become “a rejected stone”. For you have been called as a believer for this purpose because since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you can follow His footsteps 1 Peter 2: 21. Whenever you are suffering for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. So do not be afraid of your persecutor’s threat or be trouble. Write in the tablet of your heart, whenever you suffer for doing what is right, God will certainly reward you: therefore do not be frightened by the threats of your adversaries nor be disturbed by their opposition 1 Peter 3: 14. It is better if you emulate the apostles who departed from the presence of the council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus Christ Acts 5: 41. So, always rejoice whenever you suffer because of Christ’s name in order to become “a rejected stone”.
Beware of the commandments, doctrines and tradition of men: Many people in the world today draw near God with their mouths and honour Him with their lips, but they remove their hearts far from Him: their fear for Him is not genuine because it is taught by the precept of men. It is written that “the Lord said ‘inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honour Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward me is taught by the commandment of men’” Isaiah 29: 13. If you want to become a rejected stone: worship God whole-heartedly, and not with lip service. Do not worship God through/by man-made rules or tradition learned by habitual repetition, if you want eternal salvation. Do not be among the multitudes of people that have a fine way of rejecting, thwarting and setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep their tradition and man-made regulations Mark 7: 9. Never participate in rejecting or skillfully sidestepping God’s law in order to hold on to your tradition/culture so that is shall be well with you. The worship of anyone who invalidates God’s command in order to set up or establish their tradition is in vain. The Bible says, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” Matthew 15: 9; Mark 7:7. If you don’t want God to nullify your worship, do not teach man-made ideas or rules. If you want your worship to be acceptable to God, do not neglect the command of God to maintain the tradition of men. Never lay aside the commandment of God in order to hold on to the tradition of men Mark 7: 8. Be careful not to disregard or ignore God’s law and so as to substitute it with your tradition.
You must no longer be immature like children that can be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. You must not be influenced when people try to trick you with lies that sounded like the truth. The scripture says “we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” Ephesians 4: 14. So beware of false teachings by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. Be careful of the tricks people play for personal profit and mislead others. Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world rather than from Jesus Christ. The Bible says “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world and not according to Christ” Colossians 2: 8. Make sure you are not held captive through philosophy and empty deception. For this reason, do not pay attention to the myths, the fables and the rules laid down by men who reject and turn their backs on the Truth. You must stop listening to the myths and the commands of the people who have turned away from the truth Titus 1: 14. It is time, stop devoting your time or pay attention to the myths/commands of people who reject the truth, but concentrate on the teaching of the Holy Bible.
Rebuke the transgressors and tell the Truth: Always tell the truth no matter the situation, rebuke the ruthless people and relieve the oppressed. It is written that “Learn to do good; seek justice rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” Isaiah 1: 17. Anyone who wants to become a rejected stone must possess the fore mentioned virtues else he/she is deceiving himself/herself. You must preach the Gospel; you must be prepared to preach word whether the opportunity seems favourable or unfavorable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient for you. You must correct those err in doctrine or behaviour. You must warn who sin to repent. You must exhort and encourage those who are growing toward spiritual maturity with inexhaustible patience and faithful teaching 2 Timothy 4: 2. Never forget to rebuke, correct and warn people, else you will share out of their guilt. Never forget to rebuke and warn people who are straying from the right path so that they can retrace their steps and be sound in faith Titus 1:13. Whenever you perceive that people are departing from the truth, reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. Remember that whenever you rebuke and discipline people it is because you love them, says the Bible Revelation 3: 19.
Do not be partial, pervert justice or take a bribe: Brethren must not show favouritism in any situation and we must not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute, says the Bible Exodus 23: 3. Therefore, do not be bias in whatever you are doing because “the Lord your God is God of gods and Lords of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” Deuteronomy 10: 17. For this reason you must never distort justice or misinterpret judgement. You must not be partial or take a bribe because bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. The scripture says “You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous” Deuteronomy 16: 19. So do not misapply judgement, never take a bribe or show favouritism in all your dealings.
Leaders and people in position of authority must not see themselves as gods or maltreat others because of their post/position. Their attitude must not send wrong signals to the populace and they must not conduct themselves in “in power we believer” manner or “not only are we in government, we are in power” ways, but they must fear the Lord God in all their dealings. The Bible says, “Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality nor taking bribes” 2 Chronicles 19: 7. Rule or judge with integrity for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality or the taking of the bribes. They must not forget that God will surely rebuke them if they secretly show partiality. Since God knows everything, He will certainly punish them for any secret misconduct Job 13: 10. God does not show favouritism or unfairness, so He judges everyone the same, immaterial of who they are. In a nutshell, there is no partiality with God Romans 2: 11.
Endure and persevere: Make sure you love your neighbor because love bears all things regardless of what comes; believes all things by looking for the best in each and everyone; hope all things by remaining steadfast during difficult times; endures all things without weakening 1 Corinthians 13: 7. You must endure through every circumstance to become a rejected stone. You may be hated by everyone around you because of your association with Christ’s name. People may hate and detest you for Christ’s name sake, but if you patiently persevere and endure till the end, you will be saved Mark 13: 13, Matthew 24: 13. If you want the Lord to make you a rejected stone, you have to endure whatever comes your way till the end. For this reason, you must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ 2 Timothy 2: 3. Remember that without endurance, Jesus Christ can not make you a partaker of eternal salvation and deliver you from spiritual death. So you need endurance to become a rejected stone.
Week 52: December 24, 2017
Topic: The Rejected Stone – Part 4
Bible Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
We shall continue our discussion by mentioning the consequences of rejecting the Lord, His words and the Saints.
Consequences of rejecting the Lord and the Saints
There are several consequences that will come upon the people who rejected the Lord, His words, and the Saints.
Rejection of God and unworthiness of eternal life: We must first acknowledge that God always send His words to humans in order to correct or warn us of the impending danger. His words usually come to us to strengthen our faith, protect and preserve us. It is written that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Psalm 119: 105. Do not reject the word of the Lord that was sent to guide and guard you because anyone who rejects it does not reject man, but God who has given him/her His Holy Spirit 1 Thessalonians 4: 8. Therefore, do not reject, disregard or set aside the words of the Lord because anyone who refuses to live by the rules of the Lord is not disobeying human, but God and such people will be penalized. The penalty is that such people will not qualify to inherit eternal life. For this reason, the scripture says, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” Acts 13: 46. Do not reject the word of the Lord if you want to inherit the heavenly kingdom. Since anyone who rejected the word has judged himself/herself to be unworthy of everlasting life.
They will be rejected and condemned by God: We must realize that the saints that are delivering the messages of God to us were sent by the Lord; else whatever they say will contradict the teaching of the Holy Bible. Therefore, pay attention and abide by the words of God sent to you through the saints because anyone whom God has sent speaks the words of God John 3: 34. Do not be like the Pharisees and the lawyers who rejected the will of God for their lives by refusing to be baptized by John the Baptist. They set aside and annulled the purpose of God for their lives Luke 7: 30. You must neither refuse to accept the plan of God for you nor reject His purpose for your life so as not to be rejected and abandoned by God. The Bible says “cut off your hair and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the desolate height; for the Lord has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath” Jeremiah 7: 29. Do not reject the words and the plan of God for your life, if you don’t want to be deserted.
They will be ashamed, and called reprobate people: The people that rejected the word/messages of God, including those that are smart among them shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken captives: because they have rejected the word of the Lord. What kind of wisdom or intelligence resides in anyone who rejects the word of God, if not the satanic type? It is written that ‘The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold they have rejected the word of the Lord; so what wisdom do they have?” Jeremiah 8: 9. What manner of wisdom dwells in your life that will make you to reject the words of God? If you don’t want to be ashamed and entrapped in your own foolishness, do not reject the words of God so that you will not be referred to as reprobate person and rejected silver. Anyone who doesn’t want to be rejected by the Lord and be called worthless silver by people must not reject the words of God. The Bible says, that “People will call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them” Jeremiah 6: 30. If you don’t want people to refer to you as dross, do not reject the words of God and His messengers.
They will neither prosper nor have rest of mind: We must realize that anyone who rejects the Lord has exposed himself/herself to spiritual attack from the darkness. Sorrow, lamentation and regret will pitch their spiritual tents with such person. The adversaries will be pursuing such person because he/she has rejected what is good Hosea 8: 3. If you want rest of mind, do not reject good things. If you don’t want enemies to be pursuing you, you must never reject the Lord and His saints so that He will not reject you and your benefactors. We must know that the Lord will reject the friends/confidants of anyone who rejects Him. He will reject the people that those who rejected Him rely on, so that they will not help him/her and thereby gaining nothing from them. The Bible says, “Indeed you will go forth from him with your hands on your head; for the Lord has rejected your trusted allies, and you will not prosper by them” Jeremiah 2: 37. If you want to be successful in your Christianity journey, do not reject the Lord and His saints.
Punishments for rejecting the Lord
We shall discuss some of the punishments pronounced on the people who rejected the Lord and His saints that were written in the Bible to serve as deterrent to people who are nursing such ideas.
There is no escape: There is no escape for anyone who cast away the teachings of the Lord of Hosts and blasphemes the word of the Holy One of Israel. No matter the financial, educational and social status of such person, he/she will never go unpunished. However long it takes such person will not escape the punishment for this disastrous conduct. It is written that “Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” Isaiah 5: 24.
Calamity shall come upon them: Disaster shall come upon the people who do not obey the words of the Lord, but reject His law. The disaster that will overtake them is the product of their evil schemes, according to the Bible passage which stated that “Hear, O earth! Behold, I will bring calamity on this people – The fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded My words nor My law, but rejected it” Jeremiah 6: 19.
They will be punished accordingly in variety of ways: God shall punish anyone who rejects Him and His words according to the error committed. In the case of the Israelites, they were punished for forty years in the wilderness. The scripture confirmed that they were punished “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day and shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection” Numbers 14: 34. Beware because your own punishment might be more severe. Though, Korah, Dathan and Abiram were swallowed by the earth/ground, your own punishment might by of different dimension that will have adverse effect on your existence Numbers 16: 30-32. Do not dare God by rejecting Him and His words.
They will be rejected and replaced: God rejected King Saul as king in Israel because he rejected the word of the Lord. This prompted Samuel and he said to Saul “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel” 1 Samuel 15: 26. If the Lord can reject the first king to reign over Israel, then there is no one that cannot be rejected by the Lord for rejecting Him and His words. King Saul was replaced by King David when the Lord instructed Samuel to anoint David. It is written that the Lord said to Samuel “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided for Myself a king among his sons” 1 Samuel 16: 1. Be assured, there is no immunity against replacement for anyone who rejects the Lord and His words.
They will not come into the promised land: Anyone that rejects the Lord and His words will neither come/step into the promised land nor occupy the land of fulfillment of their glory. The most serious punishment is that such person will neither enter the Glorious Home nor inherit the heavenly/eternal kingdom, unless they repent. It is for this reason that the Bible warned by stating that “they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it” Numbers 14: 23. We pray that God will forgive and overlook any mistake or sin that can make us to miss the Glorious Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.
Benefits
There are several benefits that will accrue to people who do not reject the Lord, His words and the saints. Some of these benefits shall be discussed.
You will never lack: You will neither suffer nor lack good things of life. The Lord will always cater for you and provide for your need because you did not reject the Lord, but seek and trust Him Psalm 34: 10.
You will feed on the treasures of the Gentiles: You will be called priest of the Lord and people will honour you as a minister of Almighty God. You will feed on the treasures of the gentiles and bask in their splendor. You will revel in their glory/riches and be famous throughout the world Isaiah 61: 6.
Powerful Kings and Nations shall satisfy your needs: People will give you what you need like a child drinking milk from his /her mother and you will drink riches from the kings. Kings and leaders shall satisfy your needs Isaiah 60: 16.
Descendants of your tormentors will seek your favour: The children of your oppressors will come and bow before you in submission. All those who despised you and treated you disrespectfully will kneel at your feet and kiss your feet. They will call you the anointed of the Lord Isaiah 60: 14.
Days of your mourning will be over: Your spiritual sun will never set; and your moon will not go down or wane: For the Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of mourning will come to an end Isaiah 60: 20.
You will perform wonders: Since you did not reject Jesus Christ, but believed Him: you will do the same works done by Him; you will even perform greater works, says the Bible John 14: 12.
Your descendants will be recognized and honoured: Your offspring will be known among the nations and your descendants among the peoples. All who see them in their prosperity will recognize and acknowledge that they are the blessed of the Lord. Everyone will realize that your children are the people the Lord have blessed Isaiah 61: 9.
You will be an eternal excellence: Though you have been abandoned and hated, God will make you an eternal glory, an object of pride forever. You will be a joy from generation to generation Isaiah 60: 15.
You will be called by a new name: The nations will see your righteousness and vindication by God. The world leaders will behold your glory and they will be blinded spiritually by your glory. And you will be given a new name by the Lord’s own mouth Isaiah 62: 2.
Week 53: December 31, 2017
Topic: The Rejected Stone – Part 5
Bible Reading: Acts 4: 1-12
The study shall continue with the various examples mentioned in the Bible. We will discuss how God vindicated His saints that were rejected and made the people that rejected them to seek their favour.
Examples of rejected stones
We shall start the examples of the rejected stones with the prime, the source and the bona fide Rejected Stone. The One and Only Lord of lords, King of kings and the Prince of Peace who is the Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus Christ our Saviour is the beginning and the end of people rejected by humans for doing what is right and acceptable before God.
The rejection of Jesus Christ at Nazareth: When Jesus Christ came to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue. People were amazed and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not the carpenter’s Son? Is this not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him, which prompted Jesus to say, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house”. Therefore, He did not perform many miracles because of their unbelief Matthew 13: 53-58, Mark 6: 1-5. Do not be like the novice who rejected Jesus Christ, but embrace and appreciate Him throughout your existence.
Jesus was rejected by His own people and the authorities: When Jesus was teaching in Capernaum, the Jews complained about Him because He said “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And they said “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” John 6: 41-42. Never be among the rulers or people in position of authority who rejected Jesus. The officers, the chief priests and the Pharisees did not believe in Jesus Christ and the miracles that He performed thereby rejecting Him John 7: 45-48. It is the mercy and the grace of God that install or put you in that exaulted position. Therefore, do not reject the Lord.
Samaritan village rejected Jesus Christ: As the time drew near for Jesus Christ to ascend to heaven, He resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Then He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the people of the village did not welcome Him. So James and John said to Jesus “Lord do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” Luke 9: 51-54. You must never reject the Lord like the unbelievers, but accept Him fully and adore Him.
God and His warnings were rejected: The greatest error anyone can do is to reject Almighty God and His words. In the Bible the Israelites does this and pay the price.
When Samuel was old, his children who are judges were wayward. Then elders of Israel came to him and demanded for a king to be appointed who will rule and judge them like other nations. Their request displeased Samuel, but the Lord said to him “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” 1 Samuel 8: 1-7. So at the proclamation of Saul as king in Mizpah, Samuel made this statement “But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by clan” 1 Samuel 10: 17-19. By rejecting God, the Israelites exposed themselves to hassles like others nations on earth.
The Israelites also rejected the warnings that God sent to them through prophet Jeremiah which stated that, thus says the Lord: “Behold I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good” but they replied saying, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart” Jeremiah 18: 11-12. Do not reject God, but Satan and his works; do not give place to the Devil in your heart or life. Never pay attention to the deception and craftiness that can lead you astray and make you to reject the warnings of the Lord.
Joseph was rejected: The brothers of Joseph rejected him as their leader because of the dreams revealed to him by the Lord. He was sold to the Ishmaelite traders who sold him as a slave/servant to Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh and captain of guard. He was imprisoned and later became the prime minister of Egypt. The brothers came all the way from the land of Canaan to Egypt to bow down before him and honour him Genesis 37-42; 43: 26-28. Every soul that has rejected you because of the glory and promise of God in your life will come back to bow their heads and prostrate before you.
The rejection of Moses: Moses was rejected by the children of Israel before the Lord appointed him as the person who will lead the Israelites out of Egypt. One day Moses went out and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew (one of his brethren), and killed the Egyptian. The next day he saw two Hebrew men fighting, and he said to the person who did the wrong thing “why are you striking your companion?” Then the man replied “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Exodus 2: 11-14. “This Moses whom they rejected, saying “Who made you a ruler and a judge? Is the one God sent to be a ruler and deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. He brought them out after he has shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt Acts 7: 35-36. God will turn you to essential being/thing to every soul that has rejected you.
On another occasion, Korah, Dathan and Abiram together with two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation of Israel rebelled against the Lord and His saints (Moses and Aaron) Numbers 16: 1-5, 11. Then Moses said “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens it mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord” Numbers 16: 28-30. As Moses finished speaking, the ground opened up and swallowed them and their belongings Numbers 16: 31-33. Do not reject the Lord and His saints so that disaster will not come upon you.
Jephthah was rejected by his people: Jephthah was rejected by his brothers because he was a son of a harlot. His brothers drove him away saying “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman” Judges 11: 1-3. In time of trouble the elders of Gilead came to him and said “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon”. Jephthah replied and said “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” The elders made agreement with him that if the Lord deliver the people of Ammon into his hands, they will not only take him back, but he will be their leader as well Judges 11: 4-11. The Lord heard the prayer offered by Jephthah at Mizpah and he defeated the people of Ammon and became the leader of the people of Gilead Judges 11: 29-33. God will make you the leader and the ruler of the people that has rejected and hated you.
The people rejected by the Lord
The worst thing that can happen to anyone is to be rejected and replaced by the Lord God their creator. So beware, do not do things that will make the Lord to reject you and turn His back on you.
God rejected the Devil: The Devil fell in the presence of God because of his haughtiness, lies and craftiness. Then he was sent far away from heaven into the world Isaiah 14: 12-15. If you want God to fulfill His word “I will not leave nor forsake you” in your life, then do not be arrogant, hypocrite or deceive people. The Bible also affirm this statement by stating that “And war broke out in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” Revelation 12: 7-9. We pray that you will not be ejected in the presence of God or be rejected by the heaven. If you don’t want to fall from grace to grass, do not reject the Lord, but do things which please Him.
God rejected Saul as king: God rejected Saul as king over Israel because he spared Agag the king of the Amalekites and the best of their possessions; by his conducts, he has disobeyed the Lord and fail to follow his instructions. The word of the Lord came to Samuel saying, “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night 1 Samuel 15: 10-11. For this reason, Samuel said to Saul, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king” 1 Samuel 15: 23. Let us be careful so that we will not end our lives in sorrow and regret like King Saul.
Finally, whenever you are hated and rejected for doing what is right, do not worry, but stay focus on whatever you are doing that pleases the Lord because no prophet/saint is accepted in their own country, says the Lord Luke 4: 24. Do not allow the fear of rejection to make you to compromise and do things that displeases the Lord.
The Seal: Psalm 118: 22: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.