The rejected evangelist

"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

How do you react when you go out to evangelise and the people in the town reject the gospel? How should you feel when you offer a person a gospel track and they stiffen their necks and walk past you as if you were invisible. What should you do when You respectfully tell them about the gospel and they reject the gospel vehemently and look down at you like a piece of dirt. What is the correct way to react when men reject you?

Knowing how to react when people reject you is a knowledge most people would like to learn. Especially when the spirit of rejection attempts to produce within you an inner conflict that is hard to shake off.

So to help answer these troubling questions, here are some ways you could respond when experiencing resistance to the gospel.

Rest assured
Be assured that just as you are concerned for the salvation of men. So is God.

In 2 Corinthians 5:18, God in Christ reconciled us to himself in the life of Jesus. Based on his own work, He has given us a ministry that reconciles people to himself. This reconciling act includes the actions of him making us acceptable to himself by his Holy Spirit.

Through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, we too can lead others into harmony with him, and let everyone know that they too can have a peaceful relationship with God.

As a believer in Christ, you do not need to be discouraged by societies rejection of the gospel, but you can be assured that God’s reconciliation plan, of reconciliation, atonement and a new birth experience is still at work.

Have faith.
Be secure in who Christ is, not in what you can do.

As a believer in Christ, you must hold on to the fact that your faith is rooted in Christ and the finished work of the cross, not your personal efforts or articulate words. Hebrews 12:2, tells us that Jesus is the author and finisher of faith and through him all things came and still come into being (Colossians 2:9). Here is where our faith lies. Jesus the true knowledge of God still lives and is ready to be possessed by the hearts of all men. All we need to do as believers is to keep contending for the faith. Stay in alignment with the truth that Jesus endured pain and rejection for our sake. Stand upon the word of God that says pick up your cross and follow me and endure the pain rejection causes.

Saints, count that pain you are experiencing because of their unbelief as joy. See the honour of being entrusted to be an ambassador of Christ. God has chosen you as a vessel so that he can make an appeal to the unsaved through your life.

Rejoice in The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Truth, is the Spirit who will convict the hearts of men, of their sin, his righteousness and judgement. ( John 16:8)

Not you.

When you rest upon the Holy Spirit and the Truth of the gospel, you would not be personally offended by the rejection of men. You would not be insecure with how the preaching or ministration of the word of Jesus flowed through you. Neither would you need to self condemn yourself.

Why?

The answer is that God is at work convicting the hearts of men and drawing people to a saving knowledge of God in the life of Christ Jesus. ( John 16.8)

This is more reason for you to rejoice.

Pray
Rejection reveals to you, the evangelist that there is a ‘need’ in the land. A need for the gospel to be heard and revealed in the hearts of the lost, unrepentant and disobedient. Which is why it is important not to get angry, frustrated or upset with the people. But rather go back into your prayer closet, depend upon the Holy Spirit so that he can help you in your intercession for them.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

Final Word of Truth:
Saints be confident. When unbelievers reject you and remember the Be’s of your faith.

◦ Be secure in who you are in Christ. Don’t doubt your call to be an ambassador of Christ. Keep your feet shodded in the gospel of peace, preaching the word of reconciliation to the unsaved. (2 Corinthians 5: 17-21)

◦ Be secure in who Christ is and the finished works of the cross. Understand that Souls are quickened by the Spirit of Christ, ( Ephesians 2:5)

◦ Be secure in the salvation power of the love of God (John 3:16). Salvation is according to God’s terms and timing. Not our own.

◦ Be secure in the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. John 16:8 says, "And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment".

In the words of Jesus found in Mark 16:15, I now encourage you to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”.