Transcript: Overcoming the Sin of Presumption in Christianity

A A number of years ago, I heard a minister from the pulpit exhorting people who were attending the meeting to go out and do something for Christ, even if it was wrong. And after the minister spoke these words, a wave of guilt hit me, hit me like a bomb. And I felt like I'd done nothing at all in my Christian life. And I felt so compelled in that moment to be active and immediately be active in just anything else. I might go to hell if I wasn't. And I felt like all I had accomplished thus far in my own advancement with the help of Holy Spirit in my studies and growing in relationship with the Lord and overcoming and tasting certain victories in my personal life Whereas nothing, it was like a blanket had been thrown over me. And being younger in the Lord at this time, this guilt and shame for doing nothing substantial for Christ rode with me for a long time, along with confusion and doubt. And I felt at the time there was something wrong with this statement. But I didn't know what it was. I did not have the spiritual discernment to know why I felt like I did that is wrestling with all these emotions but I learned later on in my walk that the weight of our words empower when they are spoken either good or bad and the weight of these words that had been spoken as an order from the pulpit that day to go out and do something for Christ, even if it was wrong, had hit me with such great force. It was like I'd been tied up and bound with confusion, a certain hopelessness, and even thoughts of error of what I'd been doing and growing in my relationship with my Lord. The weight of these words carried a force or a power behind them which I am certain not only affected me that day, but I'm sure many others who were in attendance struggled with the similar effects of these words as I did when they hit me. Today, I can attach a word to this statement which I have been sharing with you. Go out and do something for Christ, even if it's wrong. and that word that I attach to this statement is called presumption yes I said it's called presumption I share my own struggles with you and personal experience which caused such agony to my spirit until the spirit of the Lord taught and showed me otherwise in accordance with his word and I know some of you have heard words or phrases and expressions from ignorant Christians whether from the pulpit or the average church goer had thrown you into confusion and yes even doubt came with it. Well I felt that this message was very needed in the church today because there are many ignorant Christians who hear something that is derived from presumption and in turn they too run around saying the same thing to others and the effect of their words are deadly. Let me give you the new Unger's Bible dictionary meaning of presumption. Presumption is the act of taking upon oneself more than good sense or legal authority warrant. presumption means excessive boldness or overconfident in one's own thoughts and conduct Unger's Bible dictionary goes on to say presumption means to act over boldly or to be insolent and insolent means contemptuous of rightful authority that is speaking out boldly against authority disdain and hatred of authority this means people who knowingly and purposely violate the commands of God and commit sin people know better but their pride and their arrogance insolence and contemptuous nature rules them arrogance or pride is a presumptuous sin let me repeat that arrogance or pride is a presumptuous sin would you please begin with me in the word open it please in Deuteronomy 17.1 Deuteronomy 17.1 let's see what God's word shows us regarding this subject of presumption verse 1 of 17 you shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a blemish or any defect whatsoever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God. 2. If there is found among you within any of your towns which the Lord your God gives you, a man or woman who does what is wicked in the sight of the Lord your God by transgressing his covenant, who has gone and served other gods and worshipped them or the sun and the moon, and any of the hosts of heaven which I have forbidden. And it is told, and you hear of it, then inquire diligently. And if it is certainly true that such an abomination has been committed in Israel, then you shall bring forth to your town's gates that man or woman who has done that wicked thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death. On the evidence of two or three witnesses, he who is worthy of death shall be put to death and he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness verse 7 the hands of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death and afterwards the hands of the people so you shall purge the evil from among you and if there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment between one kind of bloodshed and another between one legality and another, between one kind of assault and another, between matters of controversy within your towns, then arise and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. Verse 9. And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days and you shall consult them and they shall make clear to you the decision. Verse 10. And you shall do according to the decision which they declare to you from that place which the Lord chooses. And you shall be watchful to do according to all they tell you to do. Verse 11. And according to the decision of the law which they shall teach you, and the judgment which they shall announce to you, you shall do. you shall not turn aside from the verdict they give you either to the right hand or to the left. Verse 12 The man who does presumptuously and will not listen to the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God or to the judge that man shall die so you shall purge the evil from Israel. Verse 13 And all the people shall hear and reverently fear and not act presumptuously again. You see, these people had acted arrogantly against God in their presumption. They had committed willful sin against God. Resistance to the priest took place when anyone was dissatisfied with the priest's interpretation of the law. And God had instructed the priests that if anyone was dissatisfied with the interpretation of the law, that such contentment was to be punishable by death. Because it was considered as rebellion against God. And even still these people in this scripture, because of their presumptuous sinning, thought their ways above God and those that he had put over them as their spiritual leaders. defiance is presumption dear church people who had acted in open rebellion against God blasphemed him and God said they were to be cut off generally presumptuous sins are those sins which are committed with knowledge John 15 16 please John 15 16 looking in the New Testament let's see what the Lord speaks the Lord our God Jesus Christ speaks himself John 15, 16 you have not chosen me but I have chosen you and I have appointed you I have planted you that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing and that your fruit may be lasting that it may remain abide so that whatever you ask the Father in my name as presenting all that I am he may give it to you. Verse 17 And this is what I command you that you love one another. If the world hates you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you belong to the world the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, no longer one with it, but I have chosen you, I have selected you out of the world. The world hates and detests you. Verse 20, remember that I told you that a servant is not greater than his master, is not superior to him. And if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word and obeyed my teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. Verse 21, but they will do all this to you, inflict all this suffering on you because of your bearing my name on my account. For they do not know or understand the one who sent me. Verse 22, if I had not come, Jesus says, if I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. they would be blameless but now they have no excuse for their sin. Jesus says because I came I've come and I've spoken. See, when he's come and he's spoken to us his truth to us we have no excuse for our sin any longer whether it's ignorant sin or presumptuous sin. in verse 22 let's read it again Jesus says if I had not come and spoken to them they would not be guilty of sin but now they have no excuse for their sin so once we have the knowledge of the truth God calls this presumption willful insolence which is acting in self-willed or willful and contempt against authority Jesus said there's no excuse they've heard the truth and now there's no excuse for their sin and look with me please in Psalm 78 17 Psalm 78 17 David speaking here David King David pouring his heart out to the Lord yet they still went on to sin against him this is God David's saying by provoking and rebelling against the most high in the wilderness in the land of drought and they tempted God in their hearts by asking for food according to their selfish desire and appetites let's read it again Psalm 78, 17 yet they still went on speaking of the Israelites of old that they went on to sit against God by provoking and rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness, in the land of drought. And they tempted God in their hearts by asking for food according to their selfish desire and appetite. These people acted proudly and arrogantly against God and began to act and speak presumptuously and without authority making demands of God and his leadership. You see, God had placed human leaders over them and they were to obey his lead through his leaders and to listen to them. But these people were unauthorized to speak so contemptuously and boldly against God and his leadership. And we could say these people were sinfully daring. They were only concerned at that time about themselves and their fleshly selfish desires. And at that moment it happened to be all about their stomachs. Daring in this way is also another term for presumption or presumptuous And the Greek dictionary says it this way that daring or presumptuous behavior is shameful and irreverent behavior towards God Almighty. God has always hated rebellion, which comes in many forms and fashion, but it's always hatred towards God and His ordained human leadership. God has always hated it. 2 Peter 2.7 In 2 Peter 2.7 And the account is speaking here, breaking in the scripture and he rescued righteous Lot giving testimony to what the Lord had done. And he rescued righteous Lot greatly worn out and distressed by the wanton ways of the ungodly and the lawless. For that just man living there among them tortured his righteous soul every day with what he saw and heard of their unlawful and wicked deeds. Verse 9. Now if all these things are true, then be sure the Lord knows how to reach the godly out of temptations and trials and how to keep the ungodly under chastisement until the day of judgment and doom. Verse 10, and particularly those who walk after the flesh and indulge in the lusts of polluting passion and scorn and despise authority, presumptuous and daring, self-willed and self-loving creatures. They scoff and revile dignitaries without trembling. verse 11 whereas even angels though superior in might and power do not bring a defaming charge against them before the Lord you see the scripture says that this means that these people were presumptuous and daring and self-willed and self-loving people they loved themselves that is their own mental assent and their carnal appetites and judged everything by their own minds and sensual urges. This account in Peter shows these people, hey to God, and his servants who are his approved leadership. And it shows that they arrogantly spoke against God and his ways. See, Peter in his day was addressing the same problem that our forefathers before him had faced. And the apostles ever since then had come upon, yes, yes, I say yes, even those in the church who felt so bold and arrogant in their presumption to speak out against the wisdom of God. And it shows that they scoffed at and they mocked the wisdom of those God had set in charge of them to lead them into the maturity and point them to the fullness of Christ. They mock God and His holy ordained leadership and did it, dear church, the word tells us, without trembling at their outcome. That is, the righteous indignation of God projected at their sinful and willful rebellion called presumption. They did it without trembling. without a fear, a holy fear. There's a true story of a young man who had inherited an estate from his uncle. And he was exhorted to seek Christ and said that he would do so as soon as he paid off the debts which were held against the estate in which he'd inherited. Young man, the pastor said, beware. You may never see that day while you're gaining the world. You may lose your soul. And the young heir of the estate said in a daring and bold confidence, I will run that risk. In other words, he said, I will take that chance. on the same day of his bold statement to the pastor that he would be willing to risk his salvation the young heir went into the woods to cut some timber and a large branch from the tree in which he was cutting down fell upon him and killed him instantly and this happened only a few hours after his bold, presumptuous statement. God had punished this young man's bold and defiant and daring presumption. And King David gives us great insight to the necessity of keeping our hearts right before God in this matter. In Psalms 19.13, Psalms 19.13 Keep back your servant also King David sang Lord keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins and let them not have dominion over me and then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgressions let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my firm, impenetrable rock and my Redeemer. See, David knew that presumptuous sins were proud adventurings of the heart upon sin. And in the anatomy of presumption, he knew that temptation would actually beat down the actual strength of the grace in resisting sin. And he knew that presumption would trample upon the light and truth of God's word, which are his commands for our lives. See, David knew that presumptuous sin would be like tempting God and a call from God to provoke his righteous anger against man's sin and impurity. The psalmist could express these words to his God because he knew presumption was prideful and unlawful. Yes, I said that he knew that presumption was prideful and unlawful. Psalms 19.13 David says keep back your servant keep back your servant from presumptuous sins and let them not have dominion over me then I shall be blameless and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgressions he knew the difference between the sin of ignorance and that of presumptuous sin which is willful disdainful rebellion against God and his laws for righteous living. Sins of ignorance are of many who come into the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And yet sin of ignorance is no excuse for anyone. Sin of ignorance is due to unbelief and the hardening of one's heart against the knowledge of God. I want to say that again. That sin of ignorance is due to our unbelief and the hardening of our hearts against the knowledge of God. In Ephesians 4.17 please. Let's look at it. And you can see for yourself these are not my words. These are God's own words to His children. verse 17 of Ephesians 4 so I tell you this and I insist on it in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts They have given themselves over to sensuality as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. And also please, an exhortation here. 1 Peter 1.13 So brace up your minds. Be sober, circumspect, morally alert. and set your hope holy and unchangeably upon the grace, divine favor that is coming to you when Jesus Christ the Messiah is revealed. Verse 14, live as children of obedience to God and do not conform yourselves to the evil desires that governed you in your former ignorance when you did not know the requirements of the gospel. But as the one who called you is holy, You yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. Verse 16. For it's written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. Verse 17. And if you call upon him as your father who judges each one impartially according to what he does, then you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence on the earth. whether long or short. But notice he calls it a temporary residence. Presumptuous sins arise out of false confidence. Let me say that again too. Presumptuous sins arise out of false confidence. In Deuteronomy 29.16 the scripture shows us you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we came through the midst of the nations you crossed and you've seen their abominations and the idols of wood and stone of silver and gold which were among them verse 18 beware lest there should be among you a man or woman or family or tribe whose mind and heart turns away this day from the Lord our God to go and serve the gods of these nations lest there should be among you a poisonous root that bears gall and wormwood. Verse 19 And lest when he hears the words of this curse and oath he flatters and congratulates himself in his mind and heart saying I shall have peace and safety though I walk in the stubbornness of my mind and heart bringing down a hurricane of destruction and sweep away the watered land with the dry. Verse 20. And the Lord will not pardon him. But then the anger of the Lord and his jealousy will smoke against that man. And all the curses that are written in this book shall settle on him. And the Lord will blot out his very name from under the heavens. And the Lord shall single him out for ruin and destruction Destruction from all the tribes of Israel according to the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of law. Wow. So, defiance of God's laws. Dear church will bring God's righteous judgment, which is his love projected at sin. God hates sin because sin opposes his holiness God's word even shows us that he vehemently hates willful, stubborn rebellion which summed up I remind you again is called presumptuous sin and he shows that unless there is a turnaround and true repentance and a bearing forth of fruit in keeping with that repentance he will blot out our names from the book of life. Verse 21 of the chapter that we just read here says, I'll single him out for ruin and destruction. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And in the book of Hebrew, Apostle Paul is making it clear for the hearers in his day, and in this day for us as well, In Hebrews 10, 26. For if we go on deliberately and willfully sinning, after one acquiring the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for our sins, to further offering to which to look forward to. Verse 27. There is nothing left for us then but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation that will consume those who put themselves into opposition to God. 28. and any person who is violated and thus rejected and set at naught, the law of Moses is put to death without pity or mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. Verse 29. How much worse, sterner or heavier punishment. Do you suppose that he will be judged to sterner and heavier punishment? Do you suppose he will be judged to deserve who has spurned and thus trampled underfoot the Son of God, and who has considered the covenant blood by which he was consecrated, common, and unhallowed, thus profaning it and insulting and outraging the Holy Spirit who imparts grace, the unmerited favor and blessing of God? Verse 30, For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge. I will repay and again the Lord will judge his people it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God You know we just recall in Psalms 19 David asked the Lord, keep me from presumptuous sin. Keep back your servant also, he says, from presumptuous sin. Let them not have dominion over me and I'll be blameless and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgressions. David knew the word of God David had known from his forefathers right living, right standing with God and in his plea for God's help David knew he could face the possibility of falling into the sin of presumption again and David knew that his strength was in God and he asked God for his help and David knew in his past sin of presumption that willful sin against God that his human sensual urgings raged war in his mind affected his bodily cravings and won over to engage in sexual perversions with Bathsheba. David knew that this sin was willful and knowingly was committed maliciously and despitefully against God. For us today, let us learn from David that our offense of presumptuous sin is against our Lord Jesus Christ in our Heavenly Father. Jesus left us the best gift when he went away to be seated next to his Father on his throne. Let us depend on, rely on our Lord too as David had asked of God. Without his help and mercy, dear church, we will have no restraint from sin of any kind. Did you hear that? Without help from God, There will be no help. We need the help of God from His sanctuary. In Hebrews 6, please. Hebrews 6, 4. It is impossible to restore and bring again to repentance those who had been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and become sharers of the Holy Spirit. Verse 5, The word of God is, and the mighty powers of the age and the world to come. Verse 6, If they then deviate from the faith, and turn away from their allegiance, it is impossible to bring them back to repentance, for because while as long as they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh, as far as they are concerned and are holding him up to contempt and shame and public disgrace. Verse 7 For the soil which has drunk the rain that repeatedly falls upon it and produces vegetation rightful to those for whose benefit it is cultivated partakes of the blessings from God. Verse 8 But if that same soil persistently bears thorns and thistles. It is considered worthless and nearer to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. That is a very sobering word. It's a very sobering word for us. And we can see also that all ability of restraint of sin comes from God to man. That we have no ability to resist the devil in our own ableness. And if this were so, we would not need, if we in our own ableness, we would not need Jesus Christ as our Savior from anything. And the restraining from sin is an act of merciful providence from a loving God to his poor and his needy children. Our all-wise and knowing great God and Father knew that we needed his grace in this way in order to lead us into complete and total sanctification and fullness in our Lord Jesus Christ, God's own Son. By relying on the quickening grace of our all-powerful God to enliven our spirit and soul to his truth and love and from which we would never want to stray from and to keep alive the flame of love in our hearts. We will continually call out like David saying, Lord, oh Lord, keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins. and let them not have dominion over me, then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent and clear of great transgressions. In this way, we will not be guilty of the heinous crime of abusing the mercy of God, and also His commands by our willful and presumptuous sins. now having laid a little foundation in God's word we can see the difference between the sin of ignorance and the sin of presumption we have seen that the sin of ignorance according to the scripture found in Ephesians 4.17 so I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles, being like the world, in the futility of their thinking. And verse 18 says that they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they've given themselves over to sensuality as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. You can see, when you came to Christ and his salvation, you joined in his covenant promises. And in order to be enjoined in these promised blessings, you and I were required by the commands of God to stop indulging in sin. We were commanded by the requirements of God in His Word laid out for us in His Holy Word called the Bible to stop indulging in sin. And we were commanded to learn His ways and grow up into the full stature or maturing and becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ himself we're commanded to grow up into full stature and mature and become like our Savior now God calls us to join him in one spirit and this is called unity unity with God and our fellow brothers in Christ unity in the body of Christ in whom he is head of the church now every member is required to submit their wills to God's will and called to obey God and his ordained leadership that he has given them Ephesians 4.3 there is one body and one spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord one faith One baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Verse 7, but to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says, when he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and he gave gifts to men. What does he ascend mean except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe. It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers. Notice the scripture, verse 12. for the purpose of giving these gifts to the body. To prepare God's people for the works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Verse 14 and then we will no longer be infants tossed back to and fro by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of doctrine of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Verse 15 Instead speaking the truth in love we will all grow up into him who is the head that is Christ. From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. Hallelujah. I say hallelujah. The purpose of God in this way is that He knows that when His children submit to His commands and to His servants who are given the task of building them up in their faith, they will grow up strong and not waver in sins of ignorance or presumption. And they will have the solid assurance, dear church, the solid assurance that they stand upon the rock of truth who is Christ Jesus himself. These godly leadership will point God's inheritance to his son Jesus Christ and not to themselves to build their own kingdoms. And they will not draw people to themselves by their own titles or achievements or testimonies, coercings, or by their own charismas. But they'll point people in their care to Jesus Christ. Jesus says, when I am high and lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself. See, we need to testify about Jesus and not about ourselves. This is the will of God. that Jesus be magnified in the hearts of his people that Christ's inheritance whom he died for be taught that he wants them to come into a divine and loving fellowship with himself that he died for them because he and his father have an everlasting and undying love for them that is Christ saves them from eternal death from their sins and their sickness and yes, even from themselves. And that salvation is not a one-time act but we need our beloved Savior's mercies of salvation every day in our lives. Jesus saves me every day. From myself, from the devil, and from the world's ways. He saves you too. You see, salvation, dear church, is all about Jesus. It is not about ourselves. Jesus died to become our salvation. He did not send us salvation, precious ones. but Jesus died to become our salvation. Salvation is a person and his name is Jesus Christ. See, we need not speak vain and empty words to the flock of Christ and spew over them words of condemnation telling them that they should go out and do something for God even if it's wrong. I want to tell you that God's work speaks quite the contrary to this order from the pulpit. And this order was based on presumption and pride. And in effect was saying, if you want a ministry in success like I have, go out and do something, even if it's wrong. Doing the work of God will not save you. Did you hear me? Doing the work of God will not save you. Look please in John 6.1 and you could see for yourself what God requires of us first. John 6.1 Sometime after this Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miracle signs that he had performed on the sick and Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down with his disciples and the Jewish Passover feast was near and when Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him he said to Philip where shall we buy bread for these people to eat He asked this only to test him for he already had in mind what he was going to do Verse 7 Philip answered him eight months wages would not be enough bread for each one to have a bite. In another of the disciples, Andrew, Simon, Peter's brother spoke up, here's a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fishes. How far will they go among so many. And Jesus said, have the people sit down. And there was plenty of grass in that place. And the men sat down, about 5,000 of them. And Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. Verse 12. And when they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, gather the pieces that are left over and let nothing be wasted. So they gathered them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces of five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, surely this is the prophet who has come into the world. Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Verse 16. When evening came, the disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set across the lake for Capernaum. But now it was dark, and Jesus had not joined them yet. And a strong wind was blowing, and the waters grew rough. And when they'd rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and they were terrified. Verse 20 But he said to them, It is I. Don't be afraid. then they were willing to take him into the boat and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. Verse 22 And the next day the crowd had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there and that Jesus had not entered it with the disciples but that they had gone away alone. And then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. Verse 24, Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor the disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. And verse 25, When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, Rabbi, when did you get here? Verse 26, Jesus said, I tell you the truth. You were looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed a seal of approval. Verse 28 And then they ask Him Well what must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered the work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent. These people only wanted to get on with what they had to do to benefit from the blessings that they might have from doing these works. Jesus answered, the work of God is this, to believe in the one he has sent. the work of God is first to believe in the one God has sent to this earth to save man from their sin. Jesus came to save us. And the work for every true believer is to first believe in that is be vitally connected to intertwined with and adhere to and if we do not have a right and true relationship which grows into a loving fellowship with our beloved Savior we will be tossed around with every wind of doctrine and false and idle word which we may hear doing the work of God for every true believer than is to first know his son Jesus Christ in a very real and sincere way. And if we do not grow in this way, according to his word, we will be subject to continual sins of ignorance and presumption caused by our rebellious natures which are hardened hearts against the truth of God. and this lacks our regeneration or our renewal, our restoration with the mind of Christ, being restored to our right mind, the mind of Christ. And if we don't, dear church, our own minds will continue to rule. You see, for those who jump into Christianity and run out to do something for Christ, are liable to hear the very terrible words that Jesus must speak to many who have conducted their lives in ways of presumption. In Matthew 7, 13. Matthew 7, 13. Enter through the narrow gate For wide is the gate and spacious And broad is the way that leads away to destruction And many are those who are entering through it But the gate is narrow Contracted by pressure And the way is straightened and compressed That leads to life and few are those who find it. Fifteen. Beware of false prophets or teachers who come to you dressed up as sheep but inside they are devouring wolves and you will fully recognize them by their fruits and do people pick grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy tree bears good fruit worthy of admiration. But the sickly, decaying, worthless tree bears bad, worthless fruit. A good, healthy tree cannot bear bad, worthless fruit, nor a bad, diseased tree bear excellent fruit worthy of admiration. Verse 19, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. verse 21 and not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven many will say to me on that day Lord have we not prophesied in your name and driven out demons in your name and many and mighty wonderful works in your name and I'll have to say to them openly and publicly I never knew you depart from me you who acted wickedly disregarding my commands verse 24 so everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them obeying them will be like a sensible prudent and practical wise man who built his house upon the rock when we are built upon the rock the word of God which comes by faith and our trust in God, we will grow in our assurance. Yes, I said we will grow in our assurance. We will grow to know by the Spirit of God who is given to us to lead us into all knowledge. When we err, He nudges us or convicts us to say, Oh, no, you don't. get back upon the road of holiness. See, precious Holy Spirit is our teacher, our guide, and he will lead us into all truth in order to ensure our successful home going. And we will walk in right assurance and confidence because we've learned truth from air. And we hold the holy things close to our hearts now and not the profane. And we will act upon the divine assurance given us by God's own spirit and not on presumption which comes from our will and rebellion and hatred of his ways. And we will stand in this assurance solidly planted and anchored in truth and held in place by the Spirit of God with a firm, unfaltering trust in the declaration and the promises of God. See, presumption is Satan's lie. And assurance is the gift of the precious Holy Spirit. Presumption is hope without a foundation. and assurance is founded on the word of God and the work of the spirit of the Lord within us. Presumption makes men and women proud and hard-hearted and flippant and reckless and self-confident. But assurance makes a true Christian bow in humility because as he truly grows he understands that his great and loving God loves him with an everlasting love because he sent his own son to die for us. You see, this solid assurance makes you now pant after the living God and makes you tender hearted and you now being connected to the vine and you are truly, truly make him Jesus Christ your master. and you've given him total permission to set up his throne in every room of your heart and now you cooperate with him wholeheartedly and you don't use vain and empty excuses to pardon your own sins of ignorance and presumption to try to pull others into your agreement with it. This is a serious issue and we as the church need to see as such and understand that God will not wink at our hardened hearts and excuse our vile sins. We only fool ourselves, dear church. We must understand that presumption is an intoxicating poison and it sends the self-deceiver running forward into his own merry delusion, neglecting known responsibilities of right and honest and truthful living according to the scriptures. These people live in their sin from day to day and yet because of their self-deception have somehow the kinky thinking that the spirit of Christ is in them. presumption is a vile fleshly counterfeit where assurance is a holy and sanctifying grace because of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the sanctifying spirit of God who lives within us please remember dear church assurance in God's word and in the spirit of the Lord who leads us by faith illumines our path with his light and opens our eyes to see. Remember, assurance is always cautious and circumspect and hates the soiling of the garment of leprosy and flesh. Please remember, it is a sanctifying work. assurance is a sanctifying work of the spirit of God within witnessing and giving caution where we'll circumspectly see and hate the soilings of our garments and the leprosy the sin of our flesh Father Father God I pray for these today that this message of the sin of presumption be made very real in the heart, the ears, and the eyes of the hearer today. I pray that in each hearer of this word today there would be great insight and revelation of this subject called presumption in their own lives. I pray Holy Spirit that as each would give you permission that you would go deep into their hearts and surface the truth of this subject in their lives I pray as well that they would be willing to face the truth and the work with you dear Lord to deliver them from this heinous crime Father I pray that through our Lord Jesus Christ that you would prosper the soul of each one hearing this word today and be glorified in their life. Amen. .