The 'P' Word

Scripture Reading

Psalm 19:13 (CSB)

13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;

do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless

and cleansed from blatant rebellion.

Opening Hymn 245 - More About Jesus

Closing Hymn 292 - Jesus I Come

Introduction

A woman was waiting at an airport one night, with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shops, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book but happened to see, that the man sitting beside her, as bold as could be. . .grabbed a cookie or two from the bag in between, which she tried to ignore to avoid a scene.

So she munched the cookies and watched the clock, as the gutsy cookie thief diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I would blacken his eye.”

With each cookie she took, he took one too, when only one was left, she wondered what he would do. With a smile on his face, and a nervous laugh, he took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other, she snatched it from him and thought… oooh, brother. This guy has some nerve and he’s also rude, why he didn’t even show any gratitude!

She had never known when she had been so galled, and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed to the gate, refusing to look back at the thieving ingrate.

She boarded the plane, and sank in her seat, then she sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise, there was her bag of cookies, in front of her eyes.

If mine are here, she moaned in despair, the others were his, and he tried to share. Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief.

How often have you be absolutely convinced of something, only to find out later that you were mistaken?

The woman wrongly presumed that the man next to her was stealing her biscuits, when in fact it was her - today we going to talk about the ‘P’ word Presumption

What is Presumption?

A belief that something is true even though it has not been proved-Brittanica.com

Biblical Definition

Where an individual intentionally defies God's commandments without repentance or remorse.

Why is it A Problem?

Presumption is a common temptation, and as Satan assails men with this, he obtains the victory nine times out of ten--Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 44, 45

It has proven to be the no. 1 method in the downfall of many, many Christians

So, the question you might ask is “well pastor I understand the danger of presumptous sin, but what does it look like and how would I recognise it?

The Four Signs of Presumptous Sin

Using The Bible for Personal Gain

Matthew 4:6–7 (ESV)

6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Measuring Your Righteousness

Luke 18:10–12 (ESV)

10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

Meeting Jesus Only Half Way

Mark 10:20–22 (ESV)

20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

A Luke Warm Love

Luke 7:44–47 (ESV)

44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Presumption is A Counterfeit Faith

"Presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God's promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin."—The Desire of Ages, page 126

Conclusion

The 4 R’s of Godly Grief (The Antidote to Presumptous Sin)

Recognition—Acknowledge that you are a sinner

Remorse—Genuine sorrow that you have hurt God and others

Responsibility—Don’t blame others for your actions take full responsibilty

Reconciliation—Seek to renew your relationship with God

2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.