Bad Assumptions Lead to Big Trouble

Assumptions

I haven’t mowed a lawn in almost 6 years!

That day we were getting ready to move to MP and our daughter was moving to a house in the Houston area, she needed a mower, I didn’t, it was a match made in heaven.

She got my mower, weed-eater, electric trimmers, shrub shears, the whole package.

That was good day.

To be fair, there were a couple of things I really enjoyed about yard work.

Not the hot, sticky weather. It’s a dirty job.

I like how the lawn and landscape looked immediately after I was done.

I work w/ people, and ppl typically don’t change for the better, don’t look good right away after they had spent the previous few years looking shaggy.

And, I don’t mean a new hair cut and a new box of clothes from stitch fix!

People are not microwaved. They are slow cooked.

So, when there is something that looks good immediately after you’re done that can fire some good feelings in your brain.

The lawn was looking shaggy, the landscape shrubs we scraggly, you’re done mowing, edging, trimming, blowing and it’s time for a cold iced tea and sit and enjoy your work…for a few days anyway.

B/C, when you fertilize and water the process needs t/b repeated on a regular, sometimes twice/week basis.

That’s the part I don’t miss.

There’s another thing I miss about mowing. I talk to myself, out loud.

Tom will come toward my office and hear me talking and think I’m on the phone but I’m just talking thru my sermon. I need to hear how it sounds.

When I was out mowing, whatever I was saying was drowned out by the sound of the mower. I could get animated, angry, and no one would know who it was directed at.

I’d come in and Sara would ask me who I was getting after out there.

People! Maybe it’s someone who is sabotaging their life and are not taking good advice.

Dr., Dr. it hurts when I do this. Well,...

And the they go right back out and do it again.

You just want to verbally lash them.

Or, someone doesn’t think my idea is a good one. It could revolutionize church. Not just ours, but every church around the world. If they’d just do what I want them to do then the world would know how smart I am.

Isn’t that a source of anxiety for all of us? If ppl would just do what I want them to do we’d all get along just fine.

What’s wrong w/ you?

So, I’m out mowing, having this conversation w/ someone else all by myself.

“I’ll say...”

Then, they’ll say...

Then, I’ll say...

Then, they’ll say,

They, I’ll say...

Then they will agree w/ me, recognize my brilliance, apologize for how wrong they were, and we will change the world.

If you would just change you mind we’d change the world.

There you have it.

Maybe I’m letting you into a little too deep into my life b/c these conversations come from a pretty dark place in my heart.

That’s just me.

Out of the hearts of men come all sorts of bad things. That’s what Jesus said.

Do you have those conversations? Out loud or just in your head?

What’s the big problem w/ these?

The real conversation never goes that way.

I’ve made all these assumptions about what they’re thinking, what their feeling, what their motivation is, and what they will say; and most of it is wrong.

But, I have reacted as if it was 100% right on.

Now, I’m worked up. Before the real conversation I’m all worked up and emotional the other guy is not and has no idea why I am.

All b/c I made all these inaccurate assumptions.

Then, what if I told a 3rd party about how this conversation was going to go before I actually had it? They agree w/ me b/c I make it sound like I am completely innocent and all right and the other guys is all wrong.

So, of course they agree w/ me.

Then, the conversation happens, it doesn’t go at all like I assumed it would, the 3rd party doesn’t know that, they’ve told someone, who told someone, who told someone..

They’re all worked up and mad at they guy all based on the bad assumptions I made originally.

There is a reason why God addresses gossip, our words, and the lack of control we have over our tongue like he does.

We can say things in a few short words that will destroy long-term relationships.

And, in today’s world of communication, add Tweeting and Facebooking to the same category as controlling your tongue.

One comment, based on one bad assumption, gets repeated and commented on, adding more bad assumptions like fuel on on an already raging fire. And the next thing you know you have a wildfire on your hands that is out of control and destroying long-term friendships.

All b/c somebody made a bad assumption. Thought something was true that wasn’t.

Then, expectations are made. We expect something to happen just like we played it out in our mind, the convo, interaction, the meeting.

But then the real meeting doesn’t go that way. We’re worked up over something that’s not real.

And, the ppl we’ve told are worked over it, too.

If things are going to settle down, then we have walk back everything we said to everybody we said it and set the record straight.

If only we wouldn’t have made that bad assumption in the first place.

The number 1 cause of frustration in everyone’s life is unfulfilled expectations. Even those expectations that are based on bad assumptions.

When we make bad assumptions, we make bad life-decisions. We hurt our marriages, kids, parents, friendships, church, community, and ourselves.

Nobody else is hurting us. We’re doing to ourselves.

I’ve said many times, we should only react to what we are certain is true. If it’s not, don’t plan what you’re going to say or do in return. And, don’t let your emotions respond, either.

Unless you heard it yourself, saw it w/ your own eyes, know the motivation behind it, then don’t repeat it or react to it.

As far as I know, I have never met a prophet who accurately predicts future conversations or events, not even me.

Maybe it’s good I don’t mow lawns any more.

When we make bad assumptions we make bad life-decisions and bring more trouble to ourselves and those caught up in it w/ us than we want to handle.

Unless you enjoy the added frustration.

Or, the ppl who add unnecessary frustration to your life.

This morning we are going to look at a passage where 3 bad assumptions are made that if they are reacted to will lead to more frustration and trouble.

The passage is in 1 Kings 20.

The first bad assumption comes in v. 13.

Bad Assumption #1

1 Kings 20:13 NIV

Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

An unnamed prophet. Don’t know who.

But, AHAB!

This is the king of Israel who married Jezebel who worshiped Baal and tried to get her husband the king to turn his back on God and join Baal w/ her.

Elijah made Baal and his prophets look foolish.

And everybody who still believed in Baal over God.

But, Jezebel didn’t budge in her allegiance to Baal. As far as we know they were still married at this time.

The situation is w/ the kingdom of Aram, just to their north.

Ben-Hadad was their king. This was not the first time they were prepared to attack Israel. That had once before and Israel beat them back.

They are set to try again. They have assembled their army and are waiting for the right time to invade and attack Israel.

The assumption is that God would never give Ahab a victory like this.

If I was God, I’d wait till there was a faithful and obedient king to bring a victory like this.

God could use Ben-Hadad to further discipline Ahab and Israel.

That’s what I’d do. I assume God would do the same. Wouldn’t he?

He had turned his back on God. He was the reason God had brought the drought and famine to the land.

He wasn’t neutral toward God, he was anti God.

But, he was the king of Israel. And, God had made promises about Israel that he would keep regardless of who was king.

And no one was going to do harm to Israel except God and whomever he used to do it. And Ben-Hadad did not fit that description.

God always keeps his promises no matter who is where when they are. If God promises to bless, then He will bless regardless of who is king.

God will keep his promises to the (capital-C) Church. He will do for the church what He had always planned to do for the church no matter who is in the Oval office, the palace, or the Vatican.

No doubt, those who call the places their residence have and impact on how God reacts and treats us. But, is not limited by them or their behavior, and do what He has always planned to do to get us where He wants us to be regardless of who is the Prez of the US, regardless of who is the Queen of England, and regardless of who is the Pope.

Why?

Why would God bless Israel when they have a disobedient king?

Why would God bless the church when countries have unbelieving elected and appointed leaders?

B/C God is a gracious God. His grace trumps our assumptions every day.

Why would God look past the dark places in my heart that would show up when I was mowing the lawn and give me a position like this in paradise?

Why would He let me be your pastor? Be Sara’s husband?

B/C His grace trumps my assumptions and everybody else’s assumptions about what I deserve.

He’s going to give me a victory when I don’t deserve it. And you need to be thankful b/c he will do the same thing for you and the ppl you love who deserve less than He does.

He has a plan to get us where He wants us to be, when He wants us to be there, and he will discipline us along the way w/out allowing anything to happen to us that violates a promise he has made to us no matter what anyone assumes t/b true.

In the scales of justice Ahab and Israel would be found woefully short of deserving a victory here. And God did it anyway.

We can’t assume how God will react and what He will do for someone who doesn’t deserve it.

By our accounting and justice, we’d DQ Ahab from a free lunch.

But God has a plan and has made promises. He will keep them no matter what we assume about what anybody deserves.

So, let’s wait and watch and see what God does and how His grace works.

Bad Assumption #2

Bad Assumption #2

1 Kings 20:14 NIV

“But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the Lord says: ‘The junior officers under the provincial commanders will do it.’ ” “And who will start the battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You will.”

Who would you assume would fight this battle and win?

The senior officers. The generals. The battle-hardened and experienced warriors.

If you assume this, you’d be wrong.

God chose the junior officers. Those who are less experienced, less qualified by human standards. And he chose the provincial commanders.

The PC are politicians.

Some of us might wish our politicians would lead into battle. We might lose a few that way.

When Ben-Hadad and his army saw the politicians coming, they assumed they were coming for peaceful negotiations and it would end up in an easy victory.

In fact, v. 16 says they assemble to move out at noon which was not the normal time to attack. It was the heat of the day. Usually, armies would make their move in the early morning or later afternoon.

Ben-Hadad and his army were in their tents getting drunk.

Shows how concerned they were at the time about the battle anyway. They didn’t respect their enemy and didn’t feel the need to be on alert and prepared.

Then, it’s noon and it’s politicians and junior officers.

The least likely ppl at the least likely time.

You would assume it would have been the senior officers, the generals at a time when armies normally attack.

And if you assumed that, like Ben-Hadad did, you’d be in big trouble.

Israel routed their enemy that day.

The king and the Aram army didn’t believe in God and assumed it would be a battle fought by humans in the physical realm. But the battle was fought by God in both the physical and spiritual realm.

They didn’t stand a chance b/c they assumed all the wrong things.

They fought this battle in the hill country. Aramean army was known for their charioteers. Chariots don’t work on Schnebly Hill Road.

They need flat open spaces. Poor decisions by drunk generals who made bad assumptions.

Contrast a king who has a word from God to lean him in battle versus a king who depends on wine for courage and his own ability.

The first submits to God while the second believes he will win regardless of the circumstances. He’s drunk, arrogant, and doesn’t believe in God.

A recipe for horrible life-decisions.

If you think you are the least likely person to do what God apparently has called you to do then you might be perfect for the job.

If you think that it will never be the right time for you try, then it might be the perfect time for you to try.

God chose the 8th son of Jesse to be His first king of Israel, David.

God chose David’s 10th son, 7th living son, 4th son of his mother Bathsheba who committed adultery w/ David and conspired w/ him to kill her current husband, Uriah, to be his successor, Solomon.

God chose Judah, the 4th son of Jacob, to be the tribe of Jesus.

God chose Jacob over Esau, the youngest over the eldest.

God chose Abraham, the son of a Pagan priest, who had shown no evidence of a belief in God to be the father of Israel, all of Judaism and Islam.

God chose fisherman who never went to college to change the world by establishing a new organization that would facilitate a personal relationship w/ the Creator of the Universe.

What has God chosen for you that you think you are all wrong for and it absolutely the wrong time?

What bad assumptions are you making about yourself that are leading you to make wrong decisions about what you can do?

If you think God chose the wrong person to this when He chose you, then that’s the first step to success.

Assumption #3

Bad Assumption #3

1 Kings 20:22–23 NIV

Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, “Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again.” Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, “Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.

The same un named prophet comes back and warns Ahab that the Arameans will come back in the spring and try again.

So, get ready.

IOW, don’t think you beat him the first time and rely on your own ability when the situation arises again. God did it before, He’ll do it again. But you have to prepare for Him to do it.

Respect God, his prophet, the word by obeying and preparing.

God will lead us to a good career but we have to go get educated and experienced so we are prepared to do what he leads us to do.

When Nehemiah led Israel to rebuild the wall and they were threatened by their neighbors, they didn’t quit working.

God commanded them to rebuild the wall. But they prepared to defend themselves by holding their weapons while they worked.

God protected them. But he used their preparedness as part of the plan for protection.

Don’t assume God will do all the work when He calls us to get ready to do something.

They did not make that assumption.

Ben-Hadad made a fatal assumption.

They recognized the mistake they made before by fighting the battle in the hills. But they concluded that wasn’t their mistake.

Their bad assumption was God is only God in the hills. He is not God on the plaines. So, this time they will attack Israel on level ground where their chariots can be more affective and they will surely win.

v.28 God says thru the prophet that since they believe this, God will deliver Israel another resounding victory and everyone will know that God is the 1 true God of everywhere and everyone.

God is sovereign over all nations, even the ones whose citizens don’t believe it.

Believer does not determine truth. Just b/c I bel something does not make it true. Our job as adults is to determine what is true and believe that.

Do not assume anything else t/b true.

Bad assumptions lead to bad life decisions.

So, where do you believe God is not God? Seems like a silly question doesn’t it. Until you consider how you act in different places.

I know Christian men and women who act like God is right next to them in church but act like he’s nowhere to be seen on their kids’ little league field.

I know adults who act like they believe God doesn’t go into bars.

Or, God isn’t watching what they are watching online, or saying on FB.

Is there a place you go or thing you do where you act like God isn’t there?

Words, whether spoken or written, and behaviors all need t/b consistent w/ the belief that God is looking over your shoulder.

He will not let you get away w/ what you think you may be getting away w/.

If you assume He is not there, or does not care about what you are doing in that moment, you will be led to make a bad life-decision.

There is no good assumption. Don’t make any assumptions.

If you’re mowing the grass, stop those conversations before they get started and wait until you have the real one to react.

Bad assumptions lead to bad life decisions. Unfulfilled expectations lead to a life of frustration and trouble.

Maybe you want more frustration and trouble. Okay. Then just assume I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Applications

Written Off

Don’t write anyone off.

God may choose to do something for someone who absolutely does not deserve it.

That someone might even be you.

But don’t write anyone off b/c God never will.

God did a great thing for me leading me here even though I have such dark spots on my heart. There are those around me who thought there is no way I’d get a place like this to go and certainly didn’t deserve it.

I would I agree that I didn’t. God did it anyway b/c He has plan made a promise that will get us in the right place at the right time no matter who he blesses along the way to do it.

Be gracious w/ people. Do something good for someone who doesn’t deserve it. And thank God that He does things like that for you.

The Right One

If you think you are the least qualified person to do what it seems God has put in your path to do then you are probably the perfect person to do it.

Believing you can’t w/out God’s help is the first step to success.

What is God calling you to do that you are completely unqualified to do but He is preparing you and will do it thru you?

Do that.

Where?

Where can you go where God isn’t?

Where do you act like God isn’t there?

Maybe you need to start acting there like you do while you’re here.

Or, just don’t go there.

Change the way you act in places like that or change by not going there any more.

When we make bad assumptions we make bad life-decisions and bring more trouble to ourselves and those caught up in it w/ us than we want to handle.

Bad assumptions lead to faulty expectations.

Unfulfilled expectations lead to increased frustration.

Maybe you enjoy the added frustration.

Or, the ppl who add unnecessary frustration to your life.

Maybe you assume I really don’t know what I’m talking about.

Okay.

Either way, I’m glad I’m not mowing any more lawns.