:: Transcript - "Presumption"

Date: Friday, September 21, 2007
Speaker: Daniel Arwa Ojuok (Kenya)
Key Text: Matthew 4:7

I am very happy for this opportunity God has given us today for the blessings of the Sabbath. I believe we have traveled from many far countries, and He has seen fit that we rest and get more spiritual food, that we close our business and may rest with Him, that He may teach us. I also thank Him for the life, protection and guidance that He has given us freely until now.

It is an occasion of joy. We should all praise God for that. He has united us together because of His son Jesus Christ. Without Christ we could not do anything but we are meeting here united in love and meeting as family members of one father. And most of all we thank God for the gift of His Son.

God created us in His image, but man was tempted and he fell. A plan of restoration was made through Jesus Christ. And that is why we are here today—had it not been for the sacrifice made on Calvary, we would not have been here today. We should thank the Lord for the gift of Christ Jesus.

This evening I will share something about presumption. We see Christ overcoming on behalf of man. He came to redeem, to save us from our sins and leave us a perfect example.

We will share something of the temptations which Christ withstood in the wilderness.

In Matthew 4:1, we see Satan tempting Christ. We hear from different preachers that temptation will come to each and every one of us. But we should not surrender to sin; we should not give in to temptation.

The temptation was very simple. From our view we could think it was a small thing because Satan wanted Christ to tempt God. He known the Father's will and had come to do His will. He had come to redeem man and conquer Satan. The tempter came to him in the wilderness.

If you look at this verse, Christ an god are one. He depended on God so much and He could tell Satan not to tempt the Lord thy God. Christ knew it was sin to tempt the Lord, it is presumption. It is the opposite of faith. Jesus knew the will of His father, and there fore He knew this was a temptation that he must overcome in behalf of man.

Presumption is Satan's counterfeit of faith. Faith, in Hebrews, is the assurance of things hoped for.

For example, we believe Christ is coming soon. We believe there is a good place in heaven. We work towards that end. This is faith. This is what Christ did. So when we come to Jesus for us to have faith not to be deceived by the enemy, then we must believe that God is. We must not have any doubt about His protection.

In Hebrews 11:6, when we come to God we must come in faith. We should trust what He has said in His word. That is faith. But in presumption we want God's blessings but we want to use them to sin—to excuse transgression. We still want His hand to lead us. It is going contrary to the revealed will of the Father, but claiming the blessings of God.

Further, in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Faith believes what the Lord has said—and we must believe that God is there, that He is—from that point it is faith. But presumption—we know the will of God, but we want to tempt Him. We act contrary. It is like despising the revealed will of God.

Christ was not to be overcome by the enemy. The book The Desire of Ages, page 126, gives some good definition of faith. It says,

"But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For 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."

I would like us to give some examples of presumption, or trying to tempt the Lord, to despise the revealed will of God.

For instance, if I were going to the Korean embassy in Nairobi, and I pray that the Lord may guide to go there, but along the way go out of the way to perhaps the American embassy, it would be presumption to think that I will now get the visa. I will not get it. I will pray that the Lord will guide me to the right embassy, but when I willingly go to another and still claim that God will guide me, that would be presumption.

Or, you climb on top of a roof and jump down willingly, while claiming God’s promises—that is presumption, doing contrary to the revealed will of God.

We can give many other examples. We always pray for the protection of the angels we wake up, go to our duties, doing our business and so forth. But when we go into the road and refuse to follow the danger signs on the highways, that would be presumption. We would claim God's protection but violate the right principles, which had inspired our prayers. These are some of the examples of presumption.

Also, we can continue in Selected Messages, book 1 ,p. 282, there is a small inspired statement.

"The sin of presumption lies close beside the virtue of perfect faith and confidence in God. Satan flattered himself that he could take advantage of the humanity of Christ to urge Him over the line of trust to presumption. Upon this point many souls are wrecked."

Satan, what did he do? Tempted Christ to presumption, not to trust in God. On this point many souls are wrecked. Satan tempts our human weakness. We are tempted to presume to do contrary to the will of God. But in this point Christ overcame. We thank God for that because now, through His grace, we can also overcome.

He now suggested to Christ that He could just jump down, because it was written that the angels would protect Him. He wanted to tempt Christ to sin so that the plan of redemption could be done away—so that there would be no hope for humanity. But we thank God that Christ gained the victory over this sin. Could Satan have won the war then there would be no salvation for the human race.

He was also telling Christ, "If you are indeed the son of God." But Christ knew He was. Now Satan says, "If." He was trying to give some doubt. Had Christ displayed His power to prove that He was the Son of God, then the human race would have no hope. But we see Christ overcoming.

Presumption is associated with pride. Something we do willing, and overlook and despise the revealed will of God.

In the book Confrontation, pages 84, 85, "There are many who fail to distinguish between the rashness of presumption and the intelligent confidence of faith. Satan thought that by his temptations he could delude the world's Redeemer to make one bold move in manifesting His divine power, to create a sensation, and to surprise all by the wonderful display of the power of His Father in preserving Him from injury. He suggested that Christ should appear in His real character, and by this masterpiece of power, establish His right to the confidence and faith of the people, that He was indeed the Saviour of the world."

Satan tries to make us lack confidence in God. Here we can recognize and distinguish between faith and presumption. If it is in our midst as a church it is very dangerous, because it is sinning willingly. We can lose our eternal life.

We are told in The Desire of Ages, that faith claims God’s promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims God's promises, but uses them to excuse transgression.

A good example is our parents in Eden. They had known the will of our Father. They were warned not to eat of the forbidden fruit, but they presumed that God would still be with them while they were taking and eating that fruit. And this brought sin into the world. So Satan uses presumption so that we may excuse sin and live a life of disobedience.

But the last part of that statement says, "Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures" (The Desire of Ages, p. 126). Our faith, our actions, the foundation of our faith, should be the Bible—the revealed will of God. Then we will have the true faith of Jesus, and we thank God that Jesus overcame on this point, on which many of us when tempted, fall.

We have many examples of faith in the Bible. In Luke 6:10 a man there with a withered hand, and we find Christ commanding Him to stand: "And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other."

Christ commanded the man with the withered hand to stretch it forth. He did what Christ commanded. Christ is the Word. This man acted faith. He did not doubt; he did not ask if he would be made whole. He believed the Word and he was made whole. You see, there is no presumption here.

On another occasion, Peter saw Christ walking on the sea (Matthew 14:26-33). They were terrified at first—they thought it was a Ghost—but then they saw it was the Master. Then Peter—being forward, he always wanted to be prominent—said "If it is You, then tell me to walk on the water." But when the waves grew strong, what happened? He was sinking, and he cried to the Lord. He wavered. He was terrified of the waves. Be brought doubt into the thing that Christ had commanded him.

Had he acted on Christ's command to come, not thinking about the waves, then he would have walked and he would have reached the position where Christ was. But you see, his faith failed on the way.

This is a lesson for us. When God commands us to follow Him, let us follow Him. We will meet obstacles, but let us go forward until we shake hands with Christ.

We should not worry about the consequences. We should follow the revealed will of God, and He will take care of the consequences. Peter was thinking of the consequences. He thought he was going to die.

In the book Great Controversy, pp. 609, 610, we are told that, "Christ's ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results with God."

We should not worry about what will happen. We here are all ambassadors of Christ. We should go forward in faith, not worrying about the consequences. Let us act the Word. Let us go as God has commanded. These are good, encouraging examples.

There are also some examples of presumption in the Bible.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 is the story of ancient Israel, which has lessons for us today. It was written for us. We have a long history of faithful servants of God and also those who were not faithful. We may learn more, from their successes and failures, and learn of their faith.

We have an example of presumption in 2 Chronicles 26. It is a story of a king in, verses 1-20. Uzziah was a young king, appointed by God at the age of 16—very young—and he ruled for almost 52 years. He did wonderful things, as his father did. He restored the altars of God and did many things. His heart was with God always, and God prospered him. He had a large army, with so many soldiers—ery strong. But after ruling almost 52 years, we are told in verse 16 that, "When he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense." There was pride and he knew he could not go there and offer sacrifices. He knew very well that this was the work of the priests. There were so many priests in that nation at that time. We find that after he did this, a large number of priests almost 80 went to him to see what he had done. He knew the will of God, but he did not act from faith—it was presumption. You see? Pride came into his heart.

"The sin that resulted so disastrously to Uzziah was one of presumption. In violation of a plain command of Jehovah, that none but the descendants of Aaron should officiate as priests, the king entered the sanctuary 'to burn incense upon the altar.' Azariah the high priest and his associates remonstrated, and pleaded with him to turn from his purpose. 'Thou hast trespassed,' they urged; 'neither shall it be for thine honor.' Verses 16, 18.

"Uzziah was filled with wrath that he, the king, should be thus rebuked. But he was not permitted to profane the sanctuary against the united protest of those in authority. While standing there, in wrathful rebellion, he was suddenly smitten with a divine judgment. Leprosy appeared on his forehead. In dismay he fled, never again to enter the temple courts." (Prophets and Kings, p. 304.)

He ended his life very sadly, because the priest rebuked him. Leprosy fell upon his face. He left the temple running, never more to enter in. This are warnings for us. Knowing the revealed will of God, we should not venture into presumption, because it can lead to our destruction. He now loses his life after 52 years of kingship, by going contrary to the will of God.

Also we have examples of ancient Israel set before us. In Numbers 14, when they sent spies, we find the two spies bringing good news and the ten false reports. And then the people rebelled. They wanted to kill these two brethren, and go back to Egypt. After this rebellion, God was not happy. Some judgments were visited upon those who rebelled.

Now those who were left wanted to go and take Canaan again. Now they presumed that they have made a mistake and they wanted to go and take Canaan. But Moses and Aaron and Joshua warned them. They were warned not to go up to war. "But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and Moses, departed not out of the camp" (Numbers 14:44).

But they just went and presumed and went to the hills, but Moses was not there and the ark was not there. They went alone. And the Amalekites defeated them.

They had confessed, but with their mouths. Their hearts were not changed, so God could not go with them. They were warned not to go up, but we find them going, and getting into defeat—and many of them died. They disregarded the revealed will of God.

This is a warning for us today. As a people and as a church, these warnings were written for our benefit. Christ overcame this sin in the wilderness, the sin of presumption—trying to do contrary to the will of God and claiming the blessings of God.

In verse 42 they were told not to go, but they went, and again, we have so many warnings in the Spirit of Prophecy and Bible. God is not a respecter of persons.

"God is no respecter of persons" (Prophets and Kings, p. 304).

"But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people" (Numbers 15:30).

This was God's warning to ancient Israel. It is also a warning to us. It is an encouraging verse, because, when we are given a warning, we know God loves us. He loves us, because He wants us to live a happy and obedience life as His children, waiting to be translated.

This was given in the Old Testament and Christ overcame this sin. Then we have the long line of apostles who did the same.

In Deuteronomy 17:12 we are also told, "And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel."

There was no sacrifice for those who sinned presumptiously. But there was provision for those who sinned ignorantly—then there was blood for them. If we sin ignorantly, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins. "And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering" (Numbers 15:27). This was the hope for Israel, and is also the hope for us today.

The priest was to make atonement for that sin, and it was to be forgiven. And that law was applicable not only to the Israelites but also strangers who were sojourning in the land of Israel.

There is a comment in The Great Controversy, pp. 558, 559:

"All who indulge sinful traits of character, or willfully cherish a known sin, are inviting the temptations of Satan. They separate themselves from God and from the watchcare of His angels; as the evil one presents his deceptions, they are without defense and fall an easy prey. Those who thus place themselves in his power little realize where their course will end. Having achieved their overthrow, the tempter will employ them as his agents to lure others to ruin."

And, again:

"Satan beguiles men now as he beguiled Eve in Eden by flattery, by kindling a desire to obtain forbidden knowledge, by exciting ambition for self-exaltation" (The Great Controversy, p. 554).

Christ humbled Himself and brought salvation to the human race. We thank God for this wonderful gift that He gave to us. He gave all heaven in one Gift, who is Jesus Christ. Therefore we are told by the apostle James that we should resist the devil and he will fly away from us. We should draw nigh to God, and God will draw nigh to us. We should cleanse our hands, and purify our hearts and be clean in the blood of Jesus Christ. We should come before Him always, with courage and confidence.

In Testimonies, vol. 5, we find:

"Angels of God will preserve His people while they walk in the path of duty, but there is no assurance of such protection for those who deliberately venture upon Satan's ground" (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 198).

"You are on the enemy's ground. You have voluntarily placed yourselves there, and the Lord will not protect you against his assaults" (ibid., p. 436).

If we place ourselves deliberately on the enemy's ground, then there is no protection. We must study the Bible and see what is the revealed will of God, because we can be walking on the enemy's ground. We should learn more each day and know the will of God and do it and be assured of the protection of God and holy angels.

Jesus tells us to learn of Him (Matthew 11:28). He wants us to learn meekness and humilty, so that pride may be abased, that we may be meek and have self-control. The meek shall inherit the earth.

Satan tempts us to have pride. Christ was tempted not only in presumption, but all sins, in all ways. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). That victory was gained in our behalf. If we obtain that victory, then God will translate us to heaven, there to stay forever, sinless.

In Jesus' life, He did no sin. Then we should also claim His power. In His divine power He was enabled to conquer. He offers us His divine power, united with our human weakness, so that we may come out victors.

We realize that he had two natures—the human and the divine. We have a divine-human Saviour in the courts of God, who is ready to help us, and to give us victory.

I would like to read from The Desire of Ages, p. 24.

"By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His divinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son of man, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son of God, He gives us power to obey."

As a man, He gives us an example of obedience—as we just studied, in the wilderness of temptation. And as God He gives us power to obey. We need to claim this promise.

This victory is more great; it will cover the whole human race. The whole universe will be restored, never to be affected by sin anymore. Whatever Christ did was undeserved. We deserve to die but there was something done in our behalf.

"Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. 'With His stripes we are healed'" (The Desire of Ages, p. 25).

What a hope! What a promise! What a wonderful transaction!

"By His life and His death, Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal ages He is linked with us....

"Through Christ's redeeming work the government of God stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love. Satan's charges are refuted, and his character unveiled. Rebellion can never again arise. Sin can never again enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are secure from apostasy. By love's self-sacrifice, the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union" (The Desire of Ages, pp. 25, 26).

May we all unite in prayer, and thank God for this gift. That He gave all heaven—that we may give our all to Christ. Christ will lead us into ways everlasting. The promise is that rebellion shall never again rise. Through endless ages, we are promised, that all are secure from apostasy.

The victory is won through self-sacrifice, through humility. Then we should follow the footsteps of our Redeemer. Then the victory is assured, full and complete. May God Bless us this day and the rest of the hours of the Sabbath.

Also, let us pray for this conference. May His Spirit abide in us after we leave this conference and reach all the world with this message of mercy. May we receive His love in our hearts. May His love be seen in our lives. May we be an encouragement every moment.

May we meditate upon these wonderful words, and may they refresh us. May we witness a new birth every day, every moment. May we witness His Spirit, moving upon our hearts and lives, bearing the fruits of the Spirit, and shining as lights to the world. This is our humble prayer and may God bless us in Jesus' name.