OVERCOMING THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION
Thursday 16th March 2023
The sin of presumption is a sign that you do not fear God and you lean on the arm of fresh. It is a lack of brokenness and contrition of spirit where you begin to trust in experiences.
Exodus 14:22-23 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry [ground,] and the waters [were] a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.
Presumption led to the drowning of the entire army of the Egyptians: they presumed that they could also go through the red sea because the nation of Israel went through.
Many of us have fallen victims: we presume yet we do not know that we are already off. That is why it is always important to know that as long as you are a man, you are susceptible to error, failure, or getting it wrong no matter how anointed you are (Psalms 19:13).
1 Samuel 16:6-7 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed [is] before Him!" But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For [the LORD does] not [see] as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
When Samuel looked at Eliab, he was moved by his desires; he thought with everything inside him that he was the one and he assumed that his feelings were right until God checked him and said; "no, Samuel, I have rejected him."
It takes humility to know that you can get it wrong and you need to check and consult God. That safeguards you not to assume you are right all the time. (Proverbs 15:22).
Many of you have failed not because what you were assigned to do is wrong but because of the way you went about it: you thought you knew and didn't consult God and that's where the fall began.
Joshua 8:3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night.
Joshua did not inquire of the Lord as he was going going to attack Ai. He forgot that God gave him a strategy for destroying Jericho and for Ai, he presumed without consulting and this led to the death of the men of Israel.
Your family, career, business, etc is at risk If you walk in presumption: do not allow yourself to enter that place, always consult with the boss (God). Our lives are not our own but His: He is therefore the one in charge and the best lead.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
Don't be strong in yourself for it is your trust in God that will always take you back to consult with Him. Our motives oftentimes get corrupted along the way and ambition comes in; please check yourself whether you are still on the right course. Why are you doing what you are doing?
If Christ is not the foundation of your activity, then it has no record in heaven and soon or later, whatever is not founded on Him will fall apart because the devil fears nothing except Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:27)
Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine [was] severe in the land.
When famine struck, Abraham did not inquire from God and he ended up in Egypt because of presumption.
As I speak right now, you may be the kind who is already in Egypt because of not consulting God and you have plagued your life with pain and all kinds of things, but God is merciful.
Genesis 16:1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no [children.] And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
Hagar almost blew down the house of Abraham had it not been for the mercies of God (Genesis 21:12)
May God help us to overcome the sin of presumption because we pick up many things every time we go to Egypt (not consult God) and these things affect our lives.
Further study
Galatians 3:1
Genesis 33:14
STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA!
