The topic for our lesson this morning is assumptions in the Bible. We make assumptions on a daily basis, on a wide variety of subjects. For instance, we assume, that the Chiefs are going to be the best football team in the NFL this year. We assume that even though they haven't proved themselves yet to be the best NFL team this year. It's an assumption. We look at what they've done in the past and we can make that assumption with some degree of certainty, we believe. But it is an assumption nonetheless.
We assume many things in our daily lives to be the case. Sometimes they work out the way we assume and sometimes they don't.
When we talk about the spiritual, we should not assume things related to our spiritual lives. We should check them. We should verify them with what we find in the Word of God. Otherwise, we're going to be sorely disappointed in the outcome.
My brother had a saying every time someone would use the word assume or the phrase I assume this would happen. He said assumptions were the mother of all foul-ups. And to a degree, that's probably right there. There's a hand in that when it comes to making assumptions, but notice we're going to be looking at several things related to assumptions in the Bible.
Assume, two basic definitions:
1. “A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof."
These last two words are important, without proof.
2. “The action of taking power or responsibility.”
We're going to deal with the first of these definitions. The thing that is accepted as true or certain to happen without proof. That's what we want to talk about this morning.
The “Behold I thought” Principle of Assumptions
And the first of these principles is going to be brought out in this way. The Behold, I thought, Principle.
- Naaman – 2 Kings 5:1-14
We're introduced to a man who's the chief among the nation in Syria. He's the chief captain to the King of Syria. We read that in verse one, his name is Naaman. He is a great man, but this particular individual has a problem.We're told in the opening verses of 2nd Kings chapter 5 that he has leprosy. And we know that leprosy has no cure, especially in this day and age, at the time of 2 Kings. The only thing they could do was to separate those individuals from the rest of the population and they were left to their own fate.
But there was an individual who was taken into captivity by the Syrians. It was a Hebrew handmaid, and this particular handmaid served the wife of Naaman. And she said, Oh, I wish that Naaman was in Israel because then there was one there who could heal him of his leprosy. And the word gets to Naaman and Naaman takes this before the king of Syria and the king of Syria sends him, giving him a letter to take to the king of Israel. S,o that the king of Israel can heal Naaman of his leprosy.
And you recall, the distress of the king of Israel when he reads this letter from the king of Syria saying I'm sending you my chief captain He has leprosy and I want you to remove it and the king says do I have the power? Is it within me to say who lives and who dies? And the Prophet Elisha hears concerning the plight of the king and the circ*mstances that he's in and He says send Naaman to me, and he will know that there is a prophet still in the land that speaks for God.
So Naaman goes out to where Elisha is, and I can imagine him pulling up to Elisha's tent, and he hops off of his chariot, and he's standing in the doorway of Elisha. Elisha knows that he's here, andElisha sends out his servant with a message for Naaman saying, "Go and dip in the Jordan seven times and your leprosy will be cleansed."
At hearing of what he needed to do in order to have his leprosy removed, Naaman becomes very angry.
"But Naaman was wroth and went away and said, Behold, I thought he will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper." — 2 Kings 5:11
Take it away.
Naaman approached Elisha, assuming he knew what Elisha was going to do. He assumed Elisha, Elisha was going to come out of his tent and come to him directly and, and have this big show. And then entreat his God and then his God would remove the leprosy.
But that's not what happened. Elisha sent a servant of his to just give Naaman very clear, concise instructions on what he could do and his leprosy would be removed from him. All he had to do was dip seven times in the Jordan River.
Naaman is angry, disgusted, at the words that he's told. He says the rivers in Syria are much cleaner than the rivers in Jordan. Why couldn't I have just dipped in those rivers? And for a time he's not willing to do what Elisha instructed him to do. Because the cure is so far beneath this chief captain of the king of Syria, he's not willing to humble himself to do what he's been instructed to do.
You see, the Jordan River was not a pleasant river to wade in.It's one you'd have to go wash yourself off from after being in it because it was so dirty.
Finally, a servant of Naaman comes to him and says, if Elisha had told you to do some great thing would you not have done it? Yeah, the indication is that he would. And, why not humble yourself and do this thing and dip seven times in the Jordan River and see?
So Naaman dipped seven times in the Jordan River, and upon coming up out of the water the seventh time, it says that his skin was as smooth as a newborn baby.
Naaman assumed what the cure was going to be, and how the cure was going to be administered. "Behold, I thought."
- Parable of Rich Fool - Luke 12:13-21
Jesus is dealing with an issue of materialism.
We speak fairly often of this rich fool. Jesus warning against materialism speaks of this individual who is rich and he has a great harvest greater than he normally has.
His barns are full or too small that he has no more room to hold his abundant harvest. Notice what it says there in verse 11, he thought within himself. Behold, I thought, what am I going to do with all of these goods that I have?
Instead of sharing them with others, instead of giving them to the poor, or giving to those who had need, He says, this is what I'm going to do I'm going to tear down my small barns and I'm going to build greater barns of bigger size so they can hold more things. And then, I'm not going to share with anybody. I'm going to say to myself, "Soul, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry because you have plenty laid up for the future and not have any concern at all for anyone else.:
Of course, the parable ends with this man, according to Jesus telling of the parable, this man is going to die, his soul, it says, is going to be required of him, and then Jesus makes this statement, then whose are these things going to be that you have provided?
This man was full of himself, he assumed things, that he could not prove, he assumed his life was going to be prolonged so that he could enjoy the fruits of his labors.
Five times in this parable, he says the word, I.
- What shall I do?
- I have no room where to bestow my fruits
- I am going to do
- I will pull down my barns to bestow all my fruits
- I will say to my soul...
I am going to take care of myself. I am going to build bigger barns for my things. It is the, behold I thought principle.
Causing Conflict by Assuming the Intentions of Others
Secondly, another type of assumption that takes place in the Bible is by those that cause conflict by assuming the intentions of others.
We've talked about this idea relatively recently.
Nameless Amalekite
- 2 Samuel 1:1-16; 4:9-12
A nameless Amalekite who comes to David after David has just won a battle against the Amalekites going back into the last chapter of first Samuel. And David comes back to where he is stationed and this Amalekite comes to him and he says that he was traveling through this particular area and Saul called to him and he said he saw Saul leaning upon his spear and Saul asked him to kill him because he didn't want the Philistines to come upon him while he was still alive and torture him and then put him to death.
And so the Amalekite, says he kills Saul, and then he takes his crown and the bracelet off of his arm as proof of what he had done. And he did so, we find out later in chapter 4 because he was hoping to get payment from David. He was doing this because he thought David would be pleased hearing the word that Saul had been killed. It was no secret that Saul and David were not friends at this particular time.
David had been named as Saul's successor as king over Israel and Saul had banished David from Jerusalem, threatened to kill him, and attempted to kill him on at least two occasions before this.
But David was not happy with this nameless Amalekite. In fact, he instructs him to be killed because he killed the Lord's anointed.
- 2 Samuel 4:10
But what he does is he creates conflict by assuming the intentions of David towards Saul that David had never expressed any form of ill will towards Saul at all while Saul was king. In fact, we know from looking at the account of David and Saul that on more than one occasion, two in particular, David had the opportunity to take Saul's life, end his own troubles, end the pursuit of his life and those men that were with him, and refused. Because even though David had been anointed by Samuel, to be Saul's successor, Saul was still alive, and the king that God had put in place for that time.
Conflict can be created by individuals assuming the intentions of others.
Israel Against Itself
- Joshua 22:10-31
We read an account concerning the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes had taken the land of promise on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Now we read back in, in Numbers chapter 32 that they, they take this area, and then they realize that this area is really good for raising cattle. And the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh here are very rich in cattle. They want to stay on the eastern side of the Jordan River.
And Moses makes an agreement, he makes them swear that they can stay on the eastern side of the Jordan River provided that when all the rest of the nations go to the western side of the Jordan River to take the promised land, that all of the armies of Reuben, Gad, and that half-tribe of Manasseh go and help their brethren conquer their lands. Promising to them that their families and their lands would remain safe until they returned, but only if they held up their agreement to go and help their fellow tribesmen.
And so, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and this half-tribe of Manasseh, go to the western side of the Jordan River and they assist in conquering the land. We read in the opening verses, verses one through six, where Joshua is now releasing these two-and-a-half tribes to go back across the Jordan River to their homes, accomplishing what they promised Moses that they would do.
And Joshua blesses their return to the other side of the Jordan River. So they go back to the other side of the Jordan in verse 10, and they build an altar.
- Joshua 22:10
They do this for a very specific reason. But the children of the tribes that they had just helped notice an altar is built in a place where they have no commandment to build an altar. They assume this altar is to worship and now they believe something very terrible is going to happen. And so, the nations that are on the western side of the Jordan River come to their fellow tribesmen, Reuben, Gad, and a half-tribe of Manasseh, and say, What have you done?
What have you done? Is it not enough that we have suffered the plague that took place in Peor? Because of transgressions? And is it not enough, that all of us suffered because of Achan who took of the accursed thing?
Do you remember when they conquered Jericho, Joshua chapter 6, all the spoils were dedicated to God because it was their first conquering on that side of the Jordan River? But Achan wanted certain things and he took them and he hid them under his tent and because of that all of Israel suffered greatly because of what Achan did. And these nations come to Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh and say, don't do what they did. They were ready to go to war with their brethren.
This is Israel against itself because they don't want to suffer again. Due to their tribesmen going off into idolatry this time.
- Joshua 22:24-27
Quite innocently, they built this altar as a memorial. Not an altar to burn sacrifices to God, not an altar to burn sacrifices to another God, but so that those on the western side of the Jordan couldn't say to those that were on the eastern side of the Jordan River, you have no part with us in the promises that God made. Because the Jordan River provided a border between them.
All this conflict was stirred up between the tribes of the children of Israel because one side assumed the intentions of the other side and accused them of wrongdoing when they had no proof that there was wrongdoing.
And, it was almost to the point of civil war between the nations of Israel.
But it was avoided. Because they were able to work it out. After hearing the reason why the tribes did what they did, the tribes on the western side of the Jordan River all returned back to their tents and they understood. They said it was a good thing.
But we can assume things, to the point of causing conflict when we assume the intentions of others.
Assuming a favorable outcome: reaping devastating rewards
Another type of assumption that we can find in scripture is assuming a favorable outcome, but instead reaping a devastating reward.
Self-righteous Pharisee
- Luke 18:9-14
Notice in verse nine, that Jesus is using this parable because certain ones trust in themselves that they are righteous. They are expecting a favorable outcome for their souls when this life is over. But Jesus says that's not the case.
They're expecting, they believe that they are righteous, and when they are not. They're despising others in their self-righteousness.
Notice in verse 10, Jesus speaks to the Pharisee and he says, He prayed thus with himself. His prayer, as we might say, couldn't get past the roof. It was going nowhere. And it was because he thought too highly of himself. Five times in verses 11 and 12, the Pharisee uses the word I in his prayer, in his prayer to God,
Self-righteousness, assuming a favorable outcome, and reaping devastating rewards.
But what does this have to say about the religious world today? We could go on any street corner you want to go to, and we could talk to any number of people about how is one supposed to be saved today, and you will receive a wide variety of answers on how someone is supposed to be saved.
I'll give you a couple of examples. One, I'm sure you're very familiar with, a man by the name of Joel Osteen, And this is a quote from him, this is a prayer that you should pray for confidence of your salvation. He says, "Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. Wash me clean. I make you my Lord and Savior." And after that, he would go on to say, "Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, and that's just what you did." He would go on to say in the next few moments after saying those things, "Then you should get a Bible and you should read it. Maybe you should read the Gospel of John, and then you should learn how to pray." The last part is the only true part.
Your prayer is not effective until you're a child of God, but His way on how you get there is not what the Bible says. Here's a man who assumes great rewards. But for this man, if he doesn't change what he says all of those who have followed what he says are going to reap devastating consequences. Because they think a little too highly of themselves and assume a favorable outcome.
There's another one, one you're probably less familiar with a lady by the name of Whitney Meade. A self-proclaimed Christian motivational speaker, she has a three-step plan of salvation, three steps. Here's step number one. "First, you need to recognize that sin is in your life." This is a quote. "We are born into a sinful state until Jesus comes to live in us. This is step number two. That the penalty for being sinful is death, which is eternal separation from God." That's the only part in this that she actually gets right. Sin will separate us from God for eternity. But thirdly, in her plan, in order to accept God, you need to pray this prayer with her. It says, "You need to accept God's gifts and you do that...," she says, "...you do not have to do good things, be a good person or do religious exercises to earn your salvation. Instead, this is what you need to do. Pray this prayer. Dear God, I admit to you that I am a sinner. I ask for your forgiveness and today I am turning from those ways. I believe you sent your son Jesus to earth to die in my place and because of his great sacrifice, I get to receive your free gift of eternal life. I am excited about you entering into my heart. I love you, God. Amen." Immediately, following that, these are her words, "Congratulations. You just made the best decision of your entire life."
These individuals are assuming a favorable outcome, but they're going to reap devastating rewards if they don't change. If they don't begin to follow what the Bible says, and they will, they will quote many passages of Scripture trying to prove their point. But here are a few that I would like for us to remember as we prepare to close this morning.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture." —John 10:1,9
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." — John 14:16
We need to be careful. We need to be watchful for those who presume to speak a word in God's name, which he has not commanded them to speak.
- Deuteronomy 18:20-22
- 1 John 4:1
Friends, maybe you're here this morning having assumed things related to salvation in your life that are not found in the Word of God. Maybe you're one who, at a time, was a member of the body of Christ and you assumed that you could go back and live any which way you wanted, you were baptized once, and [think] you're good for the rest of your life. It's a popular false doctrine that's in our society today. But it's not true.
Maybe you're one who's never become a child of God. Maybe you're like these individuals who have listened to some of these worldly people on how to become saved. Maybe you've prayed some prayers similar to these and decided that's all you had to do.
God is very clear that His desire is, "that all men be saved," 1 Timothy 2:4. But he's also clear on how we're going to get there. And if we're not willing to do it His way, if we want to try and go around, to do it some other way, we're going to be sorely disappointed.
Having heard the word, are you willing to believe it? Are you willing to repent of your sins and confess your faith in Christ and be baptized in order to have your sins washed away? That's the gospel way.
If we can assist you in doing those things we would encourage you to contact us so that we can assist you.
