Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

PRAYER AND PRESUMPTION

1. The prayer of David reveals:
   1. That David knew the seriousness of sin of presumption
   2. He knew that the plan of redemption made no provision for the sin of presumption - Num. 15:30
2. We shall do well to give prayerful consideration to the implication of our opening text:
   1. It was the great transgression of the antideluvian world - Gen. 6:1-9
   2. It was this sin that brought doom to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen. 19:1-20; 2 Peter 2:6

1. A prayerful study of the Bible shows conclusively:
   1. That the sin of presumption is a miscalculation on the part of sinners; Examples: Ancient Israel assumed that the ark of the covenant, as such, would give them victory in battle - that was presumption pure and simple - I Sam. 4:3-11; the man of God assumed that the Lord had changed his mind, and that it was lawful for him to go back to the home of the prophet, who had been used by Satan to deceive the man of God - the end was tragic - I Kings 13:1-22
   2. The sin of presumption is the fatal assumption by men that it is acceptable to God to substitute their own standard of righteousness for that of God - Matt. 7:21-23
   3. This is the great deception of the last days - compare 2 Tim. 4:1-4 with 2 Thes. 2:9-11; Matt. 24:24
   4. It is the fallacious assumption that God will overlook or bypass some of our sins - Examples: Saul fell into that grievous sin - I Sam. 15:13-23; this happened to him twice - I Sam. 28:6-; Even Moses was in deadly danger several times of neglecting a plain duty to God - Ex. 4:24-26; 34:7
   5. The sin of presumption is willful misuse of light - here is a deadly danger for God's children - Heb. 10:26-29; 6:4-9

1. Observe, please:
   1. How David considered the sin of presumption a deadly danger even to a child of God. He had border experiences that convinced him that God alone can shield us against that mortal danger; Examples: David's great sin against his servant Uriah - 2 Sam. 11:1-27; when he numbered Israel contrary to the will of God - 2 Sam. 18:1; 24;10
   2. He saw clearly how fatal was the sin of Saul when he deliberately disobeyed the Lord - I Sam. 16:1-23
2. The sin of presumption is a great transgression:
   1. Because it ignores, by-passes the word and will of God
   2. It assumes on the goodness of the Lord - that is a miscalculation on the part of the transgressor - Ex. 34:7; Num. 32:23
   3. God is merciful and very compassionate, but He is a devouring fire against sin - "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil" - Hab. 1:13; "Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance" - Ps. 90:8
3. There is danger in being presumptuous in our prayers and we must guard against these dangers:
   1. Balaam asked the Lord to give him permission to curse Israel - because Balak had offered him a reward - Num. 23:24
   2. Jehoshaphat almost lost his life because he was presumptuous when he joined the King of Israel contrary to the will of God - I Kings 22:1-38
4. We must never ask the Lord to lead us contrary to His holy word:
   1. This is one of the last day delusions to make the people feel secure even though they live in open rebellion against the written word of God
   2. Our prayer should never become the means to excuse our transgressions
   3. Prayer that leads me to disobedience is the tragedy of the ages