Psalm 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
There it is – the definition of the worst thing you can do with the worst consequences implied – and not a sermon to be found – anywhere.
Why? Because who has realized what an important lesson is here?
The greatest transgression in history is the devil defying God by taking one-third of the angels with him to hell. (Prophet Robin D Bullock has a good teaching video on this scene between God and Satan.)
So why was Satan so mad? He thought, as the Top Dog Angel, the highest ranking angel in the universe he would be chosen to be – the Big Cheese, the Son of God, and rule the world. And that is presumption – believing one has godlike status and all its perks. So when Satan was judged and banished his personal payback was, and still is – Revenge.
How do you get back at God? You steal, kill and destroy God’s Treasure, that which is closest to His Heart, His People made in His image.
You and I may seek fame, fortune, a nice home, good friends, but God wants US. Consequently Satan is after US – Revenge. If he can destroy humanity he can make God sorry for not giving him the top spot – Lord of all. This is the sin pattern – presumption and revenge.
Today we hear “once saved is always saved” – a damnable heresy because God is not an indulgent old grandfather letting us get away with anything simply because he loves us and does not want Satan winning. There are people who were saved and then got themselves in a mess. They refuse to repent, or change their patterns of living. The Bible calls this hard hearted, which is refusal to deal with known sin.
They have excuses, “I can’t give up my adultery, my alcohol, my gambling, my self-pity. It’s too hard, but forgive me anyway.”
That is presumption.
The Old Testament always has a good story to illustrate His teaching. In this case Eli and his sons. They were given high office of priest, well-paid, honorable, a lifetime of service. But they dragged evil into the sanctuary and then expected no consequences.
1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
1 Samuel 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. For information on the difference between sins and iniquity see https://corneliascottcree.com/the-difference-between-sins-iniquity/
Notice – no sacrifice of any kind can be offered to pay for this evil. That includes Jesus’ sacrifice. So we who serve in the ministry can rightly fear God and the consequences of defiling his will, and his words. Clearly here is a circumstance when salvation is no longer available.
The great presumption leads to the grave.
But what if this conflict is between human beings? God brought vengeance on Eli and his sons. People work revenge, or playing God because “vengeance is mine,” says the Lord. You may think you get away with revenge because at the time it is sweet, but it becomes bitter in your mouth – and you just swallow it. The greatest penalty you can ever mete out on another person is revenge because that penalty is God’s prerogative alone.
The word of God alone has the power to identify itself in life. In a church you’ll find that bitter person, the presumptive, the angry, the unrepentant all playing the game of church using all the right words, hoping to restore the joy of their salvation.
Warning to Ministers
The story of Eli is specifically about those that God called and trained for His work with His people. Bringing shame to God’s leaders reflects badly on God himself. God gets a bad name from this. He also includes Eli’s refusal to discipline his sons. The casual onlooker might ask “will God let us get away with evil too?” Ministers have both a message and a persona to live up to.
On top of that it is tempting to become seduced by your own success, and be spiritually ambitious, coveting money, a big name, or a big church. The successful ministers like Billy Graham watched themselves and they were able in spite of many attacks by flesh and devil to keep a clean record.
Meanwhile in the quiet recesses of the kingdom of God, the Lord himself has turned them over to the discipline of the flesh.
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©CorneliaScottCree.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission, from this blog’s author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to CorneliaScottCree.com. Thank you for cooperating in the effort to give glory to God.
2 Responses
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