Skip to main content
#
Your Church

email usour twitterour facebook page pintrest
home
contacts & services
my account
Sermon of the Week 
Monday, September 24 2018

Assumicide can be serious stuff…. Folks have died from it…. They assumed the gun wasn’t loaded…. They assumed the approaching car was going to stay on it’s side of the road…. They assumed they could drink and drive…. They assumed they could get across the railroad crossing before the train….They assumed the ice was thick enough to cross the lake….well, you get the idea… 

Scripture tells us that assumption is self-desception….  

James 1:22-24 (NIV bible) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. But do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he saw”. Assumiside is willful ignorance of the fact….                                                                                                

We all deal with assumicide in some way or form….. a carpet-layer had just finished installing a new carpet. As he stepped back to survey his work, he reached into his shirt pocket for a cigarette, but the pack wasn’t in his pocket. Just then he noticed a lump under the carpet in the middle of the room, about the size of the missing cigarette pack. He isn’t about to rip up the carpet to get the cigarette pack out from under the finished carpet, so he took his hammer and beat the object flat and Bingo, no one would ever know. He put his tools in the truck and got in to go when he noticed his cigarettes on the truck seat. About that time the owner of the house came out and asked if the man had seen his son’s pet hamster…… 

Sometimes to correct false assumptions, we have to rip everything up and start over with God’s revealed truth. Assuming can cause you to mis-identify yourself in Christ….and be confused about your calling and mission…You can listen to the wrong voices and come to the wrong conclusions…..                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Assumicide is what happens when you make assumptions without checking a reliable source or getting all the evidence or information needed before making important decisions. What we assume to be true, we act on. But when what we assume to be true turns out to be false, we end up with wrong conclusions. And wrong conclusions can lead to the wrong actions in life. It’s what happens when we go by what we feel, think or conclude at the moment without checking everything out by the word of God…..Many people do not realize that the reason they are failing to grow and mature as Christians is that they are assuming too much and failing to apply the basic principles and values of God’s kingdom to their lives.

A pastor ran inside the grocery store one day to pick up a couple of things he needed – he was in a big hurry because he was running behind as he tried to get to his next appointment. 

He quickly went through the checkout counter – paid for his stuff – grabbed the receipt and change and out the door he went. As he was getting into his car, stuffing the change into his wallet, he noticed that the checkout girl had given him too much change. “Oh man!”, he thought – “What should I do? I’m already behind schedule – I’ve got someone waiting to meet with me!”

He could do one of three things – he could go back in right then, delaying his plans even further – and make things right. He could go on to his appointment and come back later and make them right. Or, he could just forget about it and go on about his business - people made mistakes like that all the time, right?

Well, he decided he ought to go in and get it corrected right away. He walked up to the same checkout stand he had been in just a few minutes before – and as he approached the checkout girl he said, “I’m sorry – but it looks like you may have given me too much change by accident.”

With tears in her eyes, the checkout girl looked up at him and said, “No sir, I did it on purpose. You see, I came to your Church Sunday and sat on the back row. You preached about honesty and how important it is to be honest as a Christian. I gave you too much change today, so I could see if you really lived what you were saying to us.” (She judged the pastor based on previous experiences and disappointments) Folks deserve the benefit of the doubt until they show themselves undeserving. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                             We've all been guilty of drawing wrong conclusions on the basis of tiny scraps of evidence…. In Jesus’ time, they assumed that he was illegitimate, since Mary and Joseph weren’t married…. Joseph assumed that Mary had been unfaithful to him, since he knew Jesus couldn’t be his son…. The people assumed that Jesus was just a man (I mean how could He possibly be God)…. The disciples assumed that Jesus would overthrow the Roman empire and make himself king…. The disciples assumed that He was dead and all that they had hoped for was for nothing…. (on and on it goes)

Here’s a shocking scripture….“Whoever has, will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he does not have will be taken from him."” (Mark 4:25 NIV) that tells me this…. What was intended for you to receive, if you do nothing to put yourself in a position to receive it, will be given to another, until you are mature enough or kingdom minded enough to have it….. God is waiting to see what you will do with what you have so He can give you what you want…..

A big assumicide in our society today, is to assume that someone else will do it…. In an earlier century, there was a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. While, shaking their head and muttering, that someone should get that big thing out of the way as they went on their merry way. Others went around it and thought that some day, they would do something about it. (but someday is not a day of the week)

Finally, a man came along and, seeing the boulder, used a branch from a tree as a lever and pried the boulder loose and rolled it off to the side of the road. Lying underneath the rock, he found a small bag with a note. The man picked up the note and read it. It said, "Thank you for being a true servant of the kingdom. Many have passed this way and complained because of the state of the problem and spoken of what ought to be done. But you have taken the responsibility upon yourself to serve the kingdom instead. You are the type of citizen we need more of in this kingdom. As the king, I want you to accept this bag of gold that traveler after traveler haswalked by simply because they didn’t care enough about the kingdom to serve. And I want you to bring this note to the palace, where I am looking for a trustworthy personal attendant." Don’t wait for someone else to serve, there are hidden blessings in every act of service….

Assumptions try to put square pegs in round holes…..Adam and Eve missed out on huge blessings when they assumed the serpent was capable of the truth, when he told them God was holding out on them…. David assumed that because he was king, he was above the law…. Samson assumed that because God blessed him as Israel’s deliverer, he would be blessed no matter what he did…..Lot assumed that he could be part of Sodom and Gomorrah’s social order without the judgment of God…. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day, assumed they could make the rules instead of teaching the values and culture of the kingdom of God, so they began to condemn instead of liberating.     

In some cases, we can laugh at the outcome of false assumptions. When we went to Virginia Beach, Virginia to be with Karen at the time Jesse was born, we enjoyed our time at the beach, but one day, I was asked to go to the store and get some diapers. I went in and asked the curtesy counter, where the diapers were located. She told me the isle number and when I got there, I found the isle contained adult diapers. She had assumed that because I didn’t have a child with me, I wanted them for myself….

Most of us are living with some false assumptions. Our parents, our teachers, our culture, the media, all have input into our lives. And some of those inputs are false assumptions.

Often we have assumicide when we assume that others have the same opportunities and privileges we have received. Such as a supportive family, a fairly safe environment to grow up in, good food to eat, and someone to care deeply about us….

A Puerto Rican woman went to church and was led to Christ. After her conversion she came to the Pastor and said, "I want to do something to help here at the church." He asked her what her talents were and she could think of nothing---she couldn’t even speak English---but she did love children. So he put her on one of the church’s vans that went into neighborhoods and brought kids to church. Every week she was excited to be part of bringing the children to church. She would find the saddest -looking kid on the bus, put him on her lap and whisper over and over the only words she had learned in English: "I love you and Jesus loves you." After several months, she became attached to one little boy in particular. The boy didn’t speak. He came to church every week with his sister and sat on the woman’s lap, but he never made a sound. Each week she would tell him all the way to Sunday School and all the way home, "I love you and Jesus loves you."

One day, to her amazement, the little boy turned around and stammered, "I---I---I love you too!" Then he put his arms around her and gave her a big hug. That happened at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon. At 6:30 that night he was found dead. His own mother had beaten him to death and thrown his body in the trash......."I love you and Jesus loves you." ....Those were some of the last words this little boy heard in his short life---from the lips of a Puerto Rican woman who could barely speak English. This woman gave what she had to God and because of that a little boy who never heard the word "love" in his own home, experienced and responded to the love of Christ, flowing through this lady.....

Don’t assume that someone else is better qualified to minister to children, Don’t assume that someone else has more time to set up the chairs, mop the floor, make the coffee and have everything ready for Church…. Don’t assume that someone else will bring folks that can’t get here on their own…. Don’t assume that…..(and we could go on….) If everyone brought someone in their car next week, we would double the size of the church in one week…. If everyone brought 2 people, we would triple in a week! And that person you bring , might be a missionary, a pastor, or an evangelist who was scheduled by God for a defining, transformative moment in their life…. To you it is just a church service, but to them it is an Epiphany …. I have seen it too many times to ever doubt it!   

If you are the victim of assumicide, it's very hard to fight back against false assumptions. Few things hurt more than being misunderstood by our close friends. The closer they are to us, the greater the pain. When that happens we discover a lot about ourselves. We discover that how we respond when we've been misunderstood says a lot about the depth of our Christian faith and our character. The danger is that we can start believing the false assumptions people have about us….

Psalms 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers them out of them all. v22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants: and none of those who trust in Him shall never be desolate (aw-shawm, lacking a covering or an intercessor). 

In the book of Job, Satan made a huge assumption and says to God, "The only reason Job is worshipping you is because you’ve blessed his life with wisdom, wealth, health and family. Take away the blessings and watch Job curse You."

And God replied, "Go ahead, take away the blessings, and you’ll see that Job will not curse Me."

By chapter 3, Job’s children had all died. Poverty replaced Job’s wealth. A terrible disease robbed Job of his health.                      Self-pity began to impose itself and insert itself into Job’s wisdom. Death became a welcomed friend.

In chapters 4 and 5, Job’s friend, Eliphaz, speaks out. But instead of comforting Job, Eliphaz condemns Job for not applying his own teaching about endure suffering, and Eliphaz begins to try to correct something he didn’t understand.

Job responds with angry words in chapters 6 and 7. He points out that Eliphaz simply hasn’t understood the magnitude of suffering he is under. Instead of complaining, Job defends God!

And in chapter 8, one by one, the three friends respond to Job’s words. Bildad the Babbler speaks out. 

(With a comforter like Bildad, you don’t need any enemies). Bildad assumed Job needed correction rather than comfort and he assumed his task was to set Job straight. His friends assumed that they knew all that was happening to Job. They assumed that people always get what they deserve. They assumed Job’s situation would improve if Job only trusted in God. But we know from chapters 1 and 2 that Job did trust God, and yet things got worse before they got better.

It is these kinds of assumptions that leave folks confused and disillusioned. Some even turn away from God or say, "There is no God. Some even say, "God doesn’t hear me, or God just doesn’t care”.

What do you do when the good person goes unrewarded and the bad person goes unpunished. 

What do you do when the person who cheats in your class may get an "A", and the honest hard working student in your class may get gets an "C or a D”…. What do you do when the person who takes other people’s credit at work gets the promotion and the one who faithfully works in the company may get no recognition at all.

Many Christians have assumicide and they believe when illness, suffering and loss occur in our lives, that we have done something to cause God to abandon us. Some even go as far as doubting that they are Christians.

(the bible says, He will never leave us or forsake us, but will be with us until the end of the world)… That means He never quits on us or gives up on us… EVER!!! 

I want you to think about something, for every non-Christian who suffers from cancer, a Christian suffers from cancer, so that the world can see the difference. For every non-Christian who is laid off from work, a Christian is laid off from work, so that the world can see the difference. For every non-Christian who has a bad day, a Christian has a bad day, so the world can see the difference Jesus Christ makes in our lives. The truth is these things happen because God is setting up the Devil for defeat… The Lord is merciful and gracious, and He knows how to work in each person’s life to bring about the best results for each one concerned….Onesize does not fit all when it comes to our walk with God! But the way we respond to trials, tribulations and persecution, will prove that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world!! He knows how to turn every trial into a triumph and every test into a testimony!!!

A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot and realize how really blessed you are….

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”.

Charles Swindoll lists what he calls the "four spiritual flaws":                                                                                                                                                                                                        Flaw #1: Because you are a Christian, all your problems are solved. (Please don’t tell any non-Christian this.) All they have to do is watch your life and it will blow that one!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Flaw # 2: All the problems you will ever have are addressed in the Bible. (If that were true, why would we need Holy Spirit to lead us and reveal what is the right and the best path.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Flaw #3: If you are having problems, you are unspiritual. (The truth is that there is a cost for serving Christ, but there is a greater price for not serving Him.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Flaw #4: Being exposed to sound Bible teaching will solve your problems. (Hearing Bible teaching is only effective when there is obedience to what the Bible teaches.)

When the 1960s ended and many hippies moved down the coast to Santa Cruz. They got married and had children or had children and got married… But they didn't name their children Bobbie or Carol or Tom. People became accustomed to their children playing with Spring Fever and Moonbeam, Precious Promise and Meadow.                                                                            They all ended up in public school. That's when the kindergarten teachers first met Fruit Stand. Every fall, as school begins, parents apply name tags to their children, kiss them good-bye and send them off to school on the bus. And it was true for Fruit Stand as well. The teachers thought the boy's name was odd, but they tried to make the best of it.

"Would you like to play with the blocks, Fruit Stand?" they offered. And later, "Fruit Stand, how about a snack?" He accepted hesitantly without answering. By the end of the day, his name didn't seem much more odd than Sun Ray or Morning Thistle. At dismissal time, the teachers led the children out to the buses. "Fruit Stand, do you know which one is your bus?" He didn't answer. But after all he hadn't answered them all day. Lots of children are shy on the first day of school. It didn't matter. The teachers had instructed the parents to write the names of their children's bus stop on the reverse side of their name tags. The teacher simply turned over the tag. There, printed neatly, was the name "Anthony." So they dropped him at the Fruit Stand! (they assumed something without all the facts…)

Who are you anyway? No matter what the world calls you, no matter what you even think of yourself. Don’t assume they and you, know better than the God who made you and the Lord who redeemed you.

As a believer, He calls you a Masterpiece, a Treasure, His friend, a new Creation, The dwelling place of God, a work of art, forgiven, His likeness and image, Eternally alive, a citizen of Heaven, A partaker of the glory, righteous, a diamond in His crown, A vessel of honor, Accepted in the beloved, the Apple of His eye, Blessed of the LORD, Called, and chosen, the Elect of God, He that dwells in the secret place, Overcomer, the Heir of God, Kings and priests, His anointed, Pilgrims, the Peacemakers, The Redeemed, the Healed, The Children of God….

Most folks, including the disciples would not have chosen Paul as an apostle, I mean after all, he was killing Christians…. They would have assumed that Jesus never would have called the fishermen, tax collector, and revolutionist that he chose  to spread the kingdom message throughout the earth…..and the same apostles would have assumed they could never be used by God in the way they were used….But amazingly, He chose you and me!!! It is those who have seen and experienced the depths of Satan’s lies that God chooses to bring down the serpent’s kingdom!

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and shew yougreat and mighty things, which you could not even imagine”! (What we call Him, and how we know Him, determines a lot about how we see ourselves…..

All kinds of factors influence our lives, but WE are still in charge of HOW we allow them to affect us and WHAT we allow to affect us! We can say yes, or we can say no. I pray that we will have the strength to answer His higher call. Isaiah answered the call and said…. “Here am I Lord, send me”…..

I do not Come to God, because He’s my last resort, but I come because I have the privilege to enter His presence… 

I do not come to remind Him of my righteous, but simply to declare that I desire to love and follow Him…. 

I do not come because I am strong, but I come because I am weak and need a strength and power beyond myself…. 

I do not come because I have some special claim on God’s blessings and rewards, but I come because in my frailty and brokenness I need His mercy and His Grace…. I do not come to express my opinions, but I come to enjoy the wonder of His presence and to pray for a fresh infilling of His Spirit. 

Just Lift your hands to Him, and all you need to say is “Here am I Lord, Take me, Prepare me, Use me, Send me”…..                                                                                                                                                            Just let Him move into your situation and circumstances right now today…. He will do what no other power can do… Let Him fix it for you… He knows the answer, before you ask the question, but He’s waiting for you to ask…. Knock and it shall be opened, seek and you shall find, ask and you will be given….His ways and His timing are perfect….He will make a way where there is no way and He will connect you, prepare you, and establish you…..  

Posted by: AT 10:16 pm   |  Permalink   |  Email
Latest Posts
Archive

      ©2014/5 Eagles' Rest Christian Center | P.O. Box 2820 | Key West, FL 33040