How do you know when God is leading you to do something, or isn’t just you presuming, or maybe even Satan trying to mess you up?

To find out if we are Eternally secure in our salvation, a simple yes or no question, two men under exact background and circumstances pray and fast alone for weeks. At the end of the time one is absolutely sure the Holy Spirit showed him it is true and the other is absolutely sure the Holy Spirit showed him that it is not true. Since the Holy Spirit does not lie or lead into error one or both of these men are assuming God told them, when in fact He did not.

One man knows the Holy Spirit told him to tell a person at church to go on a mission trip and he would be used to win many people to the LORD while he was there. The person then goes on the trip and is killed in an accident before even arriving.

Some examples of presumption in scripture are:

• Paul presumed that God wanted him to persecute the church. Acts 22:3-4
• The Jews thought they were following the will of God when they rejected the Messiah. Romans 10:2
• The seven sons of Sceva presumed that they could cast out demons by using the name of Jesus even though they were not saved. they were very wrong. Acts 19:13:14
• James 4
• 1 Cor 4:6
• Jude and 2 Pet 2
• Moses striking rock twice
• Strange fire Leviticus 10:1,2
• The children of Israel looking in ark
• Uzzah steadying the ark 2 Samuel 6:6,7

To see if we may be presuming we should:

1. Check all things with the bible. If the Bible insists you do it or commands you not to, then the question is answered.
2. If still unclear Paul teaches we have liberty in all things unless it hurts or confused someone. 1 Corinthians 8:8-13
3. All correction and guidance must be with extreme compassion and in love, not in a judgmental attitude. Galatians 6:2-3

Some arguments people use for their presumption are:

• Yes, but once you’re filled with the spirit you can’t be presumptuous!
  • Problems abusing the gifts in the Corinthian church 1 Corinthians 14 and we are told not to "tempt lord in vain"

Numbers 14:44 Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the high hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp. ⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites and Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Isaiah 45:11 "This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands?"

Martin Luther in his table talks stated that Presumption was a sin against the Holy Spirit. It went along with standing in opposition to known truth.

All quotations taken from the NIV unless other wise noted.