Would you turn back to Luke 2?
Now, this Sunday, after the morning service, there will be a group
going to the Evans Orchard. If anyone would like to go bring
a dish to eat lunch together, and there will be activities
for the children. If you have any questions about it, contact Kristen Hans.
And also remember that Cody and Wynna Gruver are going to be
here this Sunday, and we will have a time of fellowship after
the evening service with them. I have entitled the message for
tonight, A Wrong Supposition. A Wrong Supposition. Verse 40, And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. And the grace of God
was upon him. Now, this is interesting. This
is the only passage of Scripture that lets us know what happened
in our Lord's first 30 years. This is the only passage of Scripture,
as a matter of fact, his first recorded words are in this passage
of Scripture, where he said, I must be about my father's business.
We're not going to consider that tonight. But I want you to think,
what must it have been like to have this child growing up in
your house? He never sinned. Can you imagine
having a child that never sinned in thought, word, or deed? He never sinned. Now, his mom
and dad knew who he was. But you know, his brothers and
sisters didn't get it. They didn't understand. They
grew up in the same home as one who never sinned, and they didn't
get it. They didn't understand. Now,
we read of this event in Now, his parents went to Jerusalem
every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve
years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the Feast,
and when they had fulfilled the days, eight days as they returned,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and
his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have
been in the company, went a day's journey. As they returned to
Nazareth from Jerusalem, they made a wrong supposition. They supposed He was in their
company, and he wasn't. They had traveled an entire day
presuming that he was with them, and he wasn't. And they spent
three days searching for him in sorrow. How many times have you made
a wrong supposition? You suppose something. And you
thought it was true. And it seemed very reasonable.
And it turned out that it wasn't. Now, they made a supposition
that the Lord was with them. And he wasn't. And there's a
message here both to the believer and to the unbeliever. First,
to the unbeliever. How many people presume? How
many people suppose that they are Christians? and that they
walk with Christ, and that all is well with them, that they
have the company of Christ, and then they will find out when
it's too late that the Lord had never done anything for them. They suppose him to be in their
company. They believe him to be. Did not
our Lord say, many shall say unto me in that day? Not just
a few, but many. Many shall say unto me in that
day, Lord, Lord, have we not preached in your name? And in
your name, have we not cast out demons? And in your name, we've
done many wonderful works. Then shall I say to them, I never
knew you. Depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. Now, can you imagine the horror
of presuming that all is well, and you find out when it's too
late that it's not. They supposed him to have been
in their company, but this is a message to the believer as
well. We may be going in a certain direction, supposing that he's
in our company, but he's not. Just like Joseph and Mary. What we're doing or thinking
is so contrary to him that he withdraws his presence and he
hides his face. And he's not in our company.
Now, can a believer lose his salvation? No. No. And there's a reason. You
know what that reason is? Because salvation is by grace.
That's the reason. A believer can never lose his
salvation. But he can certainly lose the
joy of his salvation. You remember when David said,
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. I've lost it and I
want it restored. Now, we can be going along supposing
that everything is fine when, in fact, we've breathed the Spirit
of God. quenched his influence, and we
are not walking in fellowship with the risen Lord. They supposed
he was in their company, but he wasn't. Now, thank God, even
though they lost him and spent three sorrowful days searching
for him, they found him doing what he always does, being about
his father's business. Now, regarding our suppositions,
they may seem reasonable. Look at Luke chapter 3, verse
23. And Jesus himself began to be
about 30 years of age. This is when his public ministry
began, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph. Now that was
a reasonable supposition. Who wouldn't have thought he
was the son of Joseph? That was a very reasonable supposition.
But he wasn't, was he? He was the son of God. Now I
want to look in the scriptures about some suppositions some
men made that were wrong. Turn to Matthew 20. I don't want
to presume, do you? I don't want to suppose that
he's with me when he's not. I don't want to presume. Now
let's look at these suppositions that were wrong in the scriptures. Look in verse 10 of Matthew chapter
20. But when the first came, They supposed that they should
have received more. Now, you know the story. The
master of the vineyard had gone out at six o'clock in the morning
and hired some workers. He said, I'm going to give you
a penny a day. You work 12 hours. At the end
of the day, I'll pay you a penny. They said, OK. And then he went
out again at nine o'clock and said, what are you doing here?
And they said, well, nobody's hired us. He said, you go out
into the vineyard, whatever's right, that I'll give to you.
He came out at noon and three, did the same thing. And he finally
came out at 5 p.m. and said, whatever's right, I'll
give you, you go out and work in the vineyard. And so six o'clock
comes. And obviously these men who work
12 hours supposed that they would get more than the fellows who
only worked one hour. Wouldn't you suppose that? Of
course you would. They made that supposition. And
I would have made the same supposition. I mean, we did more. That's reasonable. And they likewise received every
man a penny. They got the same things that
the fellows did who worked only one hour. Now that's what the
master said he would give them. He said at the very first, you'll
receive a penny a day, but Him giving these fellows that worked
but one hour, the same thing as us? Something's wrong with
this. Verse 11, And when they had received
it, they murmured against the good man of the house, This isn't
fair, saying, These that have wrought but one hour, and thou
hast made them equal unto us. which have borne the burden and
the heat of the day. We worked 12 hours in very difficult
circumstances, and they tell us what they really thought about
their master service at this time. It was a burden. It wasn't
fun. We didn't enjoy this. It was
bondage. We were working hard. We borne
the burden of the heat of the day, and you've made them equal
to us. So what a high opinion they had
of themselves, and what a low opinion they had of these other
fellows. They shouldn't be equal to us. We ought to be exalted
above them. They were offended by all of this. Verse 13, But
he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong. Didst not thou agree with me
for a penny? Yeah, that's what they agreed
on. Take that thine is, and go thy way. I will give unto this
last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do
what I will with my own? Is thine eye evil, because I
am good?" Now, the Master says, can't I do what I will with my
own? Yes, you can. And the Lord can do what he will.
Whatever he does is right. And it's right because he does
it. He doesn't do it because it's right. It's right because
he does it. That's who he is. He's the Lord. And he said, can I not do what
I will with my own? Now, they were accusing him of
being unfair because of his generosity. He said, because of my generosity
to these one hour workers. This is grace because of my grace
to these one hour workers. You think that's unfair? unfair
because of grace. Now, beloved, salvation is by
grace. Salvation is of the Lord. It's not of worth, lest any man
should boast. Now, when I'm talking about salvation,
when the Bible's talking about salvation, it's talking about
somebody who's a sinful person being brought into God's presence
and being accepted and saved. It's talking about a sinful person
being justified, a sinful person being made holy, so that when
God Himself looks at me, if I'm saved, when God looks at me,
He doesn't see any sin. He sees me as perfect. Now, salvation. That's what salvation is. A sinful
man being made exactly like Christ, justified on Judgment Day. Salvation
is of the Lord. It's of the Lord in His planning.
You know, it's far too glorious to be planned by any mind other
than the only one who could carry it out. You see, salvation is older than
creation. In 2 Timothy 1, 9, we read, He
saved us and He called us with a holy calling, not according
to our works. has nothing to do with our works. If you're saved, it's not because
you did anything. It has nothing to do with your
works. He saved us and He called us with a holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Now, God planned and purposed salvation
before time began. Now, he said, let's picture this
scenario in our mind. He brings the angels together,
and he says, I'm going to create man, and man is going to rebel
against me, and man is going to fall, and he's going to become
dead in sins. And I'm going to punish all of
his sins. Not one sin will go unpunished. My justice demands it. My holiness
demands it. My law demands it. But I'm going
to be merciful. I'm going to be gracious. I'm
going to save man. I'm going to punish all sin,
yet I'm going to save man. Now, how can that be done? You know those angels would still
be sitting in silence. They couldn't figure it out.
No creature could figure out anything so glorious, unable
to answer that question as to how God can save sinners. We had no part of His plan. He
planned it. He purposed. He found a way to
be just and yet justify the ungodly. Salvation is of the Lord not
only in its planning. Salvation is of the Lord in its
execution. What do I mean by that? God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. God so loved the world that He
gave. And Hebrews 1.3 says that He
by Himself purged our sins. Now notice that language, by
Himself. He had no help. He had no aid. Nobody helped
him. At this time, he didn't have
the help of his father. In that sense, he had nothing
but his father's awful frown. He had nothing but his father's
wrath against him. He was forsaken by his father.
He didn't have the help of his people. He didn't have them cheering
him on saying, thank you for doing this for us. We're so happy.
No, they all ran and fled. He was by himself. And what did
he do by himself? He purged. He purged. He made to not be our sin. My sin became His sin. God's
wrath came upon Him, and He satisfied the wrath and justice of God.
He put it away. Now, the reason He died was because
of sin. But His body didn't decay. There's
one reason His body didn't decay. It's because He actually satisfied
God. and put away sin. He did it by
himself. Man had nothing to do with this.
He by himself purged our sins. God the Holy Spirit calls us
with no help from us. We don't help or aid in our new
birth in this work of regeneration. Salvation, every aspect of salvation
is of the Lord. And that's why The 11th hour
workers are given the same thing as the ones who worked all day,
because salvation is by grace. Aren't you thankful for that?
Aren't you thankful that salvation is by grace? You see, if it wasn't,
me and you wouldn't be saved. But thank God for the freeness
of His grace. Now turn to Luke 13. You know, what they supposed
was wrong, wasn't it? Let's look at another supposition
here in Luke chapter 13. There were present at that season
some that told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled
with their sacrifices. What a horrible thing. Here they
come to offer up sacrifices and Pilate has them killed and their
blood is actually mingled with the blood of their sacrifice.
That's a horrible thing. And Jesus answering said unto
them, suppose ye that those Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans
because they suffered such things. Somebody thought, what did they
do? Do you ever think that when you hear something horrible that
happens to somebody, you think, is this divine vengeance against
them? What did they do that brought this on? I mean, they must have
done something. I mean, this is horrible. And
look, he says in verse 18, Are those 18 upon whom the tower
in Siloam fell and slew them, thinking that they were sinners
above all that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no. But except you
repent. You shall all likewise perish. Do you suppose that these sinners
to be worse than you, that suffered these horrible things? And this
is a supposition that many make in their comparative way of thinking.
I can look at somebody, I can always find somebody and think
my life's better than theirs. I'm more obedient than they are.
I mean, I can always find somebody that I read the Bible more than
they do. I bet I pray more than they do. You can always find somebody
like that, but you know that is utterly evil. It's utterly wrong. Do you suppose
that somehow you're better than them or they're worse than you?
I tell you no, except you repent. Except you have your mind changed
regarding God, yourself, salvation, you're going to perish just like
them. Don't make a wrong supposition.
Understand who you are and don't suppose that you can get by with
anything because you can't. Now turn to Luke chapter 12,
real close, Luke chapter 12, verse 49. I am come to send fire on the
earth. And what will I if it already
be kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how
am I straight until it be accomplished? Suppose you that I'm come to
give peace on earth. Is that what you think? Do you
think I've come to make everything easier for you and better for
you so you'll get along with the world better? Do you suppose
that I've come to send peace on the earth? Nay, rather but
division. For from henceforth there should
be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against
three. The father should be divided against the son, and the son
against the father. The mother against the daughter, and the
daughter against the mother. The mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law,
and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. I didn't come
to send peace. I came to send a sword. I came
to send division. Don't suppose that I came to
make things easier for you. We're called upon to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, the confession
of the Lord Jesus Christ in this world, and to follow Him regardless
of the path it may lead us. And don't suppose that He came
to make things easier for you. He didn't. Now turn to Acts chapter
27. I think this is very interesting. Now Paul is speaking to them.
Verse 9. Now, when much time was spent
and when sailing was now dangerous because the fast was now already
passed, Paul admonished them. He gave them a word. The Lord
told him this. He was giving them the word of
God. He said to them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with
hurt and much damage, not only of the lading of the ship, but
also of our lives. Nevertheless, the centurion believe
the master and the owner of the ship more than those things which
were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not
commodious to enter in, it would not be convenient, it would not
be easy, and the more part, the majority, advised to depart thence. They had a vote, and this is
what the majority thought. If by any means they might attain
to Phineisi, and there to winter, which is in the haven of Crete,
and lies toward the southwest and northwest, and with the south
wind blew softly. It seemed like Providence was
saying, Go in this direction. Supposing that they obtained
their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete."
Do not suppose that favorable circumstances mean that that's
what God is in and that God is opening that door. Don't suppose
that. Only listen to what God's Word
says. Don't make judgment based upon
the soft wind blowing. It seems like this is the direction
to go. Only hear what God's Word says. Paul told them what to
do. And they believe something else
rather than what Paul had to say. That's a dangerous supposition. Turn with me to Acts chapter
7. Got two more we're going to consider.
Acts chapter 7. This is speaking of Moses, and
this is a blessing. Verse 24, And seeing one of them
suffer wrong, he defended him. and avenged him that was oppressed,
and smoked the Egyptian, for he supposed his brethren would
have understood how that God by his name would deliver them.
But they understood not. Sometimes our brethren do not
understand. Sometimes our brethren do not
understand. We suppose they will. but they
do not. Now if you're doing what the
Lord would have you do, be willing to be misunderstood. If you have his approval, it
doesn't matter whether you have mine, does it? Not at all. If you're doing what he would
have you do, be willing to be misunderstood Doesn't matter. Acts chapter
16. Now here is a, I guess I would
call this a surprising supposition. This is, this is just glorious.
Now you remember the story, how Paul and Silas were being thrown
into prison. We read beginning in verse 22,
and the multitude rose up together against them. And the magistrates
rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. And when they had
laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging
the jailer to keep them safely, who having received such a charge,
he thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast
in socks. And at midnight Paul and Silas
prayed. and saying praises unto God. I'd love to think about that.
They're in the prison with their feet in stalks. They have big
running sores where they've been beat half to death with a cat
of nine tails. And what are they doing? Praising
God. We'd wonder what we're doing
here. How'd this happen? I mean, they were sitting there praising
God. Praying and praising God. And the prisoners heard then,
verse 26, and suddenly there was a great earthquake. Now some of these prisoners had
been in there for years. Perhaps some of them were on
death row. I don't know what all they were in there for, but
can you imagine if you'd been in prison and all of a sudden
there was an earthquake and the doors were open, what would you
do? You know what you do. You'd run. You'd get out of there
quick. Here's my opportunity to get
out. Every single prisoner, I would
think, would do that. I would. I mean, what a miserable
condition to be in. I would have got out. There was a great earthquake,
verse 26, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and
immediately all the doors were opened. And everyone's bands
were loose. They were set free. They could
walk out scot-free. And the keeper of the prison,
awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open,
he drew out his sword and would have killed himself, supposing
that the prisoners had fled. Wouldn't you suppose that, too?
Of course you would. He just knew every one of them
would have escaped. He would have. But what a glorious
wrong supposition. Look what happened. He was getting
ready to kill himself, but verse 28, but Paul cried with a loud
voice saying, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. Now, no
doubt somehow God caused him to do that. But those fellows
all just stayed there even after they had the opportunity to flee. Now, this is a Wrong supposition,
but don't you reckon he was amazed and surprised and just overcome
with, how did this happen? I believe that this man was overcome
with the goodness of God. He couldn't understand how this
could take place. He was amazed at his wrong supposition. He could not figure out why these
fellows didn't flee. Then he called for a light. I
have to have some light on this. I have to have some understanding
of this. He called for a light. We need light here. How could
this be? And he came trembling and fell down before Paul and
Silas and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to
be saved? I'm not saved. What must I do
to be saved? I want to know. Tell me right
now what it is I need to do to be saved. I'm not saved. If I
die right now, I'll go to hell. What must I do to be saved? Some people would say, well,
you can't do anything. Salvation is not by works. You're
trying to come to God on legal grounds. No, he wasn't. No, he
wasn't. He was asking, what must I do
to be saved? Listen to Paul's answer. And they said, in a unified voice,
Paul and Silas both, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
thou shalt be saved. What must I do to be saved? Here's
what you must do. You and I will not be saved apart
from this. And this is the only way we'll be saved. It's by believing. Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, it doesn't simply mean believing
in the Lord Jesus Christ. It means you trust Him. You rely on Him. That's what
you're doing when you're having faith in Him. You're relying
on Him to save you. Now, if I need to get some money
in the bank or something bad is going to happen. And I've
got to find somebody. I'll pick out somebody in this
congregation. I believe you'll get the money in the bank. I'm
going to give it to you. If I believe if I give it to
you, you'll get the money there. OK, that's that's important.
So. I've got to do more than that, though, don't I? I don't
merely have to believe you'll get it there. I have to hand
it to you. And you take it. And you bring it to the bank.
Now, it doesn't matter whether I have great faith in you. It
doesn't matter whether I had many misgivings. What matters
is your faithfulness to get the money to the bank. Not my faith,
but your faithfulness. Now, in trusting the Lord Jesus
Christ, we're relying upon him to bring us into glory. He said,
I know whom I have believed. Paul said this, I know whom I
have believed and I am persuaded. I'm convinced. that he is able
to keep that which I've committed to him against that day. Now,
I've committed to him the salvation of my soul. I'm not looking to
what I've done or what I intend to do. I'm not looking to anything
about me. I really am not. I am persuaded
that he is able, with no help from me, to save me. Are you
persuaded of that? Believe on the Lord. But the
fact that he's the Lord means he has the ability to do it.
Jesus, that's what I call his name, Jesus, for he shall save
his people from their sins. He's the Savior, therefore willing
to do it. He's able. He's willing. He's
the Christ. He's exactly what you and I need. He's God's prophet. He's God's
priest to represent me before God. He's God's king to rule
and reign over me. He's exactly what I need. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Now, this fellow made a wrong
supposition, didn't he? You know, the Lord God is much
more good than any of us have any idea of. And he delights
in saving sinners. This fellow just supposed it
was all over for me, but aren't you thankful that his supposition
was wrong? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
and thou shalt be saved. Thank God our wrong suppositions
do not prevent God from saving those who believe." They went a day's journey supposing
him to be in their company. You think, what were Joseph and
Mary thinking? I mean, if you had a 12-year-old
child, would you go a whole day and just take for granted that
the kid was there? Well, they did. You see the Lord's
providence and purpose in this. But I'll tell you what this makes
me do. It makes me not want to presume. Pass me not, O gentle
Savior. Hear my humble cry. while on
others thou art calling, do not pass me by." Don't presume. Let's pray.