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The Fallacy of Presumption A Word from Bob Jones and Paul Keith Davis July 31, 2002 The Holy Spirit is releasing a warning highlighting "presumption" as one of our most significant enemies in this strategic moment in time. Very often, we presume to understand the things the Holy Spirit is orchestrating and the purposes He desires to accomplish. Furthermore, we also presumptuously think we understand how He is going to do the things foretold for this hour. Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom. (Prov 13:10) Our best counsel is to simply acknowledge that we do not understand nearly so much as we think and openly and adamantly ask from the Lord greater understanding and comprehension to overcome our presumption. It is easy for us to lose our way when we become carelessly presumptuous. Impatience is another of our enemies attempting to get a foothold in our mindset and way of thinking. If we allow ourselves to get into impatience it would cause our decisions to be made presumptuously. The enemy is attempting to fuel restlessness. We could abort our spiritual provision if we presumptuously appraise with our natural thoughts and ways how and when it is going to be released. It is essential that we receive our enlightenment and daily “manna” from the Lord. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. (1 Cor 2:12-14) There are presently ministries who are functioning through presumption that are not following the meticulous leading of the Holy Spirit and run the risk of not being in the place of Gods promise and provision. Without His tangible favor and grace resting upon us, a state of spiritual and natural bankruptcy looms. Wise counsel for this present hour is to not presumptuously move on anything unless we have received a clear directive from the Lord. TRAVELING IN A HAND-CAR Bob was given a vision illustrating this truth. In it he saw himself and several others on a railroad track moving slowly but surely in a “hand-car.” This was the old railroad car with a small platform or open car on wheels, powered by a hand pump and used on a railway to transport railroad workers and equipment over short distances. As the men on the hand-car were moving along steadily, they noticed a large locomotive approaching from behind and seemingly going to run them over. The first inclination was to abandon the hand-car. However, that was not an alternative because they were over a river on a high bridge and to jump would have been certain doom. The locomotive appeared to be moving at a high rate of speed, seemingly headed to the same destination as the men on the hand-car. Surprisingly, just as the locomotive seemed that it was going to overrun the hand-car, it became clearly apparent that the train was actually on another track that ran parallel to the one we were on. THE TRACKS OF THE WORD AND SPIRIT Instead of running them over, the locomotive actually derailed as it was approaching the river because the “tracks” were not appropriately laid. The proper tracks are the Word and Spirit working concurrently to provide safe passage through turbulent times. Only the Holy Spirit is the sturdy Bridge over troubled waters. The Lord is the only source of genuine authority capable of carrying us across. Natural human authority wielded by the hand of man is not capable of providing the support and spiritual dominion necessary to forge the river. Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties…But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. (Jude 1:8&10) The locomotive actually was a false movement that seemingly would bring the people to their destination much more quickly and easily. It was the ideals of man attempting to achieve the divine purposes established for our generation. The leadership had presumptuously engineered this movement thinking they understood the Lord's ways and plans. This administration is described in the Book of Jude. Unfortunately, they abruptly discovered the natural thoughts of man are inadequate to carry them over the troubled waters. Only the Holy Spirit is the Bridge to carry us over turbulent times. That is when the genuine move of the Spirit is distinguished from the false. The men on the hand-car were required to work vigorously to move the car along the tracks at a slow but steady pace; but they were moving toward the proper destination and on the proper track. To abandon the provision given to us for this hour is not an alternative. The time seemed difficult, cumbersome and trying but it was on the track of the Word and Spirit and the only safe passage over the troubled waters. It is paramount in these times to make certain we are on the right track laid by God’s Word and His Holy Spirit, contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to our Apostolic fathers. (Jude 3) ESSENTIAL PREPARATION The symbolic analogy portrayed by the trains, identify the choices being made by many Christians. The path that seems easier and much quicker, in this scenario, was the one created through the ideals of man. The leadership that was on the hand-car was seemingly going through difficult and trying times moving slowly and steadily, nonetheless on the right track. Moses is recognized as one of the greatest leaders who ever lived. Yet, who could have contemplated in their natural mind the path he was taken in his preparation for leadership. Nonetheless, the 40 years he spent in the desert qualified him for his commission. ATTRIBUTES OF OUR TRAINING The train can also represent "training" that is being employed to equip many within the body of Christ. However, we must be extremely careful that we are on the right track. Is the track that we are on glorifying God or man? Is it establishing the Holy Spirit as head over the body or is it placing traditions and precepts of man in a position that would usurp the leadership of the Holy Spirit? The God ordained track should be producing the fruit of unity and spiritual maturity forming Christ in the people and equipping them to do the work of the ministry. There is presently a false spirit that would attempt to preempt the genuine release of the Holy Spirit and entice many to join this "train" and miss their opportunity to be a part of the genuine move of the Spirit running on the tracks of the Word and Spirit. There is the tendency for leadership to employ past patterns and formulas that perhaps were utilized by the Lord during those expressions of the Spirit. However, that could be a deception leading to derailment. There is certain truth that will be brought forward from the past as a foundation for the things the Lord is going to do in this hour. Nevertheless, we have not passed this way before. Like Israel of old, we must carefully follow the leading of the cloud. We cannot afford to be in a place that is not designated by the Lord as the place of His blessing and protection. It could result in "train wreck." THE LORD’S EQUIPPING There is a clear prophetic word that is coming from the Voice of the Holy Spirit preparing God's leadership for the times ahead. We must resist the tendency of our natural mind to presumptuously judge the manner in which the Lord is going to accomplish His purpose. Simply because a certain movement has a large number of followers does not necessarily mean it is orchestrated by the Lord. It is essential that we carefully judge the fruit of something before we join ourselves to it. Is it producing the fruit of humility, character, gentleness and Godliness? These are the marks of the "Train" the Lord is sponsoring. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:15-18) This symbolic analogy is given to help identify certain traits and characteristics that we are to look for in making our best decisions. It is illustrating that we must overcome the thinking of our natural mind and begin to know ministries and people by the Spirit. (2 Cor. 5:16) Our identification must come by the Spirit. It will even be the tendency of some to think they have missed the Lord when they are on the right track because it will appear that the train on the other track will pass them by or overrun them. However, crossing the river will be the litmus test. Only the Lord can see us through the difficult and turbulent times. Presently, we are on the bridge crossing the river. There will be many ministries that have had the appearance of significant blessings of the Lord that will now become apparent during this season. If the ministry has been built upon the solid rock and foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, then it will be a time of promotion and increase. If the organization or movement has been built upon humanistic administration and soulish agendas, then it too will become apparent. This will especially be true over the next few months leading up to and including the Day of Atonement. REMAINING FAITHFUL Those on the “hand-rail” car were having to press in, making it tiring and arduous, but it was instilling humility and genuine character in the hearts of those who remained faithful to the Word. Like the Zadok priesthood who remained faithful during times of hardship, God’s emerging leaders will stay “on track” even if it appears something else will take the people to the same destination in an easier and quicker fashion. On the hand-car were building materials that were to be utilized in building a house for the Lord once the river is crossed. The building materials were representing prophetic words that have already been given that provide the framework for the Lord's purpose. Over the last several years strategic keys have been released that unlock the provisions of Heaven for the next wave of the Spirit. We must be careful not to overlook these words and their importance in the coming season. These prophetic words have been individual promises made to some as well as corporate messages that we have almost been willing to forfeit because it has seemingly been so long in their fulfillment. However, our admonition is to continue laying them before the Lord for the hour of their fulfillment is imminently at hand. The things the Lord is getting ready to do, He has already prophetically spoken giving the blueprint for His victory. This process has been for the purpose of grooming and preparing a body of people through whom He can trust with His anointing and authority. The building materials, or prophetic revelations, we carry forward with us on the hand car is what will be utilized in building the house. It was already existing material.

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