WHY SMART PEOPLE DO DUMB THINGS
Dr. Paul Kingsbury

All of us have done dumb things. But one of the dumbest things that anybody could have done is found in Genesis three. An intelligent man and an intelligent woman made a very dumb decision. This decision was so damaging that six thousand years later we still feel the repercussions of their dumb decisions.

Adam and Eve were no dummies. Adam’s first assignment when God made him was to name all the animals in the world. It takes a lot of intelligence to do that. When God made man in His own image, He didn’t make man dumb. He gave man a 3-pound brain that can do things that super computers cannot do!

What takes place in Genesis three is so intricate to our lives now. I consider this chapter to be one of the foundational chapters of the Bible. It is a key to understanding life, success, eternity, God, each other, and everything in between!

My life and ministry is consumed with people work. And I tell you, as I deal with their problems, I see daily that people do dumb things! Now, we are not speaking of uneducated, simple people here! It’s not even the backslidden Christian of whom we are speaking! If Adam and Eve were members of our local church, they would be the perfect couple! These were intelligent people!

First Timothy 2:14 helps us also better understand what took place on that fateful day in the lives of Adam and Eve. Speaking of that very occasion in the garden, God tells us that, “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

If we paddle up the streams of sin to the headwaters, we are going to find two sources for why smart people do dumb things. Why the smartest man and woman in the world, living in the best of environments, still sinned. This was extremely dumb! It was for two different reasons. We will first look at Eve’s story and then we will look at Adam’s.

The Bible says that Eve was deceived. It does not mean that Eve was of any less intelligence. Sin by its very nature deceives us.

How was Eve deceived? Well, at that time, there was only one deceiver available—Lucifer, otherwise known as, the devil. In Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, we find out that Lucifer had superior intelligence, beauty, and incredible skill in music. He was in charge of 1/3 of heaven’s angels! But through his pride, he attempted to be equal with God. This plunged him into the world as Satan. In John 8:44, Jesus said that he is the father of lies, the great deceiver. And at the core of sin in most people’s lives is a deception!

Sin by its very nature is deceptive. Paul put it this way in Romans 7:11, “For sin… deceived me, and by it slew me.” Sin is packaged to look so good! It never shows the real picture of sin. Proverbs 20:1 tells us that, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Sin is deceptive! The world ought to package the sin like it really is! They don’t show the Marlboro man just before death, eaten with cancer. Alcohol never tells of the broken lives, torn families, and regretful consequences. Why? Because sin is deceiving.

People can deceive you. “Deceive” is used 67 times in the Bible. Almost every time it is used it is warning the reader against being deceived by people.

Trace sin back to its roots, and we see that sometimes we sin because we are simply deceived! We actually think we are doing something that’s good, beneficial and helpful! And yet, we sin. Even though Eve was deceived, she still suffered the consequences. Even though you may have been deceived into sin, you will still suffer your consequences.

You see, the greatest deceiver is not Satan, it’s self. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” And that’s what makes this so difficult. We can often think that we are the ones that are okay. But in reality, we are being deceived. But that’s all part of being deceived—you don’t even know it!

Those on the outside, generally being authority, can clearly see the destruction of your foolish choices. But we decide, “Well, I just think it’s the right thing to do.” If it is contrary to God’s Word, then it’s not the right thing to do. You may say, “But I have such a good feeling about this!” Hang your feelings! If you live by your feelings, you will be like a yoyo. Feelings come and go, but God’s Word is eternal. He knows what is best for you.

When Eve took of that fruit, she thought she was doing something good for her husband, something good for her marriage, something good for the family! Why? Because sister Eve was deceived.

But a far more hideous and heinous crime occurred that day. Oh, yes it was more hideous and heinous than Eve’s. In fact, Adam’s sin was so great that God recorded in Romans 5:12 that, “…by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.” What did Adam do? Adam went into this with his eyes wide open. Adam did not listen to the serpent as he suavely spoke to Eve and think, “Oh, this is a good idea!” He thought, “This is destructive! We can’t do this!”

You see, Adam’s sin was more hideous and heinous than Eve’s because here is what he did: He forsook his position under God’s authority, thus rendering himself ineffective as a leader in a position of authority in his own home to be the provider and protector of his wife. And by coming out from under his authority, Adam became his own authority, thus he lost his authority, and because of that, God said that his sin was the greater sin.

You see, if I don’t stay under God’s authority in my life, and I try to lead my wife and my family, my church, my responsibilities, whatever positions, whatever hats I wear among human relationships, once I vacate my proper position under authority, I marginalize my effectiveness in my positions of authority. That’s why their home imploded.

Sin can be traced back to the headwaters of rebellion against authority. You see, Adam’s sin was not the sin of deception; his sin was the sin of deliberation! He deliberately chose to sin, knowing full well what he was doing. Now, for you and me, six thousand years later, I have good news and bad news. The bad news is this: If you don’t deal with your sin biblically, you are going to destroy your life. I don’t care how ideal your marriage may be, you could have the nicest home like Adam and Eve did, you could have the greatest relationship with God, but if you get deceived by the devil, you will be destroyed. It doesn’t matter who you are; you can’t get into a position with God that you can’t be destroyed. And if you deliberately step out from under God’s ordained authority in your life, it will influence and impact your ability to lead others, and you will be responsible for destroying lives. It’s bad news, but it’s the truth.

The good news is this: Through confession of sin, forsaking of our sin, and trusting Jesus Christ, that sin can be broken. Glory to God! It is as if God puts up a dam at the headwaters and says, “You don’t have to be deceived. My blood can cleanse you from your sin and set you free. I can give you a sound mind, and you can make good decisions and good choices; you do not have to be deceived, glory to God!

And you can come back under His authority. God gave us authority for our protection. Put yourself back under that protection. You will find, smart friend, that it will keep you from making very dumb things!

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GREAT FAITH
Pastor Kingsbury

 1. Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

 2. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

 3. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

 4. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this:

 5. For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

 6. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

 7. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

 8. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

 9. When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

 10. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Something happens in Luke 7:1-10 that only happened one other time that we know of during the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ—somebody amazed Jesus. We meet him in this story—a Roman centurion. The Son of God admires a man that had unusually great faith!

Gaining greater faith ought to be important to every one of us that are saved. There are at least two reasons why we need to understand the value of greater faith in God. The first reason is because of its importance to God. God created us so that we would please Him. Revelation 4:11 says, “…for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” We were created to please God! Now, compare that to Hebrews 11:6 which says, “But without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please [God]…” No matter how good we live, if we do not live by faith, it is impossible to please God.

There is a second reason that this matter of greater faith is so valuable. You see, this centurion was an unusually good man. He was a Roman soldier and a citizen of Italy. He was serving Rome in Israel and at the synagogue in the city of Capernaum. But that is not what impressed Jesus. Notice verse 2—“And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him…”. God allowed that little phrase in here for a specific reason. One may think that there is nothing unique about this centurion having a servant. But God pointed out that this servant was dear to the centurion. It was of extreme importance that this centurion find out how he could touch the heart of Jesus and influence the Lord to come to his house to heal his ill servant.

Do you have people in your life that you care about? I don’t just mean you. We all care for ourselves. But this centurion actually cared for someone else. If you have people that you care about that are hurting, you need to find out how to influence Jesus so that He may step in and heal that person’s life. This illness may be physical, but it is of grave importance when we are burdened for someone that is ill spiritually.

Who may that be for you? Is there someone that you have done all you can to help them, but you can do no more? That’s exactly where this centurion was! I hope you have somebody around you that you care about in that way! You say, “How can I influence the heart of the Lord Jesus to come to my house, to my life, to that person, and touch them and heal their illness?” My friend, there is only one way: amazing faith. My proposition to you is this: If we will develop to be men and women of greater faith, we will be able to help those within our sphere of influence that need the healing touch of the Lord Jesus.

It was this centurion’s great faith that was the catalyst for the servant’s healing. But what was it that made it such amazing faith? Jesus marveled at this man. His response was, “…I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Wow! A Roman’s faith was greater than that of a Jewish nation, Jesus’ very own people!

Jesus did not marvel because of the centurion’s care for his servant. Considering his compassion, one would think that would really touch the heart of the Lord Jesus. But that is not really what amazed Him. It is not enough to help people by just caring for them. You need Jesus; you need His help, His touch.

This man’s humility, though admirable, was not what touched the heart of Jesus. The centurion’s humility is exemplified in his approach to Jesus. He first asked the religious leaders of the synagogue to go on his behalf. Their admiration for the centurion is evidenced by their beseeching words to Jesus. “And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue” (Lk. 7:4-5).

I believe the centurion realized his unworthiness to personally go to Jesus. He first sought the help of his friends at the synagogue because they would be more familiar with Jesus. They also were of the same race (Jews) and faith. Shortly after the religious leaders left on their mission to reach Jesus, I believe the centurion realized, “You know, Jesus does not need to come to my house. I am not worthy of his presence. He can simply speak the word and my servant will be healed.” So, he sent some of his friends to reach Jesus with the following plea: “Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Lk. 7:6-7).

What amazed Jesus was that the centurion simply needed Jesus’ spoken word to receive his miracle. He realized that he did not need to see Jesus for his servant to be healed. He did not need to hear his voice or have him touch his servant. None of his senses need to be engaged in this because faith does not operate on physical senses. Great faith understands that there is immeasurable power in the word of Jesus Christ!

Let me ask you, is Jesus’ word enough for you? We are living in a day where Christianity runs on high-octane emotion. But my friend, that does not impress Jesus! When we exercise biblical faith, His word will be sufficient.

How did this centurion who lived in a faithless city of Capernium develop such great faith? We discover his secret in verse 8—“For I also am a man set under authority…”. The key to the centurion’s great faith was a proper understanding of being set under authority. We will never understand or apply biblical faith until we understand and apply being set under authority. We will never touch the heart of Jesus to heal those we care about that are in such desperate and deplorable conditions until we get set under authority.

What does it mean to be “set under authority”? It means, to assume your position. Now, employment wise, this man was a centurion. That means that he had under his leadership and jurisdiction 100 men. He could give a command to those under his leadership. He also was one of nine other centurions under a captain. He had nine other men that were his equals. He was not over them, nor was he under them; but he was alongside of them.

He also had authority over him—a captain. A captain was over ten centurions. But the captain was not the end of the chain. The captain had a commander. And the commander was over all of a legion (6,000 men). But he wasn’t the end of the chain of command either. Above a commander was Caesar. So when a centurion gave a command to those that were under him, it was representative governing. He was representing his captain, who was representing his commander, who was representing Caesar. And though Caesar did not acknowledge it, he was representing God. Now, when this centurion said, “I am set under authority,” he was saying this: “I have figured out where I fit.”

In our relationships with people, we need to figure out where we fit in line of authority, get to where we fit, and do what we’re supposed to do where we fit. Then and only then are we set under authority and we grasp the awesomeness of the power of someone’s word. The centurion’s view of authority acknowledged that the commander and the captain did not have to be present to give a command; they had the authority and responsibility and the charge of those that were under them.

Now, in every relationship you and I have, God has a place for us to fit. The only way we are going to grasp this truth of having greater faith is when we find our place and get set under authority. In your workplace, the Bible says, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ” (Eph. 6:5). In the home, “Children, obey your parents…” (Eph. 6:1). And parents, “…bring [your children] up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4b). Lead and guide your children! If you have a home where little buster runs the place, you are going to have chaos in that home and you’ll never experience the great faith that God wants you to have! Why? Because you are not in the right place and in the right position. It irritates me to see homes where the parents are acquiescing to the children! We are doing a disservice to our children when we do not lead them.

You have a responsibility to lead those that are under you. But yet, you cannot turn to those that are on the same level as you and assume authority over them like those that are under you! You see, every time we assume a position that God did not intend for us to have, we lose our ability to demonstrate great faith in God.

This centurion gives to us the key to greater faith. In your home, are you in a right relationship with your family? Wives, are you in a right relationship with your husbands? Husbands, are you in a right relationship with your wife? Children, are you in a right relationship with your parents? If that gets twisted up, you are going to destroy your family’s ability to exercise great faith.

In your place of employment, are you in a right position? This was a man that was set under authority. He had assumed his position. In our relationship with our government—local, state, federal—are you in a right relationship with them? Or, are you cheating on your income tax? You say, “Well, nobody knows about it.” God does. And if you are not rightly set under authority, you are assuming a position of authority that God did not intend for you to have. You are limiting your influence for Jesus to come and help with your situation. You can cry, pray, and beg. But until you assume your position under leadership, you will never influence the Lord Jesus to come help you.

This also applies to the church. If you try to assume a position of leadership that God has not given to you, you are hurting your walk of faith and limiting your potential for Jesus to come and help you.
You see, when you are in your right position, your trust is not so much in the people that are directly above you; your trust ultimately is in God. You are saying that you trust that God will command Caesar, Caesar will command the commander, the commander will command the captain, the captain will command the centurion, the centurion will command his 100 troops.

Do you want to have greater faith? I hope you do because without it, it is impossible to please the Lord. Do you need greater faith? Well, if you have somebody that you care about that needs the touch of Jesus, then you need greater faith.

How do I get greater faith? Evaluate all of your relationships and ask yourself this question: Have I assumed my position? If you can say like the centurion, “I am set under authority,” you will amaze Jesus and you will have extraordinary power with Him in coming to meet your need.

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SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST
Pastor Kingsbury

To be sanctified in Christ is to be sacred and wholly consecrated unto God. In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, it was of the utmost urgency to him that this church understand their sanctification. In the opening greeting, he mentions their sanctification: “…to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (same word as sanctified)…” (I Cor. 1:2). As a child of God, we too are sanctified and called to be saints.

To the Corinthians reading this letter from Paul, sanctification had a strong religious meaning to them. The Old Testament book of Leviticus was solely dedicated to the sanctification process of worship God set up for the children of Israel. Their tabernacle was a visual place where they could meet with the Lord.

During Old Testament days, they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling within them. The tabernacle was their place of worship. The tabernacle was sanctified. It was not to be like any of the other buildings among the people. It was special, sacred and holy. It was consecrated unto God.

Not only was the tabernacle consecrated unto God, but anything that was in the tabernacle or came into the tabernacle was sanctified. From the basins to the candlesticks, animal sacrifices to the priest, everything that entered the tabernacle was chosen, cleansed, and consecrated for the tabernacle’s use.

These people understood that to be sanctified was to be sacred and set apart unto God. Likewise, those of us who know the Lord as our personal Savior are just like that tabernacle. We are sanctified, set apart unto God. First Corinthians 3:16 tells us, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Cor. 6:19)

Sanctification is a privilege. Friend, God has chosen you! God has selected you! God has blessed you and me with the privilege of being in Christ. Out of all the people in the world, He has chosen us to serve Him!

Sanctification is more than just God choosing you. Sanctification is a personal responsibility. The sanctified Christian life is our being useful to God. The tragedy of the un-sanctified Christian life is this: taking that which is sanctified unto God and using it for an unholy purpose.

If there was ever a church that needed this subject it was the church at Corinth.

You see, sanctification teaches us our position in Christ. This is not because of our own merit or our own goodness. It is a position we receive simply because we are in Christ. I have a position before God of sacred, consecrated holiness before Him. Why? Because one day I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. What a privilege this position is! In fact, the second time this word “sanctification” is used in the Bible, it is in Exodus 13:1-2. The Bible says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn…”. The firstborn was holy, sacred, sanctified, set apart unto God. If you were the firstborn in the family, you enjoyed privileges that nobody else in the family enjoyed.

This principle is carried forth in the New Testament where Jesus is called the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). In Colossians 1:15, our Savior is called the firstborn of every creature. In Colossians 1:18, He is called the firstborn among the dead. This is a privileged position, reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ.

But I have news for you, my friend. Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven…”. In Christ, I positionally am as equal as the firstborn Son of God. God looks at me as the privileged person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees Christ when He sees me. Glory to God, that is the position of sanctification! What a privilege it is!

But it did not come without a price. Sanctification is priceless. Hebrews 10:10 tells us concerning the price of our sanctification—“…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” My friend, you can’t get accepted with God except through the blood of Jesus Christ. Through His death, His burial, and His resurrection, His shed blood, you and I can stand before God as His child sanctified in His sight. Praise God for the price that was paid.

However, in spite of all this, the people at Corinth were living far below their potential for Christ. They were living way outside of what God had really created them to be. I mean, God wanted them to be rocket scientists and they were out picking up garbage. But we as 21st century Christians are guilty of the same sin! If you are saved, you are a child of the King! We walk with the King. We know the King. We serve the King. It is a privilege and honor to have that kind of relationship with God Almighty and with His Son Jesus Christ. Why then ought we not want to sanctify ourselves that we might be vessels then that are fit for the Master’s use?

We are sanctified “in Christ.” But there is another side to the coin, so to speak. There is another issue you must face. It is not your position, it is now your progression. God has already positionally made us sacred. Now He is calling us to a sacred life.

Sanctification is a partnership. God is committed to doing His part. We must be committed to doing our part. You think about this. There is an unmistakable connection between how one lives their personal life and their effectiveness or lack of effectiveness in serving Jesus Christ. My friend, if you are a dirty vessel, you are not going to be useful for God. The reason the world is going to hell is because of the carnality of Corinthian-like Christians who are living way below their calling. We are called to be holy. Called to be saints. Called to be sanctified.

Now, I’m glad to tell you that you are not going to have to do it on your own. In fact, you cannot do it on your own. That is why God has given you a pastor. That is why God has given you a church. That is why God has given you the indwelling Spirit of God. And that’s why God has given us this book, the Bible.

Sin dirties the vessel and makes it unfit for the Master’s use. And as a result of that, we miss out on the blessing of serving Him and the world misses out on the blessing of serving Him. God is grieved and we are not happy. And it is all because we are not cooperating with God in this matter of sanctification!

You may think it is just a little sin. But it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. I’m simply saying that there needs to be in our lives as a sanctified Christian, there needs to be a zero tolerance for sin. Why? Because of who I am in Christ. I am a privileged person. I am sanctified in Him.

The apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth in I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” What was he talking about? He is talking about this other side of sanctification. Sure, God has called us. God has chosen us. God created us to be a chosen vessel unto Him. But Paul recognized that it was up to him. He had to cooperate with God in this matter of personal sanctification.

When we got saved, all the equipping we needed we received right then. You see, there is a world of difference between being spiritually gifted and being spiritual. Far too many Christians are gifted, but yet they have allowed their vessels to become dirty.

Just the time you think a life is worthless, friend, think again! God can consecrate a life, and if we cooperate with His cleansing in our life, and the sky is the limit as to how He can use us for His glory.

I want you lastly to see that sanctification is a promise. First Corinthians 1:8 says, “Who (Jesus) shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we are in Christ, we have a promise from God that one day we won’t have to struggle with our ugly flesh any more. No more temptations, no more financial pressures, praise God! Someday I will be in heaven sanctified positionally and personally. We will be able to serve our Savior forever and ever. Amen!

Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Do you know anybody you need to claim that verse for? Maybe it is you. Friend, no matter where you are today, the sanctified life is attainable for you. It depends simply on your position of remaining “in Christ.”

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SANCTIFIED IN CHRIST
Pastor Kingsbury

To be sanctified in Christ is to be sacred and wholly consecrated unto God. In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, it was of the utmost urgency to him that this church understand their sanctification. In the opening greeting, he mentions their sanctification: “…to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints (same word as sanctified)…” (I Cor. 1:2). As a child of God, we too are sanctified and called to be saints.

To the Corinthians reading this letter from Paul, sanctification had a strong religious meaning to them. The Old Testament book of Leviticus was solely dedicated to the sanctification process of worship God set up for the children of Israel. Their tabernacle was a visual place where they could meet with the Lord.

During Old Testament days, they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling within them. The tabernacle was their place of worship. The tabernacle was sanctified. It was not to be like any of the other buildings among the people. It was special, sacred and holy. It was consecrated unto God.

Not only was the tabernacle consecrated unto God, but anything that was in the tabernacle or came into the tabernacle was sanctified. From the basins to the candlesticks, animal sacrifices to the priest, everything that entered the tabernacle was chosen, cleansed, and consecrated for the tabernacle’s use.

These people understood that to be sanctified was to be sacred and set apart unto God. Likewise, those of us who know the Lord as our personal Savior are just like that tabernacle. We are sanctified, set apart unto God. First Corinthians 3:16 tells us, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (I Cor. 6:19)

Sanctification is a privilege. Friend, God has chosen you! God has selected you! God has blessed you and me with the privilege of being in Christ. Out of all the people in the world, He has chosen us to serve Him!

Sanctification is more than just God choosing you. Sanctification is a personal responsibility. The sanctified Christian life is our being useful to God. The tragedy of the un-sanctified Christian life is this: taking that which is sanctified unto God and using it for an unholy purpose.

If there was ever a church that needed this subject it was the church at Corinth.

You see, sanctification teaches us our position in Christ. This is not because of our own merit or our own goodness. It is a position we receive simply because we are in Christ. I have a position before God of sacred, consecrated holiness before Him. Why? Because one day I received Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. What a privilege this position is! In fact, the second time this word “sanctification” is used in the Bible, it is in Exodus 13:1-2. The Bible says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn…”. The firstborn was holy, sacred, sanctified, set apart unto God. If you were the firstborn in the family, you enjoyed privileges that nobody else in the family enjoyed.

This principle is carried forth in the New Testament where Jesus is called the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). In Colossians 1:15, our Savior is called the firstborn of every creature. In Colossians 1:18, He is called the firstborn among the dead. This is a privileged position, reserved for the Lord Jesus Christ.

But I have news for you, my friend. Hebrews 12:22-23 says, “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, and the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven…”. In Christ, I positionally am as equal as the firstborn Son of God. God looks at me as the privileged person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He sees Christ when He sees me. Glory to God, that is the position of sanctification! What a privilege it is!

But it did not come without a price. Sanctification is priceless. Hebrews 10:10 tells us concerning the price of our sanctification—“…we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” My friend, you can’t get accepted with God except through the blood of Jesus Christ. Through His death, His burial, and His resurrection, His shed blood, you and I can stand before God as His child sanctified in His sight. Praise God for the price that was paid.

However, in spite of all this, the people at Corinth were living far below their potential for Christ. They were living way outside of what God had really created them to be. I mean, God wanted them to be rocket scientists and they were out picking up garbage. But we as 21st century Christians are guilty of the same sin! If you are saved, you are a child of the King! We walk with the King. We know the King. We serve the King. It is a privilege and honor to have that kind of relationship with God Almighty and with His Son Jesus Christ. Why then ought we not want to sanctify ourselves that we might be vessels then that are fit for the Master’s use?

We are sanctified “in Christ.” But there is another side to the coin, so to speak. There is another issue you must face. It is not your position, it is now your progression. God has already positionally made us sacred. Now He is calling us to a sacred life.

Sanctification is a partnership. God is committed to doing His part. We must be committed to doing our part. You think about this. There is an unmistakable connection between how one lives their personal life and their effectiveness or lack of effectiveness in serving Jesus Christ. My friend, if you are a dirty vessel, you are not going to be useful for God. The reason the world is going to hell is because of the carnality of Corinthian-like Christians who are living way below their calling. We are called to be holy. Called to be saints. Called to be sanctified.

Now, I’m glad to tell you that you are not going to have to do it on your own. In fact, you cannot do it on your own. That is why God has given you a pastor. That is why God has given you a church. That is why God has given you the indwelling Spirit of God. And that’s why God has given us this book, the Bible.

Sin dirties the vessel and makes it unfit for the Master’s use. And as a result of that, we miss out on the blessing of serving Him and the world misses out on the blessing of serving Him. God is grieved and we are not happy. And it is all because we are not cooperating with God in this matter of sanctification!

You may think it is just a little sin. But it is the little foxes that spoil the vine. I’m simply saying that there needs to be in our lives as a sanctified Christian, there needs to be a zero tolerance for sin. Why? Because of who I am in Christ. I am a privileged person. I am sanctified in Him.

The apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth in I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” What was he talking about? He is talking about this other side of sanctification. Sure, God has called us. God has chosen us. God created us to be a chosen vessel unto Him. But Paul recognized that it was up to him. He had to cooperate with God in this matter of personal sanctification.

When we got saved, all the equipping we needed we received right then. You see, there is a world of difference between being spiritually gifted and being spiritual. Far too many Christians are gifted, but yet they have allowed their vessels to become dirty.

Just the time you think a life is worthless, friend, think again! God can consecrate a life, and if we cooperate with His cleansing in our life, and the sky is the limit as to how He can use us for His glory.

I want you lastly to see that sanctification is a promise. First Corinthians 1:8 says, “Who (Jesus) shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we are in Christ, we have a promise from God that one day we won’t have to struggle with our ugly flesh any more. No more temptations, no more financial pressures, praise God! Someday I will be in heaven sanctified positionally and personally. We will be able to serve our Savior forever and ever. Amen!

Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Do you know anybody you need to claim that verse for? Maybe it is you. Friend, no matter where you are today, the sanctified life is attainable for you. It depends simply on your position of remaining “in Christ.”

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SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU

It is our responsibility to be the addictions treatment centers for our community. We ought not forsake this opportunity. In our church, you may walk in and be greeted by a former addict and you would never know it. You might be sitting next to one in your church pew. They are singing in the choir, serving in the different ministries… our students become active serving church members!

However, these miracles don’t come without “unique” happening. These become memories that you will later love. For instance, I had a husband and wife visit our church. They came up to me after the service to have me sign their books. When this distinguished couple approached me, the husband said, “Excuse me, Father, but could we have a word with you?”

I thought to myself, “I’ve got twelve kids and you don’t look familiar!” I didn’t say it, but I knew they were coming from a Catholic background. I didn’t bring out my latest Ian Paisley’s preaching sermon, nor did I make fun of them. I didn’t even rebuke them for that. I simply replied, “Welcome to North Love. We’re so glad you are here! How can I help you?”

They looked at me and said, “You know, this is the first time we’ve ever been in a Baaaaptist church! We thought Baptists rolled down the aisles! But nobody rolled down the aisles! We were taught you were a bunch of Holy Rollers! He inquisitively proceeded, “But, we’ve heard something we’ve never heard in the Catholic church all our lives!”

My friend, Jeremy. God has now blessed him with a beautiful Christian wife and children. When Jeremy first came here it took a while for the truth of RU to stick. First, I loaned Jeremy my car and he stole it. Can you believe that? He stole a preacher’s car! Not once, but twice! My wife said the first time it wasn’t my fault. But the second time? I have no excuse! The second time Jeremy ran away with it for a week. The car disappeared, he disappeared. He was living in it. Several days later I got a call from the police department from central Wisconsin. They found a vehicle registered in my name and had incarcerated the young man that was in it. They told me I could come get my car. But the police officer warned me that the car had been lived in and was not in good condition, if you know what I mean.

So, I called one of our deacons—Jeff Walker. Now, Jeff is a very distinguished, fastidious airline pilot. He is a very neat and clean kind of a guy. I asked him if he would like to go on a ride with me. So, he met me at the church and we headed to central Wisconsin. He eventually asked me what we were doing. “Oh, you’re going to help me pick up a car!” I responded. So, we got to the car, and it was worse than I had even imagined. It was really bad. The odor was unbearable. Jeff’s first question was, “Who’s driving that home?” I laughed.

The entire 90-minute mid-winter drive home all four windows were unrolled as Jeff’s head would reach out the driver’s window every few minutes gasping for fresh air.

But listen, when I walk through the doors on Friday night and I am greeted by a smiling Jeremy, or on Sunday mornings as I watch him with his new little baby and then see his attentiveness during the service and the tears rolling down his cheeks as I preach…it makes all those memories bring a smile to my face. It is worth it to invest in people! We have over 200 adults reached with similar stories. Not funny at the time, but all worth the hassle as I look back on it now.

Pastor Kingsbury

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See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.  For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Hebrews 12:25)

Our topic for the past two weeks has been on the importance of “listening.” As mentioned previously, our Father in heaven speaks to us in four distinct ways.  So far, we have discussed two of those ways: through the blood of Christ and through His Word.  Today, we will discuss the third way in which God speaks to us.

Remember, bad things happen when we do not pay attention. This concept of listening is not just hearing; the idea is listening with the full intention of heeding what is said.

The third way in which God speaks to us is through His Spirit. Hebrews 3:7-8 says, “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.” Often, we get so busy in our lives, that we do not take time to listen to God.  We do not allow Him to speak to our hearts.  In all of the action and activity of life, we must carve out, on a regular basis, quiet time where we can listen to God.  Before we launch out to face the adversity and pressure of the day, we need to allow Him to speak to us.  Every child of God has the internal voice of the Spirit of God speaking.  That voice is the voice of the Author of the Scripture.  He will take the Word and apply it to our lives, if we will heed His voice.

The Holy Spirit makes application of what we read and hear, and helps us interpret the Scriptures correctly.  It is miraculous that God takes the same Bible and applies it to the individual lives of millions of believers all around the world.

All of us, regardless of how long we have been saved and what our spiritual maturity level is, have different struggles and issues and problems that we are facing.  God also knows what problems we will face in the future.

Many times, people have said to me, “Pastor Kingsbury, something I heard from God last Sunday really helped me this week.”  That was the Spirit applying the Word to someone’s heart in advance to prepare them for adversity.  If you are so busy, with so much activity going on, that you cannot take time to prepare your heart for the Spirit to teach you what you need to learn, you are going to miss out on His training and the benefit of His encouragement and teaching to help you live the Christian life.

Listen to Him today!  If you have not already, STOP!  Slow down and listen to His Spirit.  Hear Him and heed what He tells you to do.  Have YOU talked to Him today?

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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This past week I asked our International Director, Bro. Burks, to put together a list to help struggling chapters retain visitors in tough times. The list he provided is based on phone calls that he and his staff have fielded; discussions with successful directors; and several years of his own personal experience as an RU Director in Virginia.  The main focus of this week’s report is how to turn visitors into students. I trust that you will consider implementing these proven strategies in developing your God-given, extremely sensitive and important visitors into active, participating students.  It is the first step to achieving any hope of turning the addicted to the God’s support group—the local church!

Issue 1: The Friday Night Atmosphere!

The official itinerary is integral to creating an atmosphere that portrays a consistent message to every visitor. That message MUST contain the following key ingredients:

1. “No matter your struggles, we are an addiction program that can help you or your loved one.” This message usually takes place twice. Once in a profound statement of sorts in the tri-talk introduction and more importantly, and with definition, in the weekly New Beginnings class.
2. The New Beginnings group leader (who should be a type A, sold-out, RU promoter) should explain the success rate of local chapters of Reformers Unanimous all across America. Some chapters may be very small in attendance compared to others. Credibility will be established if you give them a glimpse of the success rate. Jay Griffin, a Director in Milford, Ohio tells me, “of the students that completed the Stronghold book in their chapter, they had a 93% success rate.” You can safely say there are over 20,000 people any given week attending an addiction program that use the RU materials.  Our RU program graduates simply succeed and that needs to be “hammered home.”  If not, doubt sets in to the validity of a church and Bible-based program in the minds of new students.
3. They should also reiterate this again when they make their mandatory visit on their visitors that week.  Yes! Mandatory visits are expected.  If you sense your New Beginnings class teacher is ineffective, you should replace him quickly. But until you can, the Director should make those visits instead to ensure the student can speak up about any mis-perceptions.

1. An environment of transparency is needed during the first and second talks for this program to be effective. If a student comes to a chapter and the church members are perceived as perfect people without problems, it will be an immediate turn-off to potential students. I cannot stress the importance of everyone on our leadership teams viewing ourselves as student’s first, servants second, and teachers third. By our own participation in all aspects of the program and curriculum, it will create an example for students to follow.

Issue 2: We must remember that Reformers Unanimous is a milk ministry, and avoid serving strong meat.

1. It is necessary to remember that Reformers Unanimous deals with heart issues and not issues of outward conformity. We should avoid discussing hot-topic issues that would be considered strong meat and stick to the modus operandi that we are here to turn their hearts toward the Lord. Standards, for the most part are for the leadership staff to know and follow but not teach as part of RU training.  Of course, some exceptions may apply; but if so, we encourage individual coaching over entire class teaching. When faced with a student who is newer and inquisitive of such things as listed in number one above, a leader should use phrases such as, “That’s a good question, see me after class and we’ll talk about that, but right now let’s stay focused on issues we faced this week in our recovery.” Or perhaps even the phrase, “That’s a great question, let me give you some verses after class to look into that,” in order to turn the conversation in a right direction.
2. Directors should avoid attacking Christian or political figures or denominations and their leaders on Friday night. This will only tear down any influence that you may have in their life, especially those who are new.  Warning the flock is the responsibility of the Pastor, not the RU leaders.
3. It is good for the Director to occasionally remind the students that as their attendance increases, so does the chance that they will hear truths which may take as offensive. Encourage them to allow God to use inside persuasion of His Spirit and the outside pressure of the Word and authority to guide them in right truth.

Issue 3: Reactivate the 2-3-4 Plan and ensure that it is happening every single week.

1. Again, I repeat that every first-time visitor should get a visit by the director or the New Beginnings class leader before the next Friday night. I can remember those early days inviting students, from Friday night, on Saturday afternoon to come on Sunday morning to the second class and taking them to lunch with me on my dime to encourage them to return the next Friday. I had more students join our church as a result of this than any other.
2. One big mistake is the transition between the Beginner’s class and the challenge groups. It should be understood that every person that walks through the door is in the New Beginnings, or Beginners, class and are an active part of the 2-3-4 Plan. I have heard of 2 options to make sure this happens. The first is that the burden is on the Beginner’s Class leadership and Director to make sure the 2-3-4 Plan is implemented on every visitor until they get in a group. The second option is to assign every first time visitor on their second wee, to a group, whether they return or not. The leader will actively pursue them for their class. It is often true that a student doesn’t care what we know until they know that we care.  A visit shows you care.
3. Use the RU official FastTrack software to track the 2-3-4 Plan properly and hold each leader accountable to the calls, postcards, and visits every single week. If a student misses several weeks in a row, and receives no contact from the leadership, the enemy will plant seeds of doubt that we don’t care and are not concerned about their recovery. Please be sure to communicate quarterly to inactive students.

Issue 4: Encourage curriculum participation for every student.

1. 1. The best way to encourage students to do challenges is for the leadership to have completed challenges.
   2. If a student seems to be resistant in doing challenges, it is time for that leader to meet with them privately and find out the root cause. If they have memory problems or get stuck on particular challenges, then creatively find a way to shorten or go around those challenges to keep a student motivated and participating.
   3. Have a dynamic award ceremony. If the award ceremony is not exciting it may come across as something childish for a brand new student. This is a time we praise our students for doing what is right. It can be extremely profitable and a motivational technique in keeping visitors who never get good news.  Have all students come up front to get their awards and have them stay until awards are completed and a final applause is given.  Encourage participation to those still seated who may not be progressing but sensing conviction as a result.  Be careful not to condemn.
   4. If you cannot have an exciting awards ceremony every week, postpone it some weeks or have it faithfully every two weeks.

Issue 5: During the third talk, the director’s message from the Nevertheless I Live Textbook should be relevant to the struggles people face while in their addiction.

A recent phone call into my office by a student who attended an RU broke my heart.  I began to feel his pain for help but having not received it at a local chapter in which he had placed his initial hope by attendance. At this particular chapter, the director has chosen to preach sermons lasting sixty minutes while pupils fall asleep (these were his words). When I suggested he purchase our Nevertheless I Live syllabus for his own learning, his words were, “If the director of my chapter would have used this text book and taught it from his heart I know I would have gotten the help I need.” Directors, I would rather you have a 25 minute message from the RU Textbook and share 5 minutes of your heart to help the addicted every week than have you present profound truths that challenge your most matured students but lose your beginners. With the RU Friday night class being live streamed in Rockford and available for download later, there should be no excuse for each of you men to fine-tune your teaching and preaching skills by listening to the Founder and President every week in Rockford.  Brother Curington has now taught through the textbook 9 times in 14 years.  He is currently on a pace that will take him two years to go through it once.  It’s getting more relevant each year, not less.  That’s God…not the outline or the teacher.

Other Suggestions:

1.) Read something from the Founder of RU every day.  Have you experienced the blessing of Today I Lay, Umbrella Fella or his newest book on Peace?  They are relevant for YOU to be relevant to them.

2.) Read or listen on MP3 to the whole chapter that you’re teaching every Friday night that you are teaching it.  If a chapter takes three weeks, read that chapter three times (once weekly).  Then prepare days before you preach that chapter portion.   Use second talk in order to distribute and collect 2-3-4 plans and to encourage students.  A five minute refresher before you preach would be helpful at that time too.

3.) Ask God to give you wisdom on how to effectively present the Hidden Life message to your people.

4.) Always give an invitation for salvation and spiritual development.

Many chapters are successfully getting visitors weekly through the “Battle is ON” outreach, along with other techniques they have found successful. If you struggle to get visitors, please, call our office today! (815-986-0460) If your struggle is to keep them, then heed these listed checkpoints.

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Are you discontented with an empty, meaningless, pointless life where everything just focuses on you and your own pleasures? Have you found out that what you have is not satisfying; so you get another goal; and then, when you reach it, you find out it’s not satisfying either?  You are not alone.

Over and over in Scripture, we see people desperately crying out to God for mercy.  Whether it was the sick, the crippled, or the demon-possessed, these people came to Jesus seeking His mercy for their problems.  What is it that brings a person to a position where they are conscious of their need for mercy from God?  Hebrews 4:1, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” These people who are conscious of their need for God’s mercy are motivated to come boldly to God for mercy because of fear.  I understand that Jesus said, “Fear not” oftentimes to his disciples.  There are some things we should not fear; but at the same time, there is a healthy fear that every Christian ought to have. I want my life to count for Jesus Christ.  I want to know that I made a positive difference in this world.   I want my wife and our children to know that I was a man of God, and I had an influence in their life.   I want to be a faithful pastor.  However, I live with fear of falling short of that goal.  I do not want to do anything, be anything, or go anywhere that will ruin the potential that I have for Jesus Christ in this life. So, I am motivated by that fear. People who are conscious of their need for God’s mercy are motivated by fear.

People who seek God’s mercy are also motivated by the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Bible is alive, and it beats with the heartbeat of Jesus Christ.  It is far more than just pieces of paper in a bound book; it is the living Word of God. That means it is current for every generation. If the Bible is doing what it should in your life, it will be like a two-edged sword.  Swords are very motivating. If I said, “Move out of the way,” you might say, “Why should I?” But, if I had a sharp two-edged sword, and I poked you with it, you would move out of the way without any argument.

It is tragic, but many people have a relationship with the Bible that does not move them. As a result, they are not very conscious of their need for God and His mercy in their lives. When God’s Word starts piercing and dividing asunder your soul and spirit, you are going to be motivated to go to God for help.  When it begins to cut you, when it begins to reveal, as He says here in this verse, “the thoughts and intents of the heart,” you see your need for mercy very clearly.   Think about your thought life.  Aren’t you glad there is not a little monitor where everyone can actually see and hear what you are thinking?  When people are cut by the Word of God, it drives them to seek God’s mercy.

Do you seek God’s mercy today?  It is available, my friend, for his mercies “are new every morning.”

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Good Morning!  Looking again today at I Thessalonians 2, I want to direct your attention to verse eleven.  Paul likens his balanced ministry to a father with his children, ^“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.” I know that not everyone has the privilege of growing up with a godly father who expressed his love and guided his children.  But, there is nothing sweeter than a close parent-child relationship.  My 12-year-old son, Justin, still comes in to say good night to me.  I would not trade anything for the time we spend together, talking about the things of God, praying for each other and for God’s work in our church and our lives. I have never seen a parent shout and berate a child into good behavior.  But, I have seen patience and love work amazing transformations.  This is true with all relationships. You are not going to shout anybody into getting right with God.  You are not going to criticize anybody into getting right with God.  You are not going to insult anyone into getting right with God. Remember, the “goodness of God leadeth [them] to repentance.”

When working with people, Paul reminds us in verse 12, “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you into his kingdom and glory.” This is the vision that Paul and others had when they first came to Thessalonica; it had a vision that was “eternal”. Why do people do ministry? Why should we disciple others?  Sadly, some people do it for personal, selfish reasons. Paul said, “I want you to know that our vision for you is that you walk worthy of the vocation in which God has called to you; worthy of His kingdom; worthy of His glory.” Oftentimes, our efforts to help people with the truth of this Word are curtailed and hindered because we lose sight of the eternal nature of our purpose.  Paul and his team started out focused on the long-term goal, and they kept that focus no matter what else was going on around them.

After all is said and done, it really is not about our comfort.  It is not really about changing people to benefit us or even ultimately to benefit them. It is ultimately for Him.

The church in Thessalonica was not just great while Paul and Silas and others were there, because those people were not focused on pleasing Paul and others. They were not just “toeing the line” because someone, a spiritual leader, a mentor was overseeing them. They caught a vision that they could walk worthy of the vocation that God has called them fulfill. How do we “minister” when no one is looking?  We must walk worthy.  It is absolutely essential, but it will never happen unless we continually work in this matter of blending and balancing our mercy and truth in presenting God’s Word to others.  Your ministry, whether to an entire church or a single individual, will succeed to the extent that it matches this pattern established by Paul and his team.  Let us all learn from their example.

Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!
Dr. Paul A. Kingsbury

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Christianity without Christ is Boring!

II Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your mind should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

The other day my wife and I were discussing the alarming rate at which we have noticed people dropping out of ministry and even out of local churches altogether. There are many excuses that people give for the dropout rate; however, I believe that much of it boils down to the fact that people are sick of “going through the motions” of a dead religion. How frustrating it is to try and start a car when the tank is on empty or trying to use a flashlight with the wrong type of battery. We need more people around to show them that Jesus Christ is alive! They need to realize the power of God living within them!

I would rather be a Christian than anything I know. Being able to live the very life of Jesus Christ on earth, right here and right now, and tap into the limitless resources of his Deity to accomplish only those purposes designed by almighty God is the most exciting life anyone can live.

It is exciting to work in a ministry that exposes the hidden life to so many different kinds of people, especially those that participate in one of our conferences, or listen to a tape or a book that explains this hidden life in Christ. At first, the hearer is often bewildered by what they hear, and many times it seems to go right over their head. Then slowly, they come to a moment of truth where it becomes so obviously clear. You can watch their faces as if the proverbial light bulb came on. They begin to see the truths of the crucified Christian life and realize how profound they are; yet simple, thus making them simply profound.

Paul expressed a grave concern to the church at Corinthians regarding this process of understanding the crucified Christian life. He even called it a fear that he had. The context of 2 Corinthians 11, Paul had just compared the church to a virgin, soon to be presented as a bride to her Redeemer, yet he was reminded of how the first woman, Eve, was deceived by a tempter, and led astray from walking with God to knowing about God.

II Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear (alarmed that it would happen again), lest by any means (no limit to gain a result), as the serpent beguiled Eve (to adapt temptation to a person’s character or circumstances) through his subtilty (trickery), so your mind should be corrupted (your thoughts should be perverted) from the simplicity that is in Christ (a single hearted devotedness to Him).

Paul was anxiously concerned that nothing in their lives should detract from the simplicity that was in Christ. That simplicity is found in Galatians 2:20, particularly in the phrase, “yet not I” I am also inclined that many Christians today believe they can have a relationship with the Lord by what they do for Him in the local church. Their mind has been “perverted”, that is to have an intended meaning altered, misrepresented, and corrupted. When the mind is corrupt, it is manifested by the affections being alienated from the proper object and the soul is filled with its own purposes and desires. The end result is our heart is alienated from not only the Source but the power gained from that Source. We’ll never have a relationship with Him because of what we do; we’ll only have a relationship with Him because of what He did. I also witness those who minister to people with the idea that they’re a good Christian if they do “these things” and the Christian life/discipleship is based on an outward appearance instead of an inward relationship. The utmost need in every ministry and in every outreach and in every denomination is to rediscover the Lord Jesus Christ and the Person of His indwelling Presence within the believer.

Today we can encounter the living, risen Lord who shares His life with us on our way to Heaven … so that He may accomplish through us what He began to do in His own physical body 2,000 years ago. What a fantastic privilege! Today allow that phrase ring in your heart, “yet not I” and experience the abundant life instead of a redundant life.

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