ICCSD Podcast

9/28/2008 service

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:17:21 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – The Leopard Can Change It’s Spots

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:09:18 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – The Leopard Can Change It’s Spots

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
    As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [39] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. [40] But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
    [41] "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Last week: The things that we believe very deeply and the habits of our personality are the areas that are least open to correction

A characteristic of personality is that it protects itself and does not like to change

Luke 6:41-42 (NLT)
    "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? [42] How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

Personality is often unaware of itself because we don’t question what we are familiar with – which means that we are often blind to our personality weaknesses

Biblical Principles that Break the Idea of Personality Types

a. The book of Proverbs emphasizes the development of a wise heart that encompasses the wise expression of the mind, feelings, duty and practical life

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)
    Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

b. The Fruit of the Spirit breaks all personality boundaries and personality blind spots

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

c. Jesus shows us how to break personality blind spots and boundaries by showing that He too had to cultivate and develop all areas of His life and personality

Luke 2:52
     "Jesus increased in wisdom (i.e. mental, emotional, practical and moral maturity) and stature (physical maturity) and in favor with God (spiritual maturity) and man (social maturity)."

Hebrews 5:8 (NLT)
    So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

d. God has even hardwired us with the capacity to change physically (neurologically) to support our weak areas in order to thrive well in this world

1. Remember God’s grace, we don’t change first before coming to God. Rather, we come humbly to God first, ask for a changed heart and then strength to change

Grace always begins with humility – humility to accept God’s perspective and truth about us – even truths about us that deeply embarrass or shame us…

Grace always leads us back to the cross – to remind us of God’s unconditional love and where God even nailed our personality blind spots there

Grace reminds us that we are not alone in our weakness – God sends His Holy Spirit to transform our weakened hearts and empower us towards victory

Be humble and willing to accept that some of the convictions that we have are based on misguided personality habits and blind spots

2. God’s Grace gives us the partnering strength to make immediate and small personality corrections along the way

Romans 12:2 (Msg)
    Don't become so well-adjusted to your (personality) culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Hebrews 11:40 (NIV)
    God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

3. Because breaking through personality blind spots and false boundaries takes time, start immediately but persevere and be patient!

The Dachshund
There was a dachshund once so long
He hadn’t any notion
How long it took to notify
His tail of an emotion.

And so it happened, while his eyes
Were full of woe and sadness,
His little tail went wagging on
Because of previous gladness.

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote,

“Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this, we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.”

“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing. There are many things below it, but there are also things above it. You cannot make it the basis of a whole life. It is a noble feeling, but it is still a feeling. Now no feeling can be relied on to last in its full intensity, or even to last at all....In fact, the state of being in love usually does not last....But of course ceasing to be ‘in love’ need not mean ceasing to love. Love...is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by the grace which both partners ask and receive from God....They can retain this love even when each would easily, if they allowed themselves, be ‘in love’ with someone else. ‘Being in love’ first moved them to promise fidelity: this quieter love enable them to keep their promise. It is on this love that the engine of marriage is run: being in love was the explosion that started it.”

Grace through Wisdom – Does Jesus have a Personality?

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:06:21 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – Does Jesus have a Personality? Mark 14:32-42
1. Our personality traits and temperaments merely indicate our strengths and weaknesses, but not what we are potentially capable of

Personality is made up of the characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that makes us unique and remains fairly consistent throughout our lives

Jesus always responded wisely in the right way in any situation

Mark 14:32-38 (NIV)
    They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." [33] He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. [34] "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
    [35] Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. [36] "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
    [37] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? [38] Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

- Friendships need to understand both the doctrine of Creation and the Fall
- Healthy friendships need to understand the solitude of the inner life

Proverbs 14:10 (NIV)
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

- Good friendships will not place the burden of God on our friends

John 15:15 (NIV)
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

2. The Good News of Grace tells us that we can break out beyond the boundaries of our personalities

Whatever new habits we begin to practice, if we continue to practice them, they become part of our new character that in turn influences everything else we do

Our temperaments and personality traits are not fixed and unchangeable

Luke 5:16 (NIV)
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 22:41 (NIV)
He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

Philip. 3:3 (NASB)
for we…who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

Keep evaluating and retesting our deepest convictions because they might actually be based on our blind spots

The things that we believe very deeply are the areas that are least open to correction

Nietzsche – convictions are more dangerous to truth than even lies!

3. Application:

Choose to grow and serve beyond our personality boundaries or comfort zones

Don’t be a spiritual Hakikomori! Confidently break through your personality boundaries by faith into your God-given potential and purpose

Humbly be willing to have our deepest convictions challenged by the wisdom and truth of God

09/07/2008

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:38:20 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – Wisdom in Suffering

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:33:04 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – Wisdom in Suffering Job 28:12-28

Job 7:1-5 (NLT)

"Is this not the struggle of all humanity? A person's life is long and hard, like that of a hired hand, [2] like a worker who longs for the day to end, like a servant waiting to be paid. [3] I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. [4] When I go to bed, I think, 'When will it be morning?' But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. [5] My skin is filled with worms and scabs. My flesh breaks open, full of pus.

Job 11:12 (NLT)

An empty-headed person won't become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear human offspring!

Job 11:13-18 (NIV)

"Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, [14] if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, [15] then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. [16] You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. [17] Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. [18] You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Job 12:1-3 (NLT)

Then Job spoke again: [2] "You really know everything, don't you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you! [3] Well, I know a few things myself—and you're no better than I am. Who doesn't know these things you've been saying?

Job 28:12-28 (NIV)

"But where can wisdom be found?

Where does understanding dwell?

[13] Man does not comprehend its worth;

it cannot be found in the land of the living.

[14] The deep says, 'It is not in me';

the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

[15] It cannot be bought with the finest gold,

nor can its price be weighed in silver.

[16] It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,

with precious onyx or sapphires.

[17] Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,

nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

[18] Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;

the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

[19] The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;

it cannot be bought with pure gold.

[20] "Where then does wisdom come from?

Where does understanding dwell?

[21] It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,

concealed even from the birds of the air.

[22] Destruction and Death say,

'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

[23] God understands the way to it

and he alone knows where it dwells,

[24] for he views the ends of the earth

and sees everything under the heavens.

[25] When he established the force of the wind

and measured out the waters,

[26] when he made a decree for the rain

and a path for the thunderstorm,

[27] then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;

he confirmed it and tested it.

[28] And he said to man,

'The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom,

and to shun evil is understanding.' "

1. The doctrine of Creation teaches us about God’s created order in the world while the doctrine of the Fall teaches us about our fallen and sinful world

Suffering has two components – the pain of suffering and the shock of suffering.

Job 28:28 (NLT)

And this is what he says to all humanity: 'The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.' "

2. To fear the Lord is to be scared in the presence of Someone incredibly good and incredibly wonderful

We are scared in the presence of God because we know our flaws will be exposed and we will lose control because we have to submit to Him

1 Peter 4:19 (NLT)

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.

Job 2:9-10 (NIV)

His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" [10] He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

In a fallen and sinful world, instead of being shocked by suffering, learn to humbly accept suffering as a part of our existence, without becoming bitter

3. The fear of the Lord in the midst of suffering means not only seeing our suffering but opening our eyes to the presence of our Good and Faithful God

Choose to persevere in trusting God in the midst of suffering by leaning on Him, even without our feelings and in time, we will see His miracles

Grace through Wisdom – The Wisdom of Abigail

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 19:44:29 GMT

Grace through Wisdom – The Wisdom of Abigail 1 Sam. 25:1-37; Prov. 30:3-4

1 Samuel 25
The Death of Samuel
1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah.
Nabal Angers David
Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon.[a] 2 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time. 3 This man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings.
4 When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 5 he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal: 6 “Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own! 7 I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them. 8 Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David.” 9 David’s young men gave this message to Nabal in David’s name, and they waited for a reply.
10 “Who is this fellow David?” Nabal sneered to the young men. “Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?”
12 So David’s young men returned and told him what Nabal had said. 13 “Get your swords!” was David’s reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
14 Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s servants went to Abigail and told her, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them. 15 These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us. 16 In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep. 17 You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He’s so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!”
Proverbs 14:18 (Msg)
Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.

Proverbs 14:18 (NLT)
The simpleton is clothed with folly, but the wise person is crowned with knowledge.

Proverbs 3:5 (NLT)
…do not depend on your own understanding.

Proverbs 19:2 (Msg)
Ignorant zeal is worthless; haste makes waste.

18 Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel[b] of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys 19 and said to her servants, “Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly.” But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
20 As she was riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming toward her. 21 David had just been saying, “A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good. 22 May God strike me and kill me[c] if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!”
Abigail Intercedes for Nabal
23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say. 25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests.[d] But I never even saw the young men you sent.
26 “Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is. 27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men. 28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the LORD’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
29 “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling! 30 When the LORD has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel, 31 don’t let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the LORD has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!”

1. Abigail offers a gift to sooth the anger of David

27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men.

Proverbs 15:27 (NIV)
A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 18:16 (NIV)
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.

Proverbs 21:14 (NIV)
A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

2. Abigail takes full responsibility on behalf of her husband

24 She fell at his feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say… I never even saw the young men you sent.

3. Abigail is proactive in her effort as a peacemaker because timing is critical

18 Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered…

Matthew 5:25 (NLT)
Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail.

4. Abigail never loses sight of what is truthful and values truth even in a frustrated marriage

Proverbs 12:19 (NLT)
Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.

5. Abigail humbly appeals to the mercy and better nature of David
28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the LORD’s battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
Proverbs 18:12 (NIV)
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

32 David replied to Abigail, “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands. 34 For I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal’s men would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 35 Then David accepted her present and told her, “Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband.”
36 When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day. 37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke,[e] and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck him, and he died.

32 David replied to Abigail, “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 33 Thank God for your good sense!

Proverbs 30:3-4 (NIV)
I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. [4] Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

Col. 2:1-3 (NIV)
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you …My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

John 3:13, 6:58 (NIV)
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man…I am the true bread from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever and not die as your ancestors did, even though they ate the manna."

Mark 4:39 (NIV)
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

John 1:3 (NIV)
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Hebrews 1:2 (NLT)
… and through the Son he made the universe and everything in it.

1 Cor. 1:24 (NIV)
… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

6. Walk obediently under the yoke and authority of Jesus and soon, we will naturally walk, think, and respond just like Wisdom Himself

6. Seek Jesus daily and continually – especially through our daily devotions

7. I obey in order to understand and grow in wisdom

Grace Through Wisdom – Under the Yoke

myemail@myemail.com (Your DisplayName here!) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:53:36 GMT

Grace Through Wisdom – Under the Yoke

Ephes. 5:8-17 (NIV)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light [9] (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) [10] and find out what pleases the Lord. [11] Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. [13] But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, [14] for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you."

[15] Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Are you a tourist, immigrant or ambassador in the world?

Ephes. 5:15 (NIV)

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,

Ephes. 5:15 (NKJV)

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,

Chokmah – skillful and having a quick mind

Muwcar (moo-saw) – reproof, instruction and discipline

Sakal – circumspect, prosper and to be successful

Chakam – to be wise-hearted; wise, intelligent, skillful and artful

Tsedeq – knowing what is right and moral

Meyshar – knowing what is even, straight and right

`ormah – having discretion and a good sense

Mishpat – determining what is just and right

da`ath – knowledge

towkechah – correct reasoning, refutation, correct argument and right refutation

biyn – to mentally distinguish and to understand

leqach – to mentally receive instruction and learning

[17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

1. Choose to honor Christ by walking daily according to His leading, His truths and depending on His grace

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Sirach 6:19-31

Come to (Wisdom) like one who plows and sows. Put your neck into her collar. Bind your shoulders and carry her...Come unto her with all your soul, and keep her ways with all your might...For at last you will find the rest she gives...Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense, and her collar a glorious robe. Her yoke is a golden ornament, and her bonds a purple cord.

Sirach 51:13, 17-21, 26 (NJB)

…in my prayers I asked outright for wisdom…Thanks to her I have advanced; glory be to him who has given me wisdom! For I was determined to put her into practice…My soul has fought to possess her… I have directed my soul towards her…my very core having yearned to discover her, I have now acquired a good possession…Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find

1 Cor. 1:24 (NIV)

… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

2. In a dilemma, ask God for wisdom accompanied by the faith that God will give it

James 1:5-8 (NLT)

If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. [6] But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. [8] They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

3. Instead of following an impulsive centered response, choose to wisely trust and obey in order that we will later understand

I am grateful to Tim Keller, from whom some of this sermon came from…