The David Spoon Experience

The David Spoon Experience 11-8-23 part 1

A) Psalm 43, Verse 4: “Then I will approach the altar of God, my exceeding joy.” Christians often come to the altar of God to weep, repent, and ask for healing, forgiveness, deliverance, and desperate help. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as we ALSO come to the altar to express our exceeding appreciation and say thank you. We should let the Lord know how much we love Him because He is our joy and life. B) The author then repeats the refrain that has been offered multiple times in this psalm and the prior one. This is why some people believe that Psalms 42 and 43 may have originally been one psalm or simply two parts of a single story. This refrain is worth repeating since many of us tend to forget that when we are down and when things are noisy inside us, the answer always comes down to hoping in God and believing that we will praise him for what is to come.

The David Spoon Experience 11-7-23 part 2

1) Paul is acutely aware of the fluctuations people experience between the flesh and the Spirit. He encourages us to navigate life by the power of the Spirit. At the outset of Chapter 6, he clarifies that if a Christian succumbs to a severe sin, it is our duty as brothers and sisters in faith to gently and humbly guide that person back onto the right path. It’s important to understand that Christians do falter from time to time and may struggle to regain their footing. However, when someone is overwhelmed by sin, our role is not to condemn them by saying they are unsaved. Instead, we should direct them towards the cross, reminding them of Christ’s enduring grace and mercy. 2) On a related note, Paul cautions us to be wary of falling into the same temptation. This aligns closely with Jesus’ admonition: “Judge not lest ye be judged.” Jesus’ statement was a warning against hypocritically judging others while committing the same transgressions. When aiding in someone’s restoration, we should avoid hypocrisy and refrain from attempting to demonstrate superior righteousness. Heed His warning: be vigilant so as not to succumb to the folly of considering ourselves beyond all struggles. 3) One crucial point Paul emphasizes is the importance of sharing in each other’s troubles and problems. In doing so, we obey Christ’s law. By caring for and loving one another, we fulfill the commandments Jesus gave us. Recall John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give unto you: Love one another as I have loved you,” which surpasses our capacity to love others as ourselves. The key lies in sharing in other people’s troubles and problems, whether they stem from sin or are simply part of life’s general struggles. Either way, we need to be there for each other. 4) Paul, ever kind and considerate, ensures that everyone understands his perspective. He admonishes those who believe they are too important to assist others, stating that they are deceiving themselves. While he doesn’t use the term “idiot,” he does assert that such individuals are nobodies. When Paul asserts that you’re essentially a nobody, it’s a potent reminder that no one holds a superior position over others because it is only through God that we triumph. 

The David Spoon Experience 11-7-23 part 1

A) Matthew 14:22 starts with Jesus telling His disciples to skedaddle to the other side of the lake while sending the people home. There is ministry work still to be done. He is far from being done with His disciples. He directs them to a location, but they need to initially travel with one another. He will catch up. And He sends the people home AFTER feeding, the miracle of the multiple thousands being fed. Take the miracle, go home, and share it with others. Even if they call you crazy, YOU still know it’s true.B) What is this all about? Quiet time with the Father. Alone. If Jesus can carve out the time, then so can we. He prays alone during the day and is there until the nighttime. And the description is…He is alone. Not alone from the Father or the Spirit, but from distractions. But being connected keeps Jesus in the loop. That’s for you and me too. You and I are never alone. Totally alone. We may be separated from human contact, but not from our Creator.C) The disciples, following the order of Jesus, were finding themselves in a bit of a pickle. Strong winds were against them even in the perfect will of God. And, they were fighting heavy waves. At about 3 m, which is code for ballpark. The scriptures are not always concerned for the exact time or the exact measurements (John 2:6). Jesus shows up. It’s not that He showed up. He always comes to the rescue. It’s HOW He showed up. That is what is so incredibly awesome.

The David Spoon Experience 11-6-23 part 2

1) Praise God Almighty as we delve into the final chapter of the Book of Job, Chapter 42. There is much to discuss here, and we won't rush through it. The first thing we hear from Job is his reply to God. He acknowledges, "I know that You can do anything and no one can stop You." This statement serves as a reminder to every theological genius who dictates how God is required to operate, forgetting that God can do anything He desires, and no one can prevent it.2) We must give credit to Job, who finally realizes he was discussing things he did not understand. I suspect that when we stand before God and voice any complaints, we might find ourselves repeating this line: "I was talking about things I did not understand." These are things too wonderful for me, you, or Job to comprehend. To emphasize this, God repeats what Job said: "Job said to God, 'Listen to me and I will speak.'" At this point of confrontation with God, Job expresses deep regret for his words.3) Job reaffirms his previous statement with this line: "I've heard about You; now I've seen You, and I take back everything." It's one thing to talk to God when He's sitting invisible to the human eye on the throne in heaven; it's quite another when He approaches you in a whirlwind with something to say. At this point, Job's wisdom has been restored. As he says, "I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance," he expresses profound regret for his words.4) Job isn't the only one who faces criticism in this exchange. God then turns His attention to Eliphaz and tells him quite plainly: "I'm really not happy with you and your two friends because you've not spoken rightly about me." It wasn't that they didn't know who God was or that they weren't saved; rather, they spoke about a situation in which God had given them no knowledge, and they claimed wisdom about it. Perhaps we should strive to be more humble than wise.
 

The David Spoon Experience 11-6-23 part 1

A) In Titus 1:13, we see Paul telling the young man to rebuke those people who give heed to Jewish fables and to the commandments of men. This does not mean that every Jewish story is somehow evil. That’s not what it’s being said at all. This refers to people who are using a form of legalism and mysticisms in their teaching. These people are trying to capture others to get them to follow them. And instead of living by Biblical truths, they exalt the commandments of men to the level of God’s word. Never should that be.B) To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. It speaks to us that those of us who have a sincere, earnest, honest, consciousness towards God and are trying to do our best to live in glorifying and honoring Him, is something that God is deeply aware of. He knows what our hearts truly are. He knows that there’s a purity in us that seeks to do it right and be right even when we fall short.C) In contrast to that, are those people who are not pure. They are defined as defiled and unbelieving. Notice ironically, what makes them impure is their unwillingness to believe. And they are defiled because they use their teachings as ways of advantage over others, and not just trying to serve. They are nothing close to Abraham who simply loved God. They even proclaim they know God, but everything they do demonstrates otherwise.D) We can’t miss this. Paul then says, do you speak the things that are proper? That means all of us need to watch what we say. It must be connected to sound doctrine when we’re talking about biblical truth. It can’t be just our opinion. We state our opinion like it’s a fact. It would do us well to remember that everybody has an opinion, but that also God has declared every man a liar. So perhaps we should be careful.

The David Spoon Experience 11-3-23 part 2

1) Dave starts off the show by sharing two really cool and miraculous testimonies.2) Normally, when I teach Luke, I provide a full exposition of this story, which is rich with insights and powerful points. However, in this particular teaching, I want to focus on one specific aspect that we need to keep at the forefront of our thoughts. We often forget how fortunate we are to have the God of the universe listen to us, respond to us, and help us. He who gives us every breath takes time to hear every word. When we’re frustrated or feeling like giving up, He has something to say. And, as we see Him more clearly, we’ll truly understand His true graciousness and our own sinfulness.3) Having pushed everyone in this Friday's teaching towards an understanding of God’s holiness and graciousness, I don’t want you to miss His main characteristic that shines through. John 3:16 teaches us that God showed His love for the world by giving His only begotten Son. He did this to save us. We need to remember that God is compassionate; He won’t fail us. He’s already chosen not to destroy us and will never forget His commitment to us. That calls for a big amen and amen.

The David Spoon Experience 11-3-23 part 1

A) James 1:18 states that we were given birth through the word of truth. This word of truth is threefold: it is the Word (which is Jesus), It is Truth (which is Jesus), and it is the written word, the letters that come from the heart of Jesus Christ Himself. We are born again through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. But how did we learn about the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit? Through the written word of God.B) James provides a classic statement that we should all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. We should be quick to listen because we should be open to hearing; even when we know that someone is saying things that aren’t perfectly aligned, we should still listen if it’s a genuine conversation. False teaching falls under a different category. We should be slow to speak because our words often cause more trouble than anything else, especially as Christians.C) We should also be slow to anger. The answer is straightforward for the woke generation: the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Everyone is yelling, screaming, and rioting, proclaiming their human philosophical truth as the only acceptable truth. However, the real truth is that human truth does not hold any eternal value. The Biblical truth, Divine truth, a.k.a. God’s truth, is eternal.
 

The David Spoon Experience 11-2-23 part 2

1) Acts Chapter 20, verses 1 and 2, emphasize a crucial aspect that we should all regularly focus on. Paul, as he departs, encourages the believers and continues to encourage others along his journey. The key takeaway here is that we should all strive to be 'sons of encouragement' or 'Barnabas's,' uplifting others in the Lord and in each other. 2) Dave answers a question about the Jewish people and shows a difference between Biblical and Cultural Jewish people, and their connection to Old and New Testament Jewish followers. 3) We now arrive at one of my favorite sections in the Book of Acts. I've mentioned this numerous times, but I haven't actually taught it several times. It's such a divine gift from the Holy Spirit to humanity. Everyone gathers together to observe the Lord's Supper, which incidentally is one of the few instances of them doing this as a church. 4) To overlook the descriptions in the scripture regarding Paul's sermon is to be willfully blind. The scripture states that Paul continues at length. I believe most of us understand what that implies. Paul preaches on and on, much like many preachers do. Paul preached until midnight - an incredibly long time but also incredibly significant. However, not a single word is recorded except for a young man named Eutychus, who listened to Paul, fell asleep, fell out of a window, died, and had to be resurrected. That's what happens when sermons go on for too long.

The David Spoon Experience 11-2-23 part 1

1) In 2 Corinthians 10:13, Paul discusses the concept of boasting. However, he is not referring to superiority over others but rather boasting within an appropriate context. Boasting can be positive when it is linked to the recognition that God is the source of grace and victory. Paul also emphasizes that this is assigned by God.2) Paul refers to his sphere of influence, explaining to the church at Corinth that it extends to them as well. He assures them that he is not overstepping his boundaries by engaging with them, challenging them, and correcting them. This is because they are part of his life, his relationships, his connections, and his circles. He has the right to speak the truth to them, whether it’s pleasant or unpleasant.3) Prayers are offered for people who are struggling with cancer.

The David Spoon Experience 11-1-23 part 2

1) Alright folks, I'm going to attempt something slightly different. I've taught this topic in the past, but I haven't delved into its full depth because my previous attempt was not up to the mark. So, 15 years later, I'm giving it another shot. We're going to discuss a process we undergo, which will be heavily based on Scripture. Ultimately, I will outline four elements that can cause problems for us if left unattended.2) We know from the 6th-century Catholic Church that they identified seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. It's commendable that they compiled such a list, but it's also fundamentally incorrect. Every sin is deadly and will separate you from God. Sin is anything contrary to God, and there aren't just seven - there are seven million.3) However, understanding that sin separates people from God also leads us to the truth that through the redemption of Jesus Christ, those sins are forgiven. We are eternally safe in God's hands. But life happens to us and we react to those events. If these elements in our lives are unchecked (un-Christianized), they couple with other elements in our lives and eventually produce something in us that is less than Christ-like.4) We're about to break one of my cardinal rules about being cautious with formulas because this presentation is very formula-oriented. So you can either forgive me or forgive me - those are the two choices God gives you. We're going to discuss how four elements - Anger, Resentment, Rejection, and Godlessness – that can rise in our spiritual journey. I warn you now; this will be very challenging. Let's get started.

The David Spoon Experience 11-1-23 part 1

A) In Psalm 34:9, the psalmist declares, “I will say to God, my rock, why have you forgotten me?” This echoes Psalm 22:1, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The prayer is directed solely to the Lord, with the psalmist seeking deliverance and stability from God alone. The psalmist is essentially saying, “God, you are my rock. Where are you? I need your steadfastness and stability right now.” B) The subsequent verses should be understood in context. The psalmist mourns because of the enemy’s taunts, which feel as if they are breaking his bones. The most painful part is the enemy’s mockery: “Ha! Where is your God?” The psalmist is deeply hurt by this scorn directed at God.C) The psalmist then returns to the question, “Why are you so downcast, oh my soul? Why are you so disquieted within me?” The psalmist knows where the answer lies but understands that patience, confidence, and stability are required. Even if it appears to the enemies that God is absent, He is always there and will always deliver His children.D) The conclusion of the psalm is a message of hope: “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” The phrase “yet praise Him” implies that deliverance is imminent. The hope is steadfast and sure. The believer does not need to fear because their hope is in God; it’s on the way, and they know they will praise Him.

The David Spoon Experience 10-31-23 part 2

1) As we conclude Galatians chapter 5, we encounter the fruits of the Spirit. It’s important to note that verse 22 states, “when the Holy Spirit controls our lives.” This means that when the Holy Spirit has more influence over us than our old selves, our carnal nature, we are guided by the Spirit on a daily basis. If we position ourselves to honor God, love Jesus, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we are catching on.2) There are nine fruits listed that originate from the Holy Spirit and should be manifested in our lives. I challenge you on one point that you may not have heard much about; faith itself. Faith to believe God, not faithfulness, is not listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The reason is that faith, like love, is a decision. We must choose whether to believe or doubt.3) Upon examining the nine fruits, we find that some fruits seem to appear in greater volume than others on certain days. This is not a negative aspect. There are times when we need to be patient, times when we need to be full of joy, and times when we need to be gentle. These are all fruits that can continually be active in our lives. However, there are times when they emerge in greater manifestation than others, which is completely normal.