The David Spoon Experience

The David Spoon Experience 7-20-23 Part 2

60 minutes:1) In Acts chapter 17, we find Paul engaging in debates with Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. It is important to note that debates themselves are not wrong as long as they are not driven by a spirit of superiority or argumentativeness. Christians should rely on the power of God's truth, which in itself provides all the assurance and encouragement needed.2) When presenting the Gospel to those who have never heard it or have limited exposure to Christianity, it might sound strange or foreign to them. However, when people's hearts are open, they often show curiosity and ask for more. This is the opportune moment to continue sharing and providing further insights. As ambassadors of the kingdom, our aim is to share the beauty of our faith when people express interest and to be ready to share, in season and out of season.3) Paul's approach at Mars Hill demonstrates a classic method of using his audience's own knowledge to lead them to the presentation of the Gospel. Similarly, guided by the Holy Spirit, my brother Billy used something I was fond of (comic books) to illustrate the difference between good and evil, connecting it to God and Satan.4) Part of Paul's defense (Apologia is the Greek word for speaking in defense, which is where we get the word “apologetics”) includes the observation that God does not dwell in man-made temples and that human efforts cannot fulfill His needs, as He lacks nothing. He enables us to fellowship with Him, but His existence is independent of us. This simple truth should humble those who seek to understand God's ways.

The David Spoon Experience 7-20-23 Part 1

A) In 2nd Corinthians chapter 7, verse 13, Paul expresses how he was greatly encouraged by the arrival of Titus, in addition to the regular encouragement from the Lord and His grace in their situations. This teaches us that fellowship has a unique ability to refresh each one of us. B) Paul further emphasizes his admiration for Titus and his willingness to boast about him without any embarrassment. Titus proved to be as great as Paul had claimed, and this encouraged Paul even more. It demonstrates the power of genuine praise and its impact on others.C) There is an interesting aspect that the Holy Spirit is included in the Holy Writ. He highlights how Titus's affection for the people at Corinth grows whenever he remembers their diligence in supporting and strengthening him. Remembering such acts of kindness strengthens our own affection and feelings towards others, which is a normal and positive response.D) Paul concludes this chapter by expressing his joy and complete confidence in the Church of Corinth, just as he had confidence in boasting about Titus. The thought of their faith and dedication brings encouragement, blessings, and joy to Paul. Imagine if we could have the same confidence and encouragement in one another.
 

The David Spoon Experience 7-19-23 Part 2

BEST OF SHOW:1) Today, we review one of Jesus’s greatest stories. It has held our hearts tight and brought grace, mercy, and the most unique times. It reminds us that the Lord loves us and continually looks for us to come to Him. In the story, there are many details. And in the church, there are many interpretations. That’s no problem. In truth, that’s part of the fun. Not defending your own insights but being open to hearing the same story impacts other brothers and sisters in a different way. That’s something g we should rejoice in, not fight over.2) The Prodigal Son. The word “prodigal” means spending money or resources freely and recklessly, wastefully extravagant. The story, known as a parable (a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson), is taught by Jesus for the purpose of communicating essential kingdom truths. What’s most amazing is which characters people tend to focus on.3) The players in our drama are The Father, the older son, the younger son, the Father’s servants, and the hiring citizen. There is also the identification of the world or “the party people.” The focus is definitely on the younger son and the father. But the other characters make the truth more applicable for our own applications.4) This parable has a beginning, a middle, and an end. While it’s easy to get caught up in the details, the central teaching from Jesus is about the conclusion. How apropos that for our own application, we should be laser-focused on the conclusion, just like the scriptures teach us on a day-by-day basis.  How this whole thing ends is what God wants us to see. That is His desire …that we see with “the end” in mind. Always!

The David Spoon Experience 7-19-23 Part 1

BEST OF SHOW:A) The little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of the wicked. It would be genius if we understood that riches and money do not grant wisdom or quality of life. Ask The Terminator, who actually believes there will be no eternal life. He’s going to be quite surprised to find out when he faces Jesus Christ. How wrong he was. In fact, his most famous movie line came from Jesus Himself. I’ll be back.B) Here’s a concept that’s a little more difficult but incredibly powerful if we will seize its truth. The inheritance that we receive from God through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ and illumination through the Holy Spirit is that inheritance goes on forever, which means it is never depleted. It never runs out. It never runs dry. There is no end to its giving. In every other inheritance, there is a beginning and an end. With our inheritance, there is no end. That’s why it’s called eternity!C) You know that the Lord has been working with me on being more diligent in asking people to come alongside the ministry financially and prayerfully. The last half of verse 21 makes it clear that the righteous show mercy and give. The people whom Jesus’s love has touched are the biggest givers of mercy and money. Jesus would have it no other way. After all, it’s HIS money.
 

The David Spoon Experience 7-18-23 Part 2

1) In Galatians 2:17, Paul raises a question that many of you have asked me: What happens if we have faith in Christ but still struggle with sin? Paul first emphasizes that it is not Christ's fault for our ongoing struggles.2) Paul reminds us that when we realize we still have sin, we often try to rebuild our righteousness based on the old system, which was ineffective from the beginning. So, when we attempt to reconstruct the old system, we cannot blame Christ for the shortcomings.3) The truth is that when we resort to relying on the law to make ourselves righteous, we forget the significance of Jesus Christ's redemption. We had already acknowledged our need for Jesus to obtain righteousness, but when we find ourselves sinning again, instead of turning back to Jesus, we attempt to handle it on our own.4) A classic verse in the New Testament is when Paul states, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." This means that it is Jesus within him who accomplishes righteousness, and he must trust in the Son of God for his entire existence. Any other approach disregards the meaning of God's grace. If we adopt such an approach, it implies that Jesus did not need to die for us in the first place. It is a harsh reality to confront, realizing that we are undermining the purpose of God's sacrifice.

The David Spoon Experience 7-18-23 Part 1

A) Jesus goes over to the synagogue, and his attention is drawn to a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees, noticing this, attempt to trap Jesus. They question him about the legality of healing on the Sabbath, hoping he would answer affirmatively so they could accuse Him. It's unfortunate that religious and political figures often react this way when someone does good in the name of Jesus. B) However, Jesus once again turns the tables and exposes the hypocrisy within each of them. He reveals that they themselves have broken the law even more than they are willing to admit. By doing so, Jesus emphasizes that the worth of a person is far greater than that of an animal. Please don't misunderstand—I am an animal lover myself, but Jesus highlights the inherent value of a person and their soul.C) Instead of backing down, Jesus boldly challenges the Pharisees by instructing the man with the deformed hand to stretch it out. Miraculously, the man's hand is instantly healed and restored to its normal state, just like the other hand. Jesus sticks it in their face.D) How do the Pharisees respond to this powerful demonstration of God's work? They convene and conspire to kill Jesus, as they believe this extreme measure is the best way to deal with him. Their reaction may seem drastic, even for them, but it shouldn't surprise anyone watching the academic, entertainment, and/or political theatre.

The David Spoon Experience 7-17-23 Part 2

1) We have finally reached the portion in the book of Job where there is a response after two fantastic chapters and 29 less fantastic chapters. So far in this story, we have encountered various characters: God, the devil, the angels, Job, his wife, his children, his laborers, and his three friends, who were, in fact, miserable comforters. Now, we are introduced to a new character named Elihu.2) He is younger and therefore speaks from a different level of experience, but he is less bitter, so his speech carries a greater sense of purity. In the more accurate translations, it states that Job justified himself rather than God. This made Elihu angry, as well as the inability of Job's three friends to answer him, yet they still condemned Job. In a sense, they functioned in condemnation without proper verification.3) I want to emphasize this point because the real sin in the situation was Job's attempt to evaluate why he had gone through everything he experienced. He claimed his righteousness as the reason he should not have suffered. Ironically, it was Job's righteousness that brought this upon him.4) He remained faithful to the Lord, and the Lord intended to demonstrate and affirm that. In the end, God won the battle and shoved it into the enemy’s face because Job did not curse God. But he still has some explaining to do. Just like we do.

The David Spoon Experience 7-17-23 Part 1

A) As we finish the qualifications in 1st Timothy, Chapter 3, we see that the deacons are declared as people who have a good standing in the faith and great boldness in the faith. The good standing has to do with their position amongst other believers in their fellowship. The boldness of their faith has to do with their willingness to share and to be a Christian witness outside of the fellowship. It’s an excellent way to say that a deacon represents Jesus Christ in and out of the church. B) As Paul writes this letter, he desires to come and see Timothy shortly. But Paul is well aware that his plans are not always God’s plans Even as an exceptional Apostle. It just does not work that way. So, he lets Timothy know. I sure hope I can come and see you, but if I don’t, I’m writing to let you know how things should be in the church. It would do all of us well to heed Paul’s humility relating to where he’s going and what he’s going to be more in the Lord’s hands than in his.C) And here comes one of the Great Foundational statements of the entire Bible. It is often missed, and it should not be. And for churches that have forgotten this, they should go back to this. Paul tells Timothy how they ought to conduct themselves in the House of God, which is the Church of the living God and the PILLAR and the GROUND of the TRUTH. It’s not the culture that tells us the truth. It’s not the government that tells us the truth. It’s not the educational systems that tell us the truth. It is the church, as declared by Jesus Christ through His Word that tells us the truth Everything else is a lie.

The David Spoon Experience 7-14-23 Part 2

1) I love opportunities. I know you do too. Getting a chance, an opportunity, or an “open door” is an expectation of an event that brings great hope and joy. This is true for family, friends, relationships, education, employment, and more. However, there is NOTHING more exciting than an “open door” from the kingdom’s perspective. Partnering with God, and having Divine approval, could be one of the coolest events that happen to us. That’s why I know, like you do, that if God is in on it, there won’t even be a hint or a smidge of trouble, struggle, or difficulty. Yeah, right! Only in Bizarro World. Get real.2) Here’s another fun one. What I love about the church is that there is nary or hardly a whiff of trouble or strain with believers among believers. Now we all know that the church today has its share of problems. After all, zoning laws are getting tougher. And getting discounts on communion materials can be a real challenge. But just like the early church, we all get along super well. We are just like the early church, with everyone getting along. Believe me. And believe me when I say that I have a bridge to sell you too.3) Brother Sergio shared a brilliant question and personal experience he had when he felt overwhelmed and frustrated. In his moment of desperation, he stumbled upon 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7, which reminded him that when we entrust our burdens to the Lord, He takes care of us. Brother Sergio discovered that by surrendering his worries to the Lord and allowing Him to take control, he experienced the profound peace and grace of God. During this segment, Dave delves into the meaning of 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7, and explores its transformative impact on our thoughts and emotions. The fundamental principle emphasized here is the act of surrendering ourselves to God, recognizing His omnipotence and acknowledging that He is more than capable of guiding us through difficult times.

The David Spoon Experience 7-14-23 Part 1

Prayers for our people to open the show. A) No immoral or irreverent person: Immoral is sexually immoral. And while we give a decent amount of calling out the LGBTQRST people, this also means that adulterers and anything along those lines. It’s not just perverted sex, it’s sex outside the parameters that God has established. If a husband and wife enjoy something, more power to them. That’s because the marriage bed is undefiled, but the adulterer’s or fornicator’s bed.B) Esau exchanged his birthright for a SINGLE meal. The key is for a single meal. He dumped the Divine for a temporary fling in the flesh—bad call. We are commanded NOT to be this way. Later, after realizing what he gave up, he sought to reclaim the blessing. Oops.C) But here is the kicker: He sought repentance with tears. Guess what…he couldn’t find it. There was “no opportunity for repentance” because God said NO! This is the key. The thief on the cross had a genuine chance to believe in Jesus. But a person who thinks that they are going to outsmart God is going to burn in hell. There will be no Death Bed Dodge for those who say I reject you, Jesus. But I will sneak in at the end. Not going to happen.

The David Spoon Experience 7-13-23 Part 2

1) The believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea: In case you are wondering, this move by the believers was not to send these servants on a luxury cruise. It was to get them out of Dodge. For the believer’s safety and for Paul and Silas’s safety. This is strong proof that when the early church condemned people for moving out of harm’s way, there were not considering ALL of the counsel of God. There is a time to stand and be martyred. And there is a time to duck and cover.2) The Bereans were awesome. At least in the beginning. I mean, they were so awesome that we had a bookstore chain that is called Berean Bookstores. But why were the Bereans so awesome, like I said, at least to start with? Because they were more open-minded and searched diligently to see if the things that were being taught were ACTUALLY in the Scriptures.3a) A great example of this truth is the principle of unconditional love. God’s love is unconditional in the sense that it is offered to everyone. But for those who reject God, that love does save them. God loves “everyone” in the sense that He sends His rain on the just and the unjust. He loves everyone in that He gives people the opportunity to repent. He loves everyone in the context that all people are His offspring. This is called His UNIVERSAL Love.3b) God doesn’t love “everyone” in the sense that He has mercy on some but not on others. He doesn’t love everyone in that He doesn’t give every person the “heart” to repent and be saved. “Jacob, have I loved, but Esau have I hated,” as well as hating the wicked. This is called His DISTINCTIVE Love. The fullness of this love is revealed in connection to Jesus Christ. Not everyone has Jesus Christ.4) But guess what happened? Other people from other places are influenced by other wisdom that is Not from God. And the lights out, fantastic Bereans take a sharp left turn (Eccl. 10:2: but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left), and once again, Paul was sent (and escorted) to Athens. But this redirection was the plan of God. It usually is. Amen.
 

The David Spoon Experience 7-13-23 Part 1

A) This was the story: The conflict that caused the painful visit and the severe letter involved a challenge to Paul’s authority as an apostle. The severe letter achieved a degree of correction. The rebel who caused grief, not merely for Paul but for the entire church to some extent, had been repudiated by the majority (see 7:6–13). With their cooperation, Paul is ready to forgive and comfort the offender. To continue to punish him (after he has repented) would damage not only him but the church and Paul’s own work because it would allow Satan to take advantage of the discord in the church. The traditional identification of the offending person with the incestuous man in 1 Cor. 5:1–5 is possible, but the offense here seems to have been directed particularly at Paul, with the charge being grievous, rude conduct, not immorality.[1]B) Consider what this Godly sorrow has produced in you: Here is another testimony that you are saved. Or a testimony that someone is not. When God moves upon us with a “sorrow” (to pain, to grieve, to be sad), it creates a movement towards getting it right, getting it on track. That zeal is an indication that Godly grief is having the desired effect and impact. It moves us to do better. C) Paul then writes something that will be disturbing to many. But in context, it has the perfect flow from the Holy Spirit. He says that he did not write on the account of the abuser/sinner/ rebel. Neither did he write on the account the victims, the abused, or the pained. He wrote on behalf of the righteousness of God.D) I fully understand the desire for mankind to desire justice. But the problem is that justice, based on sinful human wisdom, falls short every time. James 1:20 states, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” And Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
 
[1] Hayford, Jack W., Paul G. Chappell, Kenneth C. Ulmer, Judy Brown, Roy Hayden, Jonathan David Huntzinger, and Gary Matsdorf, eds. 2002. New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Bibles.