The David Spoon Experience

The David Spoon Experience 3-31-23 Part 2

1) There are so many great things that the Lord brings into our lives. There is no way that we can fully express our appreciation. But along with these MEGA cool blessings come requirements that involve becoming Christlike. It is awesome when Christlikeness involves answered prayers and miracles. It’s a little less awesome when Christlikeness involves growing up to look like Jesus.
2) When we earnestly prayed that we could be more like Jesus, God ignored that prayer. Just kidding. He logged that prayer. He has been answering that prayer your entire Christian journey. And even if you ask Him to put it aside awhile, he won’t. Because…God answers prayers. In His way and in his timing. So, it may be helpful to examine two distinct characteristics that God works in us to help us shine Jesus a little bit more in our lives.  
3) This is useful to us in our walk with God because it helps us focus on the priority that God has established. Is that YOUR priority? Most likely, not so much. But it is the Kingdom’s priority. Ironically, when we come to maturity in the faith, we begin to understand just how much God despises pride. It hates it so much that He judged our worst enemy because of it. And He turned a king into a cow. This teaching is about two positive Christlike characters and one big no-no one. Ouch!
 

The David Spoon Experience 3-31-23 Part1

A) Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Wow…what a departure from our current generation of winey baby youths. In a billionaire context, this guy was entitled to anything and everything. But trying to be true, he would not HIDE himself in the palace. Guess what? The verse says, “when he grew up.”
B) Moses made a choice. Everyone is going to be offered the opportunity. He chose to suffer with the REAL people, the people of God. And he chose against the pleasures that were before him. And more like Solomon and less like most of us, Moses had the unlimited opportunity to sin his brains out. He chose to follow God. From an impact point of view, Moses has touched billions of lives. All the pharaohs combined, not so much.

The David Spoon Experience 3-30-23 Part 2

1) While Paul and Barnabas are preaching. They’re having an impact on the community. Guess what happens when other people have an impact on the community? Leaders, whether religious or otherwise, tend to get jealous. Here is what happens when people get jealous of other people getting the spotlight: they start to slander those people. They become verbally opposed to those people. And as the scripture indicates, they argued with whatever. This sheds some light on the expression “a chip on their shoulder.”
2) Here comes an amazing truth. Paul makes the same proclamation as he affirms in Romans 1:16. He simply states that the gospel must be preached to the Jewish people first. Like all the New Testament ministers, the initial ministries were brought to the Jewish people. Then afterward was the opportunity for the Gentiles to hear the gospel. To the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.
3) Next comes the turn-or-burn speech. Paul says you've rejected the gospel. You've rejected the Good News. And because of that rejection, you have deemed yourself unworthy of eternal life. Regardless of everything we say and do, if somebody says NO to Jesus, it is their decision. God knew ahead of time that they would make that decision. But they have judged themselves. To be unfit to hang out with the big G.

The David Spoon Experience 3-30-23 Part1

As is normal, the entire first part of the show takes a swift turn in another direction. A caller brings up how powerful one of the trivia questions turned out to be for him because when he pictured the crown of thorns going into Jesus's head, he realized that the blood of Jesus also covers the mind. That gave him freedom from fear, which tells you that the Lord uses his truth in multiple ways to set people free. You have to hear it; it's awesome.

The David Spoon Experience 3-29-23 Part 2

WOW! You won't like this one if you are Woke, PC, Transgender, Gay, A Race Baiter, Me Too, or any other unreasonable human philosophy. Too bad. All of these are attempts to sidestep that righteousness is through Jesus.
1) I love to teach the classics. Dave, are you talking about the integrated study of ancient Greek and Roman civilization? No. The Gilligan Island episodes? Nope. I am talking about sermons that I have taught for a number of years that we need to recycle (not to save the earth) in our minds every so often. The reason that these teachings resonate with me is that they help me draw closer to Jesus. But Dave, aren’t these teachings that you wrote? Stop asking so many questions.
 2) This classic teaching is not new. Hence the term classic means judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind. So, who has judged this teaching a classic? Me, myself and I. And my wife. So that should qualify it as a classic right there. Will this message help you? Is there something new in this material that people can learn? Aren’t there a lot of questions in this introduction? Yes, yes, and yes.
3) By now, as you are listening to me drone on and on about how this material is timeless, traditional, and beneficial, you may be trying to ascertain the actual teaching. I credit you with extreme astuteness in trying to understand the topic. It definitely shows me that you are listening to this. And for that, you have my deepest appreciation. What you don’t have is the actual topic. And the reality is that this will be the first introduction where the topic and/or the title are not mentioned. That seems awful sneaky on my part. You are correct again. It is pretty sneaky and not very nice. But I still love you. And you HAVE TO love me.

The David Spoon Experience 3-29-23 Part 1

A) No king, army, mighty man, or horse. I know we are a superpower. Maybe not where we were. Maybe so. But when we, as a nation, think it is our “own” might, then that is not right. Might makes right if it’s in God’s light. And the reality is that God killed everyone on the planet. So in terms of actual superpower, let every human being take an appropriate pause.
B) His eye is on 1) Those who fear Him. 2) Those who hope in His mercy. Here is the key to grasping this: power, safety, preservation, deliverance, and overcoming are ALL (as in ALL) in the hands of the Lord.
C) During famine: But Dave, preachers and teachers tell me that I am supposed to include prosperity and wealth to give people a reason to follow Jesus. WRONG JESUS. WRONG GOSPEL. God promises to “keep us alive" during a famine. Not give us six cars and a fleet of planes.
D) Jeremiah 45:5 states, Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people, but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

The David Spoon Experience 3-28-23 Part 2

1) At this point in our radio fellowship relationship, we should review the basic show principles we operate with. Principles are just a softer word for rules. Get it? We are not YOUR church. We are co-ministers, family, and a fellowship. One of our founding statements of purpose is ministering to educate, encourage, and entertain Bible Believers, wounded and forgotten Believers, and not yet Believers with Biblical Truths. This is the key. You and I need to connect to a church in some way. Why? 1) It’s commanded. And 2) Churches NEED your help. And 3) YOU have something to give to others. Like Jesus.
2) I have sat in a mega-church service where the ministers mocked Christians who believe that suffering is a way of honoring Jesus. Here’s a key: In any sickness we encounter, we have an opportunity to demonstrate our faith. I think that is like Jesus, so that’s a good thing. And if we EVER suffer for being Christians, we are supposed to understand that we are blessed to share in that, just like Jesus did.
3) And here’s a treat: I located about 25 Pastor Notes from my past that are filled with faith encouragements and honest reflections. These will now be inserted into the show from time to time. The main reason is that SOME of them are really cool. And some are not as cool. But the one I will review with you today…is really cool. Just because they are pastor notes still doesn’t mean we are a church. You will see why soon enough. Buckle up, little campers. 
 

The David Spoon Experience 3-28-23 Part 1

A) It is one of the most profound teachings regarding faith. Two blind men follow Jesus. The question is, how did they follow Jesus? They were blind. The answer is that they heard and felt their way toward Him. Some people can’t see Jesus but can feel their way toward Him and hear Him.
B) They immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah by calling him David's son. That is only a term reserved for the Messiah. And they recognized that in their situation, the only resolution was mercy. So, Jesus poses a question. Do you believe that I can do this? Do you believe that I can make you see? What’s important about this question is, every time we petition the Lord, we need to answer this before we ask.
C) Jesus then gives the key that the faith teaching that people should focus in on. They shouldn’t go and make this their entire walk. But this should be a part of the arsenal. After all, we’re supposed to have the shield of faith. Jesus said, because of your faith, it will happen. He didn’t say because of your positive faith, it would happen. He just said, because of your faith, it would happen. Something believers  miss quite often is followers having faith for crummy things, and they end up getting crummy things “because” it’s according to your faith, so be it!

The David Spoon Experience 3-27-23 Part 2

1) We will take advantage of a significant principle that most people won’t appreciate. As we whittled down through Job, we find out that his friends start to get fed up and lose it. Eliphaz responds to Job by starting to call him names. At this point, the connection between the four of them has disintegrated into an ugly church scenario.
2) Toxic relations require a sense of wisdom. This is different from a difficult marital or family issue. Those connections are blood. And Jesus was mocked by His own family but kept open doors. John 7:4-5 states, “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” These relationships require more effort.
3) It’s probably worth noting that becoming a mature Christian requires, occasionally, silence or just walking away. This happened with Jesus over 40 times with people. I know everybody wants to win the arguments and the fights. But it seems somewhat foolish since there’s only one true winner of every argument. Jesus gave no answer to Herod or Pilate and walked away from open interaction with people when the Pharisees sought His demise. (John 12:14-16). Time to say bye-bye. 

The David Spoon Experience 3-27-23 Part 1

A) We come to a passage that many believers and scholars have struggled with. But upon further close examination, it’s not quite as difficult. Paul mentions in verse 20. That Hymenaeus and Alexander have been delivered to Satan. The two main interpretations have to do with being excommunicated from the church’s protection. Or being judged through death, like Ananias and Saphira.
B) The balance of the text gives us a clearer picture of understanding. Paul’s desirous that these two people, who have shipwrecked to their faith (ran it into the rocks), might learn not to blasphemy. The key in that structure is that, in order for them to learn, they have to be alive. This has to do with being outside of the protection of God by being outside of the family of God. This does not have to do with the local church’s protection.
C) Paul then exerts his readers to remember to be active in the power of prayer. He reminds them that all forms of prayer, supplication, intercession, and giving thanks (which should be part of prayer) are made on people’s behalf. He specifically mentions kings (people), who are in authority. Whether it’s Donald Trump or Joe Biden, the idea is to be praying for them, not against them.

The David Spoon Experience 3-24-23 Part 2

1) Because it’s Friday, I’m taking some liberty. This is a particular “Person in the New Testament” Bible Study. I have taught on some of these before, but a review is worth our time. We won’t touch on each person in the New Testament, but the ones will cover are intended to bring us closer to understanding these brothers in Christ.
2) Next up is our buddy, Titus. As you may know, he is one of the two recipients of the Pastoral Epistles. There are eleven references to him throughout the New Testament besides the actual letter that bears his name. Some of these references we use on this show with great frequency. Others have hardly been mentioned. Today, we dive deeper into the series we call “People in the New.”  
3) The amazing characters of Titus demonstrate that he was a devoted brother and a fellow soldier for the kingdom. You will meet him face to face in Heaven. He also demonstrates a unique character that separates him from other warriors in the kingdom. He brings with him the balm of peace to be administered to other brothers and sisters. Now…that is super cool. 
 

The David Spoon Experience 3-24-23 Part 1

A) Enter the world of Moses: As we have reviewed some of the great people of Faith, we now come to the big Mo. He is mentioned at least 80 times in the New Testament. And his influence on the Jewish mind and the REAL Jewish culture is outstanding. The average American Jewish person, along with the phony political groups and the self-loathing Jews, are all JINOs. Jews In Name Only. Moses despised these very types of people.
B) Let’s break down the absolute sin of the phony rabbis of today, as they support abortion, even after the birthing process. God calls the fruit that is IN the womb, His reward. He also identifies the children IN the womb as His heritage and His people. And when Mo’s mom and dad had Mo, they saw that he was a gift from God. They loved and protected him.
C) Mr. and Mrs. Mo had an older daughter (Mariam) and an older son (Aaron). But they still REBELLED against the king’s command to exterminate babies that were born as boys. They wouldn’t fear the pharaoh but God. Any person who turns against this truth is not truly Jewish. The same is true for Christians. You can be a Christian without Jesus Christ.