The David Spoon Experience

The David Spoon Experience 2-3-23 Part 2

1) First, I’m still taking some liberty because it's Friday. 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)  We examine the life of the longest-living Apostle, John. He is one of the Big three, Peter, James, and John. Actually, he wrote about 20% of the New Testament. However, two dominant themes that John existed in are the primary focus of his ministry. He targets the words “LOVE” and “BELIEVE.” He uses this phrase about a hundred times throughout the Gospel, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, as well as the book of Revelation. 3) But before you think of Saint John as the perfect dude, take a diligent step back. John had multiple excellent characteristics that were good. But he also had some bad attributes too. So, we review three of his best and three of his worst qualities. But an under-taught reality is that John was a true-blue kind of guy. He was a part owner of a fishing business. He was a regular guy that Jesus took hold of. And Jesus made him a force for the kingdom of God. Hey, that applies to you and too!   

The David Spoon Experience 2-3-23 Part 1

A) Now faith is Okey dokey arty-chokey, here is where we put bad Bible brains and myths to rest. Here is a specific set of definitions for faith. (NIV) faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (NLT) faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (ESV) faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (BSB) faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. (KJV) faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. B) By it, our ancestors won approval: Who? All of them. Especially Abe. C) We understand: Oh boy. We “get it” where the brilliant scientists said the universe is 30 billion, no wait, 20 billion, no wait, 10 billion, no wait, 5 billion years old. Let’s be honest; they are clueless. D) By the word: God spoke matter into existence. Pow.

The David Spoon Experience 2-2-23 Part 2

1) We understand the leftover results as we move past the divine comedy. Peter was in jail, and then he was delivered from his bondage. Herod Agrippa freaked out and interrogated the soldiers who were responsible for watching Peter. The result of Herod's embarrassment was that he executed the soldiers. It's not as uncommon as you think that people tend to execute one another (or go after) when they're embarrassed. 2) But God does not ignore the actions of the unrighteous and deals with them as he sees fit. The following events in Herod's life involve him making a speech to the people of Tyre and Sidon. These people were in a bad situation with Herod. They were dependent on him for their resources, and they had displeased him. So, they decided to do whatever they could so that he wouldn't be angry at them any longer. So, they heaped praises upon him. And told him how great he was. 3) And here it comes: The biggest of the big, Herod accepted the people's worship for himself instead of giving God the glory. He received it for himself because he thought he was that good. He justified himself, and he didn't justify God. The Lord didn't think highly of that. So, God killed him and consumed him with worms (New Testament). That is the fate of those who reject the worship that belongs to God. They go fishing, but they are the bait on the hook. Ouch!

The David Spoon Experience 2-2-23 Part 1

A) What a blessing that we've come to in 2nd Corinthians. This passage has been foundational for my walk with the Lord. It starts off with Paul talking about going somewhere to preach the gospel. It's impressive because he first says there was an open door from the Lord. That means that God said yes to the initial direction. B) Now, what's even more impressive is that, as Paul describes it, he shares that he's not comfortable. He says he has no peace in his spirit. In another translation, he says it has no peace of mind. We can't use this exclusive of other guidance and direction. But we can use this as part of God's tools to know that we are on the right course. C) Paul was looking for Titus in this situation. And even though there was an open door, because Titus was not there, he did not think this was the best of the best. What's outstanding is what he did next. He left! He was there, it was an open door, but there was something else that was gnawing at him. And he knew it was time to boogie. This is a tool to help us with guidance.

The David Spoon Experience 1-27-23 Part 2

1) Normally, on a Friday, I will do a few different DDD’s. But as I was preparing for this day, the Lord dropped a “teach this instead” thought into my very tiny brain. So, we try to follow the Lord the best we can. This teaching centers around the image of God and how the people of God have a polluted or warped picture of God and who He is. 2) In Malachi 3, the people were challenged by God as speaking terrible things about God. What did we say…? Then the Lord told them that His own people accused God of blessing the evildoer and doing nothing for His own. This false accusation occurs when the believer doesn’t see what they think they should see. Without stating it outright, the people of God don’t like God’s job. This, my friends, is dangerous territory. 3) When we pray, we have to determine in our hearts, each and every time, the character of God. Generous, stingy, tight-fisted, slow, or uncaring are all attributes the enemy tries to use to convince people about who God is. In the Garden of Eden, the father of lies said, “For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” He accused God of hiding stuff. The enemy tells the same lie today.

The David Spoon Experience 1-27-23 Part 1

A) For in a little while. Here is where my appreciation for Premillennialism comes to fruition. The A-mills and the Post-Mills have less sense of urgency than the Pre-Mills. Don’t get offended. This is why I’m a Manifold Millennialist. Or a Pan-Millennialist: It will all pan out. But one thing is for sure. Jesus is coming again. And soon. Very soon. So much sooner than people realize that if we realized it, we would live differently. B) The righteous live by faith. Not by good works, good looks, or good vibes. By Faith. The grace of God is given by grace and received by faith. Please reference Ephesians 2:8-9 for verification. And the Lord tells us that if we shrink back from faith, we are in trouble. This is not having less faith but walking away from the faith. It’s about drawing back away from God. C) But WE are not that way. We will NOT draw back from the life of faith because those of us who are truly in the faith already know that there is no other place to go and no other person with the words of life but Jesus Christ.

The David Spoon Experience 1-26-23 Part 2

1) The Divine Comedy: This is for all the people who have absolutely no grasp on how funny God really is. First, to the scriptures: A merry heart does make like medicine. And for about a billion believers, they can use some seriously merry medicine. But, instead, too many believers are like the minks in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. The monks keep bashing their heads with wood. So perhaps we can reflect a little of the eternity we are heading into. After all, the testimony of a mirror makes a case for laughing. 2) Peter is just coming to his senses. He has been sleeping. He was in jail, bound up and going nowhere. But now he is out on the street. He is looking over his shoulder everywhere. How do we know this? He is an escaped prisoner on the run. It doesn’t take rocket science to figure it out. Shhhhh. 3) He gets to the mother’s house of John Mark. He knows it well. John mark is a disciple of his (see 1 Peter 5). He calls for them to open the door. Wow, how exciting. But they don’t believe her when Rhoda tells the disciples that Peter is there. Even though they prayed for that. Meanwhile, guess who is outside and still knocking while arguing inside the house? Poor Peter.

The David Spoon Experience 1-26-23 Part `

A) When someone does wrong to the church community, we will often respond will a “calling out on the carpet” approach. This is biblical Christian confrontation (in truth, love, and wisdom) and is commanded in the Pastoral Epistles. But there does come a time when the fire dies down, and the healing balm needs to be applied. So when there is someone who messes up, they should see it. But the idea is not to keep that person in that failure but to restore them. B) If you forgive, I forgive. Now, look at this principle. It is the same one that God uses with us. When Saul was persecuting the church, Jesus called him out and said, “dude, you are persecuting Me.” As Jesus saw it, what was being done to His people was being done to Him. It’s the same thing here. Paul states, “if you forgive them, then I do too.” We do with and for one another because we are God’s family. C) In order that satan does not take advantage of us. Well, how does Satan take advantage of us? By getting us to operate in unforgiveness. That’s his tool. It is the opposite of God. And it’s what he tries to drive the Christians into doing. To hold on to the bitterness and the anger. Don’t.

Spiritually Wounded? Listen to this ENTIRE show!

TOP SHOW: 1) First, Christian Kaos, part nine: A tale of two cities. A tale of three kings. A tale of four Jews. That’s the ticker, and here we go: Four Jewish Christians, all from the same city in Detroit, Michigan, all living in the same neighborhood, two of which were, and still are, best friends. All saying yes to Jesus within thirty days of each other. And all on fire for Jesus Christ. After that, we were known as The Four Musketeers. 2) We now come to this testimony’s most intense and redeeming portion. For all the stuff (and there was a lot), seeing the face of grace changes us. When we see that face, we often think there will be rainbows and skittles. At the very least, we anticipate a trump sound. After all, if God is going to show Himself, we certainly expect to be overwhelmed. We don’t think of God shedding tears and sharing feelings. But He does. And always has. 3) I share with Pastor Dave all the good and all the bad that this Jewish believer has encountered in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can feel the anger rising within. Multiple years of frustration and two plus two not equaling four were catching up to me. Numbers don’t lie. People who use numbers lie. So, where is God through this process? After all, He promised never to leave me nor forsake me. And if there were a case to be made, I thought I could make it. Wow. I could not have been any more blind than I was. He wasn’t far from me. Can you relate?

The David Spoon Experience 1-25-23 Part 1

TOP SHOW: A) Psalm 30, which is the blessedness of answered prayer. I extol You, Lord. To extol is to admire. I cried out to You, and You healed me. Whether immediately, like Jesus demonstrated, or over time, we cry to the Lord, and he responds. He is not deaf like my little Levi is getting. God created the ear. And he hears perfectly. B) God has brought our souls up and has kept us alive. Again, this connects with how many of us have pushed into the Lord, only to learn a fantastic lesson. The deeper we drive in, the greater we know about our darkness. And the greater we find our need to be fully invested and rested in Him. C) His anger lasts for a moment: But Dave, God doesn’t get angry. And a loving God never hates. Wrong and wrong. Ten times, the Bible refers to things and people that He hates. If you don’t like it, then take it up with Him. You may want to hang out in Proverbs 6:16-19 first, though. D) His favor is for a lifetime: Compared to the temporary displeasure due to our sin, God’s favor lasts from one end of eternity to no end of eternity.

The David Spoon Experience 1-24-23 Part 2

1) Why are we different from the world and the worldly? There are several reasons for this reality. The first level is that God called us His own, which means that we are “holy” or “set apart” for His purposes. That set apart is from the world and the worldly. He sets us apart by choosing us. Another level of being separated is that we respond to Jesus as He is, alive and well and at the right hand of the Father. Still another level is that the Holy Spirit has sealed us. But there is one more thing that we engage with…2) HMIM. He Must Increase Ministry. I was so blessed to see that I could generate a non-profit with this title. John the Baptist stated this in John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” There are two major parts to it. First, Jesus must increase in all we say, do, and think. We, as in self-glory, must decrease. 3) Holy than thou doesn’t work very well. A myriad of people have convinced themselves that their good works will outweigh their bad ones. Even though that is not statistically true, they still FEEL like their balance will put them in the plus column before God. But God says, “nope.”

The David Spoon Experience 1-24-23 Part 1

1) He went home. I know this sounds silly, but a great teacher made an excellent point about Abraham and his engagement with God in Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 18:33 states, When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. After a tremendous spiritual experience, go home. 2) Matthew was sitting at his toll booth. He was despised. His own community loathed him. His only set of friends were people as bad as he was. Then Jesus does the amazing; Jesus, an outsider, tells Matthew that He wants him to hang out with Jesus. He expresses a desire for a connection. And Matthew jumps at the opportunity and experience to be wanted. 3) Oh my goodness. Did you see Jesus? He was hanging out with prostitutes. He was hanging out with other tax collectors. He was hanging out with the drunkards. That is incredible. Fortunately, we will never personally be seen doing this. Especially as Christians. ):