The David Spoon Experience

09-18-2025 PART 1: The Black Horse and the Unshakable King

Section 1Revelation is approached here through “manifold millennialism”—welcoming multiple orthodox views not to win arguments but to move one step closer to Jesus. The call is, “Come and see”: examine, don’t panic. Differences among believers on non-essentials shouldn’t fracture fellowship; charity governs our tone while we study. Above all, the unfolding of history is not chaotic: Jesus opens each seal. Nothing proceeds without His command, so end-time events must be seen through the lens of a sovereign Christ who never says “uh-oh.”
Section 2At the third seal (Revelation 6:5), a black horse appears; its rider holds scales. A voice declares, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius,” signaling severe scarcity and massive inflation—a day’s wage buys only what normally purchased eight times more. The image points to economic distress under divine judgment, not merely ecological mismanagement. Yet the word is still “come and see”: look closely, discern what God is showing, and refuse fear—because Jesus remains the One breaking each seal.
Section 3“Do not harm the oil and the wine” adds a provocative twist. Some read it as God preserving staples; others see protected luxuries that expose a widening gap between rich and poor—either way, it intensifies division as part of judgment. Still, two anchor truths stand: 1) Judgment on a rebel world is certain; 2) God never abandons His kids. So Christians prepare for any timeline—ready to go, ready to endure, ready to build—while praying, “Come, Lord Jesus,” trusting His faithfulness until He returns.

09-17-2025 PART 3: Joseph Priorities, Protection, and Confidence

Section 1Joseph’s faith wasn’t just private; it shaped his priorities. After the birth of Jesus, he and Mary went to Jerusalem to present their child to the Lord, surrendering Him first as God’s child before their own (Luke 2:22). This act highlights a truth many parents miss: children are lent by God, not owned. Joseph modeled surrender, keeping God as the highest priority in family life. For parents today, that means daily entrusting children to God—whether faithful or prodigal—knowing His claim and care are greater than ours.
Section 2Joseph was also a vigilant protector. When warned in a dream of Herod’s murderous plans, he immediately took Mary and Jesus to Egypt (Matthew 2:14). He protected his family at all costs. That protection wasn’t only physical; it serves as a call for parents to guard children spiritually and mentally as well. Joseph shows us that defending family means shielding them from destructive lies and praying daily for truth to prevail. In every generation, evil tries to shape children through falsehood; Joseph’s example urges us to act, pray, and stand watch.
Section 3Finally, Joseph’s legacy speaks through trust and confidence. After fulfilling all the requirements of the Law, he returned with his family to Nazareth, raising Jesus in the everyday rhythms of work and home (Luke 2:39–40). Joseph trusted God with his Son and gave Jesus the steady foundation of a father’s confidence, mirrored by God’s confidence in us as His ambassadors. Though Scripture grows quiet about Joseph later, his mark is indelible: a father who obeyed, protected, prioritized God, and trusted both his child and his Lord. That is good fathering worth imitating.

09-17-2025 PART 2: Joseph Obedience, Mercy, and Step-Up Fatherhood

Section 1Joseph’s first defining mark is immediate obedience. After the angel’s message in a dream, he does exactly what God says and takes Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). This isn’t secondhand tradition; it’s personal revelation, and Joseph responds without bargaining or delay. The takeaway: when the Word or the Spirit makes God’s will clear, disciples don’t rationalize—they obey. That prompt obedience set the foundation for protecting Mary and raising Jesus in God’s timing and care.
Section 2Before the dream, Joseph already showed godly character: he planned to end the betrothal quietly so as not to disgrace Mary (Matthew 1:18–19). He chose mercy over public shaming—doing the right thing in the kindest way. That restraint reveals a man who refuses to weaponize someone else’s failure (or perceived failure). In a world eager to “expose,” Joseph models justice with compassion: handle painful situations truthfully yet gently, guarding another’s dignity while honoring God.
Section 3Joseph then “steps up” as a true father: legally and lovingly embracing a Son not from his own lineage (Luke 3:23), shouldering provision, protection, and formation. He leads through trust—registering with Mary during the census (Luke 2:5)—and hopes in God for the future. This is the heart of step-parenting at its best: no half-measures, no favoritism, just covenant love that believes and invests. Joseph’s legacy calls modern parents (biological or step) to sacrificial presence, steady faith, and everyday choices that put family’s good ahead of pride.

09-17-2025 PART 1: Zeal, Honesty, and the Cost of Love (Psalm 69:5–9)

Section 1King David opens by admitting that nothing about him is hidden from God—his foolishness and sins are fully known. That honesty becomes a doorway, not to despair, but to sanctification: the God who saved him eternally also saves him situationally, shaping him to look more like Jesus day by day. The takeaway is simple and bracing: stop pretending. Bring the secret places to the Lord who already “scans” the heart. Confession isn’t news to God; it’s alignment with Him. In that alignment, we ask not just for forgiveness, but for help to see even the sins we miss and to do better in the next obedient step.
Section 2From that humility, David prays something beautifully unselfish: “Don’t let my failures trip anyone else.” He asks that those who wait on and seek God won’t be shamed or confused because of his missteps. This is a mature, others-first faith—especially vital when leaders falter. The world may gloat and believers may point fingers, but the godly posture is grief, intercession, and restoration. While redemption in Christ is complete, our influence is real; therefore, we plead that our stumbles won’t become someone else’s stumbling block, even as we keep moving forward in grace and truth.
Section 3Finally, David names the cost: bearing reproach “for Your sake,” even feeling like a stranger among his own family because zeal for God’s house consumes him. Loyalty to Jesus reorders every allegiance—spouse, children, siblings—so that Christ remains first, always. That priority can make you feel alien in familiar rooms, yet it is the path of love that gives Jesus preeminence “in all things.” The encouragement is twofold: don’t be surprised when zeal isolates, and don’t retreat when it does. Keep Christ first, keep your heart honest, and keep asking God to turn personal refinement into public edification rather than collateral damage.

09-16-2025 PART 3: Do It Well Living Out Romans 12

Section 1Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12 is both practical and deeply spiritual: whatever gift God has entrusted to you, use it fully and faithfully. If prophecy, then speak; if serving, serve; if teaching, teach; if encouraging, encourage. Each gift is an offering to God, and offerings should be given with the best of our heart and effort. The message challenges believers not to adopt a “good enough” attitude but to give God their best, since He gave His best in Christ. Serving others, even in small ways like helping a neighbor or volunteering at church, is counted as a gift when done in love.
Section 2Generosity, leadership, and kindness are also highlighted as gifts. Paul insists that if God has blessed you with resources, you are called to share them generously. Giving is not merely financial support to a ministry but an act of worship reflecting the heart of God, who gave His Son. Leadership is to be taken seriously and carried out with a servant’s heart, echoing Jesus’ teaching that true leaders serve. Kindness, too, is identified as a distinct spiritual gift—different from the fruit of the Spirit—seen in those who naturally display empathy and compassion, listening well and blessing others with gentleness.
Section 3The overarching call is clear: gifts are not for self-promotion but for building up the body of Christ and glorifying God. Whether through teaching, giving, encouraging, leading, or showing kindness, believers are to use their graces with sincerity and gladness. The text closes with a reminder that perfection is not the expectation, but progress in reflecting Christ is. Each of us should bring our abilities before God with a prayerful heart, asking Him to help us do better, to grow “from glory to glory” into His likeness. In this way, gifts become both a blessing to others and a testimony of God’s presence in us.

09-16-2025 PART 2: Gifts Meant for Others Romans 12 Teaching

Section 1In Romans 12:6, Paul emphasizes that God has given each believer unique gifts—abilities designed to be used well. These graces are like fingerprints, distinct and personal, yet all meant to work together in the body of Christ. The teacher stresses that no translation limits God’s truth; whether NLT, KJV, NASB, or others, the call is the same: get into the Word, read carefully, and let it shape you. The point is not speed but depth—absorbing Scripture with intention and humility. All gifts, no matter their form, ultimately come from God’s grace.
Section 2These spiritual gifts are not for personal glory but for service. The teaching insists that when we use them, the joy comes not from self-display but from being in sync with our Creator’s purpose. Just as David understood his kingship was for the sake of God’s people, so too our gifts exist to bless others. Prophecy is highlighted as a practical example—defined as speaking words that comfort, exhort, or edify. Even simple reminders like “The Lord loves you” carry prophetic weight when spoken in faith, showing that encouragement itself is Spirit-led ministry.
Section 3The lesson challenges believers to speak boldly, not to hide in timidity. Too often Christians treat themselves like “church mice,” hesitant to share, but Scripture says prophecy and encouragement are for all. The Spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet, meaning words can be shared with balance and humility, without theatrical excess. At its heart, this passage reminds us that God’s gifts flow outward—to uplift, to strengthen, and to point His people back to His love. Obedience in sharing, even imperfectly, allows God to take our words and use them beyond what we could imagine.

09-16-2025 PART 1: Capped Cataclysm Jesus’ Warning in Matthew 24

Section 1Jesus frames a coming tribulation as unparalleled in human history—so severe that, without God’s direct intervention to “shorten” it, the entire human race would be wiped out. The teaching emphasizes that this judgment eclipses even the days of Noah, not merely in kind but in sheer scale, given today’s billions of people. Yet, within the stark warning lies mercy: God limits the duration “for the sake of the elect,” placing a providential cap on devastation because His children are the apple of His eye.
Section 2Alongside catastrophe comes deception. Jesus warns that false messiahs and false prophets will perform impressive signs and wonders designed to mislead—if possible—even the chosen. Believers are commanded not to chase rumors that the Messiah is “in the desert” or “hiding,” because His true return won’t be secretive; it will be as unmistakable and sky-splitting as lightning. Therefore, discard the counterfeits, ignore sensational claims, and keep eyes fixed on the authentic Christ, whose appearing will be public and impossible to miss.
Section 3The application is sober and steady: don’t abandon the faith when eschatological details feel overwhelming or when evil seems to surge. The promises in Scripture are to those who overcome, and Jesus’ advance warning is an act of grace to prepare, not paralyze, His people. Modern capabilities (e.g., nuclear armaments) only underline the plausibility of global calamity, but the takeaway is hope anchored in God’s character—His mercy, compassion, and covenant love—and in Christ’s certain, blazing return. Therefore, watch, endure, and rest in the God who both judges righteously and shields His own.

09-15-2025 PART 3: The Tragedy of Sodom and the Call to Stand Firm

Section 1Genesis 19 describes a shocking scene that exposes both the depravity of Sodom and the weakness of Lot. After welcoming two angelic visitors and sharing a meal, Lot’s house was surrounded by men of the city, demanding to abuse the guests. The text leaves no ambiguity—their intent was sexual perversion, not merely a failure of hospitality. Lot, in his desperation to protect the visitors, made the unthinkable offer of his daughters, a tragic failure of fatherhood that reveals how compromised he had become living in such a corrupt culture. This moment underscores the destructive power of unchecked sin and the tragic erosion of moral clarity.
Section 2The narrative points to God’s patience and justice. Even though Lot’s response was grievously wrong, Scripture emphasizes that Sodom’s sin had reached a breaking point. Their aggression—pressing against Lot, threatening violence, and trying to force their way in—illustrates how sin never stays contained but grows ferocious in appetite. This parallels today’s cultural battles, where rebellion against God’s design is not satisfied with private choices but demands affirmation and compliance from others. Just as Israel did not escape judgment when they turned from God, no nation today will either. America, like any people, must repent, pray, and stand in the gap if it hopes to avoid similar judgment.
Section 3The lesson extends beyond history into personal conviction. Believers are called not to compromise, not to be ashamed of Jesus or His Word, and not to give in to cultural pressures that redefine sin as acceptable. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual—truth, prayer, and the Word of God. Christians must resist both silence and acquiescence, standing firm in love yet without surrendering to lies. Sin remains aggressive, but God’s people must remain steadfast, interceding for mercy and living in holiness. The story of Sodom warns of judgment, but it also reminds the faithful that God still saves, delivers, and calls His people to shine as lights in the darkness.

09-15-2025 PART 2: Fellowship on the Hill and Daily Devotion

Section 1Eric called in to share a testimony of his recent trip to Athens, where he went with one simple goal: to sit on Mars Hill, where Paul once preached, and read Acts 17 aloud. Though he intended it for himself, God used it to reach others. As Eric read, a couple nearby noticed and were moved, telling him how beautiful it was to hear the Word spoken there. He then read the passage again with them, creating a powerful moment of fellowship—communion without bread or wine, but rich in unity through Christ. This showed how God often takes our personal devotion and multiplies it into ministry that blesses others.
Section 2Reflecting on this, the message emphasized that such experiences are not coincidences but orchestrated by the Lord. Just as Paul once looked out at temples and idols, Eric looked out at ruins now replaced with crosses—reminders of Christ’s lasting kingdom. These encounters affirm that God draws His children into deeper communion, creating powerful memories that testify to His presence. Believers are called to bring praise reports and testimonies, not for their own spotlight, but because it glorifies God. As Isaiah 43:7 teaches, we were created for His glory, and as Romans 8:14 reminds us, those led by His Spirit are His children.
Section 3The teaching then circled back to the ministry’s DNA: D for drawing closer to the Lord daily, N for never being ashamed of Jesus or His words, and A for always being ready to serve. Jesus Himself modeled cutting away distractions to spend time with the Father, showing us the necessity of daily fellowship. In a culture hostile to the gospel, Christians must stand bold, unashamed, and grounded in truth. Service flows from this posture, remembering that faith is not a solo act but a shared journey. Together, believers are to live out love, testify of Christ, and keep eternity in view—knowing their names are on His list and their destiny is forever with Him.

09-15-2025 PART 1: On His List the Joy and Awe of Malachi 316

Section 1Malachi pivots from rebuking wayward hearts to spotlighting a remnant who “feared the Lord” and spoke with one another. That fellowship isn’t a lone-wolf faith but a shared life where everything is seen through Jesus—the Scriptures point to Him, truth is anchored in Him, and unity is found at the cross. The prophet’s pause highlights how believers think, speak, and act differently from a world that calls darkness light: they gather, encourage, and stand firm together, because the word of God is truth and faith comes by hearing it.
Section 2God leans in: “The Lord listened,” and a “scroll of remembrance” records the names of those who fear Him and love to think about Him. That fear is not mere terror; it’s awe, honor, and yielded reverence—sometimes trembling before thunder, sometimes quiet respect that shapes choices. We are bound not by water alone but by the blood of Jesus, redeemed and reconciled at the cross; and those who revere the Lord are “on His list.” This assurance reframes everything: He knows what we think and say, He has chosen us, and our names are kept before Him.
Section 3Humility is the proper posture: like Job covering his mouth, like turning back down the mountain when heaven’s thunder reminds us who is King. That humility blooms into hope—because a trumpet will sound, the sky will split, and we will see Jesus face to face. Until that day, we walk in holy reverence and joyful expectation, confident that the One who listens now will welcome us then. Blessed are those on His list; their eternity is to “dance on streets of gold” with the God who delights to be with them forever.

09-12-2025 PART 3: Blessed Are the Unoffended

Section 1The teaching begins with Matthew 11:2–6, where John the Baptist, imprisoned and facing death, sends messengers to Jesus asking if He is truly the One. This is not doubt from a weak believer, but a deep, honest inquiry from a faithful prophet who had already declared Jesus as the Lamb of God. John expected Messiah to confront earthly powers, yet what he saw unfolding did not match his assumptions. Jesus’ response was not a direct “yes” but a revelation of kingdom fruit: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive the gospel. These signs confirmed the reality of the kingdom, not in political conquest but in divine transformation. And He added the key line: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Section 2The message confronts false expectations of Jesus. He was not a pacifist nor a people-pleaser; He overturned tables, rebuked hypocrisy, and fulfilled the Father’s mission without compromise. Many expected Him to deliver Israel from Rome, but His mission was far greater—eternal salvation, not temporary politics. The warning is clear: don’t stumble when God’s plan doesn’t match your preferences. Trials, persecution, and suffering are part of discipleship, just as Jesus Himself endured. Endurance and surrender mark the true believer’s path: beginning each day with, “Your will, not mine, be done.” To refuse offense at His methods is to remain blessed, even when His ways seem puzzling.
Section 3The teaching turns deeply personal, connecting the scripture to the speaker’s grief at his brother Billy’s passing. He recalls the Lord’s whispered word—“the bird is now silent”—as confirmation of Billy’s homegoing, and affirms that while Billy is doing well in glory, the sorrow belongs to those left behind. From Isaiah 63:9, he draws comfort: “In all their suffering, He suffered.” God is not detached but feels the pain of His children. Jesus wept with Mary and Martha in John 11, and He still weeps with His people today. He identifies with our persecution, as seen in Acts 9, and responds with compassion and even righteous anger, as Psalm 18 describes. The conclusion is simple yet profound: in every trial and in every hurt, the presence of God is the answer to everything.

09-12-2025 PART 2: In Life, By His Strength

Section 1The teaching draws from Ephesians 6:10, where Paul concludes his letter with the exhortation, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” The word “finally” here is like a preacher’s “in closing,” not the end of the sermon but the conclusion of all that has been said. Paul ties together his entire message, stressing that strength in the Lord is not about physical ability or human effort but about being rooted in one’s spiritual life. True strength is found not in the flesh but in the Spirit, as echoed in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.” Every breath itself is a gift from God, reminding us that our dependence must remain on Him.
Section 2To be strong in the Lord is to live continually in Him. This is not about hovering around Christ or being loosely connected but being fully immersed “in Christ.” As Paul elsewhere teaches, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation—the old has passed away, the new has come. Many struggle because they remain near Christ rather than truly abiding in Him. Strength flows when believers live within His life, drawing from His power, His anointing, and His Spirit. It is in this abiding relationship that endurance is sustained, confidence is restored, and victories are won—not through independence or self-sufficiency, but by surrender and connection to the Lord’s might.
Section 3The call to “be strong in the Lord” is both a command and an invitation: a command to rest not in ourselves, and an invitation to walk in His sustaining strength. When we operate in our own wisdom and flesh, we falter; when we remain in Him, we overflow with enough strength to endure and more besides. The teaching closes with encouragement to remember that all strength, all life, and all hope are grounded in Him alone. As the broadcast segment transitions, the reminder lingers: this truth is not abstract theology but a daily call to live in Christ, strong in His might, upheld by His Spirit, and victorious by His grace.