1) It's Friday, and it's time for Dr. Dave's Devotional Diamonds of the Day. We begin with a classic. Many of us are familiar with the book, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." While it may not be spiritually profound, it is practically wonderful. We're going to explore the origin of this book, which can be traced back to Isaiah, chapter one. It may seem simplistic, but that's exactly what we need.2) The next Devotional Diamond of the Day is quite heavy. In fact, it's too heavy. It's not about the saying, "He ain't heavy. He's my brother." It's about the burdens we carry, often unnecessarily. It's good to share each other's burdens, but I'm referring to the burdens we bear due to our lack of obedience. We'll delve into how to find deliverance from these unnecessary weights on our shoulders.3) My dear friend, Pastor Ray, passed away and joined the Lord over two years ago. I'm not sure if he had rhythm while he was here on Earth, but I suspect he has it now. He's not only dancing, but he's also enjoying wonderful fellowship with all the people he taught about over the years. We often delve into Pastor Ray's devotional book, and here's an entry that meets the standard of excellence. He titled it, "Allow Him to Pick You Up". Unfortunately, many of us won't allow Jesus to do just that.

A) James 5:4 describes how people will behave in the last days, hoarding wealth for themselves, not sharing, and denying others their rightful share. This behavior, which is akin to saying, “I have what I need to survive, and everyone else can fend for themselves,” is not in line with the Spirit of God.B) One commandment that frustrates many people more than doing taxes is the command to be patient until the Lord’s coming. Despite it being 2,000 years, the Lord’s coming is inevitable, and we are still commanded to be patient. Much like many elements of our walk, the return of Jesus Christ is coming at a precise time that is ordered by the heavens above. They have a better watch any way,C) We are not only told to be patient but also to strengthen our hearts. Just as a farmer waits for the crop, we need to wait for the return of the Lord. Whether it’s on a corporate or individual level, in His timeframe, it is near. In the meantime, we need to strengthen our hearts to avoid giving up or fainting. The Lord could return tomorrow. Are we ready?

1) In Acts 25, we resume at verse 13, using larger sections of text to progress through the narrative more swiftly. After Paul appeals to Caesar, Festus prepares to communicate the situation to Rome and Caesar. Concurrently, he receives visitors, King Agrippa and his sister Bernice, who are there to pay their respects to Festus.2) Festus informs the king and his sister that Felix, his predecessor, left Paul in chains for his case to be decided, at which point Paul made his appeal to Caesar. It's noteworthy how closely American law aligns with Roman law, which does not permit convictions without a trial. However, it's also important to acknowledge that Roman law can be perverted. And American law is following close behind. We are losing the “innocent” until proven guilty process.3) In every true judicial sense, and even before the Lord, individuals are given the opportunity to defend themselves and confront their accusers. This doesn't mean that railroading doesn't occur, as it's not difficult to see where this takes place, even in a country as great as America. However, self-defense is a fundamental right in all governing judicial systems tied to any form of democracy.4) Interestingly, Festus tells Agrippa that the accusations against Paul were not what he expected, but were all centered around a man named Jesus, who had died but whom Paul insisted was alive. Regardless of theological brilliance, Christianity is fundamentally about the resurrection of Jesus. Overlooking this simplicity turns faith into a religion.

A) Jude verse 10 discusses individuals who defile what they do not comprehend, behaving like irrational animals. It’s remarkable that humans, created in the image and likeness of God, can exhibit such behavior. We’re not referring to pets or other appealing creatures, but to irrational animals that behave erratically. The scripture in Jude is unequivocal: woe unto them.B) Their judgment will be specific to their actions. The very things they do will destroy them. They have followed the path of Cain, a murderer. They have recklessly embraced the error of Balaam, attempting to curse what God intends to bless. They perished in Korah’s rebellion, which involved opposing God’s chosen people and attempting to lead followers astray.

60 minutes:1) I enjoy Wednesdays because it gives me the opportunity to teach the classics. As I've often mentioned, teaching classics sometimes involves delving into less pleasant areas of life. We must be individuals who seek truth rather than simply hearing what pleases us. Today's discussion will focus on a very real adversary who harbors a deep hatred for us.2) While exploring various interpretations of the Book of Revelation, it's impossible to ignore that Chapter 12 clearly outlines the origins of warfare. We have multiple testimonies throughout the scriptures - the Gospels, the Book of Acts, the Pauline Epistles, and the General Epistles - that confirm our battle with Satan, the powers of darkness, his demons, and all who align with them. The choice is simple: light or darkness.3) It's important to understand that one of the enemy's tactics is to distract us from our simple devotion to Christ. Much of the warfare we experience with Satan takes place in our minds, not in physical battles. It's crucial to apply the truth in our minds and hearts. As we know, the truth will set us free, and fortunately for us, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.4) We'll spend some extra time examining Jesus's experiences and confrontations with Satan. By understanding the enemy's tactics and our Lord's strategy, we can find ample strength to stand firm in our faith. Let's praise God for His protection.

A) In David's plea, he asks to be thoroughly cleansed from all his iniquity, not just a portion of it. He requests a complete cleansing, from top to bottom. He asks God to examine him and cleanse him of any iniquity found within him. However, everything hinges on verses 3-4, when David acknowledges his transgression. This acknowledgement is key to repentance. Repentance isn't always about how we feel, but it is always about being honest about our actions. Salvation isn't based on feelings. If that's the case, then repentance isn't based on feelings either. It's a change of mind to agree with God.B) As we delve deeper into Psalm 51:5, it’s challenging to gloss over the verses. This is a fervent song pleading for forgiveness and restoration, something we all need. David proclaims, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity.” Some interpret this as David’s birth being illegitimate, but a holistic understanding of the Psalm suggests he’s referring to the inherent sinfulness of all humanity, tracing back to Adam and Eve.

1) David describes a person declared righteous as someone who has been forgiven for their disobedience, and whose sins have been removed from sight. In other words, it's not just the righteousness of Jesus that reconciles us with God. It's also the fact that our sins were crucified at the cross, leaving us sinless and forgiven. 2) He elaborates on this by stating that there is immense joy for those whose sins are no longer counted against them. While God, from a practical sanctification standpoint, will shape, discipline, and correct you and I to reflect Jesus more and more, the penalties of your sin, from an eternal perspective, have been vanquished through the victory of Jesus Christ. 3) What's remarkable about this passage from Romans is that it helps us understand that when Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, three significant events occurred. Our sins were dealt with on the cross. In the burial, Jesus died for us, and destroying the power of the old earthly self. In the resurrection, there was a restoration of what was lost in the Garden of Eden - a renewed relationship with God. That's why it's crucial to understand the Gospel as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which we receive by faith, given to us by God’s grace, mercy, and love.

A) In Matthew Chapter 17, Verse 22, Jesus predicts his death once again to prepare the disciples for what is going to be a profoundly difficult time. In telling them about his death, he also informs them that he will be raised from the dead. However, the disciples' focus at this point is on the fact that Jesus is going to die, and they were filled with grief. It's okay to grieve if you're a Christian, even though redemption is coming.B) We now enter into one of the best stories that come from engaging with Jesus. As they're entering the temple, the temple tax collectors ask Peter, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" For those who do not know, attending the Passover or the Rosh Hashanah service always required a member of the temple to buy a ticket. That's why it's not a tax, even though it sounds like a tax, kind of like politicians.

A) Typically, Monday’s episodes on the David Spoon Experience are straightforward. However, the concept of normalcy is not something we fully grasp today. The show delves into profound territory when Roslyn calls in with both a praise report and a prayer request. Understanding how people interact with us is a crucial aspect of our journey.B) For the praise report, Rosalyn mentioned someone she has been witnessing to for some time. She shared that her connection helped her better understand Jesus Christ. This is precisely the type of experience we want to share with others. It communicates to them that they have impacted us, even if they don’t comprehend how or why. It adds value to their lives, and it’s the truth.C) Rosalyn also requested prayer for another individual who has been deeply wounded in their life. Ironically, this person chose to declare, “I don’t believe in God,” while simultaneously blaming God for all that’s wrong. These contradictory statements can’t coexist. When a person is angry at God and blames Him, they obviously believe in God. Their denial is merely a defense mechanism to maintain distance due to their pain.D) David concludes the show with an in-depth teaching on the Holy Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness. We often assume that God only leads us into pleasant situations or “cotton candy lanes,” but that’s not accurate. The scripture teaches that Jesus, filled with the Spirit, was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for a period of 40 days, during which He was tempted and tested. This is a direct result of God guiding Jesus into trials and testing. Before Israel entered the promised land, they had to traverse the wilderness. Many of us experience a similar journey.

A) A servant of the Lord must also be gentle, which implies refraining from physical aggression, capable of teaching, patient, and humble in correcting those who oppose them. When disagreements arise, tact is essential because the Lord does not want us to intimidate people into faith. When you engage with someone, respecting them as a human being rather than their position, they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.B) Paul suggests that individuals like these may have the opportunity to regain their senses. This is reminiscent of the story of the prodigal son, who came to his senses and returned to his father. When a person manages to regain their senses, scripture clearly states that they escape the snare of Satan. Because when Satan ensnares them, they end up doing his will rather than God's.

1) It's Friday, and it's time for Dr. Dave's devotional diamonds of the day. We have some remarkable insights for you. The first step is to ask, "What are the directions?" In life, many of us find it challenging to accept directions from others. This has become a classic joke between spouses driving in their car, trying to decipher not a fold-out map, but what the GPS is saying when it instructs to turn left, and the lane is only on the right. The real question is, who has the actual direction to guide us to our destination?2) You can't make this up. One testimony after another after another, hearing about all the blessings that the Lord is doing. Phenomenal callers and phenomenal calls with the Lord blessing His people, encouraging His people, protecting His people, guiding His people,  and helping His people, as always. 3) We're conducting a preliminary study of the Book of Revelation from a different perspective. Eschatology is controversial in almost every chapter and verse. While this may not sound like fun, we're going to share a portion of Revelation 11 that has multiple interpretations. Despite the multiple interpretations, the primary message becomes more evident if we simply read the text.

A) It’s Friday, a day when anything can happen. Our brother Sergio poses an intriguing question about the ebb and flow of faith in our lives. David, of course, mentions his new book, “The Faith That Pleases God”. This book is available to everyone. If affordability is an issue, the ministry will cover the cost. B) It’s crucial to understand that there are times when we need to surrender, stop dictating to the Lord, and cease worrying or stressing over things. Everyone, including myself, experiences stress over various matters. This primarily occurs because we’re not fully trusting in the Lord. We are instructed to trust the Lord with all our heart, not rely on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. He will then direct our paths.C) Furthermore, the Lord advises us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. It’s vital for us to comprehend that we need to fully surrender to the Lord and trust Him, rather than trying to control everything with our own power.

1) After being falsely accused of numerous crimes and evil deeds, Paul didn’t throw a tantrum. Instead, Paul simply stated, “I’m not guilty. It’s not true. I don’t care.” Sometimes, we might feel the need for a grand public display to deny accusations. Perhaps, we should keep it simpler.2) Then, for strategic reasons, Festus asks Paul if he’s willing to go to Jerusalem. This is akin to asking Donald Trump if he wants to have a court hearing in New York. Most people are astute enough to realize it won’t be fair. You don’t have to like or dislike Donald Trump to know it’s not going to be fair, and Paul understood that having a court appearance in Jerusalem was the wrong venue.3) Paul, as a Roman citizen, appeals to get relief from an unjust court scenario. Ironically, he acknowledges that if he did anything wrong, he’ll pay the price. But because he knows he did nothing wrong, he has nothing to fear, and that God is the ultimate judge. Paul’s appeal was much more rooted in the divine than it appears at first glance. By making his appeal to Caesar, he will spread the gospel in Rome, reaching even further places than before. It seems God knows what He’s doing after all.

A) The author continues by stating that these individuals, these dreamers, defile their bodies. They reject authority and slander celestial beings, referring to authoritative prophets of God as well as angelic beings. In contrast, we learn that even the most powerful angelic being does not slander Satan himself, which should give us pause when considering our own speech.B) In fact, we learn from this letter that Michael the Archangel simply says, "The Lord rebuke you." This might be a more effective strategy for many of us to adopt, rather than attempting to engage Satan in conversation, which would be dangerous in itself, given that he is the father of lies. Any conversation with him would be a conversation with a liar. When temptation arises in your mind, simply say, "The Lord rebuke thee." That's all you need to do to resist the enemy.

1) Well, this show is one for the ages. Three testimonies highlight the day. 2) Brother Ace calls in and shares a life changing testimony about God bringing him back to health from the actual brink of death. God's grace is so sufficient, Ace is back to ministering to people. Wowzers. 3) Roslyn calls in to share her testimony about being cancer-free. Incredibly engaged in spiritual warfare, Robert and Roslyn have been leaning on prayer and worship, along with the Word of God. Victory abounds! 4) And finally, Dave shares about an angelic encounter that Noelle and him the day before the move. Gushing water, no closing the pipe, until and angel happens to meet Noelle the moment she steps outside of the house to find help. And the Lord was on the spot.

A) In the latter part of verse one, David asks God to erase his sin. Have you ever wished for God to erase something you've done? That's precisely what King David did. He petitioned the Lord to blot out his sin so that there would be no record of it. He asked to be completely removed from his sin and for his sin to be completely removed from him. He pleaded, "Please separate my sin as far as the east is from the west." Interestingly, there is no East Pole or West Pole.B) In David's plea, he asks to be thoroughly cleansed from all his iniquity, not just a portion of it. He requests a complete cleansing, from top to bottom. He asks God to examine him and cleanse him of any iniquity found within him. However, everything hinges on verse 3, when David acknowledges his transgression. This acknowledgment is key to repentance. Repentance isn't always about how we feel, but it is always about being honest about our actions. Salvation isn't based on feelings. If that's the case, then repentance isn't based on feelings either. It's a change of mind to agree with God.

1) We return to the delightful elements of Romans, which is, in many ways, the backbone of the New Testament following the gospels. Romans chapter 4, verse 3, states that from God's perspective, Abraham had no basis for pride. This is crucial for all of us to understand. If every breath we take is a gift from God, then there is nothing we could ever do that would make God owe us anything. God owes nobody anything, and this has always been and will always be the case.2) The key to understanding this theologically is that Abraham had no basis for pride because he believed God, and God declared him righteous. The first thing to note is that he didn't just believe in God, but he believed God. This teaches us that Abraham's faith was active. The second element is that God, from this belief, declared Abraham righteous. It wasn't that Abraham deserved it. It's that God was pleased with Abraham's faith and allowed his faith to be used as a form of righteousness attributed to Abraham.3) To further this proof, verse 4 states that when people work, their wages are not a gift. This simply means that when you go to work and punch the clock, you're owed. Ultimately, workers earn what they receive. But this is not how the Declaration of Righteousness works with God. The Declaration of Righteousness is granted as a gift.4) Verse five reiterates the truth by stating that people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their works. There is a declaration of righteousness that God grants to a person when they operate in faith. It is not because the person deserves it. Again, it is because God is pleased with the person's response to God - that they believe God, trust God, count on God, and lean upon the Lord. It is this vehicle of faith that pleases God, and from that pleasure comes His unearned declaration of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.

A) It's important to note that at the end of this teaching, Jesus makes it clear that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains in our lives. This suggests that some of these mountains in our lives are still there because we don't operate with faith. The disciples wanted to know why they could not cast out the spirit, which helps us understand that they knew it was a spirit. After Jesus reproves them about faith, he also says (in most Greek manuscripts, "This kind of demon won't come out unless you have prayer and fasting." I believe this is accurate and in the original text. It should be noted that sometimes spiritual warfare requires an extreme amount of determination and commitment.

1) We're picking up Genesis chapter four at verse 6. The two offerings, one from Cain and the other from Abel, were presented to the Lord. Abel's offering, which was the best he had to offer, was accepted by God. Cain's offering, which simply came from the produce he had cultivated, was rejected. Because of this rejection, Cain became angry and dejected. Unchecked anger and feelings of dejection can lead to a multitude of problems and sins.2) God tells Cain, "You'll be accepted if you respond in the right way." This is a profound lesson for every Christian now, as well as for every person who walked the earth then. God is not looking for perfection. That’s what redemption is all about. That’s why we depend on the blood of Jesus Christ to make us righteous. What the Lord is looking for is a right response to Him. How do we respond when we do right, wrong, or nothing at all? We will be accepted if we respond with the right heart and the right mind in the right way.3) In an amazing revelation regarding Hamartiology, or the study of sin, God gives us an immediate clue as to the process of mankind fighting against sin itself. Sin wants you. It’s hungry for you. It desires you. For those that do not understand this language, sin has an appetite. In the process of fighting against sin, God warns Cain that sin has an appetite and is hungry. And if you feed it, it will continue to try and get more from you. This warning is not just for Cain, it’s for you and me. God even tells Cain, "It wants to consume you, but you must subdue it."

A) **2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 24** states that the servant of the Lord must not strive or quarrel. An argumentative spirit has crept into many ministries. This does not imply that having an argument is inherently sinful, which would be absurd. However, if every conversation becomes an argument because of an incessant need to be right, that's even more preposterous.B) Plus, Dave shares about his moving experiences, as the family relocates closer to the radio station.