The David Spoon Experience 10-19-23 part 1

A) Now, here is a challenging thought, one that we have to balance between wisdom and pride. Paul says, “If anyone thinks that they belong to Christ, he reminds them that we also belong to Christ just as much as they do.” Most Christians don’t like this thinking. You’re genuinely a born-again Bible-believing Christian. You know you belong to Christ. But sometimes, it’s hard to give way and acknowledge that in the same way you know you’re in Christ, other people know that they’re in Christ. Of course, that’s why we have certain plumb lines, like the word of God and the fruit of the spirit.

B) Paul makes a hidden theological gem in his statement. He makes it clear that God is giving him his authority as an apostle, as a kingdom builder, as a brother, and that this design and position is for the purpose of building people up and not tearing them down. There is nothing wrong with being challenged to walk in an upright and holy life before the Lord. But there is something altogether wrong with ministries that spend most of their time ripping people to shreds and just leaving them out there to bleed.

C) One of the unique defenses of Paul’s apostolic ministry is that he tells people, “If you think that I’m being tough when I write, you better watch out when I get there because my words and letters are going to be the manifestation of my actions. And so far, I’ve been pretty kind.” But time is getting thin.

D) Then Paul puts a dagger in the American spirit of keeping up with the Joneses. He says some who commend themselves measure themselves by themselves. Guess what? If you measure yourself by yourself, you’ll always meet the exact measure you are. The problem is that that measure can turn out to be wrong, but you don’t see it because you measure yourself by yourself, as Paul states. This is simply ignorance.