1) The David Spoon experience is coming to a close with yet another amazing Friday. When our brother Sergio calls, he immediately asks two serious inquiries. What may have caused Arron's two sons to be slain when they offered up fire that was foreign or strange? This brings us to the second question: How symbolic is fire, or how emblematic is fire in the Bible?

2) David then proceeds to provide a comprehensive explanation, clarifying the cause of the rejection of the unapproved offerings and the subsequent killing of Aaron's sons. Furthermore, he devotes some of his time to elucidating the New Testament in relation to the Old Testament, how fire conveys the concept of God in various ways and at various eras.

3) Next up is a devotional diamond, where we discover that sharing the Lord's work in your life brings joy to others. You might wonder how. It's because any encounter with God's activities boosts our faith. Sharing these experiences reinforces them in our own lives, blesses others, and, of course, honors the Lord. This is a profound way to understand communal happiness. Imagine being happy for someone else. That is what the Lord is looking for.

A) The Apostle refers to the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as excellent examples for us. These great men and women of God spoke God’s truth and endured hardships such as imprisonment, persecution, and even being thrown into a pit. Despite these challenges, they never denied their words nor cursed God. They were blessed due to their close connection with God.

B) Dave then goes on a very inspired rant about our ability to understand that it's the promises that God has given us that enable us to endure and give us the ability to be patient during sufferings, afflictions, trials, and difficulties. If we hold on to the Lord, he will hold on to us. If we let go, he will still hold on to us. But if we let go, we tend to create more problems than we need to.

1) As we delve into the Book of Acts, we find ourselves in Chapter 26, Verse 8. Paul has just finished explaining to King Agrippa that his sect, the Pharisees, to which he belonged, shares the same fundamental hope as the 12 tribes of Israel. This hope is the reason Israel is supposed to worship God Almighty day and night. Paul then poses a question to Agrippa, "Is it wrong for me to harbor this hope?" In essence, he's asking, "What's wrong with having a profound hope in God Almighty?"

2) Paul then shares one of the most underrated, underprivileged, and seldom preached texts of all - Acts Chapter 26, Verse 8. The apostle asks, "Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?" This passage should be a constant reminder on our walls, for it regularly reminds us that God can do anything. It only takes a moment for a miracle, and if God can raise the dead to life, He can certainly assist us in all the circumstances we encounter.

3) Sometimes, confession is good for the soul. It's not about paying for something; it's about confessing our sins to one another and praying for each other so that we may be healed. In the following verse, Paul shares his own failures. He used to believe that he had to do everything to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Some people want to hide their past when they were doing things that were wrong. However, that's not how the testimony of the Lord works. Understanding your past and recognizing where you've come to because of the Lord is the testimony of the power of the Gospel.

4) As Paul prepares to share his testimony once again, he confesses that he was quite vicious against the church. He was on a mission, not from God, but to inflict as much damage as possible on the followers of the Way. Anyone who has not encountered Jesus but harbors a viciousness towards Christians has a great deal of darkness and evil within their hearts. But Paul uses his past to illustrate that someone as dark and bad as he was can change into a completely different person after a real encounter with Jesus Christ. Never forget the power of Christ that can change you, me, and everyone we pray for. Amen.

A) Resuming our discussion with Jude, starting from verse 14, we encounter a verse that has sparked some controversy, albeit for no apparent reason. Jude cites the First Book of Enoch to highlight that even their own prophets - not the prophets of the Lord - have clearly stated that the individuals Jude has been discussing are malevolent and dark. The reference to Enoch's writings does not validate all of them; it merely serves as a point of reference. The statement "two plus two equals four" is a truth, but referencing it does not imbue the number two with any special or holy significance. The sun will come out tomorrow. But the movie "Annie" is not inspired.

1) If I were to poll the audience in radio land, I would find that many people agree with this statement that Job makes: "A man’s days are few and full of trouble." Keep in mind, we spent a year and a half reviewing the entire Book of Job. We should understand that in the beginning, Job was stellar. He started strong. His first two responses were songs that we have written in worship. But in his third response, he started to fade because things were piling up.

2) There are key principles that we need to remember when dealing with our life circumstances. The first key principle is that what God sees is not what we see. Another key principle is to remember that it is never God’s fault. Quite the opposite, everything that happens to us is for our benefit. The last key principle is recognizing the most important statement in our Christian walk, outside of acknowledging and surrendering to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That principle is to remember the quality of God.

3) It would be fair, from time to time, to place the blame where it belongs. There are certain things that we can blame on the enemy. Jesus did so in his own teachings, making it clear that the enemy was engaging and that sometimes darkness comes from that side of things. Another place to assign blame is the world itself, which walks, functions, thinks, and feels in rebellion to God. But the last place to put blame is the last place anybody wants to assign blame. For that, we'll reference Adam and Eve and recognize that we're not that different. If we were in the garden, we would have done the same. That sounds sad, but it's true. After all, they are our first set of fore parents, and we bear some of their DNA.

A) Psalm 51, verse 10, is a personal prayer I recite every day during my devotions: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” I cannot create my own clean heart; I need God to create it, develop it, and sustain it within me. The next part of the verse, “renew a right spirit,” implies that sometimes the spirit I operate in is more of the old Dave and not the new Dave. I need the Lord’s assistance to ensure that I maintain a steadfast, upright, righteous, willing, and humble spirit before Him.

1) Verse 16 underscores that faith is the cornerstone. Our actions in the kingdom are driven by our faith. Faith is the initiator, and the fruits of that faith follow. Faith is the seed, and the works are the fruits that sprout from this seed. Everything begins with faith. It's the only way to please God, and it's what He expects from His children.

2) Verses 16 and 17 further elucidate that God's promises are a free gift, but they must be accepted, and faith is the medium for acceptance. It's not about adhering to the law; it's about trusting God. It's not merely about believing in God; it's about believing God. Because Abraham trusted God, he became the father of many nations. Because Abraham trusted God, the dead were resurrected. That which didn't exist before now exists, all through the medium of faith. Remember, this is written for our edification.

3) David pulls out a new element as he quotes seven top tier people of faith, regarding their take on faith. Each ion has a seed of blessing connected to it. So, yep, the list is pretty cool.

A) Today's show comes after some severe weather in Dallas, with major storms all over the DFW area. The show opens with prayer for the many needs of our listeners. Also, prayers for others' health and healing, as well as their safety. David takes the time to declare the biblical truth that through past, current, and future (or potential) disasters surrounding us, the Lord is not only with us, but FOR us.

B) Additionally, after trivia, David encourages everyone to stand firm in their faith. We can always find a reason to look down, but because the Lord LOVES us and CARES about us, we can find strength to stand strong, no matter what we face.