04-15-25 part 2: God’s Plan, God’s Way: Stop Telling God How to Be God

1. Mercy for the Outsiders

Dr. Spoon unpacks Romans 9:25–29, where Paul quotes Hosea and Isaiah to make one radical point: God has extended His mercy to people who were once “not His people.” The Gospel is not limited to bloodlines or religious status—it’s about grace through faith. Dr. Spoon reminds us that God always planned to include the Gentiles in His covenant family, even though many Jewish people in Paul’s day resisted this shift. This wasn’t a last-minute change—it was in God’s heart all along. The invitation got broader because of grace, not because of failure.

2. God Works Outside the Box—Always Has

Through examples like the thief on the cross, prisoners encountering Jesus, and even his own testimony of being saved through comic books and a sense of justice, Dr. Spoon makes it clear: no one gets to dictate how God reaches people. The Lord may use a dream, a crisis, or a comic strip—whatever draws someone to the truth. Scripture is the standard, yes, but God is not limited by our expectations or methods. Dr. Spoon calls out the pride of theologians who think they’ve boxed in how salvation must happen: “No one tells God how to do it.”

3. Prayer Isn’t a Blueprint—It’s a Surrender

One of the most powerful takeaways is Dr. Spoon’s reminder that prayer isn’t about giving God instructions. It’s not, “Do it this way, by this time.” Instead, it’s about humble trust. Prayer is petition, not prescription. When we try to control the method or the timing, we turn prayer into a demand, not a dialogue. Dr. Spoon says it best: “Do your best, pray that it’s blessed, and let Jesus take care of the rest.” Letting go is part of growing up spiritually—and God always honors surrender.

4. Trusting the God Who Knows What We Don’t

Dr. Spoon wraps up with the humbling truth that only God sees the full picture. We don’t know who’s going to be saved, and we certainly don’t know how He plans to do it all—but we know He’ll do it right. Quoting Deuteronomy 29:29, he reminds us that “the secret things belong to the Lord.” Our role is to trust, not to demand. Stop trying to control everything. Stop telling God how to do His job. Start thanking Him, trusting Him, and believing that the God who saves in unusual ways is still doing miracles today.