’God’s Detours Are His Duty Tours’ by Brother Christopher Yap

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

God is not done yet. This has been the theme throughout the Book of Acts. We see the progression of the spreading of the Gospel in the Book of Acts, from the beginning in Jerusalem and even to the ends of the earth and now in our modern times.

There was opposition and persecution as a result of sharing the Gospel. This also resulted in the spreading of the Gospel.

Stephen’s execution was the catalyst for the scattering of believers and the Gospel spreading. Saul, who later became Paul, who was responsible for Stephen’s death was also used powerfully as God’s instrument to preach the Gospel.

Sometimes God’s ways for the Gospel spreading are not what we imagine. Detours sometimes happen in our life plans. The same was in the situation of Paul below.

“But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:3-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The above events resulted in Paul having an opportunity to preach the Gospel. It was an unexpected situation but Paul was ready to stand firm and to preach the Gospel. God wasn’t done with him in spite of the detours.

“After three months we sailed in an Alexandrian ship whose figurehead was the Twin Brothers, which had wintered at the island.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Even the way to Rome was not straightforward for Paul but served God’s purposes.

God’s detours are His duty tours. Things may not go the way we expected, even with sharing the Gospel. God’s plan are higher than ours. We must be prepared, ready in and out of season to be a witness for Christ.

God is not done with us yet. Regardless of how old or young we are, there are things and purposes for us that God wants us to fulfill.

‘The Book Ends, Yet the Story Continues’ by Rev Benedict Rajan

The Book of Acts may have ended but it still continues with us.

“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:30-31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

After Paul’s storms, the Gospel continued to be preached.

Purpose of message:

Participate in the ongoing history of the Church (Matthew 16: 18-19) We need to continue to build the church, continue the history of the church and promote the extension of the Kingdom of God.

Each of us have a function and giftings in the body of Christ for this purpose. (Romans 12: 5-8)

We are the ongoing, extension of the Kingdom of God and the 29th chapter of the Book of Acts. We are made to be history makers with God. (Matthew 16: 18-19)

How do we extend the Book of Acts in our own life?

1. Stop being a spectator and become a participator. (2 Kings 5, John 3: 34-35)

2. Stop being a consumer and start being a producer. (John 4: 14, 39, Matthew 5: 13-16)

3. Stop being a complainer and become an edifier. (Acts 15: 36-41, Philippians 2: 13-15)

4. We need to become the seekers of God’s glory. (Haggai 2:9, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 3:18)

God’s detours are not accidents but duty tours and we need to say thank you, accept them and trust God will work it out for good. (Romans 8:28)