Men for God - Session 3

Gary Stairs - "Long-haul Men"

DETOURS

Remember, the 'long-haul life' is not a sprint, but a marathon. It is a journey, and often journeys have Detours and Delays. They don't happen on our time-schedule.

Acts 16 - 2nd missionary journey

v. 1-5 - Great results. God is blessing. They increased in number daily.

v. 6-7 - Stopped in their tracks. The Holy Spirit said 'no.'

MAKE THE CHOICE TO SUBMIT AND NOT QUIT

Paul had to submit to God's delay, but not quit. The delay made no human sense.

v. 8 - They listened to God

v. 9-10 - A vision appeared. God re-directed them and opened an incredible challenge because they chose to submit and remained committed to the long-haul.

v. 22-24 - Beaten and imprisoned - DELAYED

MAKE THE CHOICE TO REJOICE
v. 25 - They kept on going. In the midst of a Midnight Experience, they persevered. Often in the midnight we find crisis, conspiracy, and confusion. Make the choice to keep going on. You can't understand what God is doing in the midnight, but you can make that choice to rejoice. The prisoners heard them.

MAKE THE CHOICE TO INTERVENE

v. 27-28 - People around us are also in a midnight hour. The jailer is at the point of death. Much like the teens in our culture, this jailer had given up hope and is at the point of suicide. Paul and Silas intervened because a life is on the line. They could have not said anything. The man that caused their DELAY was now vulnerable before them. They chose to intervene.

"WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?"

God has placed you where you are to answer this question for those around you. "Long-haul living" requires making choices. Make the right choices. Make the choice to submit and not quit. Make the choice to rejoice. And make the choice to intervene.

Allow God to lead you. Obey His promptings.