From Mission Impossible To Mission
Accomplished!
In these passages of scriptures it speaks of the continuing ministry of Christ; and how God was
delighted and able to take the misfits and the rejected of society, and
patiently turn them into world shakers
and world changers for the Kingdom of God! All He needs is a surrendered and committed
life!
1The former treatise have I
made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Look people, Jesus handpicked His misfits!
In Luke 6:12-16 we have an account of
Jesus selecting his twelve.
Luke 6:12-16: (KJV): And
it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and
continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto
him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14
Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John,
Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and
Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot,
which also was the traitor.
Jesus' disciples were
picked by Him after a night of prayer!
What kind of men would
you interview and employ for your business? If you wanted to make a success of
any venture you would go out of your way to find the best persons for the job!
The disciples were as
ordinary a bunch of misfits you will ever come across, yet it pleased the Lord,
who knew all men, to pick those men!
They were deliberately
handpicked! They did not look like world
conquerors! Nor did they look like much
of anything!
They were constantly
arguing and squabbling over who would be the greatest in the kingdom, sleeping
when they were told to pray, denying that they knew Him, running away when
Jesus was taken in Gethsemane, doubting His Word of His Resurrection! The women
showed more courage than these men who Jesus picked. Yet Jesus was planning
to start a world-shaking mission with
these very men!
The bunch of misfits
that Jesus picked, were a delight to Him! He enjoyed picking what the elite
referred to as "unlearned and ignorant men". They were a bunch who
had no idea what to do and they kept getting it wrong or just simply can’t get it
right! But the Lord was patient and loving
with them...all the time!
They
were always thinking in fleshly and earthly terms, but Jesus took pleasure in
demonstrating the unlimited resources of His Father! Our Father! The Power of
God that was invested in Him.
(Matthew
14:13-21): They wanted to know where and how were they going to get bread to
feed the thousands! (In their eyes) - Mission Impossible! How many know
Jesus showed them where and He showed them how! (For Jesus) - Mission Accomplished!
(John
11:38-44): They thought they were going to their death when He decided to visit
Lazarus. (Again in their eyes) - Mission Impossible! Instead, He took them to a resurrection party!
(For Jesus) - Mission Accomplished!
(Luke
5:1-11): Peter toiled all night and caught nothing! (For him) - Mission Impossible! Jesus said
launch out into the deep and let down the nets and they brought in a draught! Against all odds and natural laws, He showed
them how to really fish! But He was a fisherman of men. (For Jesus) - Mission Accomplished! He had to
remind Peter of this after His resurrection! (John 21).
Their
physical limitations cried out at the life-threatening
storm as they sailed to the other side of the sea in Mark 4:35-41: (to
the disciples) - still Mission
Impossible! Jesus (the Man) was
asleep, but when they awoke “The Christ”, He showed them that He was Master of
the wind and the waves! (For Christ) - Mission Accomplished!
Jesus
was connected by commission to draw on His resources.
You see Jesus’s resources were unlimited! He was connected and He knew
whom He was connected to! He knew how to withdraw from the resource,
when to withdraw, and why to withdraw!
What
these handpicked men failed to grasp during their association with Jesus, a
Gentile centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), and a Syrophoenician (sy’-ro-fe-ne’-she-un)
woman grasped (Mark 7:24-30)! The woman with the issue of blood recognized
there was something about Jesus, that all you needed was a connection! She
reached out and made that connection (Mark 5:25-34)!
What
made the difference in the lives of the disciples after Pentecost? They already
had the Holy Spirit. They just had to be endued with ‘The Power’!!! Remember what John the Baptist said: Matthew
3:11: I indeed baptize you with water
unto repentance: but he that cometh
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost,
and with fire. They also needed
the “fire baptism”. There are
two aspects of “fire”, it will purify or it will consume! Our God
is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29).
That “fire” baptism after Pentecost gave them the “language” that when
they opened their mouth in relation to God’s Kingdom anything that stood before
them that was not like God, the “fire of
God” consumed it!
·
[Acts of the Apostles after Pentecost] (Acts
3:1-10) Peter and John healing the lame man: (Acts 5:1-10) Peter speaking to Ananias and Sapphira for
lying to the Holy Ghost: (Acts
9:39-43) Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.
·
[Paul’s work]: (Acts 13) Paul and Barnabas in Cyprus preaching the Word of God and the deputy of
the country Sergius Paulus desired to hear the Word of God was withstood by
Elymas the Sorcerer. But Paul by the
Holy Ghost spoke against that evil spirit and he (the sorcerer) was blinded for
a season: (Acts 14:1-3) Paul spoke
deliverance to the lame man that was crippled in his feet and he was healed: (Acts 19) Paul performing miracles by the
Holy Ghost and the sons of Sceva without the Holy Ghost are overcome by evil
spirits: (Acts 20:10) Paul raises
Eutychus from the dead.
·
Luke 21:15: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom,
which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
When
He commissioned them, Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have told you:
and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world”. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
Jesus
is saying that you are to do the work based on my power and resources! Preach
the gospel, heal the sick and cast out devils, and raise the dead by His authority! Same God that
spoke to Zerubbabel is speaking to us today Zechaiah 4:6: “This is the word of the LORD unto you, not by (your own) might, nor by
(your own) power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”!
Jesus
told the disciples to wait for the Holy Ghost power! He was letting them know
and us as well that the “Holy Ghost and fire” is our connection! His
abiding and indwelling presence with and in us! Our abiding and dependency on
Him! He makes good on His Word! You can take His Word to the bank. Hebrews
11:23 says, For He is faithful that
promised; meaning the one worthy of trust has kept His plighted faith. Plighted,
meaning a condition, state, or situation,
especially an unfavorable or unfortunate one. Jesus was the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). But God is faithful to deliver
us.
·
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have
everlasting (unending) life.
Jesus
told Paul, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. And Paul said, Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. (2
Corinthians 12:9 KJV)
It's
what we must continuously remember! It's why we must remind ourselves and
recognize that it is never about our ability, and the church is not managed by
the methods of the world!
1
Corinthians 1:26: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that
not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that
are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. (KJV)
It's
not by our abilities or sufficiency.
2 Corinthians 3:4: And such trust have we
through (Christos/The
Anointed One) Christ to (Theh’-os) God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves;
but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the
new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills,
but the spirit giveth life. (KJV).
The
“Letter”, meaning that which was written in ink or on tablets of stone was and
is the ministry of death. This is talking about the ministry of condemnation,
and the old covenant/Moses’ which has a veil. This is the law. See Jesus
tore that partition down and now we have a new covenant written in the fleshy
tables of the heart by The Spirit
of the Living God which is the ministry of righteousness and that is to LOVE!
People
of God, recognize and accept that we can do nothing of ourselves: John 5:30: I can of mine own self do nothing: because I seek not
mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. For in him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts
17:28).
Begin instead, to trust in the strength and
power of our God! We realize it's no longer up to us and to our limited
resources. We're no longer looking to ourselves and our own limited resources.
We're looking to the God who is able to supply and equip us, for whatever He
has called us to do.
We
will stop retreating into a corner of self-defeat by saying "I can't do
that", because no longer is it about our ability, but it is about Him, "Who is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that I can ask or think, according
to the power that works in us" (Ephesians
3:20). Philippians
4:13: I can do all things, through Christ
who strengthens me!
We
are able to step out knowing that He who called us is able to supply and equip,
and we are drawing on His unlimited resources!
Many
times, we are so anxious, and we worry, and we fret, and we're stressed, and
we're overwrought, with situations and circumstances in our lives, because we
are trying to do things on our own and not giving it totally to God and relying
on God.
We
simply pay lip service to the might of God on Sunday, only to have the enemy
beat us up before we get home or even leave the premises.
We
have limited ourselves severely by thinking it's all about us, and our efforts,
and our resources.
But
we fail to take into account that whatever He commissions, He will empower and
supply according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. It's no longer about our abilities, or our
skills, or our resources! It's about His power, His supply, and His enablement!
He never reneges on His promises! For all
the promises of God in Christ are yea, and in him Amen (1 Corinthians
1:20)!
Outside
of Christ we're struggling alone, with inadequate resources, with limited
supplies, with the frailty and weakness of men, and that’s regardless of how
impressive it may seem in the eyes of men.
If
the ministry and labor does not point to Christ continuously, it doesn't count!
We have labored in vain, beating the
air, wasted our efforts, and are exhausted for no reasonable service.
But
once you turn everything over to Christ, His strength is made perfect in our weakness!
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
When
Jesus said that He must be about His Father's business, we see no limitations!
Jesus declared, “Nothing shall be
impossible to you, if you can only believe that all things are possible”
(Mark 9:23)! With God all things are possible!
When
David's brothers and the rest of the army ran from Goliath's challenge, they
did so out of recognition of their limited status. David was not looking at his
limitations. He was well aware of that, but he was looking beyond that, knowing
that this battle was not his alone, but it was the Lord's (1Samuel 17)!
Without the Lord he was limited to
five stones and a sling and it would’ve been mission Impossible! But with
the Lord, Goliath was already dead and finally about to close his eyes when
David by faith opened a third eye in his forehead (mind) and trusted God
and that made it Mission Accomplished!
When
we worry, it's because we are thinking from a selfish, limited perspective. If
we have left the situation in God’s hands there is nothing to worry about. He's
neither careless nor is He indifferent!
From
seemingly impossible odds the disciples rose to become a force to be reckoned
with! They created waves wherever they went, because they were not depending on
their limited human resources! They were able to accomplish the impossible
because they drew on the heavenly resources of the Heavenly Father!
What
had once appeared as mission impossible to them earlier has now after
Pentecost actually become mission accomplished! For in the mighty name
of Jesus the Christ, they turned the world upside down!
The Jews took unto them certain men to find
them. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto
the rulers of the city, crying “These that have turned the
world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6) (KJV).
Look
Paul knew and wanted us to comprehend and understand the scope of this resource
available when he prayed for the saints at Ephesus.
Ephesians
3:14: For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15: Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16: That he would
grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might
by his Spirit in the inner man; 17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18: May be able to comprehend
with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19: And
to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled
with all the fullness of God. 20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, 21: Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
world without end. (KJV)
Look!
People of God! Branches
of the vine on their own will wither and dry without producing anything! It's when they are connected to the vine
that they draw sustenance and produce fruit!
Jesus
said, John 15:4 Abide in me, and I
in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit
of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in
me. Vs 5 I am the vine, you are the branches: he that abides in me, and I in him, the same
brings forth much fruit: for without me
you can do nothing. Vs 6 If a man
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather
them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Vs 7 If you abide in me and my words
abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Vs 8 Herein is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples. (KJV)
All
the pieces are falling into place that has been missing. The
possibilities are endless with a “God of the impossible”.
Expect the mission that seemed impossible to yield to the God of POSSIBILITY!
Don’t let your feelings cloud your vision. The LORD is
opening up the eyes of our minds and hearts to see HIM! For He (God) is
beyond the veil of our feelings and is bringing clarity and understanding to us
so that we may walk in the total of His dominion, authority and power in the
earth.
We have the power to choose as we yield. With God all things
are possible, only believe.
Write it on the fleshy table of your heart today that “what you tolerate will not change.” The ‘Now Time’ is not a time to be stuck in intolerance, and be unnegotiable,
but a time to receive your preparedness, and position, and take authority to
rule!
The LORD is saying, “You shall stand in
awe of the surprise interventions that soon I shall reveal, that will capture
the full attention of the whole world.”
“The light shall come on to many in darkness and they shall declare
The Glory of The LORD is here. But know this says the Father, it shall
not be a moment of just a feeling but an outpouring of a spiritual tsunami of
my Glory that shall truly cover the earth.”
“Meanwhile, the earth fills
up with the awareness (knowledge) of God’s glory as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk
2:14 (KJV)
“Watch for small signs that indicate the beginning of breakthroughs
in various areas of your life. You are not out of the woods yet, but take
encouragement that you are chipping away at things that have represented
hindrances to you.”
“Keep moving ahead, taking one step at a time, until you achieve
complete liberty,” says The LORD.
Allow freedom to become
tangible. You shall surely taste and see that The LORD is good.
As you move into new
territory don’t be surprised if there is resistance from the old patterns in
your life. Draw new boundary lines. Remove the things that you kept
tripping over in the past season. Quit tolerating it.
There are missing pieces
to the puzzle of your story that shall fall into place as you step into your
position and pursue the passion that sets your soul on fire. Truly that
is the roadway to fulfillment of your God ordained destiny.
I Release, Prophesy and
Decree over you that The Spirit of God move over your life right now, bringing
all chaos to order, changing your dry parched land into a land of promise and
fulfillment and turning your famine into a feast.
I declare over you that
the anointing on your life shall release and put the devil on the run, shake
hell and open heaven, and shall send forth increased favor of God upon your
going out and coming in bringing breakthroughs everywhere you go!
Come on and help me give
God the Praise!!!!
Assistant Pastor Jackie
Burton