Mission Impossible

Acts 14:2 "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,"

Mission Impossible! Here are the recorded instructions:

"Good morning, Apostles. 

Your mission, Paul and Barnabas, should you choose to accept it, is to go therefore and make disciples of all nations. As always, should you or any of your Spiritual Force be caught or killed, the Father will never disavow nor forsake you. This word will never self-destruct... the grass withers, the flower fades,  but the word of our God will stand forever. Good tidings, Paul and Barnabas.."

We know that the mission only seemed impossible. It was successful because of a "Special Force". It was the power of the Holy Spirit which was and still is the winning weapon. I bet you thought I was going to say "secret weapon".  Actually, the power of the Holy Spirit was never a secret, but only those who have faith in Jesus understood that power!

(The first battle seemed lost, but the mission was not yet over; it moved on to other cities).

Let's go now and look at that mission: This time the agents are in Iconium. This is an ancient city in Turkey influenced strongly by it's various captors throughout the ages. Today it's the thriving city of Konya.  This is the city which was Paul's first mission. The opposition was strong there. Jews had established themselves as a formidable foe in Iconium. Their weapon: the tongue!

James 3:5  "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"

The Jews used a flame thrower to destroy! The destructive flames were aimed at the warriors of the Lord who spoke boldly in the Lord. The flames were thrown by the tongue, but evil minds directed the flames! (Acts 14:2).

The Apostles, though, Mr. Director of the IMF (Impossible Missions Force), spoke boldly. Just as Moses did; they performed heroically, using miracles and wonders to tame the tongue! It was the Holy Spirit which empowered them with might by the grace of the Lord. (Acts 14:3).

The battle waged hard. Every technology in the arsenal was used. The Apostle's wore special armor and were protected. Their sword was The Word and they were entirely protected by the whole armor of God!  The city was divided into two opposing divisions. The mission had been exposed! The entire city had to choose sides. Shall it be to side with truth or remain with the forces of evil? (Acts 14:4).

The battle waged on! Some Gentiles sided with the Jews. The rulers of Iconium sided with the evil doers. They found other weapons. Their tongues of fire were not enough. They gathered stones and for this city the Apostle's fled. They went on to Lystra to continue the battle!

It seemed that the Apostles had failed this mission, but as soldiers of God, the apostle's could use only peaceful means! God could have breathed on Iconium and it would have fallen just as Jericho, Sodom and Gomorrah before them. He fights fair and gives everybody a chance to choose sides by their own free will. The only weapon available to the apostles was persuasion. The citizens of Iconium chose to go with principalities in this war, and the Director had given instructions to allow evil doers to make a choice: to go with truth and peace or with deception. The tongue was a despicable weapon, but God allowed it for a time:

Proverbs 6:16 "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Th Jews had hateful things on their side. Of all the  seven abominations the Jews used them all! It seemed that the mission was impossible, but Paul and Barnabas just moved to a different front. We know that God doesn't force enemies to choose truth. That's his rules of war! (unlike Islam which uses force to convert). He wages war fairly. He knows some battles will seem to be lost and his disciples are to shake the dust from their feet and move on! (Luke 9:5). The losers in this battle were the people of Iconium whose spoil was merely dust in their eyes!  On to Lystra! Later on Paul recounts this first mission:

2 Timothy 4:16 "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. "

The aging warrior nearing his end told of his first "Mission Impossible'!  The victor bragged on the Lord who stood beside him as even those who had first believed, deserted him. Mission Impossible?

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."

We are still warring against the same forces Paul fought. They are are exactly the same!

 Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The world, persuaded by evil men and their rulers, has made the world Iconium. The battle is still being fought. Christians are still being stoned. Tongues are still flaming and minds are still evil. Some have entered the strait gate as did the Gentiles in Iconium, but the path is narrow. Some will listen to tongues and change sides. It seems they are siding with the winners, but the war is not yet finished. We Christians know who wins!

Hebrews 2:14b "... that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil"

Yes, with God all things are possible. No mission is impossible!