Mission Possible Part 1
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The Secret is in the Bread
The Secret is in the Bread
I used to love to watch the television series “Mission Impossible”. This team of incredible spies would complete international tasks to change the course of nations overcoming insurmountable odds and obstacles. Each person had a role and their part of the mission. The team members were carefully chosen and the mission planned down to the microscopic details. Everything hinged on the success of the others. And there was always some little secret detail that was revealed in the process. It could be an advanced piece of equipment or a simple but critical tool hidden in something like a loaf of bread.
Sounds a lot like the Body of Christ and the building of the Kingdom of God. Except, the church has struggled with things like team work, follow through, and has often compromised the details in the name of spiritual and cultural convenience.
But it’s not just a problem with Christianity. It’s a problem with humanity.
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Before man’s disobedience the earth naturally produced provision at the command of God’s blessing. But because of man’s disobedience man would have to tame the earth and work it to get it to produce at the toil of his hands. Before sin, man worked but it was in joy at the pleasure of the Lord. But now man would have to sweat to survive the hard atmosphere of depravity.
This is where the impossible mission for man becomes the possible mission for only one.
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
In Genesis 3:19 there was a clue God gave to man as to a secret plan. A secret tool for a highly classified mission. Did you see it? Take a minute and see if you can find it?
It is right there before you. It is לֶחֶם (lechem). In fact, it is neither masculine nor feminine. This word covers both, just as the grace of God covered both in the beginning. In Leviticus 21:8 it is offered as a holy sacrifice to God by the priest.
There is a bread that cannot be bought with money nor labor and always satisfies the soul (Isaiah 55:1-7).
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
There it was again in Isaiah 55:2. Did you see it? The root word for the word “bread” is לָחַם (lacham). You might say, well what difference does the changing of two vowel points make? A word of difference. The secret is in the bread. The word lacham means to engage in warfare or to go to battle.
One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.
And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
Jesus Christ fought your battle and took away the power of the curse of sin and death. He will fight every battle you allow Him to. At the cross, He engaged in warfare and won the victory. But you have to eat the “Bread”.
I am the bread of life.
For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
In the beginning Adam ate bread but it was leavened with the sin of disobedience. His bread was bread that came for his own works of the flesh and never satisfied. He would always be hungry for more. But the “Bread of Life” was bread from the Father’s House. It was sinless bread that leaves you never hungering again.
Give us this day our daily bread,
When you have truly partaken in covenant of this eternal bread, you don’t forget to eat daily. But instead you look forward to your daily bread. And with your soul feeding on this secret bread, nothing is impossible with God.
But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
I do not know what you are facing today, that in your flesh looks impossible. But I am telling you that in the hands of the the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, anything and all things are possible.