Kingdom Assignments

As they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work that I have called them to." (Act 13:2)

Paul and Barnabas had been serving the Lord for years. They had performed countless miracles and saw hundreds converted to the faith. Yet here the Holy Spirit says to them "set apart for me Barnabas and Paul for the work I have called them to".

This is a statement of promotion that says to Paul and Barnabas that all they've been doing up to this point has just been training for the assignment God always had for them. Their true destiny was in Rome and, with this promotion, Paul was being taken from the Fourth Day (WITNESS) into the Fifth Day (CALLING) of God's plan for his life. This calling meant Paul would be given ALL AUTHORITY to speak and act for the Kingdom of Heaven, even in the presence of Caesar himself.

Later, we discover Paul's assignment would involve him being arrested and taken to Rome by ship...

By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the fast was already over, Paul gave his advice and told them, "Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said. (Act 27:9-11)

Paul had spoken under his assignment authority. The centurion did not recognize this authority and chose in his ignorance to remain under the ship's captain. Then the storm rose up...

For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging; finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing. Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, "You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. For this night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me, saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And, look! God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.' (Act 27:20-24)

Paul's assignment was a God ordained work that nothing in Heaven or on earth could stop. Paul could speak with confidence about the fate of the crew that was with him because he understood the authority the assignment afforded him.

After the entire crew was safe on dry land, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake. The poison had no effect on him for the same reason the shipwreck could not claim him or anyone sailing with him -- the authority of his Kingdom assignment. Every attempt by satan to prevent Paul from reaching Rome failed. Even though Paul was operating inside enemy territory, because of his assignment he always spoke and acted in full authority.