When the trumpet blew announcing the arrival of the Year of Jubilee—the 50^th year in the Hebrew calendar—it was announcing that restoration was now.Freedom was now.

‘Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.’ (Lev 25:10a)

The Hebrew word for Jubilee means, ‘sound of the trumpet’ or ‘joyful shout.’ [1,2]Property passed back to its original owners. Israelites who had been enslaved walked free. And the land was given rest.

God provided this year of restoration so that the inheritance He had allotted to each tribe and family would remain in that family:

• No matter what trouble or failure they had undergone, or debts they had incurred

• No matter what injustices had been done against them as individuals or families

• No matter what had caused them to lose their lands, or to sell themselves or their children into slavery

God—by Name and nature a Redeemer—provided a way of redemption for His people. [3]

The Year of Jubilee is Fulfilled in Jesus

The Year of Jubilee was a prophetic picture of the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the work of redemption accomplished through His sacrifice on the cross.

The Apostle Paul tells us that religious festivals were a shadow of the things that were to come: ‘The reality, however, is found in Christ.’ (Col 2:16-17)

Heb 10:1 says, ‘The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.’

The reality of Jubilee is found in JESUS.

A New Era of Freedom

Announcing His ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth shortly after His baptism, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1-3)

The ‘Year of the Lord’s Favour’ was a reference to the Old Testament celebration of the Year of Jubilee. [4]

The Jewish people listening to Jesus that day had no doubt as to His meaning. He was proclaiming:
‘I am the promised Messiah, the Anointed One.’

You can almost hear the blowing of the Jubilee trumpet as Jesus begins to go about His ministry following that announcement. Salvation, restoration, miracles of provision and protection, healing and deliverance abound.

However, Jesus’  ministry of restoration was not just relevant for the three years that Jesus walked on earth before His crucifixion—it is available to us today.

The Apostle Paul echoes His words in 2 Cor 6:2: ‘I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.’

Heb 13:8 says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.’

Jesus not only brought the Gospel, or good news. He is the good news.

When Jesus said, ‘I have come to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’, He wasn’t referring to a year in time, but to the beginning of a new era; that of the New Covenant.

The Year of Jubilee is Good News Now

For the Israelites, the Year of Jubilee came once every 50 years. They might have lost their inheritance—or have been in slavery—for one year, or they might have been in slavery for 49 years (that is what we would call a ‘worst case scenario!’)

But the reality is, that year may have occurred only once in an Israelite’s lifetime.

Imagine a Hebrew enslaved to a harsh master, with no property to call his own. Someone might come to him and say, “Next year is the Year of Jubilee!” You might think that is good news. Suddenly he realises that he has hope and a future.

But his situation for the present hasn’t changed. He is still enslaved. He is still living in misery. He has no property and he has to labour for someone else. Tomorrow he will wake up and still be a slave.

That is not the Gospel! The Gospel is this:

Take the same Hebrew slave. He wakes one morning to the sound of a trumpet blowing in the distance. Then, someone comes in and announces, “Today, as of RIGHT NOW, you are free. You may go home. Your debts are cancelled. Your property is your own again.

This is the power of the Gospel.

Both Now and to Come

The ultimate fulfilment of our salvation—and the Year of Jubilee—will be when we enter eternity and death and loss is wiped away forever. (Rev 21:1-5)

But the Jubilee message as declared by Jesus reminds us that the Gospel is not only about the hope of a brighter future.

To preach the Gospel is to declare that today is the day of salvation. ‘Believe…now! Be saved…now! Be released from the imprisonment of sin…now! Be healed and filled…now!’

The Year of Jubilee stands as a Biblical reminder of the restoration that is available to us through faith in Jesus every day of our lives. And that is good news.

Notes

[1] STRONG, J.  Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.  Electronic Edition, Ontario:  Woodside Bible Fellowship  (In PC Bible 3.1.)  [CD-ROM.]

[2] You can read about the Year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25. For further study read Nehemiah’s parallel restoration in Neh 5:3-5 and Isaiah 61. For Bible Dictionary references to the Year of Jubilee, see http://topicalbible.org/j/jubilee.htm

[3] ‘Redemption’ is rich in meaning; ‘to redeem’ essentially means ‘to buy back.’ Jesus purchased on our behalf what we had lost—an intimate relationship with God as Father, along with the restoration of our Kingdom inheritance. (1 Peter 18, Gal 3:14, 4:5)

[4] Jack Hayford notes, ‘The prophecy of Is. 61:1,2 describes the deliverance of Israel from exile in Babylon in terms of the Year of Jubilee, but its ultimate fulfillment awaited the coming of the Messianic age…’  HAYFORD, J W, Ed. The Spirit-Filled Life Bible.  1991.  Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Related Posts:

The Key To The Gospel’s Power: Share It Like Jesus Did

Key To Prophetic Evangelism: What Is The Father Doing?

A Beginners Guide To Prophetic Evangelism Pt 1

Do you have any further thoughts about the topic of the Year Of Jubilee? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

‘…by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.’ (Rom 15:19)

The Hunk and I are seeing God move in the lives of people around us—and we want to see much more.

Those of us on the team at David McCracken Ministries are seeing people saved, healed, set free, and receive breakthroughs when we minister—and we are reaching for even more.

Like us, you may desire to draw closer to God and see more of His power released to lead people to Jesus and transform lives.

Jesus Preached a ‘Now’ Message

When Jesus came on the scene He was not like anyone the people had seen or heard before. He had confidence, boldness and authority. He commanded people, demons and sicknesses to do something NOW. [1]

Jesus’ words brought transformation. Atmospheres changed, people responded, demons and sicknesses moved – instantly, at His command.

When Jesus taught, there was a ring of authority in His words. The people were amazed, ‘because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.’ (Mark 1:22)

• For years, they had listened the scribes and the teachers of the law as they reviewed God’s PAST instructions to Israel and taught the law of Moses.

• They were familiar with the prophets who spoke of the FUTURE coming of the Messiah.

Jesus, however, continually spoke words that impacted people’s lives in the PRESENT.

It was this dynamic, this immediacy, that set Jesus apart.

Not News as we Experience it Today

The Gospel is good news. [2]

When we think of ‘news’ we think of reporting. We sit down and watch reports on TV of what as been happening around the world, or we read headlines in the newspaper.

But that is not the kind of news that Jesus brings.

The Word of God is not merely a report of something that has happened.

When God speaks, something happens, something takes place, not only in the spiritual realm but also in the physical realm.

The God’s Word is alive, or as the writer to the Hebrews puts it, “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus said in John 6:63, ‘The words I have spoken to you  are spirit and they are life.’

When Jesus spoke concerning the kingdom of God, His messages resulted in repentance, healing, miracles, and deliverance. Everything He spoke and did was sourced in God’s love for people.

This impact and immediacy of approach did not stop with Jesus’ ministry. [3]

On the day of Pentecost, Peter began to speak in the same way under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

• “Repent… be baptised (implied NOW, Acts 2:38)
• “The promise is for you” (v39)
• “Be saved! (v40)

There is both authority and immediacy in Peter’s words. And so it goes on throughout the book of Acts. (Acts 3:6-8, Acts 9:38, Acts 14:8-10)

A 3-Dimensional Gospel

The bottom line of the Gospel is simply, ‘There is salvation through Jesus Christ alone.’ (Acts 4:8)

But the broader message of the Gospel —the good news about Jesus—contains facets relating to past, present and future.

Each of these three is vital, and if we under-emphasize one, we lack balance and power.

For this reason, I believe the Holy Spirit is highlighting the ‘present’ aspect of the Gospel message to the church at this time.

Reviewing our Message

Following are some examples of past, present and future aspects relating to sharing the Gospel message.

Each is important.

I invite you to join me in making a prayerful and honest appraisal:

• What is my current emphasis on this aspect—in my own life and ministry, as well as in the context of sharing personally with others around me?

Pray and ask God for inspiration and courage to grow and speak out in the areas the Holy Spirit is highlighting to you.

1. Past (Looking back)

Valuing and sharing:

• The Bible’s account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-8)
• What Jesus accomplished on our behalf on the cross: forgiveness of our sins and restoration to God (Col 1:20)
• Our own testimony of what God has done in our lives in the past—our past salvation experience and other encounters with God (Acts 26)

2. Future (Looking forward)

Valuing and sharing:

• The ongoing expectation of hope for God’s grace in our lives, and that of others, in the days and years ahead (Psalm 23)
• The hope of our future eternity with God (Rev 21:1-5)

3. Present

Valuing and sharing:

• Our current testimony of God’s goodness towards us (Phil 4:4)
• The Father’s intent right now for those we encounter in our everyday life and ministry (John 5:19)
• The Gospel message bearing fruit in people’s lives, including repentance, restoration, spiritual freedom and healing. (Luke 4:18)

This is not about focusing on where we are falling short, but on catching a vision for more of what God has for us.

The secret of the Gospel’s power is to share it like Jesus did.

Next week I will be considering the Year Of Jubilee—and how understanding its fulfillment in Jesus can help us understand the breadth of the gospel message.

Notes:

[1] The first chapter of the Gospel of Mark particularly highlights this.

[2] ‘Gospel’ comes from the New Testament Greek word, euangelion, which is comprised of two words, ‘good message.’ The English word ‘Gospel’ comes from an old English direct translation of the Greek word, ‘God Spell,’ meaning good news. In the Bible, the word Gospel refers to the message of salvation through Jesus and it also refers to the four accounts of Jesus life by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

[3] Prophetic preaching and teaching is an example of this dynamic in action. For more information on this see my article, ‘What Is Prophetic Teaching?

I am scratching the surface of a very big topic, and I would love to hear your thoughts, questions or examples relating to it. Leave a message in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Related Posts:

The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today
You Don’t Need A Special Gift To Be A Supernatural Christian
How To Set Your Testimony On Fire Again

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

Have you ever declined to do something because you are ‘not gifted’ in that area?

I have.

‘I’m not gifted in that area’ is an apology that I have used often, especially when it comes to things like hospitality or evangelism.

And this can be a very good thing!

In the church environment particularly, it is vital that we serve where we are gifted and passionate and called.

‘Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’ (1 Peter 4:10)

But—what about in my relationships and my everyday life? Does ‘I’m not gifted in that area’ work as a reason to not speak to someone about Jesus, or not to pray for a family member who is sick, or not to provide hospitality when it is needed?

Don’t be Intimidated by Others’ Spiritual Gifts

We will never truly be fulfilled until we step into the fullness of life that we are designed for—and be comfortable with our own unique expression of spirituality.

I have an old Toyota Camry, which is a vehicle that serves my family and me well. If I am driving and alongside me a hot, turbo-charged Ferrari pulls up, I don’t say, “What is the point of me being on the road? My car is not as powerful as that one.”

My car may be ordinary, it may not go as fast, but it is the only one that will taxi my children around, carry my family’s groceries and get me to work.

In the same way, we must not allow the fact that we do not have a spiritual gift of prayer, prophecy, healing and so on, intimidate us, or stop us living the supernatural life that is our rightful inheritance as Christians.

You and I will connect with people in our everyday life that the pastors and gifted people in our church will not, and occasions for prayer will arise when there is no one present but the Lord and us.

Where is the evangelist when the opportunity arises for you to discuss your faith with a neighbour, or work colleague, or lead your child or grandchild in a salvation prayer?

Where is the prophet when you or someone near you is struggling in your daily life, and needs direction or breakthrough, and could benefit from an encouraging word from God?

A Spiritual Gift, or a Characteristic of Christian Living?

It is vital that we grasp the difference between what a spiritual gift is, versus what is a basic characteristic that we should be exhibiting as followers of Jesus.

For the most part, spiritual gifts are turbo-charged, Holy Spirit-boosted versions of attributes that should be present in the life of every Christian believer.

For example:

• Every Christian is a witness and can share the Good News about Jesus (Col 4:5-6). However, a person with a gift of evangelism will see more people make commitments to Jesus through his or her ministry than the average Christian.

• Every Christian can pray (1 Thess 5:17, Eph 6:18). In fact, prayer is foundational to our relationship with God. Some Christians will pray more, and experience more miraculous results, because they have a gift of prayer or intercession

• All Christians can prophesy (Acts 2:17-18)—i.e., hear God’s voice for themselves and others. Some people can prophesy more powerfully, with greater accuracy and at a higher level, because they have a spiritual gift of prophecy

The same is also true of other areas such as healing (James 5:16), helps (Mark 10:43-45), giving (Rom 12:13) and hospitality (1 Peter 4:9).

This is why, in Ephesians 4, Paul describes the 5-fold (‘Ascension’) ministries—not as exclusive ministers in their area of giftedness—but as those whose primary calling is ‘to equip God’s people for works of service.’ (Eph 4:11-12)

The Basis for Supernatural Christian Living is Not a Spiritual Gift

It is true that some people do have a higher degree of giftedness than others in prayer, healing, prophecy, and so on.

But having a gift is not the basis for you being able to share with someone about Jesus, or pray, or receive a message from the Father for yourself or someone else.

Your ability to hear God’s voice is your right as a son or daughter in His Kingdom.

The source of your authority is the Name of Jesus Christ. What He has accomplished on the cross, and the authority that He has given to you as His committed follower, is the basis of your prayer power.

Further—and this is amazing—you and I have the same Holy Spirit indwelling and anointing us, who empowered Jesus to go about His life and ministry in the Gospels.

I have come to realise that there is NO ONE more qualified than you and I

• to hear from God
• to offer a prayer
• to have a Divine appointment
• to be involved in leading someone to Jesus

wherever we are in our everyday world.

Some Questions to Consider:

• What spiritual gifts am I aware that I do NOT have?
• Have I used the absence of a spiritual gift as a reason to not expect that God could use me to help love and lead people to Jesus, or to pray, or to believe God for miracles in my everyday life?

Prayer

Father, I want to be fully alive—to be all you have called and designed me to be.

Help me to be comfortable with my own unique, down-to-earth expression of spirituality and to not be intimidated by the spiritual gifts and strengths of others.

Thank You that Your Spirit anoints and empowers me to be a supernatural Christian in my everyday world—to live a life for which Jesus is the only explanation, and to love and lead people to you.

In Jesus’ Name

Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comments area is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

How To Be A Supernatural Christian: Turning Your I Can’ts Into I Cans

The Secret Of Living An Undivided Christian Life

The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

You are bursting with it. Even if you keep your mouth shut, your expression may give it away. You may be distracted, or find it hard to keep still. You search your mind for someone—anyone—you can safely share the happy news with.

Last year my brother called from London, to share the news that he and his wife were expecting their first baby. The Hunk received the call while I was out shopping and couldn’t wait to tell me.

By the time my brother located me—on my mobile phone—my squeal of joyful surprise was not as genuine as it would have been if he had shared it first. My delighted hubby had beaten him to it.

It is a universal law: good news just has to be given away!

The Ultimate Good News

To all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:12-13)

As Christian believers, we have been entrusted with the ultimate Good News, the story of how:

• Jesus came to earth and died for the forgiveness of our sins, so that we could be restored in relationship to the Father
• He was resurrected that we might share in His life
• We enter into this new birth, not through anything we can do ourselves, but by faith in Him alone.

This is wonderful news, and all of would agree, truly GOOD news

And yet, many of us go through times when we are no longer excited about the good news of the Gospel. We have lost the urge to share it with others.

There have been times in my own Christian life when I have known in my head that the Gospel is good news, but my heart has lost the song.

In these seasons, I can look back and remember what God has done in the past, but I do not have a current testimony of God’s goodness.

When this happens, I am not the only one who is affected—others around me lose the opportunity to hear Good News.

The Power Of A Testimony

Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:38-39)

God has designed that the Gospel be expressed through the vehicle of our testimony. When the two are teamed up, extraordinary power is released to lead people to faith in Jesus.

• The word testimony is a legal term and dictionary meanings include ‘an outward sign,’ and ‘evidence in support of a fact or statement, proof.’

Our personal testimony stands as proof of the truth of the Gospel—evidence that it is life-changing Good News.

• The root word of testimony, ‘testi’, comes from a word meaning ‘witness.’

Our testimony provides a witness to others of what Jesus has done for us—and that what Jesus has done for us, He can do for them.

The story of how we first encountered Jesus and how our lives were changed when we accepted Him into our lives powerfully illustrates the Gospel.

But our testimony is not just the story of what took place when we first believed.

The ongoing stories of God’s Divine intervention in our lives have tremendous power to witness to others, as we talk about:

• How God impacts our lives every day
• Answers we have had to prayer
• What God has spoken to us
• How we have seen Him at work in our lives and in those around us.

Through this current testimony of God’s grace, we know, and others see, that Jesus is the only explanation for what is taking place in our lives.

As the Apostle Paul explained,

‘You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.’

How To Recover Your Testimony

Right now, I can’t wait to share with others all the good things I am seeing happen in my life and in the lives of others around me. However, it hasn’t always been that way.

Have you lost the fire? Here are some things that have helped me to recover a current testimony of God’s goodness:

1. Recognise that Something is Missing

If you can’t come up with an existing reason to be thankful about what God is doing in your life, something is missing.

We can always have a current testimony of God’s goodness in our lives, even if that testimony is of His empowering or His comforting word to us in the trials we are experiencing.

2. Meditate on What Jesus has Done for you

Take some time to meditate on what the Bible says about God’s love for you personally, as well as what Jesus has accomplished through His death on the cross and how it applies personally to you.

Remember your experience of salvation and how encountering God for the first time changed your life. Think about what He has done since, and about all of His faithfulness.

3. Ask God for a Fresh Infilling of His Spirit

Pray and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. It is a prayer He loves to answer.

As you encounter Him in this way, you will fall in love with Jesus again.

Every time I have experienced a significant new infilling with the Holy Spirit, my passion for God and for people has been restored.

4. Take time to Listen—Receive a Word from God

To hear God speak to you is to encounter Him. He wants to speak to you about His love for you, His involvement in your past and present circumstances, and His purpose for your life.

5. Pray—and Watch for what Happens Next

If you are aware that you have lost the fire of your testimony, talk to your Father about it. Ask Him to move in your life, pray and then open your eyes. You will soon see Him at work.

We can’t give away what we do not possess ourselves.

When we recover a fresh and vibrant testimony of God’s goodness to us, the Gospel will be Good News to us once again—and nothing will hold us back from sharing it with others.

Do you have any more ideas or thoughts on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Related Posts:

How To Be A Supernatural Christian: The Good News

Spiritual Renewal: Cafe Moments With God

The River Returns: How To Be Re-Filled With The Holy Spirit When You Are Dry

© Helen Calder   Enliven Blog  http://propheticpeople.com/

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

‘Supernatural’ refers to something that cannot be explained by natural means

When we are living a supernatural Christian lifestyle, Jesus is the only explanation for what others see occurring in and through us.

In our relationship with God, He is the ‘super’ and we are the ‘natural.’ Supernatural Christianity is a life lived in partnership with God and His Spirit.

The good news is that we don’t have to change ourselves or try and be someone different to have God’s power displayed in our lives. Just as grace (undeserved favour from God) is the basis for our faith in Jesus, it is also the foundation of our lives as supernatural Christians.

Unlikely Bearers of Good News

I love the story of the four lepers who were living outside the city gates in Samaria (you can read the full story in 2 Kings 7).

In those days, lepers were considered unclean, and had to live apart from society. Israel’s powerful enemies had set up a siege against the city, and as a result the city’s population was starving.

The lepers finally became so desperately hungry that they approached the enemy army’s camp in a final bid to obtain food or to die trying.

In the meantime, the Lord had caused the enemy army to hear the supernatural sound of a greater army coming their way. They fled in panic, leaving their camp intact, and their bounty, clothes, food and provisions behind.

The unlikely four tucked into the bountiful feast and helped themselves to the clothes and food. Gradually the enormity of what had happened as well as their sense of personal responsibility dawned on them. There was a whole city of starving people—and they were keeping the good news of God’s salvation to themselves!

Chosen By Grace

Like the lepers, we may have flunked the system, failed to measure up, be alienated or feel disowned by people. And yet God has chosen us; firstly to discover the wealth of all Jesus has purchased for us on the cross, and secondly, to share this Good News with others.

When it comes to being bearers of God’s power and His Gospel of grace, God doesn’t look for those who are qualified or successful in human terms. One of the first evangelists in the New Testament was a Samaritan woman, who was also an outsider (see John chapter 4). But she brought an entire city to Jesus!

The journey of supernatural Christianity and prophetic evangelism is a voyage of grace-discovery. It is on the basis of grace that we receive God’s transforming power and that He uses us to share His love and power with others.

The story of the unlikely four lepers is a reminder that we don’t have to be anyone special in the world’s standards, and certainly not by religious standards, for God to use us. Jesus can use us the way that we are. Paul explains this in 1 Cor 1:26-30:

‘Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.’

Are you interested in Prophetic Evangelism?

For more information, inspiration and stories, learn more in the e-book,

‘How To Be a Supernatural Christian In Your Everyday World’

Related Posts:

A Beginner’s Guide to Prophetic Evangelism Pt 1

How To Set Your Testimony On Fire Again

© Helen Calder   Enliven Blog