Set for Greater Things: Seven Blessings of the Year of Jubilee

Sermon outline

God has increase in mind every time He deals with you, so arise, see what He is giving you and receive your year of jubilee: a time of release, restoration and multiplied blessing.

1. Hidden in every message are principles of success

   Every sermon carries a thread of success principles, which is why he urges people not to miss a meeting. Unbelievers often do better than believers because motivational writers have gleaned those principles from the Bible, left God's name out, and the world applies them diligently while Christians pray and do nothing. Prayer, fasting, church, tithing and holiness all matter, but you must apply the Word, work hard and be disciplined. He says this is not yet his sermon.

   Illustration: He says the ideas in books by Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill come from the Bible. A Christian who walks round the company with tracts and does no work will be fired; be wise like Joseph, work well with a good attitude, and one day you will have a say in the boardroom.

   “Don't be spiritually stupid. Please, I beg of you, be spiritually wise.”

   • Philippians 4:19
   • Luke 16:8

2. When God has destined you for great things, He separates you

   God spoke to Abram only after Lot was separated from him. Do not be intimidated when God separates you from some family, friends or colleagues, because people who are familiar with you box you in by your background. Only after the separation can He show you a great vision.

   Illustration: Abraham gave Lot first choice of the land when their herdsmen quarrelled, and they went separate ways.

   “He doesn't make you bitter. He makes you better.”

   • Genesis 13:14
   • Genesis 12:1
   • Genesis 13:7-11
   • Psalm 1:3

3. Whatever your eyes see, God wants to give into your hands

   God told Abram that all the land he could see would be his and that his seed would be like the dust of the earth. God wants to give you better than what you have now, but prove faithful where you are, because faithfulness with another man's things comes before your own. Do not despise small beginnings.

   Illustration: He has the church stretch out their hands as a prophetic act, a sign to their angels that says, 'I'm ready.'

   “Every time I deal with you, I have increase in my mind.”

   • Genesis 13:15-16
   • Job 8:7
   • Zechariah 4:10

4. Arise and walk through the land: God says yes

   God told Abram to arise and walk the length and breadth of the land. Change your posture, go and touch what you think you cannot afford, picture it and claim it by faith before it comes. Believers are not meant to take over the church but to take dominion out in the world, so stop admiring others and be a fighter in the spirit.

   Illustration: You will not get anything sitting in a La-Z-Boy chair. When you go to buy a building and they ask for more, say, 'In Jesus' name this is mine.'

   “When people say no, God says yes.”

   • Genesis 13:17-18

5. What the year of Jubilee meant

   After seven sabbatical cycles, forty-nine years, the fiftieth year was set apart. It meant that (1) business started over as at the beginning, (2) bonds and mortgages were cancelled, (3) servants and slaves were released, (4) the bondages of men were annulled, and (5) debts were forgiven and land returned to its original owners. He proclaims this a year of jubilee for the church.

   “In simple terms, jubilee meant it was a time of release.”

   • Leviticus 25:10

6. Jubilee blessings one to four: liberty, possessions, family, increase

   First, liberty from bad relationships and conflict at home and at work. Second, possessions: what you need for your home or business will come to you. Third, restoration of family: sons, daughters, husbands and wives returning to the Lord, and the right partner for those who are ready to marry. Fourth, increase in your field, meaning your employment or business.

   Illustration: A lady from Zimbabwe in the church blessed him with a suit and asked for prayer for an increase at work. The following week she was given a fifteen percent increase.

   “You are not under the recession. You are in the year of jubilee.”

   • Leviticus 25:10
   • 2 Corinthians 3:17
   • Leviticus 25:13
   • Leviticus 25:12

7. Jubilee blessings five to seven: freedom from oppression, safety, triple blessings

   Fifth, freedom from oppression: no evil spirit, witchcraft, jealousy or curse will hold you back. Sixth, safety at home and on the road for you and your children. Seventh, triple blessings, from God's promise of three years' fruit in the sixth year. He has each person point to someone and prophesy the list over them.

   Illustration: When they bought the church building the sellers asked whether he was afraid to be next to a temple. He answered that perhaps the temple-goers would end up in his church, and early on two elderly Indian ladies in white saris came in to bow at the altar.

   “Where they saw a problem, I saw potential.”

   • Leviticus 25:14
   • Leviticus 25:18
   • Leviticus 25:21
   • Proverbs 10:22

8. God will multiply you, not just add to you

   The scripture God gave him for the month promises thanksgiving, merry voices, multiplication and honour: you will not be few and you will not be small. If you are not doing well there is a bottleneck somewhere, so deal honestly with what is stuck. To those who call this a prosperity gospel he replies that it is the only good news he knows: Christ became poor so that we might become rich.

   Illustration: Some who count their money on their fingers will soon need a calculator. He says he was once poor, sickly and envious of others' success, until he met Christ.

   “He taught me how to celebrate the success of others.”

   • Jeremiah 30:19
   • 1 Corinthians 2:4
   • 2 Corinthians 8:9

9. Don't quit, and raise your expectancy

   He closes the teaching with the poem 'Don't Quit', which he had read at a wedding the day before. Do not give up or look for a way out, because God has put hope in your heart and something good is about to happen. Those whose expectancy is low must lift it and begin to look for miracles.

   Illustration: Pastor Zubeda had shared how money she never expected came to her after twenty-five years.

   “Your level of expectancy is the level in which you receive.”