#70524 – The Kingdom Manifesto!
The Luke 4 Announcement.
NOW There Is A New Standard For Ministry!
The Kingdom Manifesto and The Fullness of Pentecost.
August 15, 2012
Luke 4:1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, He became hungry.
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit; and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15 And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
While many over the years have declared Matthew 5-6 & 7 to be the Manifesto of the Kingdom, I would like to add my understanding to modify that previous conclusion.
manifesto >noun (pl. manifestos) a public declaration of policy and aims. from Latin manifestus ‘caught in the act, flagrant’
manifest1 >adjective clear and obvious. >verb 1 show or demonstrate. 2 become apparent. 3 To appear. 4 To make known by example.
The fact that the New Testament uses the word “kingdom” 150 times and defines it with over 220 verses makes the Kingdom of God the central issue of the New Covenant and an essential issue of the Christian Life and the dominant focus of all Christian Ministry! For that reason we cannot use ONLY Luke 4 as the total Manifesto of the Kingdom but it is clear this is an essential part of the announcement that the Kingdom is at hand. The actual experience of the Feast of Pentecost among the saints had to wait for forgiveness of sins and redemption about three and one half years later. Salvation, Pentecost and the Kingdom Laws are experienced within the New Covenant provision and none of these basic experiences can be successfully ignored if Christianity is to be a strong influence as Light and Salt, as Jesus said it must be.
Before we look at this portion of the Manifesto in Luke 4 we should be aware that there was {and still is the equivalent of}40 days of delay and very serious activity between going being full of the Spirit to returning in the power of the Spirit. Over the last 100 years multitudes have been “filled with the Holy Spirit” but few have manifested the “Power of the Holy Spirit” or the Luke 4 anointing or its Manifesto. Therefore, we could conclude that experiencing the POWER of the Spirit precedes the Luke 4 Manifesto, unless the Manifesto is in word only! In other words anyone can read Luke 4 and make a “message” from that information! However, after Jesus said “Today this scripture HAS BEEN fulfilled in your hearing,” He then went out and manifested what He just read. This is one of the distinctions between the Matthew 5-6 & 7 Manifesto and the Luke 4 Kingdom Manifesto. The Greater Life is seen in the Matthew sermon and the Greater Works is seen in the Luke 4 Manifesto. Both are essential for the church to preach the Kingdom as personal reality. Preaching the Kingdom Manifesto must result in the Manifestation of the Kingdom or it is in “word only.” In other words the “message” is without Power until it is demonstrated! We really don’t need another powerless message on ANY Biblical subject! The visible church has specialized in that activity for the last 500 years and we can see the “lack of manifestation.”
Then what is the solution to this dilemma in the ministry today? It may be assumed that; Oh! Just don’t preach the Kingdom and no Manifestation is required. We could just declare the “Kingdom now” is a false doctrine or the Kingdom has been postponed until the Millennium and then we could continue in a status quo and more irrelevant ministry. This has been effective because most all “Christians” will never know the difference between “a message” and the Kingdom reality anyway! Until they hear and understand the “Kingdom message” and then see the Kingdom being demonstrated with power, the message will continue to fall to the ground.
Therefore, my thesis is this: The “greater” Kingdom Manifestation and the “greater” Kingdom Life must precede or accompany the Kingdom Message or we will just continue in the “word only” ministry. My theory is this: We have come to the end of that shallow but essential focus upon the Outer Court Foundations and of our basic preparation. This Manifesto is essential to the “greater works” fulfillment.
Luke 4:16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book, and found the place where it was written, [ Isaiah 61]
Luke 4:18 “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE {1} ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. {2} HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND {3} RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, {4} TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, 19 {5} TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
Luke 4:20 And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Here we have both the cause and the effect within the New Covenant ministry. The cause is “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.” The effect is He has {1} ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. {2} HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND {3} RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, {4} TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, 19 {5} TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”
If we leave out or neglect any ONE of these SIX manifestations we will negate the ministry in the next dimension! Why is this so necessary? Because, most all Christian Churches are neglecting ALL these things. How is this possible after nearly 2000 years of preaching? By just declaring that all these things passed away with the last Apostle! But, brother, aren’t many churches preaching these things as present reality? Yes, that is true, but that “preaching” is just in “WORD ONLY.” If the “Manifesto” is without “manifestation” it is just in “word only.”
1Thess 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Our purpose in this document is to prove that this “manifesto” is for us, the church, today. If the “church” is just a building somewhere then the “manifestation” is not possible or important! However, the “church He is building” is made up of a Kingdom of Priests who are the saints that receive the Kingdom. These are also the “sons of God.”
Dan 7:18 ‘But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’
Dan 7:27 ‘Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him
This whole Kingdom realm is forfeited unless we finally experience the Power of the Holy Spirit to make the Manifesto experientially valid! Just another message without power will continue to be ineffective and irrelevant!
Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Act 1:8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is for everybody who believes and receives Him. However, receiving the Power is not automatic as we see in Luke 4. If the “saints” receive the Kingdom and then possess the Kingdom forever, it seems reasonable that the Kingdom is for ALL of us “saints” today. However, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me” is first essential because He is the cause of all the Kingdom activity. But is this anointing granted to all the saints? Yes! That is, for all who repent, believe, have been baptized and who actually RECEIVE the Holy Spirit! If the Holy Spirit has no access to your life there is NO CAUSE so it is reasonable to assume there will be no manifestation and for that reason we see NO effects.
Act 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.”
Jesus said He must go away or the Holy Spirit would not come. This Church Age is the
dispensation of the Holy Spirit and He is the Sovereign God over the Church for its preparation for eternity. Since this IS His dispensation we should be VERY careful to treat Him as God. Why?
Luke 12:10 “And everyone who will speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.
To deny the Holy Spirit His rightful place of His Sovereignty, Power and Authority in the
church, during the church age, is a VERY serious offence and one that is not treated lightly by the Father or the Word. Why? He is presently representing the God Head to the church.
Therefore, we can conclude that “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME” must be the actual experience of EVERY member of His body. Nevertheless, we should question if we have actually arrived at the “power stage” of the anointing! If there is no manifestation of the Holy Spirit or of His Kingdom Government inherent in our life, we could assume that something essential is lacking.
Act 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. 39 “And we are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem.
The evidence of the anointing with the Holy Spirit was the Power, the Doing Good, and the Healing of those oppressed by the devil. This realm of “healing” might be more universal than physical healing and include to “Set at liberty those who were bound” or “to release the captives of the devil.” These are also the signs that Jesus said would accompany the true believer.
Mark 16:16 “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 “And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
These are obviously “believers” who actually did what Jesus said every believer should and would do. Then what went wrong that these “believers” were rejected and cast out of the Kingdom dimension of eternity? They failed to bring their life under the Kingdom Government of God and obey the Laws of the Kingdom. This is OUTSIDE the will of God! Therefore, their only fatal mistake was that they “did the ministry” in “the Name of Jesus” but were those “WHO STILL PRACTICED LAWLESSNESS!” They were “without law” because they did not “do the will of God” or obey the Laws of the Kingdom. Does that mean the Law of Moses? NO! This refers to the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which is related to the Laws of the Kingdom! These Laws are included in Matthew 5-6 and 7.
Mat 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; 28 but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The Law of Moses set forth certain standards for the natural man but the Kingdom sets forth Higher Standards for the new man/ new species of man who is now subject to a Higher Law. This Higher Law is a source of total frustration for the natural man so he declares it to be for some other people and for some other time, but certainly NOT for this dispensation of grace.
For another example; Having outbursts of anger was not a big problem under the Law of Moses but now outbursts of anger will lock you out of the Kingdom. So will several other things.
Galatians 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now it should be obvious that we all need ALL the help we can get in reconciling to the Kingdom requirements! It is for THAT reason that BOTH the Kingdom AND the Name of Jesus must be preached as the one message. When the ones who heard AND believed BOTH the Kingdom and the Name of Jesus they were then baptized. Why? They heard the full message of the King and the Kingdom! Does just preaching Half the message get people Half-saved? In other words, is it correct to believe the Name of Jesus but disbelieve in the Kingdom of God? This is certainly a very serious problem today and nearly universal!
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.
Act 28:23 And when they had set a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening.
Act 28:30 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters, and was welcoming all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.
In other words “the Spirit of the Lord is upon me” is the basic requirement just to qualify for entrance into ANY ministry in the Church He is Building. This advancement into the Holy Place Life and Ministry must result in a Fulness of the Spirit AND the Power of the Spirit under the illumination of the Seven Spirits of God! Preaching the Kingdom Manifesto in the Outer Court natural light dimension will be a waste of time because there will be no Manifestation of the Spirit to confirm the message. In other words to preach “Release to the Captives” without the “Power to Release the Captives” is a waste of time and the message is in “word only.” When the “church” can actually release the captives rather than just talk about it, the “church” might suddenly become relevant.
Then how can we make excuses for the Charismatic or Pentecostal Church ministries that speak in tongues and prophesy and “maybe” even cast out demons but are “lawless” and ignore the Kingdom Manifestation? We cannot! How can we excuse ourselves when we are also
“powerless” to fulfill the Kingdom Manifesto ? We cannot! “Well, God knows my heart and I would if I could but I can’t” will not be a valid excuse when we stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ. Why? Because all the provision has been given within the New Covenant to ALL who repent and believe. According to Jesus’ instruction, ALL these signs should follow ALL those who truly believe. Believe what? EVERYTHING that Jesus said! But didn’t all that pass away? No!
Mat 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.
What is our guarantee that all the provision has been given in the New Covenant?
Luke 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in My blood.
To believe in the Blood but NOT in the New Covenant is very foolish!
Therefore, let us examine what we are instructed to complete and challenged to do.
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
“POOR” G4434 xτωχός ptōchos pto-khos’ (to crouch;); a beggar (as cringing), that is, pauper (strictly denoting absolute or publicly engaged in begging ; figuratively (distressed): - beggar (-ly), poor.
We should fully understand that Jesus is speaking with the full authority of the God Head when He announced that “the Spirit of the Lord” is upon me. This passage in Isaiah specifically refers to the Messiah and Jesus very clearly assigns this scripture to Himself. Not only that but then He immediately began Manifesting the Manifesto. The “PROOF” was in the manifestation of these five things listed in the Manifesto.
Then why are we applying this to the “church” or to all true believers? Simply because this same anointing is available to ALL who repent, believe, and are baptized. Then why don’t ALL believers manifest this same anointing? Because, they are taught to NOT believe. Why? Because this anointing came with tongues and prophesy which most preachers cannot accept. But don’t most Pentecostal and Charismatic groups accept the anointing along with tongues and prophesy and many of the other gifts? Yes, that is true! Then why are not all five of the manifestations experienced in these groups? It is my opinion that these groups have stopped advancing into the Holy Place Life and Ministry that reflects the Kingdom of Priests manifestation. But don’t all these groups “preach the gospel to the poor?” Now, we must define “What is the Gospel!”
My thesis is that we cannot isolate ANY of the scriptures from the Kingdom Government of God because THAT IS the Gospel Jesus was sent to preach.
Luke 4:43 But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
Mat 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.
My theory is this; When the Gospel of the Kingdom is truly preached by the anointing of Luke 4 we WILL see the Manifestation of these FIVE areas of Kingdom/ Priesthood ministry! In other words, THE CAPTIVES WILL TRULY BE SET FREE AND THE BLIND WILL RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT. How do we know that? Because, His Body with do His same works!
Mat 11:2 Now when John in prison heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.
These are the signs that identify the Messiah and SHOULD be the signs that identify His Body ( Those who believe) according to Mark 16. Jesus gives Isaiah 61as the proof when He said the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. But didn’t Jesus also preach to the rich? He actually preached to EVERYBODY but ONLY those who knew they were in spiritual poverty or spiritually bankrupt could receive the Truth. These “beggars” could receive the Kingdom. The Pharisees, the Scribes and the Rulers could receive Nothing!
Mat 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! Why is this true? Because, the Kingdom reveals the Absolute Sovereignty and Greatness of God and in contrast we are bankrupt and insignificant. But, isn’t God discriminating against the proud, the arrogant and the rich? Not, at all! These are human terms that apply to the natural realm. The Spiritual Realm is identified as the Kingdom of God and in that realm there are NO distinctions. If the proud, the arrogant and the rich refuse to make the transition this is NOT a matter of discrimination but of stupidity, rebellion and lawlessness.
However, if the Kingdom is NOT preached how will the rich know their riches will NOT save them. The proud, the arrogant and the rich and all those who live in the flesh have sealed their fate for eternity. They shall NOT inherit the Kingdom of God! In this “gospel of salvation,” that is being preached, if you are not prospering and increasing in wealth something is wrong with your faith. The Matra is this; If we are “THE KINGS KIDS” we should have the best of everything! We should demand our entitlements. When examined that strange concept in the light of the Kingdom it is revealed as error and extreme darkness.
It should be quite evident that this “gospel of salvation” is only designed to be preached within the exacting atmosphere of the Kingdom Government of God. It should also be clear that those “preachers” who live outside the Kingdom Government or ignore its Laws will have a difficult time preaching the Kingdom Manifesto with ANY conviction.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
This has become a present frustration for me because this requires the Power of God along with the Kingdom Authority of God to actually set those who are captive free. These can only be effectively manifested out of a Kingdom Life lived within the Government of God. Of course, over these many years, we have cast out thousands of demons by the Name of Jesus but like we saw in Matthew 7 this is NOT acceptable “ministry” by itself. This basic ministry appears to be VERY effective but when seen from the Kingdom Viewpoint, it is rejected by the Lord simply because the ministry was done in lawlessness. This means outside the realm of Kingdom obedience and discipline! This is a VERY clear warning to EVERY “minister” but is commonly ignored.
It is certainly NOT difficult to preach about the captives being set free but it is quite another thing to be able to actually release the captives so they are free to serve God, unhindered by any outside or inside forces. Many of the “dominating forces” ( the 7 nations and 31 kings) are within each person that is in bondage but these things are not always demons. Some of these “forces” are bound up in perversions, character defects and stubbornness. Some just embrace apathy and unconcern about ANY necessary change because “I am already saved.”
Every one of us were in bondage to something when we came into this life! That is expected. However, to keep living in that bondage year after year is a tremendous disservice to the “body” and an offensive testimony for the church. To be “in the ministry” but to be unable to release the captives by just preaching a “message” each week is so common that the “church” is evaluated as irrelevant. If these five Manifestations in the Manifesto were the experience of “the visible church,” we could no longer question the relevancy of the church. Why? We would see the manifestations of power that is inherent within the Kingdom of God and manifested by the experience of the Spirit of the Lord UPON me! When this becomes our experience, the reality of the True and Bibilical Anointing can no longer be questioned. Some of the pitiful things identified as “THE ANOINTING” today are actually shameful.
Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, dumb, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them, 31 so that the multitude marveled as they saw the dumb speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
How effective would reading Luke 4 have been if Jesus just read the verses but was unable to set the captives free? It should be clear today that the real difference with “going to church” and “BECOMING the church” that He is building is in manifesting the Manifesto. ONLY this will produce a church that is both relevant and produce an effective testimony to the ones seriously looking for reality.
Why we haven’t seen this long ago and sought God for the manifestations of this reality is a great mystery because these things are not hidden in scripture but available for ALL to see. This indicates that those who are casual about seeking the Kingdom will see very little even though it is clearly written in scripture.
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
Of course Jesus healed the physically blind and that was essential as a visible testimony of the Anointing that was upon Him. Paul was actually “spiritually blind” for many years but didn’t know it until he became physically blind. If we understood that Paul was made BLIND so he could see, we might have a broader interpretation of what it means RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND. Of course all these manifestations include the physical realms of healing and freedom. This Kingdom Message is not just preaching about healing the blind but actually causing the spiritually blind to gain an accurate and relevant VISION of God and His purpose! This “healing of the spiritually blind” is by revelation, understanding and inspiration and by the Kingdom anointing. This is what we have referred to as the “inner anointing” that is associated with the Holy Place Life and Ministry!
Attempting to do this “ministry” without the Spirit of the Lord and His Anointing will be very disappointing. Without this anointing we must resort to counseling and psychology that just extends the spiritual blindness by “ministering” natural things to the natural man. These “ministries” are very popular in the visible church today simply because they have ignored the Spirit of the Lord, rejected His Anointing and are ignorant of the plan of God for the church to reveal the mysteries.
To be spiritually blind but then to be accepted as a “minister, an elder, a leader or a bishop” is beyond our comprehension. There is no reason this is necessary except by some devilish deception. We certainly couldn’t object if someone identified this ignorance as epidemic in the groups that meet, which are “called” the church! We would find it difficult to object if someone said the visible church is a counterfeit and failure or if someone said that the Luke 4 group is the authentic church that can manifest the Kingdom. If we identified the “REAL CHURCH” as opposite the denominational groups that have NO ANOINTING AND NO POWER should we be criticized as judgmental? Not if we are looking for and expecting Christian Reality.
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN,
The word translated “downtrodden” is also translated in other Bibles as “oppressed”, “shattered”, “bruised”, “beaten down”, and “broken.”
These obviously have been seriously hurt by some system or persons that ignored them or mistreated them. Maybe they were harmed by physical abuse or by spiritual oppression. Some may have been harmed by being lied to about the Kingdom. Some may be crushed by the weight of some religious system or by some legalism that puts an unreasonable and unscriptural burden upon the people. Some could be children browbeaten by unregenerate parents or spouses that are held in some matrimonial bondage. Some in need of freedom could be older parents that have had their resources stolen by greedy children. There is no limit to the degree of broken psyches in those who are oppressed and are in constant need of more freedom. Most of these are NOT delivered by preaching more verses or attending more meetings or singing more songs or by more fellowship. They can only be delivered by the Real Anointing of the Priesthood Ministry.
Therefore, according to Isaiah 61, these poor souls must be released by the “Anointing” of the Spirit of the Lord upon and within the one sent to set the captives free. This removes any doubt about some carnally trained “minister” having the natural ability to release the captives or to free the downtrodden. Why? They MUST have this next (inner) anointing to set free those who are bound or even to slightly qualify as a minister of the New Covenant. Why? Because, the New Covenant is NOT preached by the “letter” but by the anointing of the Holy Spirit!
If we said this present system of training ministers or establishing “churches” is not working and the results are disgraceful and shockingly pitiful, should ANYONE get offended at brother Leo? If this IS true then it is my opinion that everyone should agree and set out immediately for a radical change from this status quo mentality.
If we cannot free the downtrodden or set the captives free should we not admit it and repent and seek God for a solution? What if we just kick the can down the road and say, “Yes, someone should pursue this option.” But if I said this is NOT AN OPTION would that be offensive? The “ministries” have kicked this can down the road for nearly one hundred years since the Spirit of the Lord was restored to the church in the fulness of the Spirit but the power has been neglected. Of course the “power” has been constantly preached for decades but the evidence is not very apparent.
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.
Also Translated as: The Acceptable Year of the Lord or the Year of God’s Favor.
Jamison, Fawcet, and Brown---- acceptable year - an allusion to the jubilee year (Lev_25), a year of universal release for person and property. As the maladies under which humanity groans are here set forth under the names of poverty, broken-heartedness, bondage, blindness, being bruised (or crushed), so, as the glorious HEALER of all these maladies, Christ announces Himself in the act of reading it, stopping the quotation just before it comes to “the day of vengeance,” which was only to come on the rejecters of His message. The first words, “THE SPIRIT of the LORD is upon ME,” have been noted since the days of the Church Fathers, as an illustrious example of the Spirit of the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost being exhibited as in distinct yet harmonious action in the scheme of salvation. (End quote)
This “freedom to return to our predestined possessions” is inherent within the real and valid Christian experience. This is a freedom to be restored to participation in the Eternal Plan of God by our being set free from every hindrance (poverty, broken-heartedness, bondage, blindness, being bruised) so we might effectively participate. This also, at the same time, removes EVERY excuse that we may give for our failure to fully return to our possessions and fully participate in the fulfillment of God’s Predestined Plan!
Being set free from these five areas of human calamity (poverty, broken-heartedness, bondage, blindness, being bruised (or crushed or downtrodden), is surely inherently related to the Year of Jubilee. Why? Because, we see no other fulfillment for the “Feast of the Fiftieth Year” except this reference to being set free for a total redemption from debt and guilt and providing a brand new beginning. Every time we see the magnitude of God’s provision it also removes any excuse we might have for NOT participating. Jesus stopped reading at “the day of vengeance of our God” because that day is certainly coming but was not current at that time. Nevertheless, each one of us must appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ where ALL these carnal excuses will be forbidden. (They were trembling and not able to open their mouth)
The Year of Jubilee was such a complete freedom for all those in Israel, those that had not been prudent in earthly affairs and were bankrupt with debts too great for them to pay. Therefore, they were sold into slavery to other Jews who paid off their debts. They worked as debtors to those who paid for their redemption. Nevertheless, every fifty years EVERY person was set free from being slaves and all their original property, that was lost through negligence, was returned so he could begin again with a totally new start and debt free. This “Year of Jubilee” began at Calvary when all our debts were paid by our Jewish redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, we must still serve the Master who paid our dept until we have fulfilled our responsibility as “purchased Possessions” or when the final day of Jubilee takes place.
1Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
1Peter 1:17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
To accept the redemption of God through the debt paid at Calvary and then think you have NO RESPONSIBILITY to serve the one who paid your dept is just ignorance. To call this lack of responsibility “our freedom in Christ” is just foolishness. Still this lack of good sense has been carried on by the “ministers” who say that grace wipes out our responsibility. These “ministers” are, obviously, without the Kingdom Anointing or are ignorant of the scriptural meaning of “redemption”! Bought with a price surely refers to the Law of the Debtor in Levitucus 25.
In Leviticus 25 it is quite clear that the Law of the debtor servant and the Law of the Bondservant is integrally linked together with the Year of Jubilee. These various understandings are found in this one chapter in Leviticus 25. This Feast only happened every fifty years. If any Israelite sold his inheritance or family property or lost it for any reason it had to be returned to the person or his family every fifty years. In that arrangement those who had sold or lost everything and were bankrupt could escape from their debt, their poverty, their bondage and their broken condition every fifty years, in the Year of Jubilee.
Now, in the final part of Jesus’ Manifesto He related this all to Isaiah 61 and the promise of the coming Messiah. Now, at last, through His Life and Ministry He would restore everything that was lost and EVERYBODY could return to their rightful inheritance. This total freedom from dept and guilt and returning to our predestined possessions is what we are calling “SALVATION.” That is why we insist that “Salvation” is within the Kingdom and NOT separate from the Kingdom Government or its Laws of Jubilee. Jubilee is a freedom from debt and guilt but NOT a freedom to do your own thing or be lawless or to flaunt your freedom under the false guise of “grace.”
Deu 15:12 “If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free. 13 “And when you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed. 14 “You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15 “And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.
If during the six years that the debtor was sold into slavery, the year of Jubilee came he MUST be set free and his family’s original possessions be returned. This Law stopped the continuation of poverty from one generation to next generation. The laziness or ignorance of one generation was canceled out at the Feast of the Fiftieth Year and a new beginning and opportunity was restored. If then, though laziness or ignorance, the one set free returned to become a debtor he was again enslaved until his debt was paid and his family suffered loss until the next Jubilee.
This Year of the Lord’s Favor (the Law of Jubilee) is to be preached as part of the Kingdom Message. This, of course, is NOT compatible with the Gospel of the Give-a-Ways or the Gospel of Cheap Grace, so the objection to the message will be very vocal. This is ALL part of the difficulty of preaching the Kingdom without the Power or the Manifestation of the Manifesto. All the criticism will be valid if we preach freedom but are unable to set people free.
2Peter 2:18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. 20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
Promising the captives “freedom” but then being unable to set them free indicates that we may have a serious problem ourselves. At VERY LEAST we will certainly have NO EXCUSE for our lack of Power to deliver those who are bound. Unless we are free from the “Seven Nations and Thirty One Kings” that inhabit the land we will never overcome (conquer) to possess the Land or return to our Predestined Possessions. Out of over the 4 million over 20 years that came out of Egypt, only two entered in to possess the land. We must do a LOT better than that. God never gave them the wilderness as their possession, but ONLY Canaan, however, our enemies live there. Well, God knows my heart. I would drive them out if I could but I can’t! Thank God, He is full of grace, mercy and compassion and will overlook my failure and lawlessness. He knows I am a weak person so He will forgive me and I will sit with Him on His Throne. This LIE is so grievous that it MUST be exposed.
The real Gospel of the Kingdom is designed to Present to Christ a Glorious Church without Spot or Wrinkle and one which is Holy and Blameless! If this is NOT happening, we at very least, should ask our self, WHY, and not just accept failure as being the best we can do at this time! This will NOT FLY as an excuse on the NEXT day in Isaiah 61.
Isa 61:2 And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Those who see the pitiful condition of the church and refuse to mourn are eliminating themselves from Zion. That is exactly how it should be! They shall NOT inherent the Kingdom.
It is NOT necessary or prudent to give up or to ask God to do MORE than He has already done. The Year of Jubilee has arrived and there is NO EXCUSE for NOT setting the captives free. Many of these captives “attend church” so they are seeking “something.” It is our job to define that “something” as the Kingdom of God and His Sovereign Government over every aspect of the Life of the Real Church. The Real Church will only find its real identity in the Kingdom of God.