Embracing Simplicity and Jubilation in Faith
Summary
In this new year, we are called to embrace simplicity and jubilation as we navigate the prophetic processes God is leading us into. The first word, simplicity, invites us to slow down and find peace in the chaos of our modern world. It is about drawing aside to connect with God, finding the secret place within us where we can listen to His intimate whispers. This simplicity is not about geography but about an intentional stillness that allows us to hear His voice and feel His presence. It is a call to resist the spirit of the age that seeks to destroy our souls and instead cultivate a thriving inner world that abides in Shalom.
The second word, jubilation, speaks of a season of victory and authority, where we no longer tolerate the enemy but crush him underfoot. It is a year of Jubilee, a time of restoration, freedom, and expansion. This year, we are to position ourselves with fresh consecration, seeking God in prayer and aligning our hearts with His will. Through persistent prayer, we are disciplined into the art of persistence, learning to trust God with more of ourselves and receiving His miraculous works in our midst.
Prayerlessness, on the other hand, creates a vacuum that attracts lack and temptation. We are reminded that prayer is essential to align our hearts with God and to avoid entering into temptations we are not graced to face. Confession is another powerful tool, as our words have the power to shape our destiny and release angelic protection. We are called to be careful with our confessions, speaking life and aligning with God's truth.
Finally, unity is emphasized as a source of blessing. God commands a blessing where there is unity, and we are encouraged to unify around His heart and character. As a family of God, we are called to function out of our unique callings, stepping into our identity and mobilizing for His purposes. This year, let us embrace simplicity, jubilation, persistent prayer, careful confession, and unity as we journey together in faith.
Key Takeaways:
1. Simplicity in the Secret Place: Embrace simplicity by intentionally drawing aside to connect with God. The secret place is not a physical location but an internal stillness where we can hear His intimate whispers. In this place, we find peace and are reformed and re-humanized by His presence. [01:20:54]
2. Jubilation and Authority: This year is a season of jubilation, where we are called to crush the enemy underfoot and walk in victory and authority. It is a year of Jubilee, marked by restoration, freedom, and expansion. Position yourself with fresh consecration to receive God's miraculous works. [01:31:04]
3. The Power of Persistent Prayer: Persistent prayer is an act of faith that aligns our hearts with God's will. It requires discipline and trust, allowing us to receive His miraculous works. Prayerlessness, on the other hand, creates a vacuum that attracts lack and temptation. [01:42:58]
4. Confession and the Power of Words: Our words have the power to shape our destiny and release angelic protection. Be careful with your confession, speaking life and aligning with God's truth. The spirit world is listening, and our words can either build up or tear down. [01:53:24]
5. Unity and Blessing: God commands a blessing where there is unity. As a family of God, we are called to unify around His heart and character, functioning out of our unique callings. This unity brings supernatural blessing and mobilizes us for His purposes. [01:56:15]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14:56] - Evangelist Luke's Anointing
[01:16:00] - Prophetic Processes for the Year
[01:17:09] - Embracing Simplicity
[01:18:33] - Finding the Secret Place
[01:20:54] - The Power of Stillness
[01:23:24] - The Call to Simplicity
[01:27:57] - Victory in the Fight
[01:28:37] - The Year of Jubilee
[01:31:04] - Restoration and Freedom
[01:35:07] - The Promise of Persistent Prayer
[01:42:58] - The Cost of Prayerlessness
[01:48:29] - Thanksgiving in Lack
[01:53:24] - The Power of Confession
[01:56:15] - Unity and Blessing
[02:01:38] - Mobilization and Identity
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 11:12 - "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
2. Genesis 3:15 - "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
3. Leviticus 25 - The concept of the Year of Jubilee.
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the significance of simplicity in our spiritual lives? How does the speaker describe their personal experience with finding the secret place? [01:20:54]
2. How does the sermon define jubilation, and what biblical references are used to support this concept? [01:31:04]
3. According to the sermon, what are the consequences of prayerlessness, and how does it create a vacuum in our lives? [01:42:58]
4. What role does confession play in shaping our destiny, according to the sermon? How does the speaker illustrate this with a personal story? [01:53:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of simplicity as described in the sermon help individuals combat the chaos of the modern world? What practical steps can be taken to cultivate this simplicity? [01:20:54]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that jubilation and authority are connected to the Year of Jubilee? How can believers position themselves to receive God's miraculous works during this time? [01:31:04]
3. The sermon emphasizes the power of persistent prayer. How does this practice align our hearts with God's will, and what are the potential outcomes of such alignment? [01:42:58]
4. How does the sermon explain the impact of our words and confessions on the spiritual realm? What are the implications for how we speak and the words we choose to use? [01:53:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you can embrace simplicity to better connect with God? What specific changes can you make this week to create space for stillness and listening? [01:20:54]
2. The sermon speaks of a season of jubilation and authority. How can you actively participate in this season by positioning yourself with fresh consecration? What steps will you take to align your heart with God's will? [01:31:04]
3. Consider your prayer life. Are there areas where you have been prayerless, creating a vacuum for lack and temptation? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a habit of persistent prayer? [01:42:58]
4. Think about the words you speak daily. Are there confessions you need to change to align more closely with God's truth? How can you be more intentional about speaking life and releasing angelic protection through your words? [01:53:24]
5. Unity is emphasized as a source of blessing in the sermon. How can you contribute to unity within your church or community? What actions can you take to foster a spirit of unity around God's heart and character? [01:56:15]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt tempted. How might prayer have helped you navigate that temptation differently? What can you do to ensure you are spiritually prepared for future challenges? [01:46:33]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to function out of your unique calling. How can you step into this identity and mobilize for God's purposes this year? [01:56:15]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Stillness in a Chaotic World
In a world filled with noise and chaos, finding simplicity is about intentionally drawing aside to connect with God. This simplicity is not about a physical location but an internal stillness where one can hear God's intimate whispers. It is a call to resist the spirit of the age that seeks to destroy our souls and instead cultivate a thriving inner world that abides in Shalom. By embracing simplicity, we find peace and are reformed and re-humanized by His presence. This is a journey of slowing down and finding peace amidst the chaos, allowing God's presence to transform us from within. [01:20:54]
"For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.' But you were unwilling." (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to create a space of stillness in your life where you can hear God's whispers more clearly?
Day 2: Walking in Victory and Authority
This year is a season of jubilation, where believers are called to crush the enemy underfoot and walk in victory and authority. It is a year of Jubilee, marked by restoration, freedom, and expansion. By positioning oneself with fresh consecration, one can receive God's miraculous works. This involves seeking God in prayer and aligning one's heart with His will, allowing His power to manifest in our lives. It is a time to embrace the authority given by God and to live in the freedom and restoration He provides. [01:31:04]
"And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan." (Leviticus 25:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise the authority and freedom that God has given you this year?
Day 3: The Discipline of Persistent Prayer
Persistent prayer is an act of faith that aligns our hearts with God's will. It requires discipline and trust, allowing us to receive His miraculous works. Prayerlessness, on the other hand, creates a vacuum that attracts lack and temptation. By engaging in persistent prayer, believers are disciplined into the art of persistence, learning to trust God with more of themselves. This practice not only aligns us with God's will but also strengthens our faith and trust in His plans for our lives. [01:42:58]
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate a more disciplined prayer routine into your daily life to align your heart with God's will?
Day 4: The Power of Words and Confession
Our words have the power to shape our destiny and release angelic protection. Being careful with our confession, speaking life, and aligning with God's truth is crucial. The spirit world is listening, and our words can either build up or tear down. By speaking life and aligning our words with God's truth, we can influence our circumstances and invite His protection and blessings into our lives. This is a call to be mindful of the power of our words and to use them to align with God's purposes. [01:53:24]
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits." (Proverbs 18:21, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your recent conversations. Are there any words you need to retract or change to align more closely with God's truth?
Day 5: Unity as a Source of Blessing
God commands a blessing where there is unity. As a family of God, believers are called to unify around His heart and character, functioning out of their unique callings. This unity brings supernatural blessing and mobilizes us for His purposes. By stepping into our identity and mobilizing for His purposes, we can experience the blessings that come from unity. It is a call to embrace our unique callings and work together as a family of God to fulfill His purposes. [01:56:15]
"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore." (Psalm 133:1, 3b, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering unity within your community or church family today?
Quotes
And it requires just a dampening down of all the noise. It kind of necessitates a stillness just to reside over you. But that's it. Then you just listen. With the sincerity of heart. You'll just listen for the intimate whisper of the Father. And in this moment while I sat there. I felt this. I just said, speak, Father. That's all I said, speak. [01:21:52] (27 seconds)
The word is simplicity as I said he he gave me in November and it led me on this search God what he wanting to say to me and so I picked up the book the ruthless elimination of hurry by John Mark Homer it's the perfect read to help you start the new year off right okay it's a fascinating kind of roadmap of staying emotionally and spiritually healthy by the simplicity of following Jesus in the chaos of our modern world right and I really believe that this is something for this year for us all is to find the simplicity of just following Jesus because the Holy Spirit is calling us to rally against Babylon against Rome against Egypt against the spirit of the age it's the spirit of the age is set on the destruction of our souls it's set on causing us damage blow by blow day by day demonic hordes are bent on keeping us hostage to the chaos of the world system and this is how bad it is this is how bad it is I had to listen to it on audible because I couldn't find time to squeeze in reading the book can anyone relate to that yeah no good on you love you Glenda um but okay so I I found walking too slow while I was listening to it and so I ran in fact I found his voice too slow to listen to and so I put it on 1 .2 times and then I I had this moment where I realized I'd sped up going through the book the ruthless elimination of hurry right talk about irony and I just thought how kind is how kind is God to just illuminate that to me you know God is calling us to be a people who have a thriving inner world and it's significantly slowed down um it's about abiding in Shalom and it's the antithesis of what's happening around about us I've heard it um said many times now that we are we're in a profound and historic transition like the church in 2025 is going to face in the natural socially culturally politically economically philosophically uh a reflection of what's going on in the spirit that in the hour of greatest darkness will come the greatest revival the nations have ever born witness to is from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence and the violent take it by force it's Matthew 11 12. the warning here is to be Virgil around the onslaught the onslaught against us in the Unseen realm and how to combat it and our wrestling against UV Antrag Now it. [01:24:20] (0 seconds)
The Hebrew calendar is 5, 7, 8, 5 this year. Double grace and a year of Jubilee. A freedom year of release and expansion. It comes from Leviticus 25, this concept of Jubilee in the Bible. Essentially, after seven cycles of seven years, that is the 50th year, and it would be the year of Jubilee. The restoration of land. [01:31:04] (28 seconds)
Matthew 7, 7 and 8 says, Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. We are being disciplined into the art of persistence. Persistent prayer. There's been many faithful intercessors over the years, but there has been a trend in the church of lack of prayer. [01:34:19] (31 seconds)
Persistence is all about faith. And I want to tell you this story from last year. And I don't say it to boast in any slightest means because it wasn't really an act of my will. As you heard earlier, I just haven't got the balance right yet, right? But at the start of 24, I started to get up earlier each weekday to pray. [01:36:18] (23 seconds)
My family would not have survived last year without prayer. Our business would not have thrived in the areas of success that we had last year without prayer. Many of you that I prayed for and with would not be the people that you are without prayer. right I would not be the person that I am I'm so grateful for your prayers my mom said to me yesterday that her and dad pray every night for me and Liv and our family and I'm so grateful for their prayers scripture says in James 4 3 you have not because you ask not you have not because you ask not prayerlessness creates lack lack fills in where prayerlessness exists right the there's a deficit that generates a void like a vacuum and it attracts lack lack is not God's sovereign will for your life I mean that in the most holistic sense of the word lack it it also challenges the motivation behind what you're asking see time with him aligns your heart with him with his will to desire what he desires to ask for and pray and contend for what is on his heart becomes your heart too Matthew 26 41 says watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak pray so that you do not enter into temptation prayerlessness creates a vacuum for you to enter into temptation a temptation that you have no grace for there will be temptation in this life but don't enter into the temptation that you don't have grace for because you haven't been invited into that this season his grace is necessary to overcome temptation and simply a lack of prayer sucks you into temptation that you don't need all right don't fall asleep while the father is wanting to minister to you that's where that scripture comes from they will fellow of sleep. [01:43:59] (133 seconds)
Prayerlessness generates lack, and prayer, the prayer of a thanksgiving heart fills your needs. All right, I don't know what number we're up to now. Five, thank you. Care about confession. Now, I felt this quite heavy. Confession, you're probably all picturing a confessional box in a Catholic church now. No? Okay, something else comes to mind. [01:48:29] (35 seconds)
Like, God, you are the giver of life. You created this little thing, right? And just confess life over it. And within a minute, um, its left leg just started to gain strength and it went from completely limp to completely mobile and normal. normal and it was such a relief um i don't really have an affinity with cats but i didn't want to have to tell my kids what had happened so um but the other leg just seemed to me like completely paralyzed and so my family um prayed for this little thing who we called limpy um over the next five to six weeks right just simple confessions like thank you god for healing limpy right this is my kids and we watched the nerves regrow and it regained full mobility in its right leg and it's poor over five or six weeks there's now no signs of it ever having some sort of incident see some prayers are answered instantaneously and some prayers take time i don't know why i don't understand it it's a mystery don't ask the why question they won't be answered this side of heaven still limpy to this day but the more we confess his reality the more coincidences like this seem to happen right i don't believe in coincidences the spirit world is awaiting and listening to our confession there is power in your time and in your life and in your life and in your life and in your life and in your life and your tongue there is power in our confession you are determining the trajectory of the course your course throughout destiny by the words that you speak you are commissioning angels by your agreement with the holy spirit you are you are giving assignment to the demonic by your agreement with the accuser there is no middle ground there is no middle ground in a war zone there is no neutral ground there is no neutral ground there is no neutral ground in the middle territory. It's life or death, building up or tearing down. So your voice matters. Your voice matters. [01:50:42] (148 seconds)
Your voice is like a watchman over your family. Your voice shifts things. Your voice dismantles the powers of darkness. Your voice is a guard that releases angelic protection to set aflame the powers of darkness. If you've ever been, if you've ever experienced disillusionment or disheartenment or intimidation or frustration, know this, that it's because the enemy is trying to silence you and take your ground. [01:56:10] (32 seconds)
Where there is unity, God commands a blessing, right? Categorically. I've not seen that anywhere else where a blessing is being so forced upon us. Like he actually commands a blessing, right? He commands it. The sovereign king of kings, his pronouncement is, Blessing will flow supernaturally out of unity. Whoa, that's amazing. So what should we go after? [01:54:39] (25 seconds)
Unity with each other actually starts and finishes with unity with him. Unity in him. I surrender my heart to you alone. That is what I've found in praying together each morning with these guys, is that we are starting to turn our hearts to him. We start with worship. We worship you, Lord. We magnify you, King. [01:56:15] (25 seconds)