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Let’s pick up last week’s lesson.  We are discussing the Year of Jubilee.  We saw that the year began with the Day of Atonement.  The activity of this day brought man and God into one.  Let’s now look at what happened during the 5oth year.

During the 50th year there are four main blessings:

  • Freedom for all were held captive as slaves or prisoners.
  • Restoration of all that had been lost, stolen, or forfeited.
  • Favor by receiving the provisions and protection of the LORD.
  • Rest, both naturally (i.e. the fields rested) and spiritually.

It is interesting to note there is a difference between captives & prisoners.  Captives are those captured by an enemy and is imprisoned or forced into slavery. They did nothing wrong.  Prisoners, however, did do something wrong.  He is suffering the consequence because he broke the law.  JESUS Christ came to free both.  Free those who did nothing wrong but had horrible things done to them.  He also frees those  who rightfully deserve the consequences of their disobedience in breaking the law. You see, JESUS came to extend grace and mercy.

John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

So, in JESUS every day is a year of Jubilee, a day of restoration.  God’s enemy, Satan, destroys, steals, and trashes.  JESUS fully restores us to His way of living.  Look at Isaiah 61:1-3, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord 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.”  When JESUS began His ministry, He quoted from this text.

His ministry is about freedom and restoration.  Jubilee was about recognizing the Lord’s favor and protection.  There was no planting or harvesting during the year, yet the LORD graciously provided for them.

We were created with the need for regular time of rest and refreshing.  The rest was extended to the fields and animals also.  Give others a “break” too.  Hebrews 4:3, “For we who have believed enter that rest.”  In Christ we have the rest in our souls, the knowledge that we have been saved.  Our lives have changes from doing things FOR acceptance to doing things FROM acceptance.  We have freedom from sin and shame.  The guilt is gone.   We have been freed from the “weariness of our souls”.…

Matthew 11:28-29, 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  You will find rest when you join with JESUS.  When we turn over your program for His program.  ”Be yoked with Me, work with Me as I work in you.”

If you have trusted JESUS, listen…

  • He has paid off all your debts
  • There is no dark cloud between you and God – There is only JESUS between you and God.
  • He is never letting go of you

If you are not confident that your debts has been cancelled, please seek out a Christian Church/Church of Christ. Someone there will help you.