Jubilee!

(This is a sermon from early November 2009)

Reading: Isa 61.

Today is a day of celebration - we are 2 years old today!!

I want to have a look at a time, a festival of celebration in the O.T that I believe marks the way ahead for us as a church.
Year of Jubilee
According to Lev 25, God stated that every 50th year in Israel was to be a Year of Jubilee.

If someone had sold property to pay a debt, the property would return to the original owner.

Debts would be cancelled.

Slaves would be set free.

It was good news for the poor and oppressed.

This was something worked into the economy of Israel.

Every 50 years the trumpets would sound thru' all Israel announcing freedom, liberty and cancellation of debt.
Jesus

This was one of the laws for Israel.

Then, one day, a man called Jesus walked into His hometown synagogue and read from the book of Isaiah: Lk 4:16-21 16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." 20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." ESV

Can we get the depth of what Jesus said here? , "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." Let that sink in a minute.

Jesus is saying no longer will you need to blow the rams horns every 50 years to proclaim a year of Jubilee - Jubilee is here, I am the Year of Jubilee.

Go thru' the above as Jesus' manifesto.

How do I know that Jesus is our Jubilee?

2 Co 6:2 2For he says, "In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ESV

Now is the time! We don't have to wait until special seasons of God's favour - we are in it! This is the day of salvation, deliverance and setting free!

Act 10:38
Us
So - my big question today is - are we still in a year of jubilee?

Was this just for the lifespan of Jesus?

Is this something we can expect today?

Read again what Paul said in 2 Co 6:2 2For he says, "In a favourable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ESV

Paul is writing this approx 20 years after the resurrection - yet the year of Jubilee still stands.

As Christians we live in a new age - the age of the Spirit where God has poured out His Spirit on the church.

We aren't to read the Bible like we are living in the days of the O.T - looking for a special person, a special time or the "man of God" - the man of God has come! Jesus is our Jubilee - and that is the message we have to proclaim to people we know.
3.1 Anointed
See how the church should be equipped to address the whole person:

Is 61:1-3 1The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

3to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. ESV

Expand on above

Do you see that as your job description?

It is!
3.2 Rebuild, restore & renew
Is 61:4 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. NIV

God says here that there will be a work of rebuilding, restoring & renewal that will be done - who are the ones who will do this? Who are the they referred to here?

See v1-3 - the ones who have already been transformed by Jesus! Jesus uses those He has transformed to bring transformation - rebuilding, restoring & renewal - into the lives of others.

Jesus takes hold of those who were:
poor;
broken-hearted,
captives,
bound;
mourning,

To bring hope & salvation to those who were the same as them.

That is why in the job description it says no prior experience necessary! Because it isn't you who does the setting free - it is Jesus and the Holy Spirit!

We are merely conduits, channels that God flows thru' to reach others.

Jesus changes individuals and brings them together in church to make them a Spirit-filled community of people who can then bring visible transformation to local communities as lost & needy people have lives rebuilt, have hope & life restored & renewal brought about by the new life Jesus gives.