The Year of Jubilee

An Introduction

 

"Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast,

call a sacred assembly.

Gather the people, consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders, gather the children..."

(Joel 2:15-16)

 

To proclaim a jubilee literally means "to sound the trumpet."  Every 50 years the Israelites were called to observe an additional year of rest, following the Sabbath year, "to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke... to share food with the hungry..."(Isaiah 58:6-7).  It was a year for canceling debts, balancing the books of equality, bringing restoration to the land, and declaring dependence upon God.  It was to be an example of the future rest they would receive when their Messiah arrived, as described by the Prophet Isaiah:

 

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor..."

(Isaiah 61:1-2a).

 

At the inauguration of Jesus' three year ministry He stood in the temple and picked up this very scroll of Isaiah and after reading the text boldly declared, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (reference Luke 4:21).  Jesus Christ awakened the dawn of salvation and proclaimed the ultimate liberation from sin and death.

 

There is no evidence the Israelites ever observed the Year of Jubilee, and according to Scripture their seventy year exile in Babylon was a result of their failure to obey the command to give the land its' required rest (reference 2 Chronicles 36:21).  Today, however, we live in a perpetual period of Jubilee until His return, and, as His children who have experienced His rest through His costly gift of salvation,we are called to continue to "sound the trumpet", proclaiming His glorious gospel message and the liberty, forgiveness, and peace we have so graciously and mercifully received.

 

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to My people their rebellion, and to the house of Jacob their sins."

(Isaiah 58:1)

 

During the Year of Jubilee slaves were set free, debts were cancelled, and the land was returned to its original owner.  It was a time of great celebration and festivity, but it also required great faith; for the Israelites not only had to trust God for an additional year of provision while the land lay fallow, but also for continued provision as they waited on the harvest when they were allowed to return to working the land. 

 

"Return to Me,' declares the LORD Almighty, ' and I will return to You,'

says the LORD Almighty."

(Zechariah 1:3)

 

 

As Owner of this land of promise, the Lord has richly blessed us as a nation because we, His children, "once-upon-a-time" depended upon Him and acknowledged Him.  Where, once we were faithful stewards of the land, diligently working to see His promises fulfilled, we have in recent years become complacent standby-ers, watching it slip into moral decline and destruction.

 

"When the foundations are being destroyed,

What can the righteous do?"

(Psalm 11:3)

 

This year the trumpet is being sounded across the land for the children of God to assemble in constant and fervent prayer and return to the foundation we were built upon -- the Word of God and the person of Jesus Christ.  It is time to acknowledge our great need for God's help and repent of living independently of Him.  We must return to the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  We are being called to a life of total surrender and full dependence and to a life of Holiness.  We have neglected His Word and rejected His calling, and, instead, have been working in our own strength for far too long. The land we have been given is a land of promise that was meant to be cultivated to produce a harvest of workers who would bring the light of salvation to the rest of the world.  The work we have been called to do is the Lord's work, it is not ours, and, as such, it will depend upon His power and provision for it to be accomplished. It is time to return to our First Love (Revelation 2:4-5) and repent of our independent and stubborn hearts and admit our need and dependence upon Him that we might receive the restoration and revival that is promised to us if we will surrender to His will.

 

"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'

Says the LORD Almighty."

(Zechariah 4:6b)

 

It is time we remember the great debt that has been paid on our account and recognize the extraordinary blessings that are being withheld from this land because we, the children of God, have been living in disobedience, rebellion, and sin.  We cannot expect to achieve victory and peace in the public realm when our private lives are conflicted with compromise, complacency, and carelessness.  We have been called to live lives of holiness, to "be holy, because [He] is holy" (1 Peter 1:16).

 

"If the trumpet does not sound a clear call,

who will get ready for battle?"

(1 Corinthians 14:8)

 

When Jesus read the scroll of Isaiah in the temple He stopped reading before the words, "and the day of vengeance of our God" (Isaiah 61:1:2b), because that day will not come until He returns. He is returning soon and we have been given His favor and blessing during this time of jubilee and are being called to awaken to our responsibility as His beloved Bride to make the necessary preparations for His return.  

 

It's time to Revive, Rebuild, and Restore!  In this Year of Jubilee may we:

 

1.  Proclaim Liberty!  We are no longer slaves to sin -- we must repent of living in disobedience, rebellion and sin, and instead live lives of holiness and no longer in compromise.  We are no longer controlled by the flesh and must now live by the Spirit (Galatians 5).

 

2.  Return to the Lord - with whole hearted devotion and surrender -- He has bought us with a price -- we are His and we are stewards of His resources and blessings --may we not waste the treasure we have been given, but become more devoted to studying His Word and living a life of Prayer, with gratitude and praise!!

 

3.  Share the Good News with others -- we hold the key to setting the oppressed free and releasing from bondage those in chains.  We must speak the Truth in love and with boldness.  We must extend forgiveness as it has been freely given to us.

 

Begin this year in PRAYER!!  We are God's children and the work He has graciously invited us to participate in is His work.  His desire is to reveal more and more of Himself to us as we walk by faith and seek Him daily in His Word and through prayer.  Jesus is our great intercessor and He is waiting to move on our behalf if only we will ask.  This year may we commit to following the example He set for us and walk and live this year in prayer.  Click on the "DEBTOR" journey and spend the next 40 day in prayer and in preparation for what the Lord is going to do in 2011!!  Expect great things!!

 

"I tell you the truth,

Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing.

He will do even greater things than these,

Because I am going to the Father.

And I will do whatever you ask in My name,

So that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it."

(John 14:12-14)

 

Then, join us for the next prayer and fasting journey, CRUCIFIED, for the 40 days of Lent, beginning March 9th.  When the church was being birthed it was being led by disciples who were willing to lay down their lives for the spreading of the gospel message, and when this nation was being birthed we had statesmen who pledged their honor, their fortunes, and their very lives to see the promise of God fulfilled for this fledgling nation.  Where are those brave and valiant spiritual heroes today, "who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies"? (Hebrews 11:33-34).  They all knew the key: Complete and utter dependence upon God through His Word and prayer, and unwavering obedience to His commands.  Are we willing to do the same?  Are we willing to die for what we believe?  Will we lay down our lives, the life we have been accustomed to living selfishly for ourselves, and offer it up as a living sacrifice to the glory of God and the furtherance of His kingdom?  The good news is we don't have to do it on our own - the work has already been done for us --it is finished!

 

 

CRUCIFIED

 

Coming LENT 2011

March 9th through April 17th

 

Finally, commit to the consecrated life and live a life of complete surrender and total dependence upon the Lord through Worship, the Word, and Prayer.  Use "The Year of Jubilee Calendar" as a guide to lead you deeper into the depth of God's Word by participating in the many journey's available (you can download them for free) to keep you feasting on His Word throughout this year and growing in the knowledge and understanding of His will as you learn to depend upon Him for your daily manna.  May this year lead you to deeper levels of intimacy with the Lord and to greater opportunities for service as you surrender more fully to His will.  May His glory be revealed to you, in you, and through you as you seek Him with all your heart!  Be blessed!

 

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us

But to Your name be the glory,

because of Your love and faithfulness."
(Psalm 115:1)

 

"Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."

(Revelation 22:20-21)