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Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by Allison J

Year of Jubilee

Do you know what the “Year of Jubilee” is? Leviticus 25 tells us that the year of Jubilee was the sabbatical year, that is, God ordained that every seventh year was to be a year of rest for the land of Israel. The land was to rest and be uncultivated for one year, which in turn also provided all laborers with rest. It was also the year of release—all debts between the children of Israel were to be cancelled. The Hebrew slave was also to be set free in that year—and that slave was not only set free, but left with his family and went out to possess the inheritance that they had lost to creditors. All land was also to be released from all ownership and returned to its original owner during the Year of Jubilee.

The emphasis was in the fact that the land belonged to God, and so did the people—they were His. Emphasis not in the fact that there was restoration (and trust me, that’s important!), but emphasis in the Restorer. Jesus is our Year of Jubilee. Jesus came to rescue the vineyard that was sold away to the creditors and He came to rescue it for the Father. A Hebrew’s inheritance was so sacred and precious—Naboth died unwilling to give it to King Ahab, even though he was presented with a better offer. Jesus is our inheritance, and giving Him up is not an option. When we read the book of Galatians, Paul speaks of an inheritance—not one of land, but an inheritance nonetheless. Our inheritance is knowing God, being His people, and having the Spirit. I saw myself as I read that. I saw that I had given my “land” to creditors as I have shirked from God. And as if that wasn’t enough, I sold myself as a “slave” because I couldn’t pay my debts. It’s just like a modern-day debt…we budget money to pay who? Living in the guilt of sin, being accused day and night by the “creditors” of the past…but it’s all restored in the year of Jubilee. And the emphasis is in the One who possesses the land. He is after all the one who conquered, possessed, and divided it among the tribes. Surely Joshua and the army of Israelites did not succeed by their own hand. God let his people be slaves for 400 years in the land of Egypt, and when their time to be set free came, He even hardened Pharaoh’s heart to show that it was HIM who brought them out of the “house of bondage.”

God appreciates restitution more than the loss, so that our song reflects His goodness, His mercy, His greatness, His faithfulness. God permits shame so that when He gives us honor, we will truly appreciate it…because He’s looking for a people who “worship Him in Spirit and in truth.” God’s not looking for us to give Him an offering…He wants us to be the offering. He’s not looking for a living and burning sacrifice…He wants us to be the sacrifice. God is looking for Christians who know how to LIVE. That means that we know that His salvation is saving us daily, and teaching us how to live. We are the architects of our own life in Egypt, but when we walk into the Promised Land, the earth is sustained by God if only we hand it over to Him. Reach out to the Restorer and have a “year of Jubilee” experience in your life.

E-mail: allijerez@gmail.com. Or leave a comment on the Message Board.

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Posted on Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Johanna E

Standing in Victory

‘Victory! Victory!’ The chanting begins, as the crowds become increasingly emotional hoping and praying the others will hear their cries from down below. Who is helping them? Where are they going? What are they doing? How will they survive? Yet, they continue to chant, ‘Victory! Victory!’

If we are in circumstances or situations when directions are confused and unclear, the battle is clearly not going our way, do we shout ‘Victory! Victory!’ Or is it more like, ‘All is lost! Help! Mayday, Mayday!’

The men, ruthless and restless vagabonds filled with hate and murderous thoughts, descended upon the little Church in the village. With axes and foul odorous plans they begin to ransack the place. Their hate driving them forward through the Church grounds now ruined by their hands, to the doors and into this House of Prayer and Worship. Knowing the Pastor was inside they swung their axes in his direction, surprised and caught off guard the Pastor tried to lock the door to the back room, but too late the attackers hate surged them forward, the Pastor unable to stop the blows. From seemingly nowhere another believer runs in helping the Pastor escape but not without also suffering severe wounds from the gang’s weapons.

Miraculously the Pastor and believer were able to survive injured though they were by the axes and knives. A few days after, the Pastor is able to speak and gain some strength to walk again, unwillingly to give in to fear and doubt, he calmly says, ‘When can I go back to Church to continue to minister?’ This is a Church in a poor village in a developing nation with Pastors and believers set on making a difference in their community, praying for their attackers, knowing that God will give them Victory! How are we standing for the Lord today? How are we living through our battles? Are we able to know that we can live through it all and shout a cry of ‘Victory!’?

The Lord is our shield and strength, in Him we find our Victory! Do not give up, do not give in, you can stand strong and fight on, for the Lord is on your side.