Jubilee: What He Left Out

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Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me… to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God…

Luke 4:18-21 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me… To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Prophecy: 3-fold nature: Present, Future, & Final

There will be a day of vengeance, but that is not today. Today is Jubilee. Through Christ, God offers redemption and freedom. John 3:16.

John 3:17-21 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

The Psalms offer a beautiful combination of poetry and prophecy.

Psalm 85:10-11 Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Vs. 10 speaks of the cross. Vs. 11 speaks of the resurrection of Jesus, and of the redemption of humanity.

This is Jubilee where sin is forgiven in God’s mercy, grace is given in our weakness as we humble ourselves before Him, and we can find hope and a home, freedom and a future, and purpose in the presence of Jesus. His kingdom come and will be done in our lives and in our world.

I used to steal, was promiscuous and immoral, lied, cheated, and betrayed. I spoke against Christ and committed treason many times over. I hated God and the church and yet He still came to me, gave me peace, forgave my sin, allowed me to work in His kingdom, and even called me to pastor His flock… Truly, God has given me a Jubilee.

BUT… Just because today is not the day of vengeance, that does not mean that it won’t come. Judgement delayed is not judgement denied.

Great White Throne Judgement – Judges sin, unbelieving, and the devil

Judgement of rewards

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

We will give an account for everything we have ever said or done.

Matthew 12:36-37 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…

It all matters. The blood of Jesus does not absolve us of our responsibility to grow, to do better, and to be better. It just gives us the opportunity, and therefore, the responsibility to do so. Please stand for the reading of God’s word.

Luke 12:32-48 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

To whom much is given, much is required. God gives us mercy and grace, not to squander our lives or to make light of sin, but to heal us restore us, and help us to rise above and conquer our sin.

There will come a day when there will be no more grace, no more mercy, no more forgiveness of sin.

Matthew 24:37-39 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

As in the Days of Noah – Misty Edwards

And "What a fool," they'll say "To fast and pray." And "What a fool," they'll say "Come on, it’s been two thousand years. Do you really think He’s coming? Come on, just get real."
And remember this verse “And many, many scoffers will come..."
And when the rain starts falling It’s too late

People Get Ready - Misty Edwards

He's not a baby in a manger anymore
He's not a broken man on a Cross
He didn't stay, in the grave
And He's not staying in Heaven forever
He's not a baby in a manger anymore
He's not a broken man on a Cross
He didn't stay, in the grave
And He's not staying in Heaven forever

Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.

Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Revelation 22:11-12 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

So what are we to do then?

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

We are to put our trust in Him.

We thank God that He has proclaimed this the year of Jubilee. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, but we must take hold of it by crying out for mercy, forgiveness, and grace to make us holy and pleasing to Jesus, so we can look, act, and think like more and more like Him.

We must repent of the assumption of the availability of the grace of God. We must stay ready so we don’t have to get ready.

1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Repent, Rejoice, Discipline, Stay Ready (wait, work, and watch)