Setting The Captives Free

Setting the Captives Free

Luke 4:16-21

Two questions each of us must answer:

1. Are you a captive or are you free?

2. Are you sharing this good news with others?

Who in your life are u praying for?

Who in your life are u witnessing to?

Who in your life will u invite Easter?

Story of someone whose tremendous debt canceled

Luke 4:16-21

Begin with a little background: born in Bethlehem per prophecy, fled to Egypt at 2 per prophecy, settled in Nazareth per prophecy. At 12 bar mitzvah & left behind. Grew up in Nazareth as apprentice to dad. Nothing until about 30. 3 successive events: (map of ancient Israel) baptized(Jordan east of Jericho) Tempted (wilderness between Jericho & Jerusalem), & announcement of his ministry/his platform back up in Nazareth.

Think of what his 1st words could be…his 1st quote of scripture, whatever he would choose would set the tone and pace for his life and ministry from that point on. Great opening lines? “Friends, romans countrymen lend me your ears…did not come…” best of times worst of times,

Jesus was about to set out on a path that would change history. Could have chosen the Abramic covenant Gen 12 & 15… shemah in Deut 6 , but chose Isaiah arguably the greatest of all the prophets, that has more prophesies about the Messiah than any other book in the OT. Could have chosen the passage 9:7 that said he was heir to the throne of David; or 11:4 that he would judge in righteousness, or 52:13 that he would be exalted, or the great 53rd chapter that offered a completely accurate description of his death on the cross. But --He chose this passage & words carefully. From Isaiah 61 700 yrs earlier

READ Luke 4:16-21 (ON SCREEN)

Year of jubilee. Lev 25:10.

The word “jubilee” in the Old Testament is from the Hebrew word “yobel” or yovel” meaning “a ram’s horn, trumpet” or “coronet.” If someone announced the Jubilee, they would be actually blowing a trumpet and all of the congregation of Israel would be able to hear it.

The Year of the Jubilee involved a year of release from indebtedness (Leviticus 25:23-38) and all types of bondage (vv. 39-55). All prisoners and captives were set free, all slaves were released, all debts were forgiven, and all property was returned to its original owners.

The Jubilee then came every fifty years.

* On that year there would be no reaping or planting or gathering of the crops for it was to be “holy to” the nation Israel and everyone could “eat the produce of the field.”

*all of the property that had been taken by others for unpaid debts would have to be returned to the original families (clans). Everyone that had been indebted was then released from that debt and able to start over again by having their land returned to them.

* all those who had to sell themselves into slavery because of their debts or had lost their property to someone so that they could survive and not starve to death was redeemed by God as no Israelite was to remain a slave permanently.

What a celebration that must have been.

And this is why Jesus came, right?

* Interestingly the official beginning of the Jubilee Year started on the Day of Atonement, which is symbolic of the atoning of sin for the nation of Israel, fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

* We’re no longer slaves to sin. With His blood He paid the price to set us free. Many if not most of us have claimed that freedom by placing our faith & trust in Christ alone.

* What was taken from us or what we willingly gave up to participate in sin is now being restored to us.

*Didn’t work for it…Eph 2:8-9. So we can rest in Him

Read passage again Luke 4:16-21(on screen)

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We are a Jubilee church: we proclaim good news to the lost; we bind up the brokenhearted; we proclaim freedom for the captives and release prisoners from darkness; we cooperate w God to set he captive free

Two questions each of us must answer:

1. Are you a captive or are you free?

5 60 sec testimonies written out in each service

1-2-3 Invitation

Baptism on right side; next Sunday night NOW

2. Are you sharing this good news with others?

Who in your life are u praying for?

Friends who have everything money can buy but don’t have Jesys

Who in your life are u witnessing to?

Jewish—dinner Jesus Messiah

Who in your life will u invite Easter?

Lets proclaim the year of Jubilee & see people freed up