WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.639 Now we're going to turn to God's Word. We're going to turn to a book that we don't often read from, the book of Leviticus. 00:00:06.140 --> 00:00:11.419 The words will come up on the screen if you've got a Bible you might like to turn to us. Leviticus chapter 25. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:15.820 Now Leviticus is in many ways quite a scary book for lots of people. 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:23.260 It is where God gives the detailed regulations about sacrifice and about how the people should live before him. 00:00:23.260 --> 00:00:30.060 But I thought chapter 25 is particularly appropriate to think about today because it is about the year of Jubilee. 00:00:30.860 --> 00:00:34.160 The idea of Jubilee, as so many other things, is something that comes from the Bible. 00:00:34.900 --> 00:00:43.439 And the year of Jubilee was every 50th year that the people particularly celebrated and remembered God's goodness to them. 00:00:43.500 --> 00:00:46.680 So we're going to spend a little while this morning thinking about the year of Jubilee 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:53.899 and thinking about some of the lessons perhaps we can learn as a church as we go into our Jubilee year this year. 00:00:53.979 --> 00:00:57.939 So we're going to read not the whole chapter, we're going to read a few verses from Leviticus 25 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:00.500 and then see what God has to say to us. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.599 So start at verse 8, Leviticus 25 and verse 8. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:34.579 And God says, 00:01:34.599 --> 00:02:04.579 In this year of Jubilee, everyone is to return to his own property. 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:11.379 If you sell land to one of your countrymen or buy any from him, do not take advantage of each other. 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:17.299 You are to buy from your countrymen on the basis of the number of years since the Jubilee. 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:22.900 And he is to sell to you on the basis of the number of years left for harvesting crops. 00:02:23.699 --> 00:02:26.259 When the years are many, you are to increase the price. 00:02:27.019 --> 00:02:29.859 And when the years are few, you are to decrease the price. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:34.440 Because what he is really selling you is the number of crops. 00:02:35.440 --> 00:02:37.780 Do not take advantage of each other. 00:02:38.640 --> 00:02:39.980 But fear your God. 00:02:40.820 --> 00:02:43.860 I am the Lord your God. 00:02:43.860 --> 00:02:48.680 And then we're moving down a bit in the chapter to verse 35. 00:02:49.140 --> 00:02:50.240 Verse 35. 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:51.860 And God again says, 00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:55.880 If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, 00:02:56.420 --> 00:03:02.200 help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so that he can continue to live among you. 00:03:02.960 --> 00:03:10.420 Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countrymen may continue to live among you. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:14.419 You must not lend him money at interest or selling food at a profit. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:22.279 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God. 00:03:23.459 --> 00:03:27.539 And God, I'm sure, will bless his word as we consider it together. 00:03:29.019 --> 00:03:34.579 If you move back 50 years from 2017, it's not very difficult to work out you get back to 1967. 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:40.280 I can only remember clearly two things that happened in 1967. 00:03:41.440 --> 00:03:45.760 And one of them was that it was probably the best year ever for Scottish football. 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:53.360 In May, we went down to Wembley, and the Wembley Wizards hammered the world champions English. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:55.980 Say they hammered, we won 3-2, but it felt like we hammered them. 00:03:56.260 --> 00:03:59.560 And we then obviously became world champions because we beat the previous champions. 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.880 So great, great for Scottish Scotland. 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:11.060 And then the event I really remember well from the football is the following month, the month of June, Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup. 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.620 They went out to Lisbon, the Lisbon Lions, and they won the European Cup. 00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.600 I have quite a strong memory of that. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:22.620 As a result of that, I had my first sporting hero, who was this guy here, who was called Bobby Lennox. 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:24.560 A kind of speedy winger for Celtic. 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:28.879 I'm not sure why I chose him, but he quickly became my sporting hero in 1967. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:32.839 So that's the first memory, nothing to do with church. 00:04:33.319 --> 00:04:35.279 Second memory very much is to do with church. 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:38.959 It is of moving up into this church here. 00:04:39.699 --> 00:04:46.759 Up until 1967, the church, the people of the church, we worshipped down in a hall in Lauriston Place. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:50.180 And you can maybe just make out, we're looking towards to across here, 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:54.439 and our hall is where the flats were on the far right of that picture. 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:58.639 We were up a stairs, it wasn't a ground floor, but it was a stancho hall that we used to meet in there. 00:04:58.680 --> 00:05:01.040 But very much a hall rather than a church. 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.459 And I can remember some of the excitement, certainly among us youngsters, 00:05:04.899 --> 00:05:07.720 at the thought of coming to a real church. 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:11.319 And a real church building, and quite grand it was too. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:13.959 These are the decorative pipe organs. 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:15.079 They're actually still there. 00:05:15.420 --> 00:05:17.779 If you can go up above that screen there, if you can see through, 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:19.800 these pipes are still there. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:22.120 There's no organ, obviously, now attached to them. 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:25.819 You can see if you go up in one of the storage areas up in the gallery today. 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:28.759 Very good if you're getting a bit bored at one of the services. 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:31.759 You could try and count the number of pipes that were in the organ. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:35.439 But it was an exciting time for the church. 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:39.879 It was a real step of faith for those who were in leadership at the time 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:45.159 to move from a relatively small hall upstairs into this big church 00:05:45.159 --> 00:05:51.920 and to think that we could use it and that we could continue to worship God here. 00:05:52.319 --> 00:05:55.079 And we've been here now for just about 50 years. 00:05:55.120 --> 00:05:57.680 The anniversary is actually in July. 00:05:59.219 --> 00:06:01.100 And they've been good years on the whole. 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.939 There have been difficult times. 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:06.620 We've gone through times when the church has struggled in many different ways. 00:06:06.620 --> 00:06:09.560 But as I said at the start, God has been faithful to us. 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:12.879 And as we look back, we do so with thanksgiving. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:14.660 I'm sure a lot of us who have been here for a long time 00:06:14.660 --> 00:06:17.259 will get a bit nostalgic over the course of the year. 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:18.500 Please forgive us for that. 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.600 And we will also be trying to look forward 00:06:20.600 --> 00:06:25.060 and to look at what God is continuing to do among us. 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:27.879 There's also, of course, as church members will know, 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.060 a year of a new start for the church. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:33.439 John Gemmo, our pastor, for the last seven and a bit years, 00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:36.540 has now moved on to further Christian service. 00:06:36.980 --> 00:06:38.920 And certainly for the first half of the year, 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:41.519 we won't have a pastor leading us, 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:43.540 but we will have Graham Shanks, our assistant pastor, 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:47.800 and Peter and the interns who will be still very active. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:49.459 But we're very much depending on God 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:54.139 and looking forward to what God has to do for us over the year. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:56.259 But I thought it would be good this morning 00:06:56.259 --> 00:06:58.420 to look at this year of jubilee 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:01.819 that the Israelites were instructed by God to celebrate 00:07:01.819 --> 00:07:04.139 and to think, what does it say to us 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:06.899 as we enter our 50th year? 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:10.339 What lessons can we learn from God's instruction to Israel 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:13.759 that will be of help to us as we look back 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.600 and as we look forward this year? 00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:21.759 Year of Jubilee, the name probably came from the trumpet 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.240 that was sounded at the beginning. 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:25.699 The Jubal was the name of the trumpet. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:27.620 It was probably the year of the trumpet. 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:30.360 And of course, over time, 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.079 jubilee has become something particularly associated with marriage, 00:07:33.399 --> 00:07:36.139 but also with other things as well. 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:39.800 It's not entirely clear how often the year of jubilee 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:42.480 actually was celebrated by the Israelites. 00:07:42.639 --> 00:07:45.339 You don't read about it a lot in the Bible. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:48.139 So whether they actually did as God had instructed them 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:50.000 over the years, we're not sure. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:54.959 But what God gave them was something which was very important. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:58.399 For most people, once in their lifetime, 00:07:58.779 --> 00:08:00.300 they had this special year. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:02.319 Once in their lifetime, 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:05.100 they had this year which was set apart for God 00:08:05.100 --> 00:08:08.360 and was to be holy before him. 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:12.199 And it was a time when they were supposed to recognise 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:14.100 the goodness of God to them, 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.899 recognise their dependence on God, 00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:21.479 and also to recognise that they were the people of God. 00:08:22.219 --> 00:08:25.539 That they weren't just like any other nation round about 00:08:25.539 --> 00:08:28.279 and that they would have a real care 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:30.859 and a real concern for each other 00:08:30.859 --> 00:08:34.399 and particularly for those who were disadvantaged. 00:08:34.539 --> 00:08:36.399 We'll think about some of these things 00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:38.819 as we go along this morning. 00:08:39.360 --> 00:08:41.899 But it was a special year. 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:44.059 Three points, three very simple points. 00:08:44.139 --> 00:08:45.019 They all begin with F, 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:47.120 so hopefully relatively straightforward to remember. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.139 The first thing was, 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:51.699 it was a year of faith. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:55.340 We read about that at the beginning of our reading. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:57.379 This was to be a year 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:59.659 when the people depended on God 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:01.620 to provide for them. 00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:05.639 Now the Jubilee year wasn't unique in that sense. 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:08.720 Because God had said that every seventh year 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.139 was to be special 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:12.759 in that they depended on God. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.419 As every week had a Sabbath day, 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:16.360 a day of rest, 00:09:16.860 --> 00:09:18.200 so every seventh year 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:19.580 was to be a Sabbath year, 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:20.879 a year of rest. 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:22.500 A year of rest particularly for the land, 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:24.500 that the land could renew itself 00:09:24.500 --> 00:09:26.439 and be able to produce a bigger crop 00:09:26.439 --> 00:09:28.200 in subsequent years. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:29.720 And a year of rest in that sense 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:30.379 for the people too, 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:31.700 they wouldn't be sowing the crop 00:09:31.700 --> 00:09:33.399 and so on. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:35.740 It was a year of rest 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:36.939 every seventh year, 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:39.139 but every 50th year 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:42.319 you had an even more special year of rest. 00:09:43.340 --> 00:09:44.399 And the seventh year 00:09:44.399 --> 00:09:45.960 and the 50th years 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:47.639 were years of faith. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.620 You can imagine the people 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:51.319 getting to the end of the sixth year 00:09:51.319 --> 00:09:52.539 in the seven-year cycle 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:54.980 and saying we've had a good crop this year 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:56.699 just as God promised we would, 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:58.899 but is it really going to be enough 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:00.779 to see us through the next two years 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:03.220 until we have our next harvest? 00:10:03.879 --> 00:10:05.399 Is there enough in our barns 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:06.319 to see us through? 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.780 And they then had to trust God 00:10:08.780 --> 00:10:09.400 and say, 00:10:09.540 --> 00:10:10.860 yes, we believe in God. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.560 We know that God is faithful. 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:15.260 We're not going to plant our crops next year. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:16.200 We don't need to 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:17.300 because God has promised 00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:19.120 we'll have the Sabbath year 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.480 and God will provide. 00:10:23.040 --> 00:10:24.000 The 50th year 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.140 might have been doubly so. 00:10:27.379 --> 00:10:28.740 Now it's not entirely clear, 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:29.600 at least to me, 00:10:29.900 --> 00:10:31.620 exactly how the 50th year works. 00:10:31.680 --> 00:10:32.240 So it might have been 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:33.520 you had the 49 years 00:10:33.520 --> 00:10:34.980 and then you had the 50th year. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:35.460 So in fact, 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.360 we had two years 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:38.180 when there was no planting. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.720 Some people think 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:40.519 the 50th year, 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:41.879 the Jubilee year of each cycle 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:42.620 was actually treated 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.300 as the first year 00:10:43.300 --> 00:10:44.240 of the next cycle. 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:46.000 So it was a Sabbath year, 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:47.019 also a Jubilee year. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:48.120 It was year one 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:49.259 and then year 50 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:50.120 would also fall 00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.180 on a Sabbath year. 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.399 Don't know the answer to that, 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.519 but quite possible 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.940 that the people of Israel 00:10:54.940 --> 00:10:55.800 were being asked 00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:56.539 to trust God 00:10:56.539 --> 00:10:57.680 for two years 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.720 in this case. 00:10:58.779 --> 00:10:59.759 One year for the normal 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:00.639 Sabbath year 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:02.279 and another year 00:11:02.279 --> 00:11:04.360 for their Jubilee year. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:05.819 And what a temptation 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:06.720 there may have been 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:07.139 to say, 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:09.480 let's just hedge our bets a bit. 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:10.860 Let's just plant a bit of crop. 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:11.899 Let's just make sure 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:12.960 for ourselves 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.340 that we'll be okay. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:15.879 And God says, 00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:16.299 no, 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.960 this is a year 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:19.319 when you have to depend 00:11:19.319 --> 00:11:20.580 on me. 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.519 You have to have faith. 00:11:22.759 --> 00:11:23.759 I will provide. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:25.500 I will give you 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:27.299 what you need. 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.000 And I'm sure God, 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:30.079 if the people did indeed 00:11:30.079 --> 00:11:31.759 celebrate the Jubilee year, 00:11:32.079 --> 00:11:33.439 God certainly would have been 00:11:33.439 --> 00:11:36.139 faithful to his promises. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:38.699 And for us too, 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.419 we're entering a year 00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:42.059 where we need to have faith. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:44.620 We need to depend on God. 00:11:45.219 --> 00:11:45.699 As I said, 00:11:45.740 --> 00:11:47.059 we enter it without a pastor. 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.259 We have six months at least 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:49.199 and possibly longer 00:11:49.199 --> 00:11:50.539 when it's going to be 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:51.419 all hands on deck 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:53.059 and we're going to have to cover 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:54.279 for the enormous amount 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:55.699 that John has done 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:57.540 over recent years. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:11:59.259 But we can't go into it 00:11:59.259 --> 00:12:00.300 thinking we will need 00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:01.400 to make all these plans 00:12:01.400 --> 00:12:02.440 and we will do it. 00:12:02.860 --> 00:12:04.140 We need to go in saying 00:12:04.140 --> 00:12:05.120 we are dependent 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.800 entirely on God 00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:08.480 and he is the one 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:09.580 who will see us 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:12.220 through this Jubilee year. 00:12:12.640 --> 00:12:13.340 He is the one 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.440 who will be with us 00:12:14.440 --> 00:12:16.240 and will help us 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.000 and will guide us 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.020 and will ensure 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:20.300 that the church continues 00:12:20.300 --> 00:12:22.040 to enjoy growth 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:24.059 and spiritual blessing 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:26.659 over the coming months. 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:29.219 I put in a picture 00:12:29.219 --> 00:12:30.799 for this point 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.799 the words Jehovah Jireh 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:34.259 God provides. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:35.459 Many of you will know 00:12:35.459 --> 00:12:36.039 that recognize 00:12:36.039 --> 00:12:37.240 that these words 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:38.399 are associated with 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:40.019 Abraham from the Old Testament. 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.819 Abraham who had 00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:43.240 one son Isaac 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:45.279 in his very, very old age 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:46.559 and God asked him 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.879 to go and to take Isaac 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:49.039 and to offer him 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.199 as a sacrifice to God. 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:52.520 And as Abraham is going 00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:53.080 out the mountain 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:53.640 with Isaac 00:12:53.640 --> 00:12:54.259 and Isaac said 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:56.200 well, father there is no ram 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:56.640 how are we going 00:12:56.640 --> 00:12:57.520 to make the sacrifice? 00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:59.320 Abraham just says to him 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:01.759 the Lord will provide. 00:13:02.660 --> 00:13:03.240 And of course 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.100 at the end of the day 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.660 the Lord does provide the ram 00:13:05.660 --> 00:13:06.860 Isaac is spared 00:13:06.860 --> 00:13:08.820 and Abraham names that place 00:13:08.820 --> 00:13:10.080 Jehovah Jireh 00:13:10.080 --> 00:13:12.379 God provides. 00:13:13.340 --> 00:13:14.800 Let's go into this year 00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.540 of Jubilee 00:13:15.540 --> 00:13:17.759 and see it as being a year 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.300 when our faith in God 00:13:19.300 --> 00:13:20.300 can be strong 00:13:20.299 --> 00:13:21.939 when we can really depend 00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:22.559 on him 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.620 and know that 00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:25.259 whatever lies before us 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:26.959 whatever may face us 00:13:26.959 --> 00:13:27.979 in the year ahead 00:13:27.979 --> 00:13:30.099 if we have our trust in God 00:13:30.099 --> 00:13:31.559 our confidence in him 00:13:31.559 --> 00:13:33.359 rather than in ourselves 00:13:33.359 --> 00:13:35.159 then we can know 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:37.759 that he will provide. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:39.819 It is to be for us 00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:42.059 a year of faith. 00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:45.279 Second thing I suggest 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.639 is it is a year of fellowship. 00:13:47.639 --> 00:13:49.480 Let's look for a moment 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.799 at the picture on the right 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.379 the lower right 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:53.039 the reset button. 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:54.799 The year of Jubilee 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:55.939 was very much a year 00:13:55.939 --> 00:13:56.659 when you pressed 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:57.819 the reset button 00:13:57.819 --> 00:13:59.059 in Israel. 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.100 Now we didn't read 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:01.240 all the detail of it 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:02.419 we read a little bit 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:03.439 about how the land 00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:03.960 was restored 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:04.799 to its original owner 00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:05.460 and so on 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:07.000 but the way it worked 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.899 was on the 50th year 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.620 everything was restored 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:12.220 to what it should have been 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.179 in the beginning. 00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.539 And so you had a situation 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.100 that would straightforward 00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:16.200 when we read about 00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.879 where you sell land to someone 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:19.600 you can't sell it forever 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.780 you're only selling 00:14:20.780 --> 00:14:21.780 at least on a certain 00:14:21.780 --> 00:14:22.840 number of harvests 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.460 and on the 50th year 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:25.660 you go back to the land 00:14:25.660 --> 00:14:27.560 and you take possession of it. 00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.560 Later in the chapter 00:14:29.560 --> 00:14:31.620 God envisages the situation 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:32.740 which undoubtedly arose 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:33.860 where some of the people 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.720 of Israel got into 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.980 financial difficulties 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:37.960 where they were struggling 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:39.500 to make ends meet. 00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:40.940 And in that circumstance 00:14:40.940 --> 00:14:42.080 the first thing you might do 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.400 would be sell off your land 00:14:43.400 --> 00:14:44.920 so you could get some money 00:14:44.919 --> 00:14:45.979 from that and God says 00:14:45.979 --> 00:14:47.139 yes you can do that 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:48.360 but if you do that 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.419 it's restored to its original owner 00:14:50.419 --> 00:14:52.159 on the 50th year. 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:54.139 If someone got really 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:54.959 really desperate 00:14:54.959 --> 00:14:56.319 then they might say 00:14:56.319 --> 00:14:57.159 well I've not got anything 00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.659 to give 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:59.339 I've got no possessions left 00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:01.620 all I've got is myself. 00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:03.740 And they might offer themselves 00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:05.159 to whoever they owed money to 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:05.919 and said 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.379 I will work for you 00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:09.279 to pay off my debt. 00:15:09.379 --> 00:15:10.279 And again God said 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:11.699 yes you can do that 00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:13.500 it's not like the slavery 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.799 that we were familiar to 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.759 within America 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:16.759 a couple hundred years ago 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.379 and so on 00:15:17.379 --> 00:15:18.779 it's people voluntarily 00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:21.000 offering to work for others 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.740 God said 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.899 yes you can do that 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:25.200 but on the 50th year 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:26.779 you're released from it. 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.279 The 50th year 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:28.840 is when everyone 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.700 goes back 00:15:29.700 --> 00:15:30.860 to their people 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:32.620 and the reset button 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.419 is pressed. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.720 If you own land 00:15:35.720 --> 00:15:36.980 you get it back 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.539 if you've even given up 00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.080 your liberty 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:40.940 you get that back 00:15:40.940 --> 00:15:41.960 as well. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.580 It's a time to press 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:45.600 the reset button. 00:15:46.560 --> 00:15:47.340 And why was that? 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:49.380 Fundamentally 00:15:49.380 --> 00:15:50.300 it was because 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:51.180 God was saying 00:15:51.180 --> 00:15:52.340 to the people of Israel 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:54.260 everything you have 00:15:54.260 --> 00:15:56.280 and everything you are 00:15:56.280 --> 00:15:58.200 belongs to me. 00:15:58.900 --> 00:16:00.540 It's not really yours. 00:16:01.040 --> 00:16:02.380 I've provided it. 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:03.800 I've been there 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:04.600 to give it to you. 00:16:04.680 --> 00:16:05.360 I've blessed you 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.540 with so many things 00:16:06.540 --> 00:16:08.000 and I want it to be 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.520 a reminder 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:10.080 these things belong to me 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:11.100 and even if you 00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:12.180 both have a bit of wealth 00:16:12.180 --> 00:16:12.680 over the years 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.000 you bought land off people 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.879 you're not to just go ahead 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.639 and to keep that land 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:19.340 you need to give it back 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.780 you need to restore it 00:16:20.780 --> 00:16:21.879 to its original owner 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:23.520 because the land 00:16:23.520 --> 00:16:24.759 and the people 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:26.680 belong to me. 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.480 One of the effects of that 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:30.320 was that all the tribes of Israel 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.060 and all the clans 00:16:31.060 --> 00:16:32.020 within the tribes 00:16:32.020 --> 00:16:33.020 they would get their 00:16:33.020 --> 00:16:34.480 ancestral land back 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.480 and they could resettle again 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:39.080 in the 50th year. 00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:42.120 Now this wasn't 00:16:42.120 --> 00:16:43.280 just letting people 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:44.379 off with their debts 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.180 for nothing. 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.980 This was God saying 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.120 there is an accountability 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.480 for what you do. 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:52.060 If through unwise decisions 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:52.960 or through things 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.860 that happen to you 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.080 you get into some kind 00:16:55.080 --> 00:16:56.280 of financial difficulty 00:16:56.280 --> 00:16:57.860 there are consequences 00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.620 in that 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.360 but along with the accountability 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:03.620 comes grace 00:17:03.620 --> 00:17:05.059 and you will be 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.000 you will suffer 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:06.660 your consequence 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:07.480 of what you've done 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.119 for a while 00:17:08.119 --> 00:17:09.519 but then at the end 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.119 of the day 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.619 you will get back 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.799 what belongs 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.759 to you. 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.640 And for the people 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:16.019 of God 00:17:16.019 --> 00:17:16.660 the reason why 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.400 I've called this 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.720 a year of fellowship 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:20.759 it was a reminder 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.339 of what they had 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:23.180 in common 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.900 through God. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:25.859 That they were 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:26.859 the people of God 00:17:26.859 --> 00:17:27.579 they were all 00:17:27.579 --> 00:17:28.500 the people of God 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.140 who he'd called 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:29.859 to himself 00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:31.559 and who were 00:17:31.559 --> 00:17:32.759 accountable to him 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.199 and they were 00:17:34.199 --> 00:17:35.179 to live together 00:17:35.179 --> 00:17:35.759 in the land 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:36.319 and not one 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.319 become very wealthy 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.079 another become 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:38.819 very poor 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.939 they were to care 00:17:39.939 --> 00:17:40.679 for each other 00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:41.859 they were to 00:17:41.859 --> 00:17:43.539 enjoy fellowship 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.859 and focus on 00:17:44.859 --> 00:17:45.699 what they had 00:17:45.699 --> 00:17:47.179 in common. 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.759 However this year 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:50.740 we will enjoy 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:51.799 really good fellowship. 00:17:52.699 --> 00:17:53.299 We'll have people 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.179 coming back 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:55.219 probably particularly 00:17:55.219 --> 00:17:55.759 the first weekend 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.379 in September 00:17:56.379 --> 00:17:56.759 when we have 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.659 our big celebration 00:17:57.659 --> 00:17:58.559 who were here 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.679 perhaps 50 years ago 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:00.539 or 20 years ago 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:00.880 or whatever 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:01.380 people who have 00:18:01.380 --> 00:18:01.980 been in the church 00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.759 in the past 00:18:02.759 --> 00:18:03.779 and we'll be able 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.539 to share with them 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.259 something of what 00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:06.240 God was doing 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.900 in their time here 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.039 something of what 00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:10.340 God is doing now 00:18:10.340 --> 00:18:11.700 among us 00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:12.740 we will enjoy 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.720 fellowship together 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.799 and we will 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.700 recognise that 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.680 as those who know 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.560 and love the Lord 00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:17.980 Jesus 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.420 we are the people 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:20.060 of God 00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:21.279 and God is good 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:21.840 to us 00:18:21.840 --> 00:18:23.140 and we really 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.940 care for each 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.680 other. 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:27.420 The year of 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.299 fellowship 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:30.000 and a year 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.859 too when we 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.399 should have 00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:32.819 care for those 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.759 who aren't 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.919 as well off 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:36.619 as we may be. 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.319 Those who don't 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.299 enjoy all the 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.839 blessings 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.220 that we do. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.940 It's very easy 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.480 for Christian 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:45.859 church 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.819 practically evangelical 00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.399 churches 00:18:47.399 --> 00:18:48.299 to lose sight 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:49.339 of the fact 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.759 that there is 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.740 so much poverty 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.139 and suffering 00:18:52.139 --> 00:18:53.259 around us. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.319 God wouldn't 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.319 let his people 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:56.740 in the Old Testament 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.900 do that. 00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.859 So let's this year 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.559 have a concern 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.740 too for those 00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.740 who have little 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:04.339 in our land 00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.039 in our city. 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.319 We do it every week 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:06.940 through the basics 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.620 bank and other 00:19:07.620 --> 00:19:08.299 opportunities 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:09.599 in the church 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.480 to work a very well 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.120 working among 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.059 those who are 00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.660 in many ways 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.539 disadvantaged. 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.380 Opportunities to give 00:19:15.380 --> 00:19:15.900 to those 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:17.259 overseas who are 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.000 suffering in 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:18.839 terrible ways. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.180 Let's remember 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.779 that people of God 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.920 are one 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.160 in the Lord Jesus. 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:24.440 us. 00:19:24.820 --> 00:19:25.500 We need to 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.140 have a real 00:19:26.140 --> 00:19:27.259 care and 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.600 concern for 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.560 everyone. 00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:31.160 Because ultimately 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:32.700 what we're about 00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:33.480 as a church 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.000 is not glorifying 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.660 ourselves, 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.600 is not getting 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:38.560 rich ourselves 00:19:38.560 --> 00:19:39.200 in any kind 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.700 of way. 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.660 What we're about 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.259 as a church 00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.160 is bringing glory 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:42.840 to God 00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:44.440 and we do that 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.420 as together 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.660 in fellowship. 00:19:47.300 --> 00:19:48.259 We worship 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.940 him and we 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:49.759 serve him 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.440 and we think 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.000 the thoughts 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.500 of God 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:52.859 and we have 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.519 that concern 00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.079 that God 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:54.680 has and the 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.200 Lord Jesus 00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:56.640 had for those 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.500 who are in 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:59.460 difficult circumstances. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.279 Let it be a year 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:00.859 of fellowship, 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.140 a year of 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:04.079 caring for us. 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:06.900 Finally, 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.740 the third F, 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.859 it's a year 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:10.180 of freedom. 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:12.460 That was right 00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:12.880 at the beginning 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:13.480 of our reading 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:15.720 that God 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:16.740 talked about 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.720 to consecrate 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.799 the 50th year 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.240 and proclaim 00:20:20.240 --> 00:20:21.419 liberty 00:20:21.419 --> 00:20:22.599 throughout the 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.039 land 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.319 to all 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.000 its 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:26.019 inhabitants. 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:28.139 The year of 00:20:28.139 --> 00:20:28.940 Jubilee as 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.460 such, 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.419 the word 00:20:30.419 --> 00:20:31.359 isn't used 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:32.119 in the rest 00:20:32.119 --> 00:20:32.720 of the Bible. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.119 But there is 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.139 a fairly clear 00:20:35.139 --> 00:20:35.859 reference to it 00:20:35.859 --> 00:20:36.180 in the book 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:36.740 of Isaiah 00:20:36.740 --> 00:20:37.940 in chapter 61 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:39.000 which was taken 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.720 up by the Lord 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.919 Jesus when he 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:41.759 preached in the 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.139 synagogue 00:20:42.139 --> 00:20:44.159 at Capernaum. 00:20:44.659 --> 00:20:45.299 They didn't 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:45.919 call it the 00:20:45.919 --> 00:20:47.079 year of Jubilee, 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.279 they called it 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.839 the year 00:20:48.839 --> 00:20:50.119 of the Lord's 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:50.619 favour. 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.299 Here are the words 00:20:51.299 --> 00:20:51.759 that the Lord 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.460 Jesus quoted 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:53.819 in the synagogue. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.419 The spirit 00:20:54.419 --> 00:20:55.039 of the Lord 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.819 is on me 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.980 because he 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:57.599 has anointed 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.879 me to 00:20:58.879 --> 00:20:59.720 proclaim good 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.359 news to the 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:00.699 poor. 00:21:01.659 --> 00:21:02.339 He has sent 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:03.039 me to proclaim 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.339 freedom for 00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:04.980 the prisoners 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:06.399 and recovery 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:07.099 of sight for 00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.579 the blind 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:09.199 to set the 00:21:09.199 --> 00:21:09.699 oppressed 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.220 free 00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.899 to proclaim 00:21:11.899 --> 00:21:13.000 the year 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:14.000 of the 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.639 Lord's 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.379 favour. 00:21:15.919 --> 00:21:16.579 To proclaim 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.279 the year 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.899 of the 00:21:17.899 --> 00:21:18.259 Lord's 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.579 favour 00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.139 or the 00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.519 year 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:20.039 of 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.960 Jubilee. 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:22.059 And the 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:22.559 Lord Jesus 00:21:22.559 --> 00:21:23.039 saw in 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.639 his coming 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:25.899 to the 00:21:25.899 --> 00:21:25.980 earth 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.399 the first 00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:26.659 time 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.480 also in 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:27.859 his coming 00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.419 when he 00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:29.139 comes again 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:30.059 that he 00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.359 was the 00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:30.659 one who 00:21:30.659 --> 00:21:31.240 truly brought 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.759 about the 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.599 year of 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.139 Jubilee 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:34.099 and who 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:34.379 brought 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.819 freedom 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:35.859 to those 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.379 who were 00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:36.960 in 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.679 captivity 00:21:37.679 --> 00:21:38.579 of 00:21:38.579 --> 00:21:39.059 whatever 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.139 kind. 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.299 So the 00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:41.599 Jubilee 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.220 while it 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.299 emphasises 00:21:43.299 --> 00:21:43.799 that we 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.559 belong to 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:44.980 God 00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.799 while it 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.379 emphasises 00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:46.619 that we 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:46.740 are 00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:47.179 accountable 00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:47.539 to 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:47.899 God 00:21:47.899 --> 00:21:48.079 and 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.220 that 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:48.379 we're 00:21:48.379 --> 00:21:48.759 accountable 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.079 to 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.279 each 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.599 other 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:50.139 in 00:21:50.139 --> 00:21:50.259 the 00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.440 way 00:21:50.440 --> 00:21:50.579 that 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:50.740 we 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.119 treat 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.720 one 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.119 another. 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:53.079 It 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.460 also 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.200 emphasises 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:54.980 that we 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.399 are of 00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:56.399 real value 00:21:56.399 --> 00:21:57.500 of real 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.099 worth 00:21:58.099 --> 00:21:59.299 to God. 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.299 That is 00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:00.599 what the 00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.000 Lord is 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.279 bringing 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:01.619 out. 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.139 He talks 00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:04.000 about those 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.679 who have 00:22:04.679 --> 00:22:05.460 nothing, 00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.379 those who 00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:08.039 are poor, 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.200 those who 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.879 are prisoners, 00:22:10.819 --> 00:22:11.259 those who 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.960 are blind, 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.240 and in 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.680 those days 00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.000 to be 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:13.420 blind, 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:14.200 almost 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:14.600 inevitably 00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:15.100 meant you 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.340 are a 00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:15.700 beggar. 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.000 Those who 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.759 were in 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.299 many ways 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.720 the very 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.400 dregs or 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:19.759 considered 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.200 the very 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.440 dregs of 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.059 society. 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.299 And the 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:23.799 Lord Jesus 00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.360 says, 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.400 these people 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:27.019 are important 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.500 to God. 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:29.579 These are 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:30.079 the people 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.579 who I've 00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.319 come for 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.000 and to 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.440 whom I 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:33.079 proclaim 00:22:33.079 --> 00:22:33.960 the year 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.299 of the 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.720 Lord's 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.079 favour, 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:36.380 the year 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.160 of 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.240 Jubilee. 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.240 The year 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.779 of Jubilee 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.980 is something 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.579 which gives 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.440 hope to 00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:43.859 all of 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.819 us if 00:22:44.819 --> 00:22:45.139 we are 00:22:45.139 --> 00:22:45.460 going 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:45.680 through 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.119 difficult 00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.720 times or 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:46.940 if we 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.740 feel we 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.139 are of 00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:48.660 little 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:49.879 worth in 00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:50.279 this 00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.099 world. 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:52.660 It is 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.200 the year 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.819 when God 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.299 can say 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.899 to us, 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:55.700 you 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.460 really, 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:57.200 really 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.960 matter 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.960 to me. 00:22:59.539 --> 00:22:59.920 I 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.539 sent my 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.319 son into 00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:02.000 the world 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.740 to give 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.480 you freedom, 00:23:03.899 --> 00:23:04.420 to give 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.139 you riches 00:23:05.139 --> 00:23:05.740 more than 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.059 you could 00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.859 ever imagine, 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.899 to set 00:23:07.899 --> 00:23:08.440 you free 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:08.960 from the 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.460 oppression, 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.359 from the 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:10.819 bondage 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.299 that comes 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:11.740 from the 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.619 sin that 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.099 is in 00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.319 this world. 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.479 The year 00:23:15.479 --> 00:23:16.139 of Jubilee 00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.679 is a 00:23:16.679 --> 00:23:17.119 year of 00:23:17.119 --> 00:23:17.639 hope. 00:23:18.219 --> 00:23:18.579 It's a 00:23:18.579 --> 00:23:19.000 year of 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.559 hope that 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.119 God will 00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:21.199 truly bless 00:23:21.199 --> 00:23:22.299 into the 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.799 future. 00:23:23.459 --> 00:23:23.919 As I said, 00:23:23.979 --> 00:23:24.259 it's a year 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.659 of hope, 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.159 particularly as 00:23:25.159 --> 00:23:25.459 we look 00:23:25.459 --> 00:23:26.099 forward to 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:26.659 the return 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:27.500 of the 00:23:27.500 --> 00:23:28.119 Lord Jesus 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:29.099 to take 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.719 his people 00:23:29.719 --> 00:23:30.599 to be 00:23:30.599 --> 00:23:31.119 with him. 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.259 And why 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.519 do we 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:32.979 know that 00:23:32.979 --> 00:23:33.339 there is 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.919 hope for 00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:34.259 us? 00:23:34.539 --> 00:23:35.119 We know 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:35.559 there is 00:23:35.559 --> 00:23:36.240 hope because 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:36.759 God's 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.539 son came 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:38.359 and he 00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:38.859 died on 00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:39.339 a cross, 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:39.779 he took 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:39.960 the 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.420 punishment 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:40.879 that was 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.359 due to 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.220 us for 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.519 all the 00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:43.139 wrong we've 00:23:43.139 --> 00:23:43.460 done. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.500 So that if 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:45.039 we trust 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.579 in him, 00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.279 we can 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:46.480 have 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:46.980 forgiveness, 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:48.059 we can 00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.559 be released 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.039 from the 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.460 debt, 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.139 not the 00:23:50.139 --> 00:23:50.460 physical 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:50.940 debt that's 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.440 talked about 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.799 in the 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.440 year of 00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:52.960 Jubilee in 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.240 the Old 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.539 Testament, 00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:55.099 the spiritual 00:23:55.099 --> 00:23:55.680 debt, 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.579 the fact that 00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.599 we have 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.480 failed God 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.319 and that we 00:23:59.319 --> 00:23:59.940 deserve to 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.339 face the 00:24:00.339 --> 00:24:00.960 consequences 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.680 of that. 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.799 Our God 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.299 is a God 00:24:03.299 --> 00:24:03.980 of grace 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.660 and a 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.000 God of 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.140 mercy and 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:06.559 he wants 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:07.000 us to 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.440 free us 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.039 from that 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.799 and to 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.220 give us 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:10.420 hope for 00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.460 the future. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.579 So if you 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:13.059 come to 00:24:13.059 --> 00:24:14.440 2017 and 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:14.900 perhaps look 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.339 back on 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:15.980 2016, 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.440 it's been 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.599 difficult and 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:17.799 there have 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.360 been hard 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:18.900 times, 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.059 come with 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.079 hope and 00:24:21.079 --> 00:24:21.579 come with 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:22.140 faith, 00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:23.299 knowing that 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:23.660 there is 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.480 true freedom 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.440 in the 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.059 Lord Jesus 00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:28.039 and true 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.640 forgiveness 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.240 and the 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:30.960 new start, 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.740 the reset 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.360 button if you 00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:32.500 like, 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.259 the opportunity 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.119 as we 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:34.700 trust in 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.480 him to 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.240 move forward 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.839 with him 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.680 and to 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:37.859 have 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.379 confidence 00:24:38.379 --> 00:24:39.180 in him 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:40.079 for the 00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:40.480 future. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:41.660 I'm sure 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.000 this will 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.599 be a 00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.180 great year. 00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.599 In many 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:44.940 ways I'm 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.579 quite excited 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:45.940 about the 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:50.259 year that 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.640 is to 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:50.980 come. 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:52.200 Let's 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.720 make it a 00:24:52.720 --> 00:24:53.259 year where 00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:54.240 we recognise 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.339 that God 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:56.180 is among 00:24:56.180 --> 00:24:56.660 us, 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:58.000 that God 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.879 is holy, 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:00.079 that God 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:01.039 is awesome, 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:03.200 but also 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.839 that God 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.680 cares for 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.740 us and 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.279 that God 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:06.899 wants to 00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:08.079 truly bless 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:08.480 us. 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.440 Let's 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:09.799 come in 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.200 faith, 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.359 not knowing 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.740 what the 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.700 future holds, 00:25:13.139 --> 00:25:13.700 but knowing 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.299 the one who 00:25:14.299 --> 00:25:14.779 holds the 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.940 future and 00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.299 with our 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.460 trust fully 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.460 in him. 00:25:19.159 --> 00:25:19.559 I pray for 00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.099 all of us, 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:21.200 this may be a 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.859 year when we 00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:22.539 grow closer 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.220 to the 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.819 Lord Jesus, 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.500 perhaps come 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:24.839 to know him 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.379 for the first 00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:26.000 time or come 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.460 to know him 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:26.859 better, 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.059 and when we 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:28.519 are able to 00:25:28.519 --> 00:25:29.039 go on with 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.259 confidence that 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:30.920 the Lord is 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.519 with us, 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.399 and as we 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.139 trust him, 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:34.019 he will 00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:35.059 bless us. 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:35.980 Let's pray 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.339 together. 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.000 Father, we 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.379 thank you for 00:25:39.379 --> 00:25:39.879 your word to 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.180 us this 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:40.460 morning. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:40.879 We thank 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:41.259 you for 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.980 this year 00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.619 of jubilee 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:43.139 that you 00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.659 graciously 00:25:43.659 --> 00:25:44.299 instituted 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.339 for your 00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:45.799 people. 00:25:46.460 --> 00:25:46.899 We thank 00:25:46.899 --> 00:25:47.180 you it was 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.339 a year of 00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.059 faith for 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.279 them, 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.740 a year of 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.579 fellowship as 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.379 they celebrate 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:52.879 what they 00:25:52.879 --> 00:25:53.519 had in you, 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.519 and a year 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.019 of freedom 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:56.099 too, as 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:56.559 those who 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:56.899 were in 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.480 bondage, 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.119 in debt, 00:25:58.119 --> 00:25:59.179 were fully 00:25:59.179 --> 00:26:00.039 released. 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:01.139 Thank you for 00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:01.719 our year of 00:26:01.719 --> 00:26:02.079 jubilee. 00:26:02.199 --> 00:26:02.599 We pray it 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.019 may be a 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.679 real year 00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:04.679 of blessing, 00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:05.439 that we 00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:05.779 pray it 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.059 may be 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.859 a year of 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:07.259 faith, 00:26:07.659 --> 00:26:08.019 when we 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.539 trust in 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:08.879 the Lord 00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.239 Jesus, 00:26:09.919 --> 00:26:10.539 and look 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:11.000 to him 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.679 for all 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.279 our help. 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.079 That it 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:13.419 may be a 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:13.719 year of 00:26:13.719 --> 00:26:14.099 fellowship, 00:26:14.619 --> 00:26:14.939 when we 00:26:14.939 --> 00:26:15.159 have a 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:15.859 real concern 00:26:15.859 --> 00:26:16.299 for each 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:16.599 other, 00:26:16.919 --> 00:26:17.339 and we 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:17.839 can enjoy 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.399 together 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.099 what we 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.059 have in 00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.419 the Lord 00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:20.779 Jesus. 00:26:21.479 --> 00:26:21.799 And it 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.179 may be a 00:26:22.179 --> 00:26:22.539 year of 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:22.899 freedom, 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:23.959 when the 00:26:23.959 --> 00:26:24.459 things that 00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:25.159 perhaps burden 00:26:25.159 --> 00:26:26.219 us and 00:26:26.219 --> 00:26:26.739 threaten to 00:26:26.739 --> 00:26:27.459 overpower us 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.059 at present, 00:26:28.579 --> 00:26:29.000 that as we 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.500 trust them 00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:30.360 to your 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:30.860 hands, 00:26:31.400 --> 00:26:31.819 that we 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.299 may be able 00:26:32.299 --> 00:26:32.660 to leave 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:33.039 them with 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.279 you and 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.799 enjoy the 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:34.740 freedom that 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.140 can only 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.019 come through 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.420 the Lord 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:36.759 Jesus. 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:37.799 We thank you 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.180 for our time 00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:38.620 together, 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.400 we commit 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.920 ourselves to 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.039 you, 00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:40.460 we pray for 00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.920 your presence 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:41.480 with us for 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:41.980 the rest of 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:42.340 the day, 00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.000 as we 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.579 continue to 00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.220 celebrate the 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:44.720 new year, 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:45.720 and we give 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:45.980 you our 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.620 thanks in 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:47.259 Jesus' name. 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.400 Amen.