Would you like to experience a year of God’s favor where all of your debts are cancelled? Join me in celebrating Jubilee this year.

I crossed a momentous landmark birthday on December 15, 2013. I turned 50. Thank your for the many gifts, cards, letters, notes, and facebook messages. Many of you remarked that I would be entering a year of Jubilee. So I decided to look it up.

1. Jubilee is a Year of Favor

We never deserve God’s Favor. He blesses us with favor because He is good.

This weekend my husband Wayne treated me to a wonderful romantic weekend at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville Tennessee. Because of the Christmas season the only available room was a “parlor.” Wayne and I both prayed that our room would be upgraded for free once we arrived. Standing at the check-in counter, the lady heard it was my 50th birthday. Not only did she upgrade my room, but she sent us a bottle of champagne and strawberries dipped in chocolate.
To me, this felt like a simple gift of favor. I didn’t pay for it. I didn’t deserve it. I just received it as a gift.

Jesus talked about Jubilee when he quoted from Isaiah 61. He said

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Luke 4: 18-19 NIV

According to Jesus, He was walking in God’s Favor.

God’s Favor includes

  • good news to the poor

  • freedom for the prisoners

  • healing for the blind.

  • freedom for the oppressed

  • sharing God’s favor with others

I am happy to receive God’s favor but also to share it with others!

2. Jubilee is a Year of Freedom

Walking into a year of Jubilee is walking in freedom and liberty. Our forefathers that proclaimed the Declaration of Independence had the Liberty bell inscribed with Leviticus 25:10 which says “PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS.” In the Bible, all slaves were set free at Jubilee. It took another century for all the slaves to be set free in the United States.

This political example of freedom from oppression is nothing like the freedom that we experience in Christ. Because of what Jesus did on the cross to set us free, nothing can hold us captive. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17.

I know for me as a 50 year old I feel free from the opinions of others. I feel so content and clear minded. I would not want to go backwards in time. I am truly looking forward to this season of unprecedented freedom.

3. Jubilee is a Year of Restoration

God is able to clean the slate of past debts. In Jubilee all of your debts are cancelled. Not only that, all of your inheritance that may have been lost is restored.

Entering into a Year of Jubilee requires you to have a new mindset of expectation. Expecting God to show up in your life. Believing God to make your wrongs right. Entering into the New Year with a clean slate.

Jubilee is also a time of Sabbath Rest. Our lives are restored through rest. Our land recovers through Sabbath.

4. Jubilee is a Year of Prosperity

Jubilee ushers in a prosperity not based on human effort. The prosperity comes from the hand of God. God is the one who helps the poor from becoming poorer. He set up a system where everyone would be cared for.

God continues to care for to be the One who cares for our every day needs and prospers us abundantly. He promises to provide. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” NLT.

5. Jubilee is a Year of Joy

Jubilee is a year of jubilation.  It is a joyous feeling of great victory and triumph.

Entering into Jubilee is embracing who God has made you to be. Jubilee is launching full force into your promised destiny. It is expecting God to fulfill His promises. It is not individualistic joy. It is a joy of a community together rejoicing in God’s goodness. His favor that is not deserved.

As you prepare your heart for 2014, expect a season of Jubilee.

If you have been disappointed in the past, re-anchor your expectancy on the person and the presence of God. When our hope is anchored in the love of God, we will never be disappointed.

So, expect God’s favor, freedom, restoration, prosperity and joy to surround you as you enter into 2014. Walk into God’s Jubilee.