Exploring Jubilee: Step 2 - Freedom
Passages: Exodus 6:6-7, Galatians 5:1, John 8:36, Luke 4:18-19
Preacher: Mark Kingston
Last week, we talked about Jubilee starting with forgiveness—letting go of debts and burdens. Today, we look at the next step in the Jubilee Journey: Freedom.
Jubilee was all about freedom. Slaves were set free. Captives released. Debts canceled. And that wasn’t just for ancient Israel; it’s the heartbeat of God’s story. Remember Egypt? God heard His people cry out. He saw their chains. And He didn’t just send Moses to negotiate their release. Oh no. He went head-to-head with Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt. Every plague wasn’t random; it was a declaration: I am the Lord. Not them. God set His people free physically and spiritually.
So what does that mean for us?
Start with this: your freedom journey begins with a cry to God, saying, “Help me Lord! Please set me free from....” Keep praying this prayer, remembering that God’s timing is often different to ours. Sometimes the answer comes in a flash—like a door swinging open. Sometimes it takes longer—like the slow arrival of dawn breaking over the horizon.
And the fullness of His freedom? That’s the big promise we're all longing for, the Kingdom of God coming in all its glory—a day when every tear is wiped away, every chain is broken, and all suffering, shame, and pain are gone for good.
Until then, God calls us to be freedom-seekers - asking him for the gift of His freedom in our lives. And he calls us to work with Him to be freedom-bringers to others, breaking chains, restoring dignity, proclaiming hope. For a great example of this in practice, take a look at this short video of stories of freedom and dignity from Malawi.
Jubilee calls us into God’s promise of freedom. When we cry out to Him, He hears, He moves and He delivers.
In summary:
Freedom is central to Jubilee and God’s story: Jubilee was about setting captives free, canceling debts, and restoring dignity—revealing God’s heart as a freedom-bringer.
Freedom begins by crying out to God: True freedom starts when we call on God, trusting Him to hear, see, and act to break the chains holding us back.
Receive God’s freedom and share it: We’re called to embrace God’s freedom for ourselves and extend it to others, bringing hope, dignity, and restoration.
Questions
Can you think of a time when you felt God set you free? How did that shape your view of Him?
What’s holding you captive? What do you need to cry out to God for freedom from?
What does it mean to trust God’s timing when freedom doesn’t come right away? How do you not lose hope?
Who around you needs to experience God’s freedom? How can you be part of their journey?
How might we - as a church - be called to extend God's freedom to others in our community of Gibsons and beyond?
