The Age Of Jubilee (Demolish The Outer Court Mentality)
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Series: The Next Realm is beckoning!
Sun am 25 January 2015 – Kobus Swart
John 5:39; Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 8:13; Heb. 9:1-5; Heb. 10:26-27; Rom. 8:1-2; Rom. 8:1-2 (MSG);
Heb. 9:8 (AMP); Isa. 61: 1-2; Luke 4:17-21; Isa. 61:2 (MSG); 1 Pet. 3: 18-19; Ex. 23:10-11(MSG);
Matt. 11:28-30(Amp & Msg); Luke 12:32; Eph. 1:5 (AMP); Rom. 8:23; Lev. 26:34-35; Acts 3:6;
(John 15:7); Acts 14:10; Acts 16:18; Acts 9:40
Let us focus on the age of Jubilee that came in Christ. Jubilee is not a 12-month season. Jubilee came in and with Jesus-Christ. We can dismantle one of the biggest obstacles in our way to experiencing and living the Jubilee. What is holding us back?
People always speculate about the exact time on our calendar, but God is above time. He is not trapped in our calendar. We are the ones always looking at calendars and predictions. The Old Testament is full of prophetic indicators in a veiled language, in types and shadows. What we must look for is the Messiah in the messianic prophesies. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me (John 5:39). The Scriptures are about Him. Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ (Col. 2:16-17). It is with these eyes that we have to read the Bible, the Old and New Testaments. The types and shadows in the Old Testament are interpreted in the New Testament. The best way to read the Old Testament is through the eyes of the New Testament.
Let’s look at the three courts in the Tabernacle of Moses in the O.T. The first court is the outer court where all the sacrifices took place; the second court being the Holy place and then lastly the Holy of Holies into which only the high priest could go once a year. The outer court was where animals were regularly sacrificed for people’s sins. Then we find a change from the New Testament perspective. When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear (Heb.8:13). Whatever is obsolete is ready to disappear! Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. (Heb. 9:1-5). So now in the New Testament the Holy place is referred to as the outer court, because the old outer court was done away with in the coming of Jesus Christ. We are not in the outer court as described in the Old Testament, but in the second court, or the Holy Place. Behind the second veil was the Holy of Holies. How does this affect me, my life?
Much of Christianity as we know it has become a place in which religion thrives. This kind of Christianity has been constructed in the old outer court mentality where sin consciousness still prevails. There is a growing disillusionment in Christian believers worldwide. It does not mean much anymore to say “I am a Christian”. There is a better word to use. I am an “in-Christed one”. I am now in Him and He is in me. That will make more sense. What has not helped, is the preaching from many Christian platforms which fosters sin consciousness. [There is an overreaction in many places, giving birth to the message of grace which has gone into a dangerous realm. In the book of Hebrews it says For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries (Heb. 10:26-27).] We have to bring the truth in all its fullness. I thank God for His grace, and for new mercies every morning. God’s mercy saves us from pain and punishment for what we deserve, from wrong decisions, wrong choices. God’s grace is an empowerment to overcome and live a victorious life.
Ask yourself, “What then, is holding me back? Am I still struggling with an outer court mentality?” We no longer need a consciousness of sin. The more we focus on truth the sooner we will recognise what is untrue. Why do we have to teach about sin if we can teach about righteousness? Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Rom. 8:1-2). He is talking to the “in-Christed ones”. Why do we minister condemnation to others? With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud (Rom. 8:1-2 MSG). It is amazing how many Christians still live under this low lying black cloud.
By this the Holy Spirit points out that the way into the [true Holy of] Holies is not yet thrown open as long as the former [the outer portion of the] tabernacle remains a recognized institution and is still standing (Heb. 9:8 AMP). The Holy Spirit is signifying that the entrance into the Holy of Holies is not going to be allowed as long as the outer court remains a recognised institution. What is holding us back? We must demolish the outer court mentality! We must get free of sin consciousness!
The age of Jubilee arrived 2000 years ago in Jesus Christ. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me, To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn (Isa. 61:1-2). And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:17-21). That ‘today’ is still TODAY! Not a 24 hour day, but He opened up a season. What does Jubilee mean? It means a release. He released us from our sin, He even went to proclaim freedom to those who were in prison (1 Pet. 3:18-19). Why is it that religion oppresses people? Jesus declared the Jubilee. It brings release to the captives, cancellation of all debts; release from captivity of all sorts and it brings rest.
The outer court mentality must go. This is how Jesus addresses it: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG). Do you see any inactivity, laziness in these verses? No, there is activity: “Walk with Me, learn from Me and you will see how I do it.” Learn to wait on Him, discern any religious yoke upon your shoulder and dump it. Spend time with the Lord Himself.
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32). The word “predestination” concerns man’s future destiny. It is not referring to who should and who should not become a Christian. Predestination talks about your destiny as a Christian. We are predestined to be adopted as sons (Eph. 1:5). God is light and God is love. Love governs His every activity (Eph. 1:5 AMP). And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body (Rom. 8:23). Predestination is dealing with the way forward as Christians having received the first fruit of the Spirit. That is why it is important to be led by the Spirit, to be obedient to God. Then the land will enjoy its sabbaths all the days of the desolation, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it will observe the rest which it did not observe on your sabbaths, while you were living on it (Lev. 26:34-35). It seems that the reason why ancient Israel went into captivity is for not allowing the land to rest every seven years. God was serious about this rest.
What does it mean that we are in the age of Jubilee? Do we have a full understanding of the finished works? Can we walk as “in-Christed ones” in the understanding that it is finished? Our assignment is to flow in the same spirit of Jubilee. We must help release people who live under bondage as Jesus did. We must become co-workers, participants in this Jubilee that Jesus brought. This includes forgiveness and no bitterness. Why hold someone in bondage by refusing to forgive? The full Sabbath came in Jesus. It is a realm; it is a ‘today’ season. Care for others, unwrap each other. We have the authority to do so because of the finished works (Acts 3:6). Change your prayer! Make it a declaration in line with Jubilee.
What is holding us back? It is a religious mentality; a sin consciousness; an outer court mentality. We want to press through into the true Holy of Holies, the life of release, rest, creativity and freedom in God. If we are stuck and still seeing the outer court as a recognised institution we will not gain entrance. Look in the mirror of the Word and see yourself in these Scriptures. Let the Holy Spirit show you the areas that are holding you back from living the Jubilee life. It is a time to move on.