2024: The Year of Release and the Year of Building

God promises to release us from all life burdens, including sickness, poverty, delay, stagnant places, and spiritual blindness.

• Examples in the Bible include the man at Bethsaida's pool, the woman with blood issue, the Israelites, Hannah, Naaman, and Zarephath's widow.

• By connecting with the faith of these ancient figures, God can provide more than just spiritual release in 2024 and beyond.
  

Divine Release and Spiritual Positioning

• God's promise of total release is a testament to His power.

• The leper who returned to give thanks was made whole and completely free from leprosy.

• God promises to release us from every burden and uncommon blessings and favors in 2023 – 2024.

• To receive this divine release, we must relinquish control and allow God to take control of all areas of our lives.

• We must obey and execute all areas of the Bible, not just what's convenient or what we are willing to do.

• Release is an important practice, releasing things that we love, hurt us, and inherited to pass them on to the next generation.

• Letting go is a spiritual practice, especially in a society that teaches us to hoard resources and take more than we need.

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Matthew 19:16-22, NKJV | Then someone came to him and said, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ And Jesus said, ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these; what do I still lack?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Matthew's Gospel: The Man's Search for Eternal Life

• The man in the story seeks a simple answer to eternal life, akin to a transaction in the heavenly vending machine.

• Jesus, however, offers a different solution: to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him.

• The order of these verbs is crucial: go, sell, give, receive, and follow.

• The man's relationship with his possessions hindered his ability to fully participate in his relationships with his neighbors.

• Jesus' teachings emphasize the importance of giving to the community, not just monetary possessions.

• The man's situation calls for a shift in focus from wealth to relationships and community involvement.

• The story encourages releasing our obsession with and dependence on "more" to break cycles of poverty and unemployment.

The Israelites' Economic Model

• The Israelites' economy was different from Pharaoh's, which was based on wealth amassed by Pharaoh and his administration.

• The Israelites began to default on the economic model provided by God, leading to a cycle of generational poverty.

God's Intervention

• God intervened with the year of Jubilee, a forced gift from God.

• Every seven years, all debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land seized from those in debt was returned to its original owner.

• God instructed the Israelites not to take advantage of this gift and not to do foolish things in the year prior to the jubilee year.

The Jubilee Year

• The jubilee year was a form of manna, spoiled if more than needed was gathered.

• After seven years, predatory lending was "spoiled," and everyone was given a reset button.

• The jubilee year ends the rat race of "me versus you" and starts a new journey of "me with you."

The Importance of Loving Our Neighbors

• Loving our neighbour is not just about being "nice" to our eighbor, but also about loving our neighbor.

• Loving our neighbor is a costly endeavor that requires commitment, self-discipline, humility, and compassion.

• The jubilee year allows everyone to relax, reset, and breathe.

The Potential of Changing the Economic Model

• A move from the current economic model to the model given by God could transform lives, save lives, change the definition of worth and worthiness, and lead to a new journey of "me with you."

The Principle of Releasing

• The principle of releasing finances as per God's word can lead to life transformation and change in the definition of worth.

The Spiritual Law of Giving

• The giving of tithes and offerings is another spiritual law of giving.

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Apart from releasing your finances, you may also need to release some people who may have hurt you in the past; you may also have to release some childhood trauma, etc.

Release of Past Harm and Trauma

• Release of past financial issues, past trauma, and childhood trauma.

• Inner healing and deliverance sessions may be necessary.

• Intervention and cutting away of unhealthy soul ties are necessary.

• Seeking help from a counsellor is crucial.

• Release of both good and bad issues into God's hands is necessary for increased growth.

• Resentment should be avoided when someone has sinned against you.

Hebrews 12:15 | "See to it that you do not come short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, defiling many others”.

Understanding the Healing Power of Sin and God's Promise

• Sin can cause wounds in the soul, affecting the rest of life if not handled biblically.

• Satan uses this 'bondage' to hinder spiritual progress.

• Refusal to forgive an offender binds them to God's condemnation, preventing them from seeking higher ground.

• God will not forgive unless the offender asks for forgiveness in repentance.

• Asking God for forgiveness opens heaven for the offender, allowing God to minister to them and reveal their sins.

• God gives each of us a "key to the kingdom of heaven" for those who sin against us.

• Opening heaven allows God to speak into their life, bringing healing and reconciliation.

• God promises that releasing people on earth for their sins will lead to forgiveness in heaven. However, keeping them bound also binds us, as a horse on a rope is bound but must follow the horse's path.

The following procedure is necessary if you are to be set free.

• Recognise that you have been sinned against.

• Recognise that the offender is also a victim.

• Genuinely forgive them.

• Ask God also to forgive them and release them.

• Go ask for his forgiveness for any way you have reacted to his sin. (Telling others, responding in the wrong way, harbouring anger, etc.)

Consider Stephen in Acts 7:60 | "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!"

Jesus in Luke 23:34 | "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing!"

Another Scripture to consider is John 20:23 - The first mandate was given to the new believers by the glorified Christ. | "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

(Note: You can only forgive sins—and the effects of those sins—committed against yourself.).

• Lastly, go for some inner healing and deliverance sessions if you need to.

2024 as a Year of Divine Release

• Release of anger and old ways of responding, wrong attitudes, and wrong understandings of God.

• The year of release promises healing of bodies, minds, emotions, finances, and a sense of freedom.

• 2024 will also be a year to build, building on relationships and divine connections from 2023.

• Building businesses, careers, families, households, and churches, and strengthening relationships with the Lord.

• Foundations are crucial in building structures, as seen in the parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matthew chapter 7.

In 1 Corinthians 3:10, the Apostle Paul writes, | “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.

Building on Jesus Christ: A Strong Foundation

• Paul emphasizes the importance of a strong foundation, firmly rooted in Jesus Christ and the word of God.

• Building on any other foundation, like a house built on sand, will lead to failure in the face of challenges and hardships.

• Building on God's way requires a strong foundation, understanding the word of God, hearing His voice for clear direction, instruction, and strategy.

• A spiritual leader can provide guidance, teaching, correction, and prayer.

• Positioning oneself accordingly is crucial.

• Aligning with God's way or doing it our way is the only option.

Nehemiah was one of the popular builders in the Bible.

Nehemiah 2:18 | “Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken to me. And they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” 

Let’s take a look at the building blocks from the life of Nehemiah that can help strengthen our hands for this good work and ensure that we build on a solid foundation:

1. He realised a part of the temple was broken, and he was compelled to do something about it.

2. He prayed and fasted before petitioning the king (4 months).

3. He asked the King for permission to return to Jerusalem. Conversation with leaders. He got letters from the king that ensured his safety on the trip and provided timber for his work.

4. Obtained firsthand information about the condition of the wall. Analysed the situation.

5. He motivated the Jews to start rebuilding.

6. Divided the workload.

7. He shifted his strategy when needed.

The wall was successfully rebuilt in only 52 days. It might have been possible for him to finish his assignment without a specific plan, but it definitely would have taken longer. His clear roadmap helped him reach his destination in record time.

Let’s further breakdown and expound on the 7 steps that Nehemiah took and think about these regarding our life situations and what we’re called to build:

• Our first step is to realise where we are weak. Be honest about what is working and what is not working. Are there things we are doing that aren’t producing fruit, but we keep doing them because that is what we have always done? Do we need to correct certain areas of our lives? Do we need to go and get help, or are we going to be proud and want to remain in control and say that we can do it ourselves?

Nehemiah had to first be aware there was a problem before he could fix it.

• Prayer and fasting. When we get to this place of envisioning the future, we must go to the Lord and seek His will (in life and ministry). What is His plan for us, the people around us, our jobs or careers, the church, and the community? When we are following the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we will have favour in the steps forward.

Nehemiah prayed for four months before he ever shared his heart with the king.

• Have a conversation with those in authority, if relevant. Could be a pastor, leader, boss, co-worker, or our spouse and family. It is important to have the support of the leadership above you. Not only is it biblical, but it is also wise. They have been placed in a position of authority and may have resources or ways to help that you don’t even know about.

The king could provide protection, resources, and additional workers to get the job completed. Those pieces were critical to Nehemiah’s getting started and completing the task.

• Analyse the details of the situation. This could be a time of research or even a time of observation of how things are going. Think about what has or hasn’t worked. What is the struggle? Where are the weaknesses?

Nehemiah took a few others with him, and they surveyed the damage to the wall. They covered the whole area, so they knew exactly what the status was and what was needed for repair.

• Recruit helpers and motivate them. Once you know what needs to be done, it is wise to get others on board with your vision. If you can get at least one other person to catch the vision, you will have a higher rate of success. If it is a personal or life vision, can anyone walk this road with you? Who will motivate you or keep you going? Who will you be accountable to?

When Nehemiah approached the Jews about the work that needed to be done, we did not hear any resistance, complaining, or debate on how things would get done. We hear them immediately say, “Let us start rebuilding." It seems they were all in and ready to work.

• Divide the workload. Don’t try to do it all at once. There may be things that you need to do and maybe even oversee, but allow others to do what they can. Every one of us has a purpose. We all have specific gifts, talents, and strengths that can be used in ministry. From praying to making phone calls to teaching to doing repairs, I believe the Lord will provide for every need when He leads you into a new venture, and that includes monetary resources as well. In life and our plans, we can’t do it all at once. We will get overwhelmed and give up. Breaking up our goals into achievable tasks is important.

Nehemiah gave very specific tasks to each group that helped on the wall. Each group was responsible for their section and could keep their focus on the task. If we can do that within the church, we will see much progress!

• Shift the strategy as needed. Sometimes things come up that you didn’t expect, and you may have to adjust. Don’t take your eyes off the end goal, but do what is needed to accommodate the interruptions.

The enemy may come in and try to distract you and get you off task. He may try to cause division, stress, or offense. Recognize it for what it is, begin to pray sincerely, and discern if something needs to shift to stay on course. Nehemiah was wise in how he divided the responsibilities and had half of the men stand guard while the other half did the work. If we ask for wisdom, the Lord will grant our request.

The Challenge: What is Your Strategy?

The Lord has given us a clear roadmap to use in our lives. He will give us wisdom and the provisions we need to fulfil His plan. I challenge you to use this as a foundation as you look at the year ahead and evaluate what your future will look like.

5 steps to help you reach your future destination:

• Envision where God wants you to go.

• Engage with an accountability partner.

• Equip yourself with your roadmap, tools and resources to help you on your way. What is your God-given strategy? What does the word of God say?

• Energise your journey with motivation and encouragement.

• Evaluate your path and determine what success will look like from a godly point of view, not a worldly point of view. Worldly success is very different from success obtained the God way and the kingdom way.

Prayer

Father in heaven, I ask You to help me embrace the reason that we must apply Your teachings to our lives—so that my foundation will be unshakable and storm-proof when the howling winds and surging rains beat against us. The foundation of this world is temporal, so I choose instead to build my life on the eternal foundation of Your Holy Word, as You teach me all throughout Scripture. Keep me clear-minded and focused. Help me release anger, wrong attitudes, and wrong understanding of Your Word, and send divine helpers to help me along my path to heal and be built, prepared, and ready for the work of the Kingdom of God. In Jesus name, Amen.