In Acts 23, we find Paul standing trial—falsely accused, misunderstood, and under pressure from every side. But he is unmoved. Because the man standing there is not the man he used to be.

He is a man who’s experienced his own Jubilee. He has been set free—spiritually, emotionally, eternally. And the power of that freedom sustains him even in the face of opposition.

So tonight, I want to talk about how we, too, can live like we’ve been set free, just like the apostle Paul did.

Let’s not just see Jubilee as a distant Old Testament tradition. Let’s not treat it as a camp theme that we forget once we come home. Let’s look at Paul’s life and discover what it really means to walk in the liberty of Jesus.

1. Freedom in the Midst of Trials

So as we begin, the first point I want to talk about here this evening is about “Embracing Freedom in the Midst of Trials.”  If you have your bibles we are going to start reading in  Acts 23 verse 1, which says: 

“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’”

Lets pause here for a second: 

Think about where Paul is: He’s in a courtroom, surrounded by religious leaders who want him dead. He has been beaten, rejected, and now stands on trial again for simply preaching the gospel.

And yet—he looks them in the eye and speaks with boldness. Why?

Because Paul is a free man, even while he’s in chains.

This is the paradox of the Christian life. Outwardly, Paul is a prisoner. But inwardly, he is free. He has peace. He has purpose. He has the presence of Christ.

That’s real freedom.

Freedom doesn’t mean the absence of problems. It means the presence of God in the middle of the problem. It means we can stand firm in our identity, even when the world questions us. We can have peace, even when things are uncertain. We can walk in confidence, even when we are surrounded by chaos.

Paul is able to say, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in good conscience,” because he knows who he belongs to. He knows what he’s been called to. And he knows he is no longer the man he once was.

So let me ask you: What would it look like for you to live with that kind of confidence this week? What would it look like to trust God even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or unsure?

2. The Freedom of a Forgiven Life

Now lets move on to the second point I want to talk about here this evening which is “The Freedom of Living a Forgiven Life.” 

The Year of Jubilee was, above all, a year of forgiveness.

Debts were canceled. Relationships were restored. Slaves were freed. It was a reminder that grace was real and that second chances were possible.

Paul knew that kind of forgiveness on a deeply personal level.

If you were to look back in Acts chapter 7, Paul—then called Saul—was standing by approving the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was the enemy of the church, the embodiment of judgment.

But by Acts chapter 9, everything changed. Paul met Jesus. And in that moment, the very core of who he was unraveled and was rebuilt by grace.

He went from persecutor to pastor. From enemy to evangelist. From self-righteous to surrendered.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:1:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

He didn’t just preach that—he lived it.

Some of you tonight may be carrying guilt. Maybe from something you said, something you did, or something you failed to do. Maybe the enemy keeps reminding you of who you used to be.

But its important to realize that in Christ, you are no longer condemned. You are forgiven. And that forgiveness doesn’t just wipe away your past—it launches you into your future.

Paul’s life is proof that God doesn’t just redeem stories—He rewrites them. So if there are any of you here tonight who are facing guilt and shame, just reflect on this, especially if you going to camp this week, and I promise you by the end of the week you will no longer feel any if the guilt and shame you were once feeling. Instead you will feel transformed and renewed, in a life that is freeing and forgiving in christ.

3. God’s Sovereignty is the Foundation of Freedom

Now lets move on to the second point I want to talk about here this evening which is “The Foundation of Our Freedom is God’s Sovriegnty.” 

If you still have your Bibles with you, let us look at one of the most powerful moments in Acts 23—verse 11, which says:

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’”

Lets pause again for one moment. Imagine how Paul must have felt at this time. The trial was intense. The accusations were piling up. And then—God shows up.

Not with an earthquake. Not with a miracle escape. But with a whisper: “Take courage.”

And that changes everything.

Because God wasn’t just reminding Paul of his mission—He was reminding Paul that He was still in control.

In Jubilee, the people returned to their inheritance. In Acts 23, God returns Paul to his calling. He restores his courage. He reminds him of the journey still ahead.

You may feel stuck right now. You may feel like you’re going nowhere. But God’s plan for you is not finished. And His presence is not distant. He is near. He is speaking.

And when you know that God is in control, you can live in freedom—even when nothing looks certain.

4. Living Jubilee Today

Finally, this brings me to final point for this evening, which is “Living in Jubilee Today” 

Some of you here tonight may be asking yourself “What does it look like to live of life of Jubilee?” 

Here are three steps we can take to do it.

# 1 is to Live Forgiven. Stop carrying shame. Stop trying to earn what Jesus already paid for. Accept the grace of God, and let that grace define you more than your failures ever could.

# 2 is to live a life that is Freeing to Others. Forgiven people forgive. Loved people love. People who’ve been shown mercy become people who give mercy. At camp, and in life, look for ways to lift others up. Speak hope. Choose kindness. Be a reflection of the freedom you’ve been given.

# 3 is to Trust the Process. Jubilee reminds us that God is in control. That He restores what was lost. That He brings us back home. So trust Him. Even when you can’t see the whole picture—He’s working.

So in Conclusion: Live Like You’ve Been Set Free

But before close this evening, I’ll leave you with the same question we started with:

What would it look like for you to live like you’ve been set free?

Would you worship more freely? Would you let go of fear? Would you forgive someone who hurt you? Would you stop hiding behind shame? Would you step into your calling like Paul did?

Because here’s the truth:

The same God who proclaimed liberty in Leviticus…

The same Savior who met Paul on the road to Damascus…

The same Spirit who stood beside Paul in the courtroom…

That same God is here. Tonight. With you.

Let this be the week you stop surviving and start living. The week you stop dragging your chains and start walking in grace. The week you stop fearing your future and start trusting God’s hand.

Let the chains fall. Let the fear go. Let grace flow.

And live—truly live—like you’ve been set free.