Part 1 The blood is a weapon of our warfare
The bible is a book dripping with blood!
It almost seems that if we squeezed our bible that blood would drip from it.
There is something special about the blood of Jesus Christ
When we begin to talk about the blood of Jesus Christ, something dynamic happens in the spiritual realm, it is as though angels bow and demons tremble at the very thought of it.
When we speak of the blood of Jesus Christ, we are walking on holy ground!
Even as I begin today, something is happening.
It is hard to say what exactly, but it is something good, something holy and true.
The life is in the blood, and we when bring the blood tonight, so we bring life.
Blood is a subject close to my heart in that in my past career as a biomedical scientist I specialized in immunohaematology i.e. the study of human blood groups from a medical perspective.
Interestingly, I think I know what blood group Adam was (AB) and if you want to know the theological and scientific reasons I have for my theory. Please get in touch sometime.
Having studied the blood scientifically for many years I read something in the bible, which no textbook had taught me, which was that blood can talk! The blood of Jesus speaks better things than the blood of Abel. What does Jesus’ blood say… it says, ' forgive them’!
The relationship between the life and the blood
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.
I find it interesting that where most people would describe the location of their spirit (i.e. the abdomen or belly) it is in the area with the most blood in it.
Our physical blood is multi-functional and contains various cells and proteins that combat infectious microorganisms (another vital function is to permit our blood to clot to prevent excess bleeding).
Likewise the blood of Jesus Christ covers and removes the infections of sin and guilt from our hearts and minds.
What was blood used for in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament there were at least 6 major applications of blood.
1 Daily sacrifice found in Leviticus chapters 1-6, four of these sacrifices involve blood peace, burnt, sin, and trespass
2 Consecration of priests Leviticus 8:22 applied to ear, thumb, big toe Aaron's sons
3 Cleansing of defilement (red heifer) Numbers 19
4 Calendar sacrifices Passover, Tabernacles etc.
5. Cutting a covenant
6. Victory celebration sacrifices
The New Testament sacrifice of blood and its applications
1. The Blood of Jesus is a weapon of our warfare!
2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
God has given his church mighty weapons to war against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
We need to be trained and ready to use the weapons that God has provided.
Laser-guided weapons that defeat all our guilt, shame, and disgrace. Our mighty weapons include.
i. Authority in the name of Jesus when we put our hand up and say stop in the name of Jesus, Satan’s juggernaut must come to a halt!
ii. The sword of the spirit (and the whole armour of God). The sword of the spirit is the rhema word i.e. the living word energised by the Holy Spirit.
iii. The cross to crucify our flesh, living sacrifice or even martyrdom!
iv. The blood of Jesus Christ takes away all our sin, guilt, and shame which things Satan uses to paralyse us in our spiritual warfare against him and his demons.
2. The Blood of Jesus, what does it do?
There are several scriptures in the new testament that clearly describe the various wonderful things that Jesus’ blood achieved for us. These will give you an appreciation of why we call Jesus blood precious.
Purchased our salvation.
Faith in Jesus’ blood turns away the wrath of God.
We are justified by the blood.
We are redeemed by his blood and have forgiveness of our sins.
The blood brings us who were far away, near to God.
Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. The sacrifice of Jesus’ blood purchased his church, there was no other price that could have secured the church!
Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God … faith in his blood turns away the wrath of God. We only escape the wrath of God for our sins because Jesus gave every drop of his blood to turn away God’s wrath (which we fully deserved) from us.
Romans 5:8b But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! We are justified by Jesus’ blood i.e. we are made legally righteous before our Holy God, and God’s wrath is no longer directed towards us.
Ephesians 1:7 in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. His blood brings us forgiveness of our sins i.e. this is called our redemption.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Jesus’ blood brings us (who were nowhere spiritually speaking) near to our Holy God. Wow!
In conclusion the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood brings our salvation, turns away God’s wrath, justifies us (makes us righteous), redeems us by forgiving our sins, and brings us near to God.
In Part 2 we find out how to declare the blood of Jesus, we also find out how to apply the blood in various situations by following the trail of Jesus’ blood from Gethsemane to Calvary.
NB We need to apply the blood (see Part 2)
Amen
Prayer
