The Power of God - Part Two - The Blood

The Power of God – Part Two – The Blood
Sermon Notes – Ps. Jim White
Sunday 10th January 2010
• Last week we began a series called “The Power of God”, and we began by looking at the power of the Word.

• The Word of God is living and powerful – sharper than any two edged sword, Heb 4 says.

• This journey that we are taking on the power of God started with a desire to see signs and wonders accompanying the preaching of the word. But God soon showed me that it’s not the signs and wonders we should be seeking, as much as the One from whom the signs and wonders come.

• We find Him – in His word – in worship – in the presence of the Holy Spirit – in prayer – through faith... and we are going to look at all these things, and more, over the coming weeks.

• But before we look at our topic for today, which is the power of the Blood – I found an interesting scripture in Isaiah 8.

• Verse 18 – “Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.”

• And so here is another dimension to this whole signs and wonders deal. Not only should we be seeking God for who He is – we need to understand that the lives we are living are meant to be signs and wonders.

• If someone says to you – you are a sign and a wonder – take it as a compliment.

• The power of God comes from who He is. The power that works in us also comes from who we are as sons and daughters of God. It’s not magic – it’s relationship. It’s in our “being” that we ourselves become signs and wonders to our generation.

• And we are who we are because of the Blood.

• We mention the Blood fairly regularly – especially when we pray. And of course when we celebrate communion together, we remember the shed blood of Jesus. But we can become complacent and familiar with the use of the word, and forget how powerful it is.

• This morning I want to take us backwards and forwards through the word, to remind us again of how vital and how significant the Blood is to our Christian faith.

• Someone once said, if you took a knife and cut the bible in any place, it would bleed. It’s because the scarlet thread of blood runs right from the Book of Genesis, to the Book of Revelation. And every mention of it points prophetically if not directly to the Blood of Jesus Christ.

• So what is it about the Blood that is powerful for us today? Because unlike some expressions of the Christian faith that come and go like fashion – the Blood must always be at the forefront of our faith and understanding. Without the Blood of Christ our faith is meaningless and powerless.

• 1. Through the Blood we are Redeemed.

• To be redeemed means to be bought back with a price. Right back in Gen 3, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the price of blood was paid by an animal so that a covering could be made for Adam and Eve’s nakedness – their disobedience and sin, which brought a separation and a wall between them and God.

• Up until that point they had the most amazing covering over their lives – the glory of God – but now all they had was a coat of skin. Blood had to be shed so that they could be covered.

• And so began the pattern over thousands of years. The Adamic/sinful nature of man was passed on from one generation to the next. In fact the whole of creation suffered and was put off balance by the fall of mankind.

• But the grace of God provided a covering for sin. The blood of cattle, sheep, goats and doves became the price of redemption. But it was very temporary and imperfect. It was part of the Old Covenant that God had with His people. A lamb today, a dove tomorrow, and a goat next week. The true price of redemption was never really satisfied in full.

• But God had a plan for a New Blood Covenant – a plan that included a sacrifice of life and the shedding of Blood once and for all, for all of mankind. This is why our Christian faith is centred around the cross of Calvary – both the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – the Son of God.

• Jesus’ blood was pure – without blemish. His blood did not flow from Adam – He was born of God – by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was without sin. He wasn’t part of the ancestry of men. Only Jesus had the power and authority and purity to die on behalf of all men, and to bring redemption to the world.

• Matt 26:28 – when Jesus instituted the first communion with His disciples – He said “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

• 1Peter 1:18,19 – “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

• This is why we share communion together nearly every Sunday – to remember and declare again, that our salvation and our redemption is only founded in the blood of Jesus Christ.

• 2. Through the Blood we are Cleansed and Made Whole.

• Many people struggle all their lives to know the peace of being clean on the inside, and to know what it means to be whole. Some try and find it through religious traditions – through repetitive rituals – through meditation – through striving to make their outer world look perfect – through obsessive health and fitness regimes – the list is endless. Some of these things might make us feel a bit better about ourselves for a while – but it’s never enough.

• But there’s an old song that hits the mark perfectly.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus

• 1John 1:7 – “...the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

• Isa 1:18 – “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

• If you want to know that you are totally forgiven, completely clean, free from all guilt and shame – then claim the Blood of Jesus over your life.

• You can even have a conscience that is clean and pure.

• Heb 9: 12-14 - “...with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

• How many mental conditions would be healed if only there was a revelation of the power of the Blood to cleanse the conscience from all the dead works? Many psychiatric patients, I believe, are tormented in their mind because they have not been able to resolve the torment of past experiences – past abuse – abandonment... all kinds of terrible things.

• This morning – perhaps this is why you are here. Not necessarily because you have a mental condition – but because you are carrying in your soul - your mind and emotions – the scars of guilt and shame – unforgiveness – resentment – envy – regrets and anxieties that scream at you during the night. Things that you have not been able to resolve on the inside.

• Well, the blood of Jesus Christ is here to cleanse your conscience from these dead works. And from the dead works of others who have abused you and forced evil upon you in some way. The purity of the Blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse and heal the places of your heart and mind that are still trapped by the past.

• 3. Through the Blood we are Covered and Protected.

• One of the most powerful stories that the Jewish people still share amongst themselves – particularly at Passover – is the time when God delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians – and from the bondage of slavery.

• The youngest in the family would ask the question: Why is this night different from all other nights?

• And the Passover story would be told of when God sent the last plague upon Egypt – because Pharaoh would not let the people of God go. This plague would cause the firstborn of every family – and of all the animals – to die.

• But God said to His people – place the blood of a male lamb without blemish on the doorposts of your houses. When the angel of death comes throughout the towns and cities, wherever the blood appears – the angel of death will Passover that house.

• The blood of the lamb provided a covering and protection for the people of God.

• And so does the Blood of the Lamb – Jesus Christ – provide a covering for us. By faith, we can place the blood of Jesus over our own lives and our household.

• God’s judgement will not fall on those who place their faith in Christ as their Saviour, and the saving power of His Blood. And the Blood will protect you from the devil’s attacks on your life.

• I remember one of my first experiences as an assistant counsellor at COC in Brisbane. I was in training. I sat in on a session with two older ladies who were ministering to a man who was extremely fragmented on the inside due to sexual abuse.

• At one moment this man was curled up like a baby in the corner of the room – but the next minute he was throwing chairs around and shouting out curses and swearing. But there were a couple of moments where he came for me with his arms outstretched. And he wasn’t looking for a hug, that’s for sure. He had no problem with the women – but as a male, I was a reminder of some terrible memories.

• But as much as he tried, he couldn’t touch me. I just sat there – panicking on the inside – but watching as he was powerless to grab me by the throat – which was his intention.

• I came away a bit traumatised – but the ladies who were with me took it all in their stride. They knew - just as they always prayed – that they were covered by the Blood. Fortunately, they had included me in their prayers.

• 4. Through the Blood we are Healed.

• We’ve already said that the Blood makes us clean and whole, and purges our conscience. That’s healing in itself. But we also know the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4,5 which says: “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”

• The stripes are the whip lashes on His back – the shedding of His blood as part of the sacrifice of His life for us. We are healed because of the Blood – whatever healing you need – physical, emotional, relational... you can claim it through the power of the Blood.

• 5. Through the Blood we are Overcomers

• Even when you get to Revelation – you will find that the Blood has not lost any of its power. Rev 12:10,11 – “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

• The blood of the Lamb has already overcome the accuser of the brethren – the devil himself. It was set in concrete 2,000 years ago – and it’s still being declared in heaven even now.

• Your breakthrough and victory is dependent upon you having a revelation of the power of the Blood of Jesus in your life. The victorious Christian life must have the Blood in its rightful place.

• There is a prophetic word that Zechariah spoke many years before Christ – but it’s a word that is alive and speaks to us even today. Zec 9:11-12 – He speaks prophetically about our King coming with salvation – and riding on a donkey – and he says - “As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12 Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.”

• This word still speaks today – that because of the covenant of the Blood – the prisoners will be set free... instead, we are prisoners of hope – and we can claim also a multiplied restoration of all that has been stolen.

• You can see that when we put the word and the blood and what the Spirit is speaking, together – it’s a powerful combination.

• 1John 5:8 – “And there are three that bear witness on earth:[a] the Spirit, the water [which is the word], and the blood; and these three agree as one.”

• The Word gives us God’s wisdom and instruction. The Holy Spirit brings it to life. And the Blood gives us the legal ground and the authority for us to enter into all that God provides.

• 6. Through the Blood we can enter the Holy of Holies

• Heb 10:19 – “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

• It used to be only the High Priest who could go into God’s presence – once a year – and in fear and trembling... but now because of the Blood of Jesus, we can come boldly to the throne of God. Our own hearts are sprinkled with the Blood.

• It used to be that the priest would sprinkle the blood of an animal on the mercy seat, which was part of Ark of the Covenant – the place in Old Testament times which they called the Holy of Holies - where God’s presence dwelt. But now we ourselves are sprinkled with the Blood of Jesus. We can enter into the Holy of Holies – through the torn veil of separation – and personally and intimately meet with our heavenly Father.

• At the beginning of 1Peter – Peter speaks of the pilgrims – who are sprinkled by Blood of Jesus.

• One drop of the precious blood of Christ is all you need.

• Nothing can ever take its place. Nothing else can ever save and redeem you – cover and protect you – cleanse you and make you whole – heal you – make you an overcomer – or give you the freedom to enter into the very presence of God Himself.

• Rev 5:11-13 “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:
“ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honour and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
“ Blessing and honour and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

• Rev 19:11-16 – “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[e] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[f] followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[g] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.