We are drawing near to the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, known by some as Easter. The Christian Easter celebration is joined closely with the Passover celebration among the Jews. Jesus was a Jew. He celebrated the Passover with His disciples, shortly before His crucifixion.
The power of the blood of Jesus begins in the Old Testament Scriptures with the Passover. Through the Jewish blood sacrifice, there was protection, provision and God’s hand of favor extended to His people. The Passover was a physical observance, but spiritually all this was fulfilled when Jesus shed His blood for us. Christians now are able to have that protection, provision and favor by applying the blood of Jesus.
In preparation for the Passover the Israelite s were instructed by God to place the blood of a lamb on their doorposts and lintels, so that the plague of death would “pass over” their houses. “Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.” Ex 12:13-14. Their obedience, to seek protection under the blood, made the death angel pass over that house and not touch the people inside.
Under the Old Testament law the penalty for sin was the sacrifice of an animal’s life. The shedding of blood was required to atone for their sin. God wanted man to understand that when he sinned it meant death for something or someone. The Jews were able to come near to the mercy-seat by the blood of lambs, that were offered in sacrifice. Now we are permitted to approach God, through the blood of the atonement in Christ Jesus. Heb 10:19. The shedding of His blood opened the way by which Gentiles as well as Jews may approach God. His death and shed blood paid the price for sin once and for all. No longer does an animal need to be offered for our sins.
Resurrection Sunday or Easter is celebrated in remembrance of Jesus raising from the dead. He was the innocent Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Jo 3:16. He offers to all who simply come to Him, through His shed blood, forgiveness of sins and life ever after.
The shed blood of Jesus did not lay in a tomb. When Jesus rose from the dead He sat at the right hand of God. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. I Jo 1:7. ” Ps 118:14. His blood sealed the everlasting covenant between God and man. Heb 13:20. By the blood of Jesus, we may now enter into the holy place and have communion with God. Heb 10:19.
As long as the blood is dormant and not applied, it is only shed blood. But, when it is applied it carries the power to save and deliver. Christ shed His blood for all people, for all eternity.
A great testimony comes from William Cowper who wrote the hymn “There is a Fountain Filled With Blood”, founded on Zechariah 13:1 He suffered from deep depression for most of his early life. He ended up in a mental institution, and there found Jesus Christ, while he was reading the Bible. After being healed, he later came to be known as one of England’s greatest poets. He found that precious fountain of the shed blood of Jesus and his sins were all washed away. The song declares the loss of his guilty stains.
Lewis Edgar Jones wrote and composed the hymn, There is Power in the Blood. The hymn tells us that through the blood we can be free from sin. All people on earth have to deal with sin. Ro 3:23. But, God made it possible through the shed blood of Jesus for us to walk in victory over sin. I Cor 15:57; Rev 1:5.
Christians are cleansed by the blood of Jesus when we confess our sins. I Joh 1:7-9, The Bible says the blood of Jesus sets us free from passions and pride. Col 3:5. There is power in the blood!
When Jesus cleanses us we are squeaky clean. Scripture says though our sins are as scarlet, we can be whiter than snow. Isa 1:18. Our robes are made white by the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:13-14. The blood of Jesus provides protection and covering to all who are in your home. Every time we apply that blood covering there is a new sense of His abiding presence and protection Because of that shed blood we have redemption from the power of darkness. Eph 1:7.
Jesus broke the power of hell. By pleading the blood of Jesus, we can release healing and deliverance against the forces of hell. Plead it against the enemy in battle. When you are accused unjustly, apply the blood covering. Pleading the blood of Jesus should not be used only in critical times, but rather a daily exercise over our lives, families and homes.
Do I believe there is a devil? Yes, I do. But I also believe the power of the blood of Jesus is far more powerful than our adversary, the devil. Pleading the blood of Jesus keeps us from the darkness and death.
Once upon a time in our nation, Christians seriously called upon the blood of Jesus to cover them in situations to release protection and deliverance. Once upon a time, Christians stood in victory because of the power in the blood of Jesus. Every Christian should know how to release the power of the blood of Jesus, and how to stand under that power in peace.
Pleading the blood of Jesus is the most powerful spiritual weapon you have. You must be a born again believer in Jesus Christ to use it. Your heart must be repentant and surrendered to Jesus for it to be activated. This prayer is the one that pushes back the enemy. Christians who use this weapon of spiritual warfare will become part of the end time warriors.
You must recognize that Jesus shed His blood for you on Calvary. In prayer apply the blood over the lintel of your home and on your door posts; bringing protection to all who live within. You can apply the blood to all those who are under your authority. Such as, a parent with children who are living at home, and a pastor over his church families. In prayer, call for the covering of the blood in situations where you are in danger to release protection or healing. Applying the Blood of Jesus is your right as a Christian. I Pet 2:9; Heb 4:15,16; Mt 26:28.
When we were pastors of a church in Penn Valley, California in 1988, we were in the midst of a huge wildfire. On September 11 of that year, a fire roared out of control in Nevada County. It was later named the 49er fire. The fire was hot and grew fast. In several days it covered 33,500 acres and forced some 4,000 people to evacuate. It destroyed 144 homes plus 219 other structures.
At one point the wild fire was nearing our church building; it was just a few short blocks away. My husband and I joined hands and pleaded the blood of Jesus for protection, and for our church families along with their homes. We watched that fire turn and go around the area where the church building sat.
When it was contained no family from our church had a home touched by the fire. It had burned around their homes and even around their propane tanks, but it did not touch them. And no lives were taken in the fire when it ended on September 16th. I truly believe the power of the blood of Jesus spared lives and homes in that fire.
One Christian family, from another church, lost their home. God had been speaking to them to go to the mission field and they were dragging their feet. After the fire, they went to the mission field to share the love of Jesus..
At one church we pastored we were in need of protection from a deranged person. A man began to attend our services who obviously was having some mental issues. He asked several times if he could have an appointment with my husband and I for counseling. For various reasons, we couldn’t seem to find time together to counsel him. Then we received calls from a few other pastors warning us. They said that he had made it clear to them, that he was going to try and get my husband and I together, so he could kill us both. It became more concerning when he began coming to our home. On one occasion our teenage daughter was home alone when that man came to our door. She didn’t answer the door and he went away, but it made her very uneasy. We pleaded the blood of Jesus for protection over our home and family and our church family. God took care of it; the man did something and was taken into custody by the authorities.
In one area where we were pastors I was also an editor of a Christian newspaper. The newspaper had a strong voice into the community, with many churches joined together in getting the testimonies out. One of the issues addressed was the practices of witchcraft. Witchcraft was very active in the area where we were. The covens were so stirred up over the newspaper article that one morning after we left for work, they came and mowed a 50 foot cursing sign in front of our home. We pleaded the blood of Jesus over our home and family. God took care of us so that we walked in His peace and protection.
We plead the blood of Jesus over our family and home, sometimes together and sometimes one of us will do it. It is really a simple prayer for us, but powerful. “Lord, I plead the blood of Jesus over our family and our home, land and animals. I plead the blood of Jesus over our vehicles and while traveling. Thank you Jesus. Amen.” Jesus is the Word made manifest so we use the Word of God in prayers to sprinkle the blood into the area of need.
If you have asked Jesus into your life, then the blood of Jesus is within you to use. You have only to apply it through prayer, into areas of need in your life.