INTRODUCTION
• As we approach Easter it is a worthy study to understand just why Jesus had to die for us…and why we celebrate Easter.
• For some of us understanding the spiritual realm is a real reach.
• For others of us we have an understanding, but often it is a misunderstanding as to the whys and what’s of how God frees people.
• Still others of us have walked in the Word and the Spirit and understand the magnitude of the blood of the Lamb.
• The Passover was a picture of Jesus and what He would do to free people like us who were slaves.
• Bondage…of gambling, pornography, jealousy, anger, lust, fear, shame, greed, and unforgiveness
• I told you last week that there are two things that must happen to get people free and keep them that way…
• One practical one spiritual…
• Practical is a change of thinking…
Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• The second is the work of the blood of the Lamb to break the works of the enemy.
John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
• Now when we talk about the blood in a day of vampires and the twilight saga movies we need to be clear…
• We may have a huge gap/issue with vampires that sidetracks us from what Jesus did, but they are worlds apart.
• Forget the vampires…the cross will save you from the vampire…the cross will save you from the dragon!
I. THE POWER AND PROTECTION
Exodus 12:5-7, “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.”
• The price of a human soul…the cost of freeing people…what are they worth?
I Peter 1:18-19, “You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood…the blood of Christ.”
• The precious blood of Christ…there is no value that can be put on people…too high,
• Why is the blood so important?
Leviticus 17:11, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”
Hebrews 9:22, “Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins.”
• The blood of Jesus…isn’t some kind of voodoo…it is about the cost of life and death.
• Most of us have never understood the blood of Jesus…
• When we come to God and ask for His covering…what do we mean?
• Not a formula or superstition…but a possibility.
• Others feel freaked out to even think they could go here….
• The blood of Jesus is a powerful weapon to battle hell, but many of you know little or nothing about using the blood to battle.
• There is both power and protection in the blood of Christ.
• Ephesians 1:7 - Redemption through blood… I John 1:7 - The blood of Jesus cleanses us….Colossians 1:20 - Peace by blood
1st Protection in the blood - Exodus 12:13, “When I see the blood death will pass over you.”
• When they put the blood on the doorpost and it dripped down it did in fact make the mark of a cross...a sign of what was to come.
2nd The blood provided a means of deliverance. They would be free this night after 400 years.
3rd Promise of a new day. Verse 2 - “new day, new hope…new life”
4th There was possibility for others…some Egyptians came and hid in the Jews homes…and went out with them the next day…our homes ought to be the same…a place of refuge for others.
This is the power and protection of the blood.
II. PLEADING THE BLOOD
Revelation 12:11, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony.”
• When there is confusion how do you work it through? The adversary seeks to sow the seeds of confusion.
• Many of us don’t know how to battle his work.
• The power that saves us…Ephesians 1:7…the power that cleanses us…I John 1:7…is the same power that frees us from the enemie’s work…and from the weakness of the flesh.
• At first glance it sounds like a sense of desperation…and certainly those who use the term often do so in dire straits.
• Almost begging - ”Please God do something for me.”
• This is not pleading the blood…
• God has not put us in frantic situations full of fear or begging God for help…
• He is an ever present help in the time of need.
• It is an asking for the power of His blood to touch my situation…to appropriate it.
• It is an issue of legal grounds…the body of evidence says we can plead guilty or not guilty but we plead the blood of Christ.
Revelation 7:14 says the saints “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
• The Lamb represents innocence…notice it doesn’t say by the blood of Jesus or of Christ, but of the Lamb…a direct reference to Passover.
• It was His death that defeated the great dragon…Satan…the one who would assault you and me.
• So if they overcame by the blood, it is surely our weapon, but how do you use it?
• Well it is our sword, but some people would hang their swords in the hall as a decoration…it is not for display.
• The blood makes a statement. Jesus said, “It is finished.” He was declaring that hell has lost…the blood declares that. Can you get that? At the cross Satan was defeated. Yes he still attacks you, but no he has no power over those who know their standing in Christ.
• If you resist him he will flee.
III. THE ACCUSED AND THE ACCUSER
• Revelation 12:10 calls Satan the accuser…sounds like a court room doesn’t it?
• You have the accuser and the accused.
• When the accuser comes to accuse you of selfish thoughts…secret sins…when he asks “is this a child of the King?”
• How do you defend yourself? Or do you?
• Remember you have an advocate as well as an accuser…the Lamb of God.
• And when Jesus speaks and Satan declares you are guilty…as charged…does Jesus defend your sin? No
• He pleads His blood!
• All these sins are laid on me. He made atonement - the blood of Jesus takes away the sin.
• When hell rages remind him, “It is God who justifies…who shall condemn?”
CLOSE
• By His blood you have access to God. There is a new and living way opened for us by the blood.
• I cannot come on my own good deeds, but I can plead the blood.
• When you can’t pray, don’t look to your emotions but to His blood that made a way for you.
• Through the blood of the Lamb you can and will conquer. His blood makes you masters of situations and circumstances.
