If you are old school or grew up in church you might remember singing songs about the blood of Jesus. Some of the classics include O The Blood of Jesus, There Is Power In The Blood, The Blood Shall Never Lose Its Power. If you are not familiar with these songs I encourage you to look them up because we would sing a lot about the power of the blood of Jesus. We didn’t just sing about it sometimes in prayer you would hear people “plead the blood” on behalf of someone they were praying for. When I think back I have to ask what were we doing then because you don’t hear that as much anymore. What does it mean to pray through the Blood of Jesus or to even plead the blood? I think it is time to revisit the blood of Jesus and re-discover the true power that is in the blood.
What Is the Blood of Jesus and What Does it Mean for Christians?
If you think about what the blood of Jesus means to Christians in one word it means everything. In Hebrews 9:22 we are reminded that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. If Jesus did not die on the cross and shed his blood for our sins then we have no hope of forgiveness. That means that this blood that Jesus shed has power first and foremost to wash away sins and that should mean everything to a Christian.
"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." - Hebrews 9:22
The Importance of Praying the Blood of Jesus
When you understand the blood, you will recognize there are four things that the blood does or provides for us as Christians. Because of the wonder of the blood of Jesus, I thought it would be good to make the point and match it to a song. Hopefully, for some of you “older folks” like me it will jog the memory.
1. The Blood Purifies
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." – 1 John 1:7
It is kind of strange to think of blood as a purifier. For most things, blood is the hardest stain to remove. Even in crime scenes if people try to clean up the blood they can use a product like luminol which will reveal if there are any traces of blood left. Blood is hard to remove and that is good for you and I because the impact and effects of the blood of Jesus on your life are hard to remove. Once applied it purifies and what the blood of Jesus purifies will never be the same again. If you are in sin and need cleansing you need to pray through the blood of Jesus and find the cleansing you are looking for.
What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O Precious is the flow that makes me white as snow
No other fount I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
- 'Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,' Robert Lowry (1876)
I couldn’t help but add this one chorus from Natalie Grant:
Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean
2. The Blood Protects
"The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt." – Exodus 12:13
During this time, the Israelites were still in captivity in Egypt however they were on the verge of deliverance. God completed one more act of judgment upon Egypt that finally caused Pharaoh to let them go. God instructed the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on the side of the door and on the doorposts. When the angel of death passed over he would see the houses with the blood and no judgment would come to that house. For you and I, the blood is our protector. When God sees the blood on your life he identifies you as one of his own and he does not pass judgment on you because he sees the blood of Jesus over you. When you pray through the blood of Jesus you are praying for God’s protection both now and in eternity.
I am covered, covered, covered by His blood
Walking by faith, living in love
I am covered, covered, covered by His blood
Jesus has rescued me
- 'Covered,' The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
3. The Blood Defends
"For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony;" - Revelation 12:10-11
One of the descriptions Satan is given in the Bible is as an accuser. He not only likes to tempt you and deceive you with sin he also likes to blame you should you fall into it. He knows how to play this accuser role well. The problem however is when the accuser comes up against the blood of Jesus. We mentioned earlier the blood is a cleansing agent that washes away all your sins. When the accuser comes to accuse you there is nothing by which he can make his accusation stick because the blood has cleaned all the guilty stains. When you pray through the blood of Jesus and stand under the blood it defends you against all accusations the enemy could ever bring against you.
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Emmanuel's vein
And sinners plunged beneath that blood
Lose all their guilty stains
- 'Praise for the Fountain Opened,' William Cowper (1772)
4. The Blood Provides Access
"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body" - Hebrews 10:19-20
Praying through the blood of Jesus gives us access to the Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament, the high priest could only enter the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy Place once per year. It was a very extensive ritual he had to go through before he entered, after all, he was entering the very presence of God. If he entered wrong in any way it would mean death to him. Not spiritual death but physical death. Outside of this one time per year, there was no access to the Most Holy Place. That all changed after Jesus. His blood allowed us access beyond the veil, not just one time per year but permanent access. You can now go into the Most Holy Place and enjoy God’s presence all because of the blood of Jesus. This access is eternal because the blood will never lose its power.
It reaches to the highest mountain
It flows to the lowest valley
The blood that gives me strength
From day to day
It will never lose its power
- 'The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,' Gaither Music
Praying the Blood of Jesus - How to Do It
Praying in or through the blood of Jesus is simply laying hold of what the blood of Jesus has purchased for you. You are simply taking God up on his promise that the blood would do what he said it would do. If you will put your trust in the power of the blood then God will take care of the rest. You can ask God for the things he has promised to do because of the blood of Jesus. Whether it’s purification, defending, protection, or access to his presence it all comes through his blood. These things are God’s desire and he will do them on your behalf for his glory.
If I could encourage you with one thing in this article it is to never forget the power of the blood of Jesus. It was precious then it is precious now. It saved men then it is saving men now. Understand that for all eternity you will stand forgiven and in God’s perfect presence all because of the shed blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Let’s continue singing about the blood and hopefully find more sinners to find salvation and purification through the blood of Jesus. Because this blood will never lose its power.
Further Reading
How to Plead the Blood of Jesus in Prayer
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tinnakorn Jorruang
Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.
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