THE BLOOD WILL NEVER LOSE ITS POWER
Let's look at why the Blood Covenant is so important for us to have a strong grip and better understanding of as we move into 2021. Are you aware of all that the Blood of Jesus does for us and what we have at our disposal through the Blood Covenant that He has made with those who choose to follow Him? Let me list a few for you to sink your teeth into: Not only are we redeemed by His shed blood on the cross, but we are also promised power, authority, and covenant rights to call upon Him. This includes blessings for those who adhere to and cling to the truths of the Word of God.
In 1964, I went into a Methodist Church in Arlington, Texas, to be a groomsman in a friend's wedding. As we were waiting for the marriage ceremony to begin, we were back in the area where the minister and the choir leader had their offices. I picked up a hymn book, and to my surprise, every song that had to do with the blood was torn out of the hymnal. I knew that was not right. Their reasoning was very clear. They did not want anything as gross and gory as the blood of Jesus to be sung about in their worship services. I had not received Christ into my life at that time, but I understood the error of how they had chosen to minimize the value of Christ's atoning blood. If there had been no blood, then there could be no salvation. Christ would not have become the subject of their worship. A believer or a church that does not understand the necessity of the Blood of Jesus being spoken about, sung about, and taught about will never become as the victorious church mentioned in the scripture and song. "It's a Victorious Church without spot or wrinkle, washed in the blood of the Lamb." I mentioned in our Christmas service Sunday that there can be no birth without blood, and there can be no new birth without blood.
The reason we take communion in most of our services is not that we don't understand its necessity but it is because we do understand its necessity. "Without the shedding of blood, there is no redemption from sin." John the Revelator knew the value of the blood of Jesus. He said; "We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." No one can ever separate the Blood and the Word of God from one another. Have you ever noticed that when God gave Moses the Word, he was instructed to sprinkle the Word of God with Blood? Do you know that shedding blood was the necessity to reconcile us back to God? We are instructed to let His Word dwell in us mightily. So today let's stop for a moment of Selah (which means be still and think about this) and meditate on this wonderful portion of God's Word which gives insight into the power of the Word and the Redemption by the Blood.
"Even though you were once distant from him, living in the shadows of your evil thoughts and actions, he reconnected you back to himself. He released his supernatural peace to you through the sacrifice of his own body as the sin-payment on your behalf so that you would dwell in his presence. And now there is nothing between you and Father God, for he sees you as holy, flawless, and restored." Colossians 1:22 TPT
Over a hundred years ago Elisha Hoffman wrote these words and Christians sing the question with great passion, knowing This is the only way to peace on earth, good hope for men.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO JESUS FOR THE CLEANSING POWER
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.
Is it any wonder that I love these old hymns of the church? The theology in these wonderful songs has chased me through life, and I am glad that I let them catch me?
GAYNELL AND I AND THE STAFF OF HERITAGE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR YOU CONTINUING INSPIRATION FOR US TO SERVE OUR GENERATION BY THE WILL OF GOD. FAITH MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE, BUT (YOUR) LOVE MAKES ALL THINGS EASY.
I BELIEVE IN YOU,
Cleddie and GayNell