The Power of the Blood
The blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious gift to the church, and its power is released through faith in the finished work of Calvary.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound significance of the blood of Jesus Christ, which is often undervalued by many Christians. He explains that while believers may sing about its power and plead for its protection, they often lack a deep understanding of its glory and benefits. Wilkerson draws parallels between the sprinkling of blood in Exodus and the blood of Christ, highlighting that true faith in Jesus' sacrifice is essential for experiencing its protective power. He encourages believers to recognize that the blood is not just for forgiveness but also for ongoing protection and reconciliation with God. Ultimately, he calls for a deeper appreciation and acknowledgment of the precious blood of Jesus in the life of every believer.
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Without a doubt, the blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious gift our heavenly Father has given to his church. Yet, few Christians understand its value and virtue. They sing about the power of the blood. In fact, the anthem of the Pentecostal church is, "There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb" (Lewis E. Jones). And we constantly "plead the blood" as some sort of mystical formula of protection. But few Christians can explain its great glory and benefits, and seldom enter into its power.
When Christ lifted the cup at the last Passover, he said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you" (Luke 22:20). We memorialize his sacrifice every time we have communion. But that is the limit of most Christians' knowledge of Jesus' blood. We know about the blood being shed but not about its being sprinkled!
The first biblical reference to the sprinkling of the blood is in Exodus 12:22: "You shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin." As long as the blood was left in the basin, it was of no effect; it had no power against the death angel. It had to be lifted out of the basin and sprinkled on the door to fulfill its purpose of protection.
The blood in Exodus 12 is a type of the blood of Christ that flowed from Calvary. If Christ is Lord of your life, then your door posts -- your heart -- have been sprinkled by his blood. And this sprinkling is not for forgiveness only but also for our protection.
Jesus sprinkles his own blood on us when, by faith, we receive his finished work at Calvary. And until we truly believe in the power of his sacrifice at Calvary, the blood of Jesus cannot produce any effect upon our souls! "Whom God set forth as a propitiation [reconciliation] by His blood, through faith" (Romans 3:25).
Praise God with high praises for the precious blood of Jesus: "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" (Romans 5:11).
Sermon Outline
- The Value and Virtue of the Blood of Jesus
- The Power of the Blood
- The Sprinkling of the Blood
- Receiving the Power of the Blood
- Requires faith in the finished work of Calvary
- Produces effect on our souls
- It requires faith to receive its power
Key Quotes
“There is power, power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb” — David Wilkerson
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” — David Wilkerson
“We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must understand the value and virtue of the blood of Jesus to receive its power.
- Faith in the finished work of Calvary is necessary to receive the power of the blood.
- The blood of Jesus provides protection and forgiveness for our souls.