MESSAGES FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, 2015
Theme: The overcoming power of the blood of the Lamb and our testimonies
Message for Sunday 6th Dec. 2015
Topic: Understanding the use of the blood for our deliverance/victory. Part 1
Introduction: The farlex English dictionary defines blood as the principal vascular system of animals carrying nourishment to all parts of the body and bringing away waste products to be excreted. The importance of blood in man and animal cannot be overstated as the bible declares that the life of the flesh is in the blood. In Leviticus 17:11, we read:
“For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”
Our general prosperity is tied to the prosperity of our souls. No other area of our lives has a right to prosper if our souls are not prospered because we can only be made whole; nothing missing and nothing broken to the extent our souls are prospered. See 3John 1:2. This month, we shall begin to see how the blood works in conjunction with the word of our testimonies to bring us victory over our adversary. Today, we shall be looking at the origin of the use of the blood for our deliverance and victory and why blood is required.
Origin of the use of blood
- God was the first to use blood and he used it for Adam and Eve when they sinned against him and had to be driven out of the place he prepared for them known as Eden. In Gen.3:21, we are told that God made coats of skin and covered them, but we are not told why. This was the first account where blood was shed and it was to cover man. In subsequent paragraphs, we shall see why.
- The next record of the use of blood was given in Gen.4:3-7 where we are told that Abel offered a sacrifice to God that was animal based but that Cain whose idea it was to offer sacrifices to God offered sacrifice that was plant based to God. God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected Cain’s sacrifice. There has been several explanations for the reason God rejected Cain’s sacrifice and accepted Abel’s. Let us see what God had to say about it even here:
“And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.”
In verse 5-6, we are told in the message translation of the bible that: “Abel also brought an offering, but from the first born animal of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering, but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval.”
Putting these two translations together, it is clear that Abel got God’s approval because he lived and did right and this reflected in the way he honored God with his first and best. This is why many have seen this scripture as the source of tithing. I would not disagree with it because of the fact that tithing was also later referred to as the first fruits. God told the children of Israel to bring the first ten percent of their harvest to Him as the tithe and first fruits and tithes are interchangeably used to mean the same thing in the bible. See Deu.26:1-12.
Again, Abel’s sacrifice won God’s approval because his sacrifice brought the shield of blood that was required for atonement as we pointed out in the introduction above. See Leviticus 17:11 and Hebrews 9:22 from where we are made to understand that blood is used for atonement and therefore, without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin. Thus Abel did the right thing by seeking atonement by way of his blood sacrifice and therefore, God accepted him first and then his sacrifice. Cain on the other hand, did not secure God’s acceptance because his sin was still standing between him and God as there was no blood on his altar to atone for his sin. God would not accept your tithes or sacrifices if you have not come under that blood first. Consequently, true prosperity is far from a tither who has not taken advantage of the atonement for his or her sin. This is why we must take heed to this mystery to enable us get the full benefit of our sacrifices.
- The Patriarchs like Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob etc, all offered blood on their altars to God to access His presence and voice to enable them cultivate any relationship with God. See the book of Genesis.
- Under the Law, God told Moses in Lev.17:11 which we quoted above in our introduction that He has given us the blood upon the altar to atone for our souls. God however specified that the blood to be used for the Passover for instance must be that of a spotless lamb which typifies the atonement the Lord was to make for our souls before he came about 2,000 years ago. See Ex.12 and 2Cor.5:7.
- In the New Testament, Jesus confirms these truths in John 10:15-18 thus:
“As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father”.
He used the sheep as a type for those of us who believe in Him and said he was going to lay down His life for us. The reason is that when he lays down His life, His blood was going to be shed and that is what He was going to present to God in the altar of heaven to atone for the sin of Adam and his lineage – the entire human race. All who believe in him therefore would have automatic access to God’s mercy and just like Abel, would be accepted by God. On the other hand, all who do not believe in him would be rejected together with their works. This is the difference between religion and eternal life. Religious observances are seen by God as dead works while faith in Christ Jesus is seen by God as service to the living God. See Paul’s teaching in Hebrews 8:1-13; 9:11-26.
The result of the blood of Atonement:
From the foregoing, it is clear that with the offering of the blood of Jesus Christ to God, our sin is atoned for and when we receive this truth and embrace its demands, we are saved/delivered and translated from the kingdom of darkness where sin brought Adam to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. See Col.1:12-14 and Gal.3:13-14.
We shall say more on this next week. Meanwhile, anyone reading this that has not made a decision for Christ for any reason, now has a reason to do so. If you wish to take this challenge, please say the following prayer out loud and begin this faith journey that you will always be grateful to God for:
Heavenly Father,
Have mercy on me a sinner. Today, I believe that Jesus died for me and you raised Him from the dead for my Justification. I therefore declare that Jesus Christ is my Saviour and Lord and from today, I renounce the fatherhood of Satan and embrace Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. Thank you for this father in Jesus’ name!
Amen.
Congratulations! For more information and resources that would help you grow in this new life, please visit our website at www.kingdomheirsministries.org and our blogs at www.flourishinggirl.blogspot.com and follow us on twitter at alero_nanna and on face book on www.facebook.com/flourishinggirl www.facebook.com/khmii2015; www.facebook.com/thewellbeingcenter. Or www.facebook.com/kingdomjointheirsfamily email: jointheirsfamily@gmail.com.
Remain on top of your challenges in Jesus’ name!
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