PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS

As I sat in Church on the 18th of June listening to the hymn "In Christ alone I stand" the Holy Spirit put spanking new revelation in my heart. There I was singing this hymn, while simultaneously coming into a revelation of what it really means to plead the blood of Jesus.

If you grew up in Nigeria, then you already know that the phrase "blood of Jesus" was reserved for terrifying circumstances, casting and binding and basically 'evil' spirits. I mean don't get me wrong, it is still a very valid cover for all of those things because like a dear friend of mine would say, everything is in everything.

But the question is, what happens to all the other not so 'evil' but negative feelings?

When I say negative feelings, I'm referring to emotions like guilt, shame, depression etc. which we tend to think of and treat as just feelings, but is that all they really are?

2 Corinthians 10:5 (AMP) says "We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ."

This verse explains to us that every thought has to be brought in alignment to the true knowledge of God and in obedience to Christ. Which means any thought, contrary to what God has called us and what He has said about us gatts to go.

What this bible verse also tells me is that bringing these thoughts into alignment with the word of God is very much a battle. You only win captives in battle or in a war. What it also does is put into perspective the potency of negative thoughts and Ephesians 6:12 comes to mind at this point.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

So there we have it. It is natural to think of things only in the physical but Ephesians 6:12 rectifies that for us. Negative thoughts aren't just thoughts, they are often tools in the hands of the enemy and very much spirits as well. Seeing them as anything less, gives us room to permit them to stay. It makes them a little less 'evil' and a little more acceptable cause they are just feelings.

But even on a more practical level, you kinda have to wonder about feelings with the strength and capacity to make us feel terrible about ourselves and keep us away from God and His endless love. For me, understanding that these things aren't just feelings and there's a spiritual undertone to these things has been such a great deliverance for me.

Now back to pleading the blood of Jesus and what all this has to do with that.

Listening to the Hymn 'In Christ alone' one of the lines really stood out to me and just downright overwhelmed me and the line says;

“On the Cross of Christ the Full wrath of God was satisfied."

It is soo easy no matter your level of maturity as a Child of God, to yield to feelings of guilt and unworthiness even more than to sin. It is very human for us and I know it's a constant battle for me to think that somehow because of something I've done, the wrath of God is upon me. What this tends to do is either completely keep you away from God's presence or limit how we approach the throne of Grace. That's a huge problem because it in turn affects how much of God's presence we enjoy and how much grace and mercy we tap into.

So let's just go right ahead and say the very obvious but necessary truth we always need to be reminded of... It is a lie! All of those feelings a.k.a 'evil' spirits exalting themselves above the knowledge of the love of God for us; guilt, worthlessness, shame, self-pity, all of it is a BIG FAT LIE!

They are lies of the enemy to interfere with our fellowship with God. Lies of the enemy to interfere with our growth in Christ (because if you keep avoiding God how do you hope to grow in a knowledge of Him); and above all, lies of the enemy to keep us from walking in the freedom of Sonship that the blood of Jesus through grace provides.

So the next time we feel any of these things, we know just what to do. We resort to the word of God and we plead the blood of Jesus. We plead the blood of Jesus over our fears. We plead the blood of Jesus over insecurities. We plead the blood of Jesus over feelings of worthlessness and condemnation. We plead the blood of Jesus, the sprinkling of which speaks better things over every thought and emotion not aligned to His word (Hebrews 12:24).

And when we really think about it, the most profound significance of the blood of Jesus is the fact that it's the ultimate expression of God's love for us. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life.”(John 3:16)

So the next time you start to feel shame, guilt, pity, worthlessness, insecurities, depression and every negative feeling under the sun, just plead the undying Love of God that is the blood of Jesus. Selah!