Today we will have a short talk on the topic of “pleading the blood of Christ” for our protection. There are many people who plead the blood of Christ over their homes, doors, jobs, vehicles, loved ones etc and claim that by pleading the blood of Christ they will not be harmed by the enemy. Such prayers are considered somehow more powerful. Those who teach the value of pleading the blood of Jesus usually point to the Passover as support of their practice. Just as the blood of the Paschal lamb protected the Israelites from the angel of death and led to their deliverance from slavery, so the blood of Jesus can protect and deliver Christians today, if they apply, or “plead,” it.
However, we don’t find such type of prayers in the N.T where Jesus, Apostles or the NT writers taught about pleading the blood of Christ as a deliverance or protection against problems, disease or sickness etc.
The teachings regarding the blood of Christ was always related to the cleansing, forgiveness of our sins and leading a life of constant victory over sin by the sanctifying power of the blood. Yes, the blood of Christ has power; but the power is applicable in the context of the cleansing of our sins and leading a sanctified (holy) life. The scripture portions related to this are Matthew 26:27-28, Hebrews 9:12,14, 12:22-24, 13:12,20, Romans 3:24-25, 5:9, Ephesians 1:7, 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2, 18-19, 1 John 1:7, 4:10, Revelation 12:11
I will only point one verse which is misused. It is Revelation 12:11, NASB: "'And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Many people quote only half of this verse "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb" and conclude that by PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST on their house, doors, jobs, vehicles, loved ones etc they are protected against all problems. This is therefore a pathetic interpretation.
So it will be good to go through the scripture portions mentioned above in order to have a proper understanding the importance of the blood of Christ instead of using random scripture portions in part and plead the blood of Christ for protection against the enemy.
It all depends on which protection are we looking for in the context of our relationship with God? Which is the battle we are serious about in the context of our relationship with God? If our relationship with God is based on what all things we can keep receiving from God, then obviously we will do everything in that context. But we need to understand that our relationship with God is a restored relation which was once broken because of sin. The result of the broken relation was eternal death, eternal separation from God. Since this relation has now been restored, God has given us certain instructions and commands in order to continue in this relationship and that we no more partake in the evil deeds of the flesh. This is actually the battle we face daily and for that we need to seek God’s grace, favour and protection.
Rather than “pleading the blood” of Christ over house, doors, jobs, vehicles and our loved ones, we should follow the numerous instructions provided in the Bible to live a victorious life in Christ in the context of resisting sins, victory over sinful temptations and live a sanctified life. We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, and now He is our High Priest and mediator who “always lives to make intercession” for us according to Hebrews 7:25. As His sheep we are already under His protection; we simply need to live day by day trusting in Him for what He has already promised and provided in the scriptures such as 1 John 1:9, 2 Peter 1:3-11, 1 Peter 1:15, 5:8, James 4:7, Hebrews 12:1-2, Titus 2:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:20-23, Colossians 3:1-3, Ephesians 4:22-24, Galatians 5:16, 1 Corinthians 6:13-14, 19-20, 10:13, 15:56-57, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 6:9-13.
So how did Peter & John respond when they were arrested & how did the believers pray in the situation of persecution (Acts 4:13-30), how did Paul & Silas respond in their imprisonment (Acts 16:22-25), what was the response of Paul & the Elders at Ephesus when Paul was about to sail to Jerusalem knowing about the persecution he would face there (Acts 20:17-38), what was Paul’s attitude to persecution, sickness, poverty, disease (2 Corinthians 11:23-30, 2 Corinthians 12:10)? Please read these passages to understand how they faced difficulties in their lives. So I am not saying that we should not pray when we face problems in our lives but we should understand that why the pleading the blood of Christ is not related to such prayers. We should definitely pray for such problems but we should not demand protection, deliverance by pleading the blood of Christ as if God owes us these things rather our prayers should be humble and submissive to the will and plan of God.
-Pastor Monish M
Very well explained, God less you and Thanks team.
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