For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. (Leviticus 17:11 ESV)
The Bible is a book about blood – from Genesis to Revelation. As soon as sin is committed in Genesis 3, God sheds the blood of an animal to cover Adam and Eve's sin (Genesis 3:21). The blood of the animal covered their newly acquired spiritual nakedness and the skins covered their physical nakedness.
In Genesis 4:10 Abel’s blood cries out from the ground for justice.
Jesus rides a horse with a robe covered in blood (I believe that it is his blood) (Rev 19:13)
Adam had no life in him until God breathed into his nostrils. He was formed from the dirt and then God breathed his life into him. That life was carried in the blood (Lev 17:11). If a person loses his blood, he loses his life.
Adam’s sin was passed on through his blood. I believe that the stain of sin is passed on through the man’s seed, his sperm and when conception occurs, the sin is procreated in the newly conceived baby. When Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit it was God’s “sperm” that was merged with her egg and since the sin is passed on through the man Jesus was born sinless. His blood carried no sin because his Father was Holy Spirit.
This does not mean that Mary or any woman is born free of sin – she inherits it from her father because she is a product of a man who passes that sin down to his children. But since God in the person of Holy Spirit is Jesus’ Father, he was the one who impregnated Mary. That is why Jesus had no sin.
The cross of Jesus Christ was the altar of his sacrifice where he offered himself. It was covered in the blood of his sacrifice. He was covered in blood. The cross was covered in his blood and the ground around the cross was soaked with it. We see a foreshadowing of that in Exodus:
...and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar. ….And you shall kill the ram and shall take its blood and throw it against the sides of the altar. (Exodus 29:12,16 ESV)
Jesus' cross was the New Covenant altar. In the Old Testament sacrifice for sin, blood was thrown against the altar and poured out at the base of the altar. Blood was all over the cross (the altar) and all over the base of the cross. Jesus was covered with blood. Remember from Leviticus 17:11 that the life is in the blood. His life was poured out in his blood. It wasn't Jesus' death that restored us to fellowship with the Father, it was the life in his blood given in our stead. As Jesus became our sin, his blood (his life) was poured out and death was swallowed up in life.
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death (Rev 12:11).
This verse tells us that we and every believer have the legal right to apply/plead the blood of Jesus over ourselves.
Pleading the Blood
You may have heard the phrase “I pleading the blood of Jesus over _________. When we plead the blood we are pleading/invoking the very life of Jesus. As his children we have a right to plead/apply his blood. This may sound like we are begging God for something that is already ours, but in this case "plead" is a legal term as would be used in a courtroom.
It is a setting forth our case before the judge (God the Father) against the enemy. We are “presenting our case” based on the blood of Jesus and what he did for us in his death and resurrection. satan can accuse us all he wants, but we have the perfect blood of Jesus as our defense.
Pleading the blood is relying on what Jesus has done and provided for us; not on our own worthiness or righteousness – but his alone. Then God performs his will for us based on the legal evidence of Jesus’ perfect blood. This is the blood, the life that redeemed, healed, and restored us to God's favor.
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:17-19)
“We have redemption through His blood.” (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV)
The blood of Jesus has freed us from all bondage to satan and once the blood is applied satan cannot penetrate it. It defeated him on the cross and it defeats him today. He is terrified of the blood of Jesus because it is the very life of God.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:19-23 ESV)
This passage tells us a few things. By the blood of Jesus:
We are no longer separated from God.
We can approach God confidently – Paul says in “full assurance”
Some translations say “boldly”.
We are to “confess” or proclaim/speak/pray to apply the blood to our situation.
In this case to confess means to acknowledge belief or faith in; profess.
(As a Christian to proclaim is to speak or declare the truth.)
Paul also speaks of this being the “living way”.
The affirms that the blood of Jesus is alive – it contains his very life and that life (his life) is ours.
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)
In the Old Testament the temple books, vessels and even the people were cleansed and purified by the blood of animals. How much more will the sinless blood of Jesus cleanse us? Our sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus. We are washed clean by the blood of Jesus. This means that satan no longer has any claim upon us because we are cleansed of all sin.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
In the Greek the cleansing by the blood means a continual cleansing. Did you get that? The blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from sin.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith (Galatians 3:13-14).
The curse is death, sin, sickness, disease, poverty, lack, depression, etc. Anything that steals, kills and destroys is from satan - a product of the curse (John 10:10). Since Jesus became a curse for us, we no longer have to bear the curse and it's products. We have been freed from all the curses listed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and through Jesus' blood have all the blessings listed in Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Adam's sin gave the enemy authority over us, but by the power of the blood of Jesus, we were/are redeemed from the curse.
They are to take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat the lamb.......The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. I’ll see the blood and pass over you. There will be no plague to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exo 12:7, 13 ISV)
The Israelites physically put the blood on the doorposts and lentils – we apply it spiritually by prayer and proclamation. The price for Father’s will to be done was completely paid on the cross. The blood of Jesus is all-sufficient. It supplies our every need.
The Blood of Jesus Heals
By His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5 NKJV)
In Isaiah 53:4-5 we read that Jesus’ sacrifice was for every area of our lives.
He endured spiritual torment for our sins.
Mental distress for our worry, care, sorrow and fear.
Physical pain for our sickness and disease.
The stripes He bore and the blood He shed were for our healing.
At the first Passover the Israelites received healing – every person! In Psalm 105 the Psalmist is recounting the Passover story:
He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. (Psalm 105:37 NKJV)
If the blood of a animal could heal an entire nation, how much more the blood of Jesus?
Protection Through the Blood of Jesus
And the blood will be a sign on the houses where you are: when I see the blood I will go over you, and no evil will come on you for your destruction, when my hand is on the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13 BBE)
Pharaoh refused to let God's people go – even after 9 plagues and there one final plague against all the firstborn of Egypt. God commands the Israelites to apply the blood of an unblemished lamb to the door posts of their homes. This was the first Passover and a pointer (shadow) to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.
How to Plead the Blood of Jesus
We can apply/plead the blood of Jesus over every aspect of our lives. We can apply it to anything that is God's will for us as revealed in his Word. The most important aspect of pleading the blood is to be led by the Holy Spirit. Let him guide you in your prayers and proclamations.
You can plead the blood of Jesus over yourself, your health, your family, your relationships over every aspect of your life.
For example:
Father, your Word says that it is your will that I am healed and whole and that I walk in divine health. Therefore I come before and plead the healing blood of Jesus over my health. I thank you Father that it is your will that I am whole and I gratefully receive your promise of health and wholeness. Thank you Father! Amen!
In the name of Jesus I apply the blood of Jesus over my family. Thank you Lord for protecting them and for all of the benefits of your blood. Amen!
These are simply examples – again be guided by the Holy Spirit. Ask him to guide your prayers and proclamations. You can pray a similar prayer for finances, relationship, etc – anything that is his will for you and yours and any promise he has made in the Bible.
There is nothing you have ever done or can ever do that remotely compares to the power of the blood. You are saved and made righteous by faith in the shed blood of the Lamb. Magnify the power of the blood above your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Train your conscience to be good by renewing your mind to the fact that it has been purged by the blood, and steer clear of sin. Andrew Wommack
The power of the blood of Jesus has provided everything we need to live a life of victory, redemption, fellowship, healing, protection and authority over satan.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9)
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:17-19)
“We have redemption through His blood.” (Ephesians 1:7 NKJV)
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)