Here and Now...(God is Love Series Part III)

August 23, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5.

When we think of love, we usually define it by our past experiences. Whatever someone has done for us previously is worthy of our love in the present. We attach strings to our love, and define it by what has already been done. However, true love does not define itself by the past, present or future alone, rather it encompasses all three and beyond.

God’s love was so great that it not only gave us access to Him and forgiveness for our past sins through His son’s shedding of blood and sacrifice, but His sacrifice and love are so great that Jesus blood carries enormous power for your present and future as well.

Regarding your past, the power in Jesus blood carries forgiveness that we can hardly imagine. At the moment of your salvation, through your faith in Christ, you were justified and sanctified before God for all your past sins. “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11.

In regards to your present, you will see that as you carry out your new life, two wars are taking place. One is between your new life in Christ where the Holy Spirit lives within you, and your sinful nature. “For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:22-25.

The other war is between the new you and the enemy. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Even in your new life, you will face problems. During those problems and trials of life, you need to understand the far reaching power of Jesus blood.

The new you is guided by the Spirit, who will help you keep the holiness and purity you received at the moment of your salvation. Jesus blood gave Him to you, and that blood can deliver you from any situation this world can place on you. “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Falling into sin just because you have been sanctified and justified before God is hardly a way to honor the new covenant He sent when Jesus died and was resurrected. You are now under grace, and the Spirit is here to guide you out of the sins you will have to answer for. “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Hebrews 10:26-27. If you do fall, the Spirit will convict you and you must get back up, ask for forgiveness and move forward in faith.

During the hardest trials of life where the war going on within you and around you is great, the Spirit is there to help you, and will help keep you safe while you walk through this world. He helps you fight the war against your sinful nature by confirmation and conviction through testimony, guidance, reminders, and teaching. He can also help you fight the battles against your enemy through God’s word which is His sword. That word tells us all that when Jesus died, the enemy was defeated. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” Hebrews 2:14-15.

When the enemy wages war against you, you can use the blood of Jesus to overcome all. “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:1-2.

To do this, plead the blood of Jesus over any situation you need to be delivered from. Because you need to be delivered from a present situation in this instance, pray in Jesus name and literally say that you plead the blood of Jesus against whatever attack you are facing. His blood literally has the power to take you out of any situation you face.

You must have total faith in the power of the blood to help you overcome, and previously have turned these attacks over to God without trying to handle them on your own. Finally, you have to wait for God’s timing while you continue to seek the Spirit’s guidance. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12.

As His blood is lasting into eternity for us, so should be our faithfulness and lasting unto Him.