Question: I heard a sermon this week entitled "Empowered by the blood of Jesus." I only got a portion of it, but from what I got, it seems as though you can make your petitions to God through the Blood of Jesus, the same way we ask in the Name of Jesus.

Answer: There is power in the blood. The only reason we can approach the throne of God at all is because of the blood of Jesus. Often times, we will use the phrase, "the blood of Jesus," in a prayer. We know that God is aware of the effectiveness of the blood of Jesus, so we don't have to remind Him. We do have to remind ourselves of the power and effectiveness of the blood of Jesus. We are certainly aware that it is not anything about ourselves that is effective. It is not the length of our prayer. It is not the "good works" that we may have done. It is not the eloquence of our words that make our prayers effective. It is because of the blood of Jesus. And it is good that we remind ourselves of this.

It is the prayer of faith that is answered. Some have tried to work up a great faith inside themselves knowing that the prayer of faith is answered. The trouble with this is that faith is not something we can work up in ourselves. Faith is a gift because of the blood of Jesus. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by, literally, an utterance of God (Romans 10:17). And whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). So, there are prayers that are sinful and that won't be answered--those that are for our own desires (James 4:3). Prayer that God does not ask you to pray is not of faith. We are to pray for the things that God leads us to pray for. These are the prayers He will answer. And we can know God's will if we have a relationship with us. Because of the blood of Jesus, God speaks to us in many ways. Our spiritual senses can be exercised by reason of use to hear God's voice. Our destiny is in finding God's will for us and entering into that.

(some caveats about hearing God's Voice)

One other major point on prayer is the fact that sin separates us from God and hinders our prayers. Willful sin is a disaster. Bitterness and failure to forgive will keep us out of the presence of God. Repentance, humility, and obedience (http://seekfind.net/Wisdom__Righteousness___Reality.html) bring us right into the presence of God. Respectful praise brings us into His presence.

So, there is no prayer that will be answered that is not empowered by the blood of Jesus. And Jesus answers that prayer of faith.

Here are some additional Scriptures:
"... that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14)
"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13) (Redemption here is apolutrosis which meand a releasing effected by payment of ransom 1a) redemption, deliverance 1b) liberation procured by the payment of a ransom )(forgiveness is not what you would think: 859 afes?? aphesis af'-es-is 1) release from bondage or imprisonment 2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty)
"Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15)
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8)
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12:11)
"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28) Remission is the translation of the Greek word that means 1) release from bondage or imprisonment 2) forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood ... for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11)
"Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1)
"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in POWER, and in the Holy Spirit ..." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
"For the kingdom of God is not in word but in POWER." (1 Corinthians 4:20)
"... in mighty signs and wonders, by the POWER of the Spirit of God ..." (Romans 15:19)
"And with GREAT POWER the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)
"I CAN DO ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
"Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."(Acts 2:38)
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood." (Rev. 1:5)
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
He wrote of the redemptive work of Christ through the shedding of His blood on Calvary. II Corinthians 5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (Hebrews 10:19-22)

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