Prayer Target: REVIVAL IN THE CHURCH

-- Understanding "The Blood of Jesus"

A couple of years ago, I was mulling over 2nd Cor. 6:1, "Working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain." Two things about this verse caught my eye. The word, work, is a very unique word, which derives its ultimate power and authority in the words of Jesus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it." John 14:12-14.

The second thing was this notion that there is a very real danger of accepting the grace of God in vain. I began to understand that these two things: {1. Doing the works that Jesus did. 2. Accepting the grace of God in vain.} were somehow related.

As I continued to ponder this it came to me that at the very root and core of all that we may or may not believe is the Blood of Jesus. This thought caused me to focus on just one of the works of Jesus, and that was the healing of the sick. This work, the work of healing, is tied very strongly to the blood of Jesus, for {as you well know} by his stripes YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED! You have!

This really got me to thinking - and let me assure you - praying. If Jesus paid the price for our healing, which is a work of Jesus, then shouldn't I be willing to do the work that Jesus said I would do? As I pondered that question, I saw that I had a choice, I could either follow His lead and make every effort to heal the sick, or I could sit back and do nothing.

For me to do nothing is not possible, for that would be to accept the grace of God in vain. To do the works that Jesus did - for me - is the only possible direction that I could go. Doing the works of Jesus and manifesting the gifts of the Spirit are all related and tied together under the blood. For Holly and I doing the works of Jesus have become paramount to any other endeavor so that we might not receive the grace of God in vain, lest the stripes of Jesus, {His Blood} be poured out in vain.

I know full well that my last sentence is a very harsh reality. But like I said, these are the things that came to me as I pondered all of this. It is kind of like letting each of you look into my inner most thoughts - thoughts that I came to feel had to be shared in these end times. By sharing them in this way, I have no intention of giving you some sort of guilt trip, not in the least. But rather, it is my heart felt desire that you might ponder these things in your heart, even as Holly and I have pondered them almost daily. {Pondering being a form of prayer meditation of sorts.}

Every day, Holly and I ponder just how very much Jesus has done for us through His blood, the blood He sweat in the garden, the blood He poured out by His stripes, the blood which ran down from the cross, and the blood He gave as He passed through the fire of Hell. Ponder in your own inner self how each of these concepts are reflected in your life. Ask your Heavenly Father to show you as an individual how the gifts of the Spirit and the works of the Kingdom are to be used in your life. Perhaps, you might even want to give some thought to the possibility that you just might have received the grace of God in vain. {{PLEASE: By no means are you to go on a guilt trip.}}

Sometimes Holly and I provide folks with this insight. Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, but have not shared Him with others? Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and have not shared that baptism or the gifts that go with it? Again these are things for pondering, not for condemnation. Your Abba Father will lead you through meditation and prayer into a deep, rich and full move of the Spirit tailored just for you as an individual.

Here is a little insight of what I mean. We do not grovel or moan or groan, but rather ours is to shout and praise.

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the blood of Jesus. We thank you so very much as we rejoice over all that Jesus has given to us by his most precious blood. Lord Jesus we thank and praise you for all that you have done to make provision for us by your blood. Thank you Jesus that by your stripes we have been healed. We praise you, oh Lamb of God, that you are worthy to receive praise and honor and glory.

In the name of Jesus we bless one another with the laying on of hands that we might be healed, cleansed and delivered from all sickness and from demons and evil spirits. We praise you Lord that we might do the works of the Kingdom that you have done and even greater works. Praise you Lord for this glorious privilege of coming to you with shouts of praise. {We really do shout and praise Him.} We shout for joy because we favor your just cause. Halleluia! Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!

Forgive us Lord if we have received the grace of God in vain, and help us to manifest your works and your gifts all the more as we see the end approaching. Wash us in your blood and seal us with your Holy Spirit as we see the day dawning. We love you Lord! We are so thrilled, Abba Father, that you are right here in the midst of us that we might rejoice in you for the sake of Jesus in all that He has given to us in His blood.

We ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen

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